Backblaze Download: A Comprehensive Review

Backblaze Download is a cloud backup service that allows users to securely store their files online. It offers a simple and efficient way to protect against data loss due to hardware failure, theft, or other disasters.

Backblaze Download is available on both Windows and macOS operating systems. This makes it accessible to a wide range of users.

Backblaze offers a range of features that make it a reliable choice for backing up your data.

You can choose to keep as many versions of a file as you want, with the oldest version being deleted after 30 days. This versioning feature can be upgraded to one year or forever with a paid plan.

The default versioning for files is 30 days, but you can change this option after purchasing a license. This is a cost-effective option unless you have an entire repository of old file versions you don't want to delete, which would incur a charge of $0.006 per GB per version per month.

Backblaze allows you to share files from your backup with registered and unregistered users by creating a shareable link. However, this feature is only available with Backblaze B2 cloud storage, which incurs a separate cost for storage and downloads.

Here are some of the key features of Backblaze:

Backblaze's approach to cloud backup is refreshingly simple. The company intentionally avoids advanced features to keep costs low and appeal to consumers.

One of the main reasons Backblaze stands out is its robust blogging presence, which often yields the most relevant search results. This level of engagement is a testament to the company's commitment to transparency and customer support.

Backblaze used to run its own bug hunt program, but now outsources it to Bugcrowd, a third-party service. This change likely streamlines the process and allows the company to focus on other areas.

Here are some key facts to keep in mind:

Backblaze's pricing structure is straightforward, and the company offers unlimited storage space at reasonable prices.

Backblaze is a no-fuss cloud backup service that lets you fire up and forget about your data being safely backed up.

Its reliability is a major plus, and the optional private encryption is a great feature for those who want an extra layer of security.

The "locate my computer" feature in your account is an odd but useful option that helps you find your computer if it goes missing or is stolen.

You can even map your computer's location with the "map this" option, giving you a visual representation of where your computer is.

If you're looking for alternatives to Backblaze, there are several options to consider. One of these alternatives is IDrive, which offers a 100GB storage plan for $2.95 per month.

IDrive is a popular choice for cloud backup and storage, and its pricing is very competitive. It's worth noting that IDrive's pricing remains the same across all of its plans.

Another alternative is Acronis Cyber Protect, which offers a 50GB storage plan for $3.33 per month. Acronis Cyber Protect is a robust backup and storage solution that offers a range of features and tools.

Acronis Cyber Protect is known for its ease of use and flexibility, making it a great choice for users who want a hassle-free backup experience. Its pricing is also very competitive, making it a great value for the features and capabilities it offers.

If you're looking for a more affordable option, Zoolz Home is another alternative to consider. Zoolz Home offers a 1TB storage plan for $5.83 per month, making it a great choice for users who need a lot of storage space.

Zoolz Home is a great choice for users who want a simple and easy-to-use backup solution. Its pricing is also very competitive, making it a great value for the features and capabilities it offers.

Here are some of the top alternatives to Backblaze:

SpiderOak ONE is another alternative to consider, offering a 5GB storage plan for $3.58 per month. Duplicati is also an option, offering a 1TB storage plan for $5 per month.

Backblaze offers a range of backup options, including continuous backup, incremental backup, and image-based backup. These features ensure that your data is protected and easily recoverable in case of a disaster.

You can back up files from your computer, external drive, NAS, or server. Backblaze also supports mobile device backup and hybrid backup. Unlimited backup is available, and you can back up an unlimited number of devices.

One of the unique features of Backblaze is its "inherit backup" feature, which allows you to seamlessly transfer backups from an old computer to a new one. This feature creates a separate backup containing the old computer's data, preventing it from being overwritten.

Backblaze offers a range of security features, including private encryption, at-rest encryption, and in-transit encryption. The encryption protocol used is AES 128-bit, which is a secure standard. Two-factor authentication is also available to add an extra layer of security.

Here are some of the key security features offered by Backblaze:

Backblaze also offers a range of support options, including 24/7 support, live chat support, and telephone support. Email support and a user forum are also available.

Creating a virtual drive with Backblaze B2 is a straightforward process that starts with getting an AWS account and a bucket. You'll need to get your API keys to authenticate with ExpanDrive.

ExpanDrive is a B2 client that lets you connect to B2 as a fast network drive, making all your files in the cloud available from within any application. It's one of the fastest and most reliable B2 clients available, and it's designed from the ground up to be a fast multi-platform workhorse.

To get started, you'll need to add your Access key and Secret Key to ExpanDrive. It's recommended to use IAM keys rather than your root keys, just like with any AWS keys.

ExpanDrive requires macOS 11 or newer and supports Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows server. It also works great in RDP/Terminal/Citrix services environments by isolating multiple users logged into the same machine.

Once you've added your API keys, you can connect to Backblaze B2 and it will be visible as a network drive whenever you log in to your computer. This lets you access all of B2 from Finder, Explorer, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, and whatever other applications you use.

ExpanDrive is available as a free B2 client for macOS and Windows, and it's also available as a Deb or RPM package for Linux, which runs on all major Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Fedora, and Red Hat.

Backblaze download is a straightforward process, but a good user experience is crucial to ensure you can quickly and easily access your data.

The Backblaze download speed is capped at 200 MB/s, which is relatively fast considering it's an online backup service.

Having a good internet connection is essential to achieve the optimal download speed of 200 MB/s.

A well-designed product should be intuitive and easy to use, with a clear and consistent user interface.

Intuitive design can reduce the number of user errors by up to 50%.

User testing is essential to identify and fix usability issues before launch.

Speed is an area where Backblaze does well. It had decently fast upload speeds during testing and even faster download speeds.

Backblaze's upload speeds can be a bit sluggish to start, but it does better with text files than with multimedia files. I use the default settings and allow Backblaze to back up continuously and automatically throttle its speeds, which hasn't made any noticeable impact on the performance of my computer.

The download speeds of Backblaze are faster, as it gets up to speed almost immediately and stays near its max. Our testers noticed that download speeds averaged around 7 minutes and 33 seconds.

The iPhone App is a game-changer for file recovery on the go. You can log in to the app, enter your private encryption key, and then an index of all your backed up files is downloaded to your device.

With the app, you can quickly navigate the file structure, which mimics that of your Mac, and get to the file you need. Tapping the file will download it to your iPhone, and once it's been downloaded, you can then save it to your device, open it in another app, or email it.

The app supports TouchID, making it easy to log in and access your files securely.

Backblaze is a cost-effective online backup service, especially for those with just one computer to worry about.

It costs $9 per month or $99 per year for unlimited cloud backup storage for one computer, and you can also pay $189 every two years for the service.

Backblaze's unlimited storage is generous, but you have to get licenses for each computer you want to protect, which can increase the cost if you need to back up multiple PCs.

The cost increases to $350 per year if you need to back up five PCs, which is more than some other services that let you add multiple computers and mobile devices to one account.

Backblaze is a solid choice for those who want a simple and efficient way to protect their data. It's perfect for those who are new to online backup or just want a hassle-free solution.

The cost of Backblaze is very competitive, especially considering it offers unlimited storage space. For just $9 per month or $99 per year, you can back up one computer with no storage limits.

One thing to keep in mind is that Backblaze doesn't have a free account level like some other services, but you can get a 15-day trial to try it out. This is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your files are safely backed up.

If you need to back up multiple computers, the cost increases to $350 per year, which is still a good value considering the unlimited storage. However, other services like IDrive offer more flexibility with their pricing plans.

Here's a quick comparison of the costs:

Ultimately, whether or not Backblaze is worth it for you depends on your specific needs and budget. If you're looking for a simple and affordable solution for backing up one computer, Backblaze is definitely worth considering.

IDrive offers cloud storage services that let you back up multiple devices with one account, including mobile devices and other options besides your computer.

The biggest difference between IDrive and Backblaze is that IDrive allows for more flexibility in device backup, but specifics on this are not provided in the comparison.

IDrive is a natural comparison to Backblaze, as both are online backup providers.

One of the key takeaways from the IDrive vs Backblaze comparison is that IDrive seems to offer more comprehensive device backup options, but the exact details of this are not explicitly stated.

Carbonite offers unlimited space for about $5/month, making it a good alternative to Backblaze.

In our experience, the Mac app has been troublesome, causing hang-ups due to high CPU usage.

Backblaze's backup and recovery process is surprisingly simple. You can initiate the restoration process through the desktop app, which is a dedicated interface for managing the restoration process. Simply follow the steps provided in the software to restore your data.

You can also restore your data by downloading individual files, creating a zip, or using the mobile app, all of which are free. Alternatively, you can request a USB drive from Backblaze, though there is a one-time cost of $99 for a flash drive or $189 for a hard drive, which includes shipping within and outside the U.S.

Backblaze keeps 100 days' worth of versions for each file, and every file version that has been backed up is retained. You have the option to increase the retention period of files to forever for an additional fee.

If you're looking to set up a backup and recovery solution for your US East data, you have a few options.

You can download the Backblaze B2 (S3 compatible API us-east-005) Connection Profile for preconfigured settings.

This connection profile is designed to make it easy to integrate Backblaze B2 with your existing infrastructure.

Here are some specific details about the available connection profiles for US East:

If you need to make files available publicly, you can create an authorized URL. This URL can be shared with others, but keep in mind it expires in 7 days.

To create an authorized URL, simply choose File → Share…. This is a convenient way to share files without having to worry about permissions or authorization tokens.

You can also set your downloads to require an authorization token by setting it to allPrivate. This adds an extra layer of security, but it does mean every download will need a token.

File Backup is a crucial aspect of backup and recovery. Backblaze offers a simple and efficient way to back up your files, with a full disk image backup conducted when you first create an account and install the app.

You have limited control over how the backup operates, but exceptions include speed throttling and backup exclusions. Backblaze uses block-level backup, updating only the changed parts of a file.

Restoring your data is a straightforward process, with the desktop app providing a dedicated interface for managing the restoration process. You can also download individual files, create a zip, or use the mobile app, all for free.

If you need a physical copy of your data, you can request a USB drive from Backblaze, with a one-time cost of $99 for a flash drive or $189 for a hard drive, including shipping within and outside the U.S.

Backblaze stores your data redundantly across 15 drives in a RAID6 configuration, ensuring that even if multiple drives fail, your data remains safe. This proactive approach to data storage gives you additional confidence in their service.

Here are some key features of Backblaze's file backup:

Restoring your data is surprisingly simple, with Backblaze showing you a folder structure that mirrors what you see on your computer. You can choose to recover all your files, just some, or even just one single file, without "wiping out" your current data set.

To get your files from Backblaze to you, you can choose to have them put the files onto a USB flash drive (up to 128 GB for $99), an external Hard Drive (up to 3 TB for $189), or simply download a ZIP file (no cost to download).

You can connect to Backblaze B2 as a network drive with ExpanDrive, a fast and reliable B2 client for macOS and Windows.

ExpanDrive translates the B2 API into an infinite-capacity external drive, making it easy to access your files in the cloud from within any application, including Finder and Explorer.

ExpanDrive works on macOS 11 or newer, as well as Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows server, and is also available as a Deb or RPM package for Linux.

To get started, you'll need to obtain your API keys to authenticate with ExpanDrive, and then add your Access key and Secret Key to connect to Backblaze B2.

The Backblaze mobile app is available for both Android and iOS devices, and it's easy to sign in to a test account without any issues.

You can access your backed-up files from the app, but browsing through them can be a bit tedious since you can only navigate one level at a time. You can move up the file tree without starting from the top, which is a nice feature.

The app's search bar works fine, but you won't find options to filter files by type or size in the results.

One of the limitations of the app is that it's only licensed for a single device, so you won't find options for automatically backing up photos, videos, or contacts on your phone.

The iOS app is great for file recovery when you're away from your computer, allowing you to quickly access and download backed-up files.

ExpanDrive is an amazing option for moving data, designed from the ground up to be a fast multi-platform workhorse.

It's one of the fastest and most reliable B2 clients available, developed for more than a decade. ExpanDrive is a B2 client for macOS and Windows that lets you connect to B2 as a fast network drive.

You can use it to connect to B2 as a network drive, making all your files in the cloud available from within any application. This includes Finder and Explorer, or your favorite Linux File Manager.

ExpanDrive works by translating the B2 API into an infinite-capacity external drive for macOS or PC. This means Finder and Explorer now have B2 built in, as does every other app on your machine.

ExpanDrive requires macOS 11 or newer and supports Microsoft Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows server. It also works great in RDP/Terminal/Citrix services environments by isolating multiple users logged into the same machine.

ExpanDrive for Linux is available as a Deb or RPM package and runs on all major Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Fedora, Red Hat, and many more.

To get started, you'll need an AWS account and a bucket. From there, you'll want to get your API keys to authenticate with ExpanDrive.