Backblaze Review: Overview, Features, Pricing & Alternatives in 2025

Lost important files again?

If you’re dealing with constant anxiety over losing work files, project photos, or critical business data, you’re probably searching for a trustworthy backup solution.

From my research, I’ve found that data loss leads to wasted time and lost revenue—not having a reliable backup can instantly derail your day.

Backblaze tackles this head-on with an ultra-simple, automated approach to cloud backup and storage. Their “set it and forget it” system helps individuals and businesses safeguard everything on their computers and external drives with zero hassle, transparent pricing, and fast restore options.

In this Backblaze review, I’ll show you how restoring your data doesn’t have to be stressful if you choose the right solution.

You’ll see exactly how their features stack up, what makes their pricing so straightforward, and where Backblaze fits against alternatives like Amazon S3.

You’ll leave with the features you need to pick your next backup system confidently.

Let’s dive right in.

Backblaze Overview

Backblaze has been around since 2007, based in San Mateo, California. I find their core mission is refreshingly simple: making data backup and cloud storage easy.

They target everyone from individual Mac users to mid-market companies who are tired of complex cloud services. Their focus on easy and affordable cloud storage is what makes them stand out from the crowd.

Their regular Drive Stats reports build significant industry trust. For this Backblaze review, you’ll see how their focus on B2 partnerships keeps them keenly competitive.

Unlike giants like Amazon S3, which can feel overwhelming, Backblaze focuses on pure backup and storage. I think their key differentiator is their radically simple and low-cost pricing model.

They work with a huge range, from creative professionals protecting terabytes of photo libraries to businesses needing an affordable S3 alternative for their application data.

In my experience, their entire strategy revolves around ease of use and price transparency. This directly addresses your biggest fear with cloud storage: the surprise bill at the end of the month.

Now let’s examine their core capabilities.

Backblaze Features

Worried about losing your business data?

Backblaze focuses on surprisingly simple, affordable cloud storage across two distinct offerings. These are the five core Backblaze solutions that help protect your critical information effortlessly.

1. Backblaze Computer Backup

Losing computer files is terrifying.

Hardware failures or ransomware instantly wipe years of work. You’re left scrambling for irreplaceable files, a painful frustration.

Backblaze Computer Backup is a ‘set it and forget it’ solution. It automatically backs up your entire computer and drives, with no file size or data caps. It quietly protects data continuously, simplifying desktop protection.

This means your important documents and projects are safe off-site, always ready for quick, hassle-free recovery.

2. B2 Cloud Storage

Need affordable, scalable cloud storage?

Other cloud providers often hit you with complex pricing. Storing large data archives becomes unnecessarily expensive.

B2 Cloud Storage offers incredibly affordable, durable object storage, directly competing with Amazon S3. What I found impressive is its radically simple, low-cost pricing model. This solution is perfect for developers and IT managers.

This means you can archive massive video files or host large application assets for a fraction of the cost, significantly cutting your cloud bill.

3. Restore and Data Access Options

Retrieving data shouldn’t be hard.

A backup is useless if restoring your data is a nightmare. This turns a lifesaver into a logistical headache during an emergency.

Backblaze offers flexible restore options. Download files free via web browser. For larger needs, you can request a USB drive shipped to you, effectively free upon return. B2 data accesses via API or direct downloads.

This ensures you can quickly recover critical business data, no matter the size or urgency of your restoration needs.

4. Version History and Ransomware Protection

Accidental file changes are scary.

Accidental overwrites or ransomware attacks can instantly corrupt your vital files. This leaves you with lost work and significant recovery efforts.

Backblaze saves old file versions for 30 days. If ransomware strikes, you can roll back time and restore an uninfected version. Extending history to a year or forever offers powerful long-term archiving for crucial protection.

This provides a crucial safety net, ensuring you can retrieve previous file states and protect your business from costly data loss.

5. B2 Cloud Storage S3 Compatible API

Switching cloud storage is tough?

