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MozyHome

*Est. $6 per month for 50 GB

Reviewed

May 2012

by ConsumerSearch

Best online backup service

Pros

Easy to set up and use
Works with Windows, Mac OS
Unobtrusive backups, fast local backups
Strong security features
Stash feature adds syncing capabilities

Cons

Initial backup is slow
Unlimited storage plans eliminated
Higher priced than other options

Where to Buy

Our Analysis
Specs

While experts say it isn't quite as great as it used to be, most still name MozyHome as the best online backup service for most personal users. The company also offers similar products (MozyPro and MozyEnterprise) for business users and large corporations. MozyHome is compatible with Windows PCs and Macs, with Android and iOS apps available for photo viewing and secure file access.

Critics say MozyHome is simple to set up and use, and although the initial upload can take some time, subsequent backups transfer much faster. Saving files to an external hard drive is also very quick. The backups happen at scheduled times and don't bother the user at all. You can also pause uploads to save Internet bandwidth, if desired. Restoring files is a snap, and you can choose to have your data returned either as a download or by DVD.

Safety and reliability are also feathers in MozyHome's cap. The service saves file changes for 30 days and allows you to restore deleted files in the same time frame. Users can choose between two types of file encryption: Mozy-supplied 448-bit Blowfish encryption or 256-bit AES encryption with a personal key you devise yourself. However, while personal AES keys protect your data from even Mozy's eyes, bear in mind that if you lose or forget that key, Mozy can't help you restore data that's been encrypted using it. File transfers to Mozy's servers use additional 128-bit SSL encryption.

Mozy's Stash tool adds a synchronization service to MozyHome, a unique feature for a traditional online backup service. Any files changed or added to the Stash folder on your PC or Mac immediately become available on your other computers that have Stash installed. Android and iOS apps let you access your files and upload mobile photos and videos directly to Stash.

Critics say pricing is the major drawback to MozyHome. The basic service is more costly than most other online backup services and only stores 50 GB worth of data, although additional 20 GB blocks of storage can be bought for $2. There's also a subscription plan that protects up to 125 GB of data on up to three computers for $10 a month. However, there's no option that allows for unlimited storage for a single PC, a feature that is available from some competitors and a knock against MozyHome cited by some critics. If you prefer an unlimited storage option, experts recommend either Carbonite (*Est. $60 per year for unlimited storage) or CrashPlan+ (*Est. $50 per year for unlimited storage).

MozyHome is included in a number of comparative tests, including those at NotebookReview.com, Computerworld.com, Maximum PC magazine and Britain's MacFormat magazine. Although these comparative reviews provide the best information, we also found solid single-product reviews at NextAdvisor.com and PC Pro. About.com, ConsumerReports.org and Lifehacker.com also briefly chime in on MozyHome.

Where To Buy

Our Sources

1. Mac Format

This article from MacFormat magazine, part of the TechRadar media site, touches on six online backup services, including Mozy. CrashPlan is declared the overall winner, but Mozy gets high ratings on many criteria.

Review: 6 of the Best Online Backup Services for Mac, Chrisopher Brennan, Feb. 18, 2011

2. Computerworld.com

Computerworld.com's Brian Nadel examines five of the top online backup services and names MozyHome the best of the bunch overall. "It may not be perfect, but it offers a great mix of economy, security and features," he writes.

Review: 5 Online Backup Services Keep Your Data Safe, Brian Nadel, Feb. 6, 2012

3. NotebookReview.com

NotebookReview.com gives MozyHome a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. In reviewing five online backup services, Mozy is among the highest-rated services, though the price/value part of the equation might no longer be valid following the company's pricing changes. Still, Dustin Sklavos writes, "I'd have a hard time finding a better Web-based backup option."

Review: Mozy 2.0 Online Backup Review, Dustin Sklavos, May 18, 2010

4. PC Pro

MozyHome receives a Recommended award from Britain's PC Pro. Stuart Andrews says Mozy is easy to use, with a more intuitive interface than previous versions and improved file transfer speeds. "Unless you need minute-by-minute continuous backup, then, it's our cloud-based backup service of choice," he writes.

Review: Mozy Review, Stuart Andrews, March 14, 2012

5. NextAdvisor.com

MozyHome is one of several online backup services to win a perfect 5-star rating from the editors of NextAdvisor.com. The interface, file speeds and ease of restoration all win praise, and the editors don't find Mozy's storage limits restrictive. "Mozy's storage caps may seem like a disadvantage, but the 50 GB should be enough for most users," they write.

Review: Mozy Review: Online Cloud Backup, Editors of NextAdvisor.com

6. MaximumPC.com

Maximum PC magazine reviews several of the top online backup services, but the write-ups are more descriptive than comparative, and the publication fails to pick a best overall service -- but the conclusion for Mozy is less than glowing: "Although Mozy's current pricing seems very steep compared to others, it provides free local backup."

Review: The Back-Up Plan: We Examine 5 Cloud-Based Services, Mark Edward Soper, Feb. 24, 2011

7. About.com

MozyHome lands in the fourth slot of About.com's list of the best online backup services, behind CrashPlan+, SugarSync and Backblaze. "Any exceptional backup service should be easy to use, automatic, reliable, and easy to restore from," Tim Fisher writes. "Mozy is all of these." (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: 6 Online Backup Services Reviewed, Tim Fisher, May 2012

8. Lifehacker.com

Lifehacker.com names CrashPlan+ the best online backup app for Windows and dedicates most of the space to that service, but Gordon says that Mozy was Lifehacker.com's favorite backup option until it raised prices and removed unlimited storage.

Review: The Best Online Backup App for Windows, Whitson Gordon, April 3, 2012

9. ConsumerReports.org

MozyHome is one of the three online backup services included in a ConsumerReports.org article about the ways to back up your PC data. The publication references old, outdated pricing information, however.

Review: Computer Backup Systems, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

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