Best Reviewed
Online Backup Services
- Best online backup service MozyHome *Est. $6
- Full-featured online backup SOS Online Backup *Est. $80
- Local and online backup service CrashPlan+ *Est. $50
- Best file synchronization service Dropbox *Est. $0
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Full-featured online backup
- More functionality than most services
- Backs up locally as well as online
- Robust sharing functionality
- Unlimited file versioning
- Expensive
- Only compatible with Windows operating systems
- Slow initial backup
Reviewers say SOS Online Backup offers more functionality than nearly any other online backup provider. You can back up five computers with one account and access your files from any computer with Internet access. Reviewers say they like that SOS Online Backup backs up locally to an external hard drive in addition to saving your files online, which provides better security. There are also numerous features that allow you to share files with friends. Unlimited file versioning is another plus because many online backup services only save previous versions for 30 days. The interface gets high marks for being user-friendly. SOS Online Backup is more expensive than basic online backup services with fewer features, and it doesn't offer unlimited storage. It's also not available for Mac operating systems, and while a beta Mac client has been rumored, it has yet to be released. Apart from those downsides, reviewers say SOS Online Backup is a good choice if you are willing to pay for more features and custom options. If you just need basic online backup, reviewers prefer MozyHome (*Est. $6 per month for 50 GB).
Things move quickly in the online backup world, and we focus only on the most recent reviews. NotebookReview.com has the best comparative analysis because editors test five online backup providers and rate each one. Test-based reviews are also available at Laptop Magazine, Expert Reviews and Computerworld.com.
Our Sources
SOS Online Backup earns a 4-star rating from NotebookReview.com and comes out on top in its comparison of five online backup service providers. Although SOS is more expensive and offers less storage than some other online backup providers, Charles Jeffries says features like unlimited file versioning make it worth the extra money.
Review: SOS Online Backup Review 2010, Charles P. Jeffries, Sept. 7, 2010
2. Laptop MagazineDetails/Subscribe
Laptop Magazine gives SOS Online Backup a 4-star rating out of 5. Dana Wollman says it has distinct advantages over more basic online backup services, including unlimited file versioning and local backups.
Review: SOS Online Backup (2010), Dana Wollman, April 26, 2010
Kat Orphanides says "you get plenty of features for your money" with SOS Online Backup, which earns a 4-star rating. Like most reviewers, she's most impressed that SOS saves unlimited versions of a file, although she wishes it included more storage.
Review: SOS Online Backup Home Edition Review, Kat Orphanides, Aug.10, 2010
Brian Nadel at ComputerWorld.com reviews four online backup services, including SOS Online Backup. Although he reports slow download and upload speeds, he's impressed by the numerous features and intuitive interface.
Review: Review: 4 Online Backup Services Protect Your Data, Brian Nadel, Jan. 5, 2010
PCMag.com hasn't posted a new review of SOS Online Backup for more than a year, but in this recent article, Michael Muchmore explains that it remains his Editors' Choice award winner. He says it offers the most features for the price.
Review: Easy Online Backup, Michael Muchmore, May 26, 2010
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