The best cloud backup (opens in new tab) services are designed to streamline the file backup process, enabling you to upload information to secure cloud servers. Many platforms double as the best cloud storage (opens in new tab) platforms, and come with automatic backup tools, enabling you to schedule regular backups as required.
You will also find platforms with file versioning, which enables you to access previous versions of documents and other files. Security must be considered, and here, we'll dive deeper into the world of cloud backup services. We’ve tested countless options, and put together the following list to help you settle on the best cloud backup solutions for your business.
The 3 best cloud backup services available right now
Check out this exclusive cloud backup deal from Backblaze:
How much does a cloud backup service cost?
You can expect to pay anything from a few dollars a month to tens or even, in rare cases, hundreds of dollars a month for a cloud backup service. Some platforms offer lifetime licenses with a one-time fee, while others only have monthly or annual subscription options.
One thing that you will find is that many platforms have a free-forever plan that might be good enough. These sometimes come with very generous storage, although it varies from provider to provider.
For example, IDrive, our leading cloud backup platform, has plans from $79.50 a year for 5TB of storage. Its Team plans start at $99.50 for up to five users, five computers, and 5TB; while its unlimited computer and user Business plan costs $1,499.50 for 5TB.
Which is the best cloud backup service?
We think the best cloud backup service is IDrive, a platform that offers extremely competitive prices, support for unlimited devices, and excellent cross-platform compatibility. Dropbox Business’s file versioning is excellent and sets the cloud veteran apart, while relatively-new competitor pCloud is great for its lifetime subscription and extended file versioning capabilities.
Backblack Business Backup is another great choice, particularly for those with large amounts of data. In turn, NordLocker emphasizes cloud data security in a way no other backup platform does.
| Cloud backup service | Lowest price | Storage capacity | File versioning | Encryption |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDrive (opens in new tab) | $79.50 a year | Up to 100TB | Up to 30 versions retained | Zero-knowledge |
| Dropbox Business (opens in new tab) | $12.50 a month | As much as needed | 180 days | End-to-end |
| pCloud (opens in new tab) | $7.99 a month | Up to 2TB | Up to one year | Zero-knowledge |
| Backblaze Business Backup (opens in new tab) | $70 a year | Unlimited | 30-day retention | Zero-knowledge |
| NordLocker (opens in new tab) | $3.99 a month | Up to 2TB | None | Advanced zero-knowledge |
The best cloud backup services available right now
IDrive is a clear industry leader in the cloud storage and backup space. Our pick for the best cloud storage (opens in new tab) all-round, it offers excellent backup solutions, with standout features including its support for unlimited devices, generous storage space, and unlimited user plans.
On top of this, IDrive offers some of the best secure cloud storage (opens in new tab), and the best encrypted cloud storage (opens in new tab), we’ve seen. It uses full 256-bit AES end-to-end encryption as standard. Zero-knowledge encryption is also available, adding an extra layer of protection for important or sensitive data.
The main downside of IDrive is its sometimes slow upload and download speeds, but this will be a minor issue for most users. There’s a neat free-forever version that you can use to test the platform. We think you’ll like it, and we’d recommend it for anyone looking for a versatile, affordable cloud backup platform that you can rely on.
Read our full IDrive review (opens in new tab).
Dropbox Business offers excellent cloud backup services from a cloud storage giant. There are plans for businesses of all sizes, and you can add storage as required. Dropbox’s standout feature is its default 180-day file retention, which is among the best in the industry.
On top of this, Dropbox comes with excellent file sharing and collaboration tools. There’s also a range of third-party app integrations that you can use to improve your efficiency, along with excellent administrator tools.
The lack of zero-knowledge encryption will bother some, but we’d highly recommend taking advantage of Dropbox’s free trial and testing the platform if long-term file versioning is important to you.
Read our full Dropbox Business review (opens in new tab), and our Dropbox review (opens in new tab) analyzing its consumer service.
pCloud is an extremely popular cloud storage platform due to its attractive lifetime subscription options. Individual users can access 2TB of storage for life for just $350. Team licenses start at $7.99 per user, a month.
By default, all old files and previous versions are retained for 30 days before being deleted. But extended file versioning is available and can be stretched to one year. On top of this, all Business plans come with pCloud Encryption, which enables client-side zero-knowledge encryption.
pCloud can also be used across various platforms, with mobile, desktop, and web apps available. The Business plan enables you to add team access controls, and there are loads of tools to help you get the most out of the platform.
Read our full pCloud review (opens in new tab).
Backblaze offers advanced cloud backup services through its Backblaze Business Backup product. This is designed for businesses of all sizes, with a simple price structure and support for unlimited storage.
A single computer license will cost you $7 a month or $70 a year. Licenses are also available for servers and other systems. If you want to add more devices, simply purchase multiple licenses.
Another thing we liked about Backblaze was its 30-day file retention. It also uses zero-knowledge encryption, and its upload and download speeds are excellent. If you need a reliable option to back up a large system, Backblaze Business Backup is hard to go past.
Read our full Backblaze review (opens in new tab).
NordLocker is known to be one of the most secure cloud storage platforms in the world. From the same product family as leading VPN provider NordVPN (opens in new tab), while its cloud backup solutions aren’t anywhere near as powerful as those offered by some of the other platforms on this list, its security focus earns it a place.
On top of this, NordLocker is very easy to use. There’s no support for mobile devices, and file sharing is limited to with other NordLocker users, but these small flaws aren’t dealbreakers.
For $9.99 a month, you can access 2TB of highly secure cloud storage, 24/7 priority support, and a suite of extra security tools. This makes it a great option for those who need to store small amounts of very important data or other information.
Cloud backup FAQs
Looking for more information about the best cloud backup services? Our FAQ will help you understand the benefits of backing up files in the cloud.
What is cloud backup?
The term cloud backup refers to the process of uploading a copy of your files or other data to the cloud for secure storage. Backups can be performed manually, and many cloud backup services include versatile automatic backup tools. Following a backup, you can access and restore your files from any device with an internet connection.
How do I back up my data to the cloud?
Before you can back up your data to the cloud, you will need to purchase a cloud backup service subscription. This will give you the tools you need. Each backup platform is different, so follow the prompts for the one you use. In general, though, backups are very easy to perform, and you shouldn’t have any trouble.
Are there any disadvantages to using cloud backup services?
Cloud backups have loads of advantages over using traditional backup methods, but they do have their downsides. For one, upload and download speeds will be limited by your network. Prices can get expensive if you have large amounts of data, and there’s always the risk—albeit a small one—that an issue with your service provider will lead to the loss of your data.
Benefits of the best cloud backup services
How we review the best cloud backup services
We’ve reviewed numerous cloud backup services over the years, and we follow a consistent process with every new review. This begins with creating a new account with the providers we plan to test.
Next, we explore aspects of usability, functionality, cross-platform compatibility, and more. We also look at performance in the form of upload and download speeds, along with customer service and security.
Next steps when choosing cloud backup services
If you’re feeling a little confused, you might like to read about how to choose the right cloud storage provider for backups (opens in new tab). Discover why you should be thinking about your cloud backup strategy (opens in new tab), and take a look at the ways you can fight ransomware with cloud backups (opens in new tab). We've also ranked the best cloud storage for business (opens in new tab), in case you're looking for business-wide storage and sync capabilities.
