IDrive

Free for 2 GB

Reviewed September 2009

Good value
Rich features
Intuitive web interface
Windows, Mac compatible

Requires separate software
Some find it too complicated
Slow
Stingy storage limit

Where to Buy

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Our Analysis

Reviewers say that IDrive offers more features than basic online backup services like Mozy or Carbonite. IDrive offers the same 2 GB of free space as MozyHome Free, but you get useful features such as file searching, drag-and-drop file restoration and unlimited file versioning. Reviewers say these features make the paid version worthwhile. Like most of its competitors, IDrive requires separate software, but there's also a Mac version. Most say the web interface is easy to use, but at least one tester finds the interface unnecssarily complex and would like to see improvements to the scheduling tool. Others found the service to be slow and thought there were too many options. If you just need a simple online backup service, Carbonite (*Est. $55 a year for unlimited storage) gets the best reviews.

IDrive gets decent coverage by reviewers. The best review comes from a recent test at Macworld, where Glenn Fleishman evalutes seven online backup services. Michael Muchmore of PCMag.com gives the most comprehensive review, along with a test at NotebookReview.com. Stuart Andrew's review at PC Authority (Authority) is also helpful. IDrive is also included in a test comparing eight online storage services in a Danish magazine, Komputer for Alle.

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Our Sources

1. Macworld Details/Subscribe

In this test of seven online backup services, iDrive earns an average rating of 3.5 out of 5. Reviewer Glenn Fleishman finds a few things to like about the service, but he finds the interface too confusing and doesn't like the scheduling tool.

Review: Online backup services, Glenn Fleishman, Sept. 7, 2009

2. Notebook Review.com

Rick Vanover acknowledges that IDrive has a whole host of features, and he thinks it's a good choice for home users or small businesses.

Review: IDrive Online Backup Review, Rick Vanover, Aug. 18, 2009

3. PC Authority Details/Subscribe

IDrive gets high marks from PC Authority, where Stuart Andrews says it's a pretty good value among online backup services. However, he notes that it's not as easy to use as Carbonite.

Review: IDrive, Stuart Andrews, Feb. 2, 2009

4. PCMag.com Details/Subscribe

PCMag.com's Michael Muchmore reports on his experiences with IDrive in this detailed review. He admits to much hair-tearing over IDrive's user interface, but the service offers impressive features like file searching and easy restoring. He thinks IDrive is more suitable for technophiles.

Review: IDrive Review, Michael Muchmore, April 16, 2008

5. PC Pro

Stuart Andrews at PC Pro, a British magazine, chooses IDrive as the best value among eight backup services. Unlike other reviewers, he doesn't complain about the clunky interface. He says the paid version is a good value and is impressed by its speed and incremental backup capabilities.

Review: IDrive, Stuart Andrews, Sept. 2008

6. BackupReview.info

This anonymous review is comprehensive but largely positive. IDrive's user interface and free file archiving policy are favored. However, if you choose to run a bandwidth test, you can't stop it midway. Note that you need to download a PDF file to read the entire review.

Review: Review: IDrive Online Backup, Editors at BackupReview.info, Jan. 27, 2008

7. Komputer for Alle

Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen and Morten S. ¯stergaard of Danish publication Komputer for Alle test eight online backup services and provide short reviews of each. Most of the half-page review of IDrive is spent complaining about how slow it is, but the authors admit that IDrive has advanced features and a high level of security.

Review: Big Test: Software Test of Free Online Backup, Steffen Slumstrup Nielsen and Morten S. ¯stergaard, Nov. 2008