Backblaze Review: Unlimited Storage for Your Cloud Backups?

Ransomware attacks are on the rise. During these, cyber criminals encrypt data on infected computers, demanding a fee for the decryption key. Backing up your files to the cloud is a proven security measure that allows you to quickly restore files when disaster strikes, and say no to digital hostage-takers.

Backblaze, from the US, advertises its ability to offer safe and easy backups for both individual and business users, but how does the service really perform?

Backblaze*, is a cloud backup provider that can trace its roots back to Silicon Valley. According to its website, in 2007, the founders came up with the idea while in a kitchen in Palo Alto. From that moment, the start-up has sought to offer affordable, simple, and transparent backups.

Brian Wilson, one of the co-founders, planned to use Amazon S3 servers, however, as these were too expensive, Backblaze resorted to its own data centers from the beginning.

We tested the software and below, will let you know whether Backblaze burns up the competition or is just a puff of smoke.

Backblaze is compatible with Windows (from Windows 7), macOS (from Sierra 10.12.x), and macOSX (from Mavericks 10.9.x). Linux, Unix, Android, and iOS are not supported. There is a smartphone app, however, this is only to view your stored backups.

To get started, you'll need a Backblaze account, which you can create on the service's homepage. After you've installed the service's client, open the app to start backing up your data.

On the client's main screen, you can create your first backup by clicking on Backup Now. Alternatively, you can adjust the program's settings or check out the recovery options. When performing a backup, you'll be able to see how many files you've selected, how much storage space you're currently using, and how much data still needs to be uploaded to the cloud.

Alternatively, you can access your backups through your browser. Here, you'll see all systems for which you've created a backup. By clicking on View/Restore Files you can recover data and share it with others via a link.

By clicking on My Restores you can view all recoveries that you've performed as well as potential ones. My Shared Files shows which files you've shared with others.

In Settings, you'll manage your account and be able to activate additional protection by enabling two-factor authentication.

We didn't encounter any issues when installing or setting up Backblaze. Its menus are well-structured and organized, making it easy for beginners to find whatever they need. For these reasons, we've awarded the software maximum points.

When you're ready to create your first backup, click on Backup Now. After this, Backblaze will scan your drive and external storage device, loading all files to the cloud. System files, application data, temporary files, and NAS drives aren't included.

Things become a bit more complicated if you don't want to back everything up at once. Unfortunately, Backblaze makes it unnecessarily tricky to create backups of specific folders or even drives, since, by default, all files are copied. Folders that you want to exclude from the backup need to be added individually in the Exclusions tab of the Settings area.

Thanks to this workaround, we were able to configure our backup to our preferences, however, it's tedious and unnecessarily complicated.

In addition to Exclusions, you'll have the following options for your backups:

Backblaze operates data centers in California (US) and Amsterdam (The Netherlands). For users in the EU, data is automatically saved to the Dutch location, while California is the default for US subscribers. The former benefit from stricter EU data privacy laws.

So far as security is concerned, Backblaze offers high standards, using the AES 128 algorithm, and transferring files to its data centers over an SSL connection. By default, only Backblaze has the encryption key for these.

Alternatively, you can create a key and store it elsewhere. This guarantees extra security since it prevents unauthorized access if someone gets onto Backblaze's servers. At the same time, all of your backups will be lost if you misplace the key.

To boost your security even further, be sure to enable two-factor authentication.

If you want to restore backed-up files, Backblaze offers three possibilities in the Restore Options area:

Backblaze's mobile app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play Store.

However, you'll only be able to browse files you've uploaded to the cloud, not download them or create mobile backups. If you'd like to save a backup to your smartphone, you'll need to request a download link (sent via email).

By default, Backblaze saves unlimited versions of your backups, so long as they aren't older than 30 days. For an extra $2 per month, you can extend this to one year. If you'd like to store your backups permanently, you'll pay an extra fee on top of the $2, based on the amount of storage space needed.

In our opinion, the ability to save multiple backup versions is one of Backblaze's greatest strengths. On top of this, the software offers plenty of options for backing up and restoring files.

At the same time, we were frustrated at the 'choice' of uploading our entire drive or excluding specific files and folders manually. Almost every provider from our sample offers much easier solutions for this. Similarly, the need to request a link to a downloadable Zip folder to download any backed-up file or folder is odd. SpiderOak ONE and IDrive are both far more flexible in this area.

During our assessment, Backblaze did very well. Uploading a 1 GB folder took less than a minute, while downloading it took slightly more than two minutes, on our average Internet connection (30 MB/s download speed; 12 MB/s upload speed).

As such, Backblaze wound up in the middle of our sample. It didn't consume a large amount of CPU or RAM, however. Taken together, Backblaze did well enough to earn a "good" score from us.

Backups don't always go according to plan. For that reason, Backblaze's help center offers FAQs for the most common issues. These answer questions relating to how long the software archives versions, and how to select files for recovery. Thanks to a large number of screenshots, we found these guides to be very helpful and understandable.

In case the FAQs don't answer your question, you can try the chatbot. If it's also stumped, you'll be able to send an email or ticket (via a form) to the customer support team. No hotline is offered.

We asked whether it was possible to back up individual folders, and received a satisfactory answer the next day. The staffer didn't just copy and paste an answer, but actually appears to have taken the time to reply to us with a personalized message.

Overall, support was good, even though we would prefer to have the ability to call a telephone hotline or use a live chat. For that reason, we can only award a "satisfactory" score.

Backblaze's pricing structure is straightforward:

Below, we've provided a current overview of Backblaze's rates:

Compared to the other providers from our sample, Backblaze's plans are both affordable and transparent. As such, the company keeps true to one of its central promises.

When set alongside the other providers from our sample, a yearly subscription to Backblaze that includes at least 250 GB of storage space is relatively inexpensive:

Should you want to test the software out before purchasing a subscription, a free, 15-day trial is offered. If you book a one or two-year subscription, you'll also get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Backblaze is a safe and relatively affordable cloud backup service that impresses in terms of performance. The nice selection of recovery options makes it particularly easy to share backed-up data.

Our biggest complaint is the inability to back up individual folders or files in a user-friendly way. Recovery could also be streamlined, and the mobile app should allow mobile backups, or at the very least, easy downloads of backed-up files.

Overall, Backblaze is a decent solution for those who want to easily secure their system without breaking the bank. On the other hand, if you're looking for extra features and maximum flexibility, there are much better options available.

We checked the most popular online portals for reviews about Backblaze. Its price-performance ratio is seen by many as good, as is its provision of unlimited storage space at a low price. The main criticisms against it relate to customer service and difficulties in restoring files. Overall, it gets a "satisfactory" customer score.

Should unlimited storage space and a user-friendly interface at a fair price be important to you, give Crashplan a look. It's particularly well-suited for small businesses. On the other hand, if you'd like plenty of backup options and top performance without breaking the bank, SpiderOak ONE is worth considering.

Or perhaps you want to back up your mobile devices and store sensitive data on servers based in the EU, benefitting from its strict data privacy standards? If so, Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office offers a comprehensive backup program that does all of that and more.

Below, you can review more of the best alternatives to Backblaze: