SugarSync

SugarSync offers more than online backup -- it also syncs files across multiple computers, so if you are working on a file at home, the changes will also be saved on your work computer or laptop. It also offers access to your data from any Internet-enabled computer or smartphone, including iPhone, BlackBerry and Android phones.

Reviewers are impressed with these features, and they rave about SugarSync's multimedia functionality. For example, if your music files are backed up with SugarSync, you can stream your music online from any computer or mobile device. You can also share photo albums or other files directly from your personalized SugarSync website. The feature that most impresses critics, however, is SugarSync's ability to back up any folder or folders you choose on your computers. The vast majority of synchronization-style online backup services force you to place data into a single folder.

Choosing which folders to backup is as simple as clicking on them and selecting the SugarSync backup option. Reviewers love the interface and say it's more intuitive than even Dropbox, (Free for 2 GB), which is highly regarded for its usability.

While such features can be very useful, they increase the cost over basic online backup services. You can get up to 5 GB for free, but if you need more storage than that, plans at SugarSync start at $5 a month for 30 GB and go up from there. In comparison, you can get 100 GB of storage from the Google Drive for the same $5 per month -- or the same 5 GB for free -- along with the ability to edit documents in-browser using Google Docs. Google Drive, however, doesn't offer media streaming or the ability to handpick which folders to sync.

SugarSync keeps the last five versions of files you've revised, although critics say restoring past versions can be a bit of an ordeal. Like most syncing-style services, it doesn't offer any data protection aside from transferring your data over a 128-bit SSL encrypted connection.

We found the best reviews of SugarSync at PCMag.com, Expert Reviews, NextAdvisor.com and PC Pro; each reviewer provides detailed and testing-based reviews. Comparison reviews at TheVerge.com, About.com and Techlicious.com are handy for seeing how SugarSync stacks up to the competition, even though those critiques are less detailed.