In the crowded market of cloud storage and backup solutions, Backblaze has carved out a distinct and enduring niche. Founded in 2007 by Gleb Budman and Billy Ng, the company operates with a famously straightforward mission: to make backing up data astonishingly easy and affordable. Unlike many competitors that offer tiered storage plans or focus on file synchronisation, Backblaze’s flagship product is laser-focused on one core service: unlimited, automatic backup for a single computer for a single, predictable monthly fee. This singular focus has earned it a loyal user base among those who prioritise set-and-forget data protection for their personal machines.
What is Backblaze?
Backblaze is a specialised online backup service designed primarily for personal computer users. Its central proposition is remarkably simple: for a flat fee of $9 per month (or $99 per year), it provides unlimited cloud backup storage for one computer. Once installed, the client software runs continuously in the background, automatically identifying and uploading new and changed files from the designated drives connected to that machine. The goal is not to be a live file-syncing service like Dropbox or Google Drive, but rather a comprehensive safety net. It aims to ensure that in the event of hardware failure, theft, or ransomware attack, a complete copy of your data - from system files and applications to personal documents and media libraries - is securely stored off-site and available for restore.
The company behind the service, Backblaze, Inc., is a privately-held American cloud storage and data backup provider headquartered in San Mateo, California. Beyond its consumer backup product, the company also operates a significant business-to-business arm called B2 Cloud Storage. This is an S3-compatible object storage service that competes directly with offerings from Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure, often at a lower cost. This dual focus informs the consumer product; the robust, scalable infrastructure built for enterprise clients also supports the personal backup service, providing a high degree of reliability and data durability that the company claims is 99.9% over 11+ years.
Who is Backblaze best for?
Backblaze is not a one-size-fits-all cloud solution. Its design and limitations make it an excellent fit for specific user profiles, while others may find it lacking. In our view, it excels for individuals who want comprehensive, hands-off backup for a primary computer without worrying about storage caps or complex configuration. It is less suitable for those who need to sync files across multiple devices in real-time or who primarily work from mobile devices.
- Users with large, growing media libraries: Photographers, videographers, and music collectors who accumulate terabytes of data and dread per-gigabyte pricing models.
- Non-technical users seeking simplicity: Individuals who want "install it and forget it" protection without managing storage quotas or selecting specific folders.
- Owners of a single primary computer: Ideal for desktop or laptop users who want that machine fully backed up, as the licence is per-computer, not per-user.
- Those needing a reliable "last resort" backup: Users who already employ local backups (like an external drive) but want an off-site copy for disaster recovery.
Key features
Unlimited Automatic Backup
The cornerstone feature is unlimited backup for one computer. Once installed, the Backblaze client automatically scans connected internal and external drives (excluding network drives) and begins uploading files. It continues to run in the background, detecting new or modified files and adding them to your backup set. There are no storage limits, which removes the anxiety of hitting a cap with large photo or video collections.
Continuous, Throttled Backup
Backblaze is designed to back up files continuously as they change. However, to avoid overwhelming your internet connection, it intelligently throttles its upload speed. You can manually adjust these settings to pause backups, limit speed, or schedule them for specific times, ensuring the service doesn't interfere with other online activities during critical hours.
Extended File Version History and Deleted File Retention
By default, Backblaze keeps versions of files for 30 days and retains files you delete from your computer for 30 days. Crucially, you can pay extra for extended version history options (one year or forever). This feature is vital for recovering from data corruption or ransomware, as it allows you to roll back to an earlier, uncorrupted version of a file from within your retention period.
Locate My Computer and Remote File Upload
If your laptop is lost or stolen, you can log into your Backblaze web account to view its last known IP address and location on a map, which can aid recovery efforts. Furthermore, the "Backblaze Attached" feature allows you to upload files directly to your backup via the web interface, useful for adding important documents from another device so they are included in your computer's backup set.
Web-Based Restore and Physical Drive Shipment
When you need to recover data, you can browse and download files directly through the Backblaze website. For large-scale restores (over 500GB), downloading can be impractical. Here, Backblaze offers a unique "Restore Return Refund" service: they will ship your data on a USB flash drive (up to 256GB for $99) or a hard drive (up to 8TB for $189). If you return the drive, the fee is refunded, making mass recovery faster and more convenient, albeit with an upfront deposit.
Backblaze pricing
Backblaze’s pricing is famously simple and transparent. For its personal backup product, there are only two direct plans: a monthly subscription at $9 per month, or an annual subscription at $99 per year (which effectively reduces the monthly cost to $8.25). This covers unlimited backup for one computer. The only significant add-ons are for extended version history: +$2/month to keep versions for one year, or +$4/month to keep versions "forever." The "Restore Return Refund" drive shipment is an additional, refundable cost as needed.
In our view, the value proposition is exceptionally clear and strong for its target user. Compared to services like iCloud, Google One, or Dropbox, which charge escalating fees for more storage space, Backblaze’s flat rate for unlimited data is compelling for anyone with more than about 1TB of data to protect. However, it is crucial to remember you are paying for a backup licence per computer, not for storage accessible across multiple devices. For a household with several computers, the cost multiplies, which may make a family plan from another provider more economical for sync-and-share needs.
What we like
- The unlimited storage model provides genuine peace of mind for users with vast data collections, eliminating constant storage management.
- The set-up process is exceptionally straightforward, making it accessible even for the least technically inclined users.
- The option for physical drive shipment for large restores is a practical and customer-centric solution to a common cloud backup pain point.
- Continuous, automatic operation in the background ensures backups are always current without requiring user intervention.
- Pricing is transparent and predictable, with no hidden fees or surprise charges for exceeding a data cap.
What could be better
- The licence is strictly for one computer only; backing up multiple PCs in a household requires separate, full-price subscriptions, which can become costly.
- It lacks file synchronisation and sharing features, meaning it cannot replace services like Dropbox for collaborative work or accessing files on the go from multiple devices.
- Backups are limited to directly attached drives (internal or USB/external); files on network-attached storage (NAS) drives are not supported.
- The default 30-day version history is relatively short compared to some competitors, and the more robust history requires a permanent additional monthly fee.
Backblaze verdict
Backblaze delivers almost perfectly on its core promise: to provide simple, unlimited, and automatic cloud backup for a single computer at a fair price. Our testing suggests it is a remarkably "fire-and-forget" solution. Once configured, it works silently in the background, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your entire system is being copied off-site is significant. The unique physical restore option is a standout feature that solves a major real-world problem in an elegant way. For individuals - particularly creatives with large media libraries or anyone who uses one primary machine - it represents outstanding value and is easy to recommend.
However, it is not a universal cloud solution. Users who need to sync files across an ecosystem of devices, collaborate on documents, or back up data from a home NAS server will find Backblaze ill-suited to those tasks. Its per-computer licensing also makes it less economical for families compared to multi-user plans from sync-focused providers.
In conclusion, if your primary need is a robust, set-and-forget safety net for your most important computer, Backblaze is arguably one of the best and most straightforward services available. Its limitations are clear and by design, focusing its resources on doing one job exceptionally well. For that specific job, it is a top-tier choice. If your needs extend to multi-device syncing, collaboration, or whole-household backup, you should look at more comprehensive ecosystems like iCloud+, Google One, or IDrive, which blend backup and sync features across multiple users and devices.