MozyHome Free

*Free for 2 GB

Reviewed October 2009

Best free online backup service

Easy to set up
Mac OS compatible
Unobtrusive backups
Free

Not as user-friendly as some competitors
Limited file versioning
Slow initial backup

Where to Buy

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Our Analysis

Reviewers tend to like MozyHome Free, which has the same features as MozyHome Unlimited (*Est. $5 per month for unlimited storage), but with less storage space. It's relatively easy to use, it's Mac-friendly, and it doesn't slow down your system. MozyHome installs a small software program on your computer and backs up files to an off-site location. Like other online services, the initial backup can take a long time, but after this first backup, MozyHome just backs up new or changed files. Reviewers give MozyHome high marks for offering more customization features than competitors like Carbonite, and the initial file selection is said to be very intuitive. However, some reviewers warn that the customization features are more suited to advanced users, and may be confusing to the average person. One reviewer at Macworld also encountered several bugs during his testing, although the problems were rectified in a new version release. MozyHome Free gives you up to 2 GB of storage. If you need more space, both MozyHome Unlimited and Carbonite (*Est. $55 per year for unlimited storage) come recommended.

We found the best reviews of MozyHome in computer publications like Macworld, Computer Shopper (U.K.) and MacLife. Each of these sources tests and rates Mozy, so it's easy to see how it stacks up against the competition. Shorter reviews in ConsumerReports.org, MacUser (U.K.) and PC World are also helpful, as are older reviews at ArsTechnica.com and TomsHardware.com.

Where To Buy

Our Sources

1. Macworld Details/Subscribe

In this test of seven online backup services, MozyHome earns an average rating of 3.5 out of 5. Reviewer Glenn Fleishman finds it very easy to select files for the initial backup, and he also gives it high marks for ease of use. However, he also encountered several bugs in the course of his testing.

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

2. Computer Shopper (UK)

MozyHome gets a Best Buy award from Ben Pitt at Computer Shopper (U.K.), where he calls it an "excellent value." Pitt has noticed an improvement in backup and restoration speeds since he last tested it.

Review: Labs: Online backup, Ben Pitt, July 2009

3. MacUser

Mozy gets an average review from Tom Gorham at Mac User. He notes that the initial backup is very slow, but he acknowledges that subsequent backups go faster.

Review: MozyHome, Tom Gorham, Feb. 2009

4. MacLife.com Details/Subscribe

MacLife tests the Mac version of MozyHome and gives it an Editors' Choice award. Susie Ochs praises its simplicity, but cautions that it only saves previous file versions for 30 days.

Review: Reviews: MozyHome, Susie Ochs, Nov. 10, 2008

5. PCPro.co.uk

The British magazine PC Pro reviews MozyHome Free along with eight other services. Stuart Andrews highlights the rich configuration options, though he's disturbed by the program's "fiddly interface" and he says it could be easier to use.

Review: Mozy, Stuart Andrews, Sept. 2008

6. PC World Details/Subscribe

In this short review at PC World, Jon L. Jacobi says that he's been using MozyHome successfully for years. Some issues, such as a slow initial backup and an unattractive user interface are cited, however. Still, Jacobi says he recommends MozyHome "highly and often."

Review: Keep the Home Files Safely Backed up With MozyHome, Jon L. Jacobi, May 8, 2009

7. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

ConsumerReports.org doesn't subject online backup services to its normal testing process, but editors have specific recommendations about Mozy and its main rival, Carbonite.

Review: Backup systems, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, Not Dated

8. Arstechnica.com

Joel Hruska compares MozyHome Unlimited and MozyHome Free with three other services in this detailed review and judges it the best. Although feature-rich, he warns users that restoring files with the free version takes a lot longer than the paid versions.

Review: Online Backup Solutions: A Review, Joel Hruska, July 16, 2007

9. TomsHardware.com

Even though it's dated, Sean Kerner's review is still useful. He's impressed with MozyHome Free's features and high customizability, although he thinks Carbonite's interface is more intuitive. Kerner especially likes Mozy's web-based file restoration option.

Review: Mozy, Sean Kerner, Oct. 17, 2007