IDrive vs CrashPlan (2026): Multi-Device Personal Backup vs Business Endpoint Protection
By Alex Chen, SaaS Analyst · Updated April 11, 2026 · Based on hands-on testing across personal and business scenarios
30-Second Answer
Choose IDrive for individuals and families needing affordable multi-device backup — $79.50/year for unlimited devices with 5TB shared storage, including iOS and Android. Choose CrashPlan for small businesses that need unlimited storage per device, indefinite file version history, and compliance-grade endpoint backup with centralized management. IDrive wins 5-3 on overall value for personal use.
Our Verdict
IDrive
- Unlimited devices on one plan
- Backs up iOS and Android (CrashPlan can't)
- Lower annual cost for personal use
- 5TB shared storage — not unlimited per device
- Price increases significantly after year 1
- No centralized business admin console
Deep dive: IDrive full analysis
Features Overview
IDrive shines for personal and family use. Back up all your computers, phones, and tablets under one account with shared 5TB or 10TB storage. The IDrive Express service ships you a physical hard drive for fast initial backup or large restores. IDrive Sync provides Dropbox-like file sharing, and 30-version file history lets you recover older file states. Mobile backup covers photos, videos, contacts, and calendars on both iOS and Android.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10GB, basic backup |
| Personal 5TB | $79.50/yr (1st yr) | Unlimited devices, 5TB shared |
| Personal 10TB | $99.50/yr (1st yr) | Unlimited devices, 10TB shared |
Who Should Choose IDrive?
- Families needing multi-device backup on a budget
- Users who want mobile device backup (iOS + Android)
- Individuals with less than 5TB total data
- Anyone who wants backup + file sync in one tool
CrashPlan
- Unlimited storage per device
- Unlimited file version history (forever)
- Centralized business admin console
- No personal/home plans (business only)
- No mobile device backup
- $10/device/mo adds up with many endpoints
Deep dive: CrashPlan full analysis
Features Overview
CrashPlan for Small Business is purpose-built for business endpoint protection. Every device gets unlimited storage with no caps. The indefinite version history means you can recover any version of any file from any point in time — critical for compliance in regulated industries like healthcare and finance. The centralized admin console lets IT manage all employee backups from one dashboard, set retention policies, and run compliance reports.
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | $10/device/mo | Unlimited storage, admin console |
| Enterprise | Custom | + Legal hold, advanced compliance |
Who Should Choose CrashPlan?
- Small businesses needing unlimited per-device storage
- Companies in regulated industries (HIPAA, SOC2)
- IT teams wanting centralized endpoint management
- Organizations needing indefinite file version history
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | IDrive | CrashPlan | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $79.50/yr for 5TB (unlimited devices) | $10/device/month (unlimited storage) | ✔ IDrive |
| Storage per Device | Shared 5TB or 10TB pool | Unlimited per device | ✔ CrashPlan |
| Mobile Backup | iOS and Android | Not available | ✔ IDrive |
| File Versions | 30 versions per file | Unlimited version history (forever) | ✔ CrashPlan |
| Free Plan | 10GB free | No free plan | ✔ IDrive |
| Admin Console | Basic | Full centralized business console | ✔ CrashPlan |
| Personal Use | Designed for individuals and families | Business-only (no home plans) | ✔ IDrive |
| Value for Money | $79.50/yr for family use | $120/yr per device minimum | ✔ IDrive |
● IDrive wins 5 · ● CrashPlan wins 3 · Based on 11,000+ user reviews
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose IDrive if:
You want to back up multiple personal computers plus phones on one plan. You need mobile device backup (iOS or Android). Your total data fits within 5TB or 10TB. You're an individual, family, or small team without strict compliance requirements.
→ Choose CrashPlan if:
You run a small business needing unlimited storage per device without worrying about quotas. You need indefinite file version history for compliance or legal hold. You want centralized admin management of all employee endpoints. You're in a regulated industry (HIPAA, SOC2).
→ Consider neither if:
You just need simple single-computer backup — Backblaze ($7/month unlimited) is simpler and cheaper than both. For enterprise VM backup, look at Veeam or Acronis instead.
Best For Different Needs
Also Considered
We evaluated several other tools in this category before focusing on IDrive vs CrashPlan. Here are the runners-up and why they didn't make our final comparison:
Frequently Asked Questions
Editor's Take
These tools aren't really competitors — they serve different markets. IDrive is for families and individuals. CrashPlan is for businesses. If your boss asks you to set up employee laptop backup, CrashPlan. If you want to back up your family's Mac, PC, and iPhones, IDrive. The decision usually makes itself once you identify your actual use case.
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Our Methodology
We tested IDrive and CrashPlan across personal and business backup scenarios for 4 weeks. We evaluated multi-device support, file version recovery, admin console capabilities, mobile backup quality, and total cost for both individual and 10-employee team deployments. We analyzed 11,000+ reviews from G2, TrustRadius, and PCMag. Pricing verified April 2026.
Why you can trust this comparison
This comparison is independently funded. No vendor paid for placement or influenced our scores. Ratings are based on our published methodology using hands-on testing and verified user reviews. We may earn affiliate commissions through links — this never affects our recommendations. Read our full methodology →
Data sources: Official pricing pages, G2.com, Capterra.com. Prices and ratings verified April 2026. We update our top 50 comparisons monthly. Read our methodology
Ready to protect your data?
IDrive has a free 10GB plan. CrashPlan offers a business trial.
Verify Independently
Don't take our word for it. Cross-reference these comparisons against real user reviews on independent platforms:
Star ratings shown are aggregate signals from each platform's public listing pages. Click through to read individual reviews and verify our analysis. We update aggregate counts quarterly.
What Real Users Say
Synthesized from public reviews on G2, Capterra, Reddit, and Trustpilot. We update aggregate themes quarterly. Click platform badges in the section above to read individual reviews.
Last updated: . Pricing and features are verified weekly via automated tracking.