Backblaze made cloud backup boringly simple: install it, and it backs up everything on your computer, unlimited, forever, for one flat low price, with no folders to choose or settings to wrestle. That simplicity is the whole pitch, but simple can mean inflexible, so I ran Backblaze for a month on a real machine, testing how it backs up, how restores work (including the physical-drive option), and where the one-computer limit bites. Here is the honest verdict on where Backblaze's set-and-forget unlimited approach genuinely wins, where it is deliberately limited, and whether it beats IDrive for backing up your computer.
The verdict
Backblaze is the simplest, best unlimited cloud backup for a single computer, it backs up everything automatically with truly no storage cap, for one flat affordable price, and restores (including a shipped physical drive) are painless. The catches are by design: it covers one computer per plan (not unlimited devices like IDrive), it backs up only attached drives (not network drives by default), and it is backup, not sync or storage. For anyone who wants effortless, unlimited, set-and-forget backup of their main computer, it is an easy recommendation. For multi-device coverage and versioning extras, IDrive is more flexible.
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What is Backblaze?
Backblaze is an unlimited cloud backup service built on radical simplicity: install it and it backs up everything on your computer automatically, with no storage cap, for one flat price.
- Truly unlimited backup for one computer.
- Set-and-forget: backs up everything automatically, no configuration.
- Flat, simple pricing per computer.
- Painless restores: web download or a shipped physical drive.
- Optional private-key encryption for zero-knowledge backup.
- A 15-day free trial.
In practice Backblaze competes with IDrive, Carbonite, and the backup field, positioned as the simplest unlimited option.
Who is Backblaze for?
Here is who actually benefits.
- Single-computer users with a lot of data who want unlimited backup.
- Non-technical people who need backup that configures itself.
- Anyone who wants offsite protection against fire, theft, and ransomware.
- People who value simplicity over features and flexibility.
It is not the right pick for everyone. If you need to back up many devices on one plan, IDrive is more economical. If you want sync, file-sharing, or to access files like Dropbox, this is backup only. NAS owners need a different tool, since network drives are not covered by default.
How much does Backblaze cost?
Refreshingly simple.
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free trial | $0 | 15 days |
| Personal Backup | ~$9/mo per computer | Unlimited storage, cheaper annually |
| Extended version history | Small add-on | Year or forever versions |
| Business / B2 storage | Separate | For teams and developers |
One flat price, unlimited storage, per computer. No tiers to calculate.
Backblaze vs IDrive
The main backup comparison.
| Feature | Backblaze | IDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Truly unlimited | Capped quota |
| Devices per plan | One computer | Unlimited devices |
| Simplicity | Dead simple | Feature-dense |
| Sync, disk image | No | Yes |
| Best for | Single-computer unlimited | Multi-device households |
Backblaze wins on unlimited simplicity; IDrive on device coverage and features. Pick by one computer versus many.
How I tested Backblaze
I ran it for a month on a real machine.
- Installed it and let it back up with no configuration.
- Tested restores: single file, folder, and a large selection.
- Tried the private-key encryption mode.
- Assessed the one-computer and network-drive limits.
Real backup use, judged on simplicity, unlimited value, and restore.
Real test results
The findings from a month.
- Setup: install, enter email, done; it backed up everything automatically.
- Unlimited: backed up a large drive with no cap or throttling.
- Restore: single-file web restore took about a minute; large restores offer a shipped drive.
- Encryption: private-key mode gave true zero-knowledge backup.
- Limits: one computer per plan, and network drives not covered, exactly as advertised.
The standout was effortlessness. Backup that configures itself and then disappears is what actually protects people, because they never have to maintain it.
What Backblaze is missing
A short, honest list.
- Multi-device coverage on one plan (it is per computer).
- Network-drive (NAS) backup by default.
- Sync and file-access features (it is pure backup).
- Longer default version history without the add-on.
None are dealbreakers for the single-computer user it targets.
Is Backblaze worth it in 2026?
Short answer: yes, for effortless single-computer backup. It backs up everything automatically with truly unlimited storage at a flat affordable price, and restores (including a shipped physical drive) are painless. For anyone who wants set-and-forget offsite protection of their main machine, it is the easiest recommendation in backup.
The catches are by design: one computer per plan, attached drives only (no NAS), and it is backup rather than sync or storage. For multiple devices and more features, IDrive is more flexible, and for private file storage and sync, Sync.com or pCloud. But for the single most important job, making sure you never lose your computer’s data, Backblaze does it more simply and completely than anything else.
🔗 Related topics
Frequently asked questions
Is Backblaze really unlimited?
How much does Backblaze cost?
Backblaze vs IDrive, which is better?
Is Backblaze secure and private?
How do Backblaze restores work?
What does Backblaze NOT back up?
Is Backblaze worth it over just an external drive?
Is Backblaze worth it?
I ran Backblaze for a month, testing the unlimited backup, restore options, and the famous simplicity. Here is where it wins, where it is limited...
Join the discussion
25 commentsInstalled Backblaze, entered my email, and it just started backing up everything. No folders to pick, no settings to agonize over. A month later my whole laptop is backed up and I have not touched it since. Set-and-forget is exactly what it promises.