Migrating cloud storage providers often means rewriting significant code. This creates a huge barrier to adopting more cost-effective solutions.

B2’s S3 Compatible API is a game-changer. It mirrors Amazon S3, allowing you to switch providers with minimal code changes. S3-compatible applications can simply point to B2 by changing endpoint and API keys. This dramatically lowers the barrier.

This means you can easily migrate existing workflows to Backblaze B2, drastically cutting cloud storage bills without complex redevelopment.

You’ll see how these Backblaze solutions offer a coherent approach to data protection and storage. They work together to provide straightforward, cost-effective data management for your business, seamlessly connecting crucial services.

Backblaze Pricing

Worried about unexpected cloud storage costs?

Backblaze pricing stands out for its straightforward and transparent approach, offering clear costs for both personal computer backup and scalable cloud storage solutions. You’ll find their model refreshingly simple.

Plan	Price & Features
Backblaze Computer Backup (Monthly)	$9/month per computer • Unlimited PC/Mac backup • External drive support • Free web & mobile restores
Backblaze Computer Backup (Yearly)	$99/year per computer ($8.25/month) • Cost-saving subscription • “Set it and forget it” backups • Default 30-day version history
Backblaze Computer Backup (2-Year)	$189/two years per computer ($7.88/month) • Best long-term value • Flexible restore options (USB drives) • Ransomware protection features
Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage	Storage: $0.006/GB/month (1st 10GB free) Downloads: $0.01/GB (1st 1GB/day free) • Pay-as-you-go model • S3-compatible API access • Free egress via Bandwidth Alliance • Low transaction costs

1. Value Assessment

Great value, clear costs.

From my cost analysis, Backblaze delivers exceptional value, especially with its unlimited computer backup that truly means unlimited, no hidden caps. Their transparent pricing approach simplifies budgeting for individuals and businesses. The B2 storage is also significantly cheaper than major competitors like Amazon S3, offering clear savings.

This means your budget benefits from predictable expenses and significant cost savings, ensuring you get robust data protection without financial surprises.

2. Trial/Demo Options

Try before you commit.

Backblaze Computer Backup offers a generous 15-day free trial, giving you full functionality to test its ‘set it and forget it’ ease. For B2 Cloud Storage, the first 10 GB are permanently free, allowing robust, ongoing testing. This unique ‘freemium’ model impacts your pricing by letting you thoroughly evaluate before you commit to larger volumes.

This allows you to fully experience the service and determine its value for your specific needs, confidently guiding your decision on their transparent pricing.

3. Plan Comparison

Choosing your ideal plan.

For individual computer backup, longer subscriptions offer better per-month pricing, a clear saving. For cloud storage, B2’s pay-as-you-go model shines for developers and businesses, offering massive cost savings on egress. What stands out is how Backblaze pricing empowers different user needs, from personal files to large scale data archives.

So for your business or personal needs, you can easily match the cost-effective model to your specific data volume and backup requirements.

My Take: Backblaze’s pricing strategy is a strong competitive advantage, emphasizing simplicity and affordability for both personal users and developers. It’s a prime choice for budget-conscious individuals and businesses seeking no-frills, high-value data storage.

Overall, Backblaze pricing provides exceptional value and budget predictability. Their transparent approach ensures you know exactly what you’re paying for, making it a reliable and cost-effective choice for all your data needs.

Backblaze Reviews

What I found in user feedback…

From my analysis, Backblaze reviews show a strong pattern of user satisfaction, validated across platforms like G2 and Capterra. You’ll find valuable insights into real-world experiences here.

1. Overall User Satisfaction

Users overwhelmingly praise its simplicity.

From my review analysis, Backblaze consistently achieves high ratings, averaging 4.5+ stars on major review sites. What impressed me most is how user feedback highlights its “set it and forget it” nature, making it a favorite for effortless data protection. Many Backblaze reviews showcase satisfied long-term users.

This high satisfaction stems directly from its intuitive setup and reliable background operation, allowing you to trust your critical data is always safe.

2. Common Praise Points

Users consistently praise Backblaze’s core value.

What I found in user feedback is a consistent appreciation for its remarkable simplicity and affordability. Customers frequently highlight the predictable, low cost for unlimited backup, making it a ‘no-brainer’ for personal and small business use. Backblaze reviews often call it a ‘lifesaver’ during data recovery.

This means you get peace of mind without breaking the bank, ensuring your critical files are protected efficiently and reliably.

3. Frequent Complaints

Some common frustrations do emerge.

Review-wise, the most frequently mentioned issue is the initial upload speed for large datasets. Users report that first full backups can take weeks, especially for multi-terabyte systems. The user interface also gets feedback for being functional but basic, lacking modern polish.

While the initial slowness can be inconvenient, subsequent incremental backups are fast. These are generally minor issues, not deal-breakers for most users.

Overall, Backblaze reviews reveal remarkable user satisfaction and reliable performance, especially for personal and small business needs. While minor issues exist, the consistent praise for simplicity and value outweighs most concerns for you.

See Backblaze Reviews Yourself →

Best Backblaze Alternatives

Navigating backup options can be confusing.

The best Backblaze alternatives include several strong contenders, each offering unique strengths for different business sizes, budgets, and specific use cases. Let’s explore your options.

1. iDrive

Backing up multiple devices under one roof?

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iDrive shines if you need to protect multiple computers, phones, and tablets with a single subscription, unlike Backblaze’s per-computer licensing. What I found comparing options is that iDrive offers broader device coverage for families or small teams with diverse hardware. This alternative provides excellent value.

Choose iDrive when your priority is comprehensive multi-device backup for all your personal or family devices under one affordable plan.

2. Wasabi Cloud Storage

Worried about unpredictable download costs?

Wasabi directly competes with Backblaze B2, uniquely eliminating egress fees entirely. If your use case involves frequent, large data downloads, this is a significant advantage. From my competitive analysis, Wasabi removes surprise egress charges, making it a compelling alternative for unpredictable data access needs.

You’ll want to consider Wasabi when your primary concern is avoiding unpredictable egress bills for large-scale data downloads and archive retrieval.

3. Amazon S3

Already deeply embedded in AWS ecosystem?

Amazon S3, while more complex and costly, offers unparalleled scalability, granular storage tiers, and deep integration with AWS services. Alternative-wise, your situation calls for S3 if your operations are already built on AWS. I found S3 provides vast enterprise-grade features and customization for complex IT infrastructure.

Choose Amazon S3 when your business demands advanced features, deep integration with AWS, and you prioritize maximum control over simplicity and direct cost savings.

Quick Decision Guide

• Choose Backblaze: Simple, unlimited computer backup or affordable object storage
• Choose iDrive: Backup for multiple devices across your family or team
• Choose Wasabi: Object storage with predictable costs and no egress fees
• Choose Amazon S3: Deep AWS integration and complex enterprise storage needs

Ultimately, the best Backblaze alternatives depend on your specific data storage and backup requirements. Carefully assess your budget, devices, and desired level of complexity before deciding.

Compare Backblaze With Alternatives →

Setup & Implementation

Worried about the Backblaze setup?

In this Backblaze review, I’ll walk you through its real-world implementation. It ranges from astonishingly simple for computer backup to moderately technical for B2 Cloud Storage, so let’s set expectations.

1. Setup Complexity & Timeline

Is Backblaze easy to set up?

Backblaze’s computer backup is ‘set it and forget it’ simple, often under 5 minutes. B2 Cloud Storage, however, is moderately complex, requiring S3-compatible tools or API integration. From my implementation analysis, initial full backups can take weeks for multi-terabyte systems due to upload speeds, but subsequent incremental backups are fast.

For computer backup, just download and run. For B2, plan technical