Basic Online Backup

For home users, basic services are easiest to use

Mozy and Carbonite are the most well known online backup providers. Mozy released updates to its popular online backup in 2010, and comparison tests show that these improvements are enough to propel it past Carbonite -- for now. Mozy posts higher ratings than Carbonite in group tests at NotebookReview.com and Britain's MacFormat magazine, and it earns an Editors' Choice award from Laptop Magazine.

Although Mozy also offers a business-focused service, reviewers concentrate on MozyHome, the online backup designed for home users. In January 2011, Mozy updated its MozyHome pricing plans to eliminate unlimited options. In its place, users can opt for a 50 GB, one-computer plan at a cost of $6 per month or a 125 GB, three-computer plan at $10 per month. If you sign up for a year you get a free month, and you get three months free if you sign up for a two-year commitment. If you need more storage, it's available in 20 GB chunks for an additional $2 per month.

Other aspects of the service remain the same. Data is sent to Mozy's servers using 128-bit SSL encryption, and only new or changed files are backed up after the initial backup. Numerous restore options are available, including downloading from the web or a DVD. Multiple file versions are stored for 30 days. If you don't have much to back up, Mozy offers free online storage of up to 2 GB, which is enough space for 200 MP3 files or up to 300 digital photos.

Reviewers say MozyHome is easy to use and a great choice for those who want a simple backup solution. "Of all the systems I've tested, Mozy gets my top recommendation for its easy-to-use software and flawless performance in six months of testing," Grant Gibson writes at The Herald, a newspaper in Scotland. After downloading the Mozy client from the web, the software automatically begins searching for files to back up (you can also manually select files if you prefer). Subsequent backups go largely unnoticed and don't cause a significant drag on your computer, reviews say.

The latest version of MozyHome provides automatic local backup to an external hard drive in addition to online backup. In addition, the interface has been redesigned and uploads are slightly faster. As a result, MozyHome gets very high ratings from reviewers, who say the new interface is more intuitive and easier to use. Reviewers also like that you can pause the backup process if you're in the middle of an intensive task that needs your computer's full attention. Though the current version of MozyHome was initially only available for Windows PC, Mac support has been added.

Even though MozyHome has faster upload speeds, the initial backup can still be slow depending on your Internet connection. Mozy says 2 to 4 GB per day is reasonable to expect, and the editors of PC Pro test speeds in the field, uploading 1 GB of data in 6.5 hours. Restoring your data is much faster; PC Pro restored 500 GB of data in less than 30 minutes. Some reviewers dislike that the Mozy client can never be shut down -- it's always running in the background.

Carbonite (*Est. $55 per year for unlimited storage) offers many of the same features as MozyHome, and it continues to offer unlimited online storage for one computer. Reviews are generally positive, but Mozy earns higher overall ratings this year. Carbonite online backup doesn't offer a monthly subscription option, but you can save money by opting for two-year (*Est. $100 for unlimited storage) or three-year (*Est. $130 for unlimited storage) subscriptions. Carbonite backs up your files when the computer is not being used, and files can be restored via the client on your computer or the Carbonite website. It's compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X.

Reviewers say Carbonite is one of the simplest online backup services to use. After a quick installation, you can choose specific files to back up or the Carbonite client will begin the online backup process based on its default settings (MS Office documents, music files, photos and the like). Keep in mind, however, that videos and all files bigger than 4 GB must be added manually. "For those who aren't tech-savvy and just want to set and forget their backup, Carbonite makes it easy to protect common folders with the click of a button," Dana Wollman writes at Laptop Magazine. Reviewers like the unobtrusive backup process, which runs in the background when your computer is idle. They also appreciate the clear marking of each file's backup status, indicating which files are backed up and which are not. The file restoration process is also pretty simple, and Carbonite has the ability to restore everything or just individual files.

Like most online backup services, Carbonite's upload times can be slow. In PC Pro's test, it took more than 6.5 hours to upload 1 GB of data, which is nearly identical to Mozy's results. Restoring 500 GB of data was slightly slower than Mozy, but it was still relatively speedy at 37 minutes. Some reviewers say they wish Carbonite provided more control over the timing of backups or offered more custom options for manually controlling the backup process. A number of reviewers also say manually adding files larger than 4 GB can be time-consuming. Unlike Mozy, Carbonite doesn't offer a free account, although you can test out the service with a 15-day free trial.

The latest version of Carbonite is said to make the file-restoration process easier. More search options are included for finding specific files in your backup, and Carbonite will now store previous versions of your files for three months. Mobile apps for the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android mobile phones are available for viewing stored files on the go. However, reviewers have been slow to comment on these upgrades.

CrashPlan is another online backup service that is enjoying very positive reviews. In fact, experts say CrashPlan is the best choice if you want online and local backup from one provider. The basic version of CrashPlan provides free local backup to an external hard drive or another computer, and you can do offsite backups (with permission) to another computer connected to the Internet. To get traditional online backup, you need to step up to the subscription-based CrashPlan+ (*Est. $50 per year for unlimited storage). Signing up for a two-year (*Est. $80) or three-year (*Est. $120) subscription can save you money, as can signing up for a plan with a storage capacity of 10 GB (*Est. $25 per year). These prices are for one computer; you'll pay a bit more for a family plan that will cover from two to 10 computers (*Est. $120 per year for unlimited storage). Regardless of the version, CrashPlan is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.

Reviewers say CrashPlan+ is a great value because you get local and online backup. For the same price as other online backup providers, CrashPlan+ allows you to back up your files in three locations -- online, on another computer and on an external hard drive. You can even back up to a friend's computer as long as they have a CrashPlan account. MacFormat magazine tests six online backup services, including Mozy and Carbonite, and declares CrashPlan the winner. "If backup is all you need, go for CrashPlan," Ian Betteridge writes. (Note, however, that the price has gone up since that review.)

Even though it offers more backup options than most competitors, reviewers say CrashPlan is easy to use and only takes a few minutes to install. The interface is robust and it is easy to manually select files if you don't want it to scan your files automatically. "CrashPlan has one of the easiest-to-use destination selection dialogs we've seen in a backup tool," Karl Hodge writes at the U.K. edition of Macworld, which gives CrashPlan an Editors' Choice award. Restoring files is also simple, reviews say, and can be accomplished via the CrashPlan client or the website. 

Some reviewers say that it's more difficult to limit bandwidth with CrashPlan than other online backup services. Andrew Harrison at PC Advisor says it requires a trip to the settings menu, which is an "advanced tweak" that could be complicated for novice computer users. PCMag.com, reviewing the latest version of CrashPlan, finds the newly added ability to create multiple backup sets to be a plus.

The free version of CrashPlan contains ads within the client manager, but those are removed in CrashPlan+. That paid version also supports continuous backup so that your files are backed up as soon as you make a change instead of at fixed intervals throughout the day. CrashPlan+ also uses 448-bit encryption instead of 128-bit.