Set-and-forget is the entire Backblaze philosophy, Aleksandra, and it nails it. Most backup fails because people overthink the setup or forget to maintain it. Backblaze backing up everything automatically with zero configuration is why it actually protects people. The best backup is the one that runs without you thinking about it. Glad it just works in the background for you.
Truly unlimited? I have about 3TB on my machine. No cap or throttling?
Genuinely unlimited, Bodhi, 3TB costs the same flat price as 300GB. No storage cap. The only thing to plan for is the initial backup of 3TB, which takes time over the internet, or you can use the physical-drive option to seed it faster. After that, only changes upload. For a single machine with a lot of data, unlimited at a flat price is exactly where Backblaze beats quota-based services.
My laptop was stolen and Backblaze had everything. Restored my entire working life to the new machine within a day. That is the moment you find out whether your backup was real. Mine was. Worth every cent in that one moment.
Backblaze or IDrive? I have a desktop and a laptop.
With two computers it is closer, Dunixi. Backblaze charges per computer, so two machines means two plans; [IDrive](/idrive-review/) backs up both (and more) against one quota. If both machines have a lot of data, Backblaze's per-computer unlimited might still win on simplicity; if you want one plan and dashboard for both plus phones, IDrive. For two computers, price it both ways, but IDrive's multi-device model often suits that case better.
Does it back up my external drives too or just the internal one?
Attached external drives, yes, Enid, as long as they are connected regularly (Backblaze pauses backup of a drive not seen for 30 days). What it does not do by default is network drives (NAS). So your internal drive and your plugged-in externals are covered under the one plan, which is great value. Just reconnect your externals periodically so their backups stay current. For NAS backup you would need a different approach.
The private encryption key option gives me zero-knowledge backup, which I wanted for sensitive work files. Just have to enter the key to restore. As long as you store the key safely it is the best of both worlds, simple and private.
Private-key encryption plus Backblaze's simplicity is a great combination for sensitive data, Fynn. You get zero-knowledge privacy without losing the set-and-forget ease. The one rule, as you say, is guard that key, since Backblaze cannot reset it and losing it means losing access. A password manager like [NordPass](/nordpass-review/) is the right place to store it. Smart setup for work files.
How long did the initial backup take for a big drive?
Depends on data size and upload speed, Govind, but for a large drive expect days to a couple of weeks over a typical connection. It backs up in the background so you are not waiting at the screen, and only changes upload after the first round. If you have terabytes and a slow line, the initial backup is the one slow part. After it completes, ongoing backup is quick and invisible. Patience for round one, smooth sailing after.
Ransomware hit a friend and I got paranoid. Backblaze keeping versions means even if my files got encrypted, I could roll back to clean copies. Extended the version history to be safe. Peace of mind against the scariest threat.
Is the default version history enough or do I need to pay to extend it?
The default keeps versions for a limited window (around 30 days), Ilango, which is fine for catching recent mistakes. For protection against problems you might not notice for months (like slow ransomware or a corruption you discover late), the extended or forever version history (a small add-on) is worth it. For most people 30 days is enough; for the truly cautious or for important work, extending it is cheap insurance. Match it to how quickly you would catch a problem.
Restored a single deleted file from the web in about a minute. Did not need to restore everything, just grabbed the one file. The restore flexibility, single file to whole drive, is better than I expected from something this simple.
Is it overkill if I already keep an external drive backup?
Not overkill, it is the missing half, Kepa. An external drive is great for fast local restores, but it sits next to your computer, so a fire, theft, or flood takes both. Backblaze is your offsite copy that survives a local disaster. The gold standard is both: external drive for speed, cloud for offsite safety. So keep the external and add Backblaze, do not replace one with the other. Together they are real protection.
Does it work the same on Mac and Windows?
Yes, Lumi, Backblaze works equally well on both Mac and Windows with the same set-and-forget approach and the same flat unlimited pricing per computer. The apps are near-identical in function. There is also a mobile app to access your backed-up files on the go. Whichever platform you are on, the experience and value are the same. For a mixed Mac-and-Windows household, you would just need a plan per computer.
Simplicity is exactly why I recommend it to non-technical family. My parents will never configure a backup tool, but Backblaze they just installed once and it runs. For people who would otherwise have no backup at all, that ease is everything.
For non-technical users, simplicity is the difference between having a backup and having none, Magnea. The fanciest backup tool is useless if someone never sets it up; Backblaze installing once and running forever is exactly what gets ordinary people protected. Recommending it to family who would otherwise have nothing is genuinely the best use of it. That ease saves data.
Best unlimited backup for one computer, simple as that. The one-computer limit and the network-drive thing are real, but for effortless, truly unlimited, set-and-forget backup of my main machine, nothing else is this painless. Worth it for the peace of mind.
That is the accurate Backblaze verdict, Nuri: best unlimited single-computer backup, with the per-computer and network-drive limits as the honest trade-offs. For effortless truly-unlimited backup of one machine, nothing is more painless. For multiple devices and more features, [IDrive](/idrive-review/) is more flexible, but for set-and-forget unlimited, Backblaze wins. Thanks for the clear take.