Online Backup Services: Reviews

Mozy dominates the competition in reviews of online backup services. It's a great value; $5 per month gets you unlimited, secure online storage. You can schedule regular and/or incremental backups, and your data is… encrypted the entire time. Mozy mainly uses your computer's idle time to backup files, minimizing impact on system performance (uploads can still be slow, however). Although initially easy to set up, configuring the program can be a little confusing with its plethora of options. Despite this, reviews say Mozy is excellent if you don't need file sharing. It works with Vista and older versions of Windows as well as with Mac OS X.

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Even among free backup options, Mozy reigns in reviews. MozyHome Free gives you 2 GB of secure storage for personal files, photos and music. Some reviewers recommend you try Mozy with a free account and then upgrade to… the unlimited plan (above) if and when you outgrow it. You can schedule incremental backups that use your computer's idle time to minimize the impact on system performance. However, some reviews say uploads can be slower with the free service than with MozyHome Unlimited.

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Reviewers agree that IDrive offers more features than Mozy and most of its competitors. There's drag-and-drop file restore, a search function to help you locate individual files, and archived versions of each backup file,… among other features. Most of these functions are available with the free Basic account (maximum 2 GB of storage). Paid accounts are also available, but some can get pricey. One caveat, experts say, is that IDrive has a complex interface that can be challenging for users who are less tech-savvy.

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If you need to share files with family or co-workers, reviewers recommend the slick Box.net. It's entirely web-based, so there's no software to install, and you can access your files from anywhere. A welcome feature is… its OpenBox platform with access to services such as blogging, social networking and file editing. This allows you to modify or post files entirely online, even if you're away from your home computer. Beware, however, that the Lite (free) version limits upload file size to 25 MB. A variety of paid subscription plans for individuals and businesses is also offered.

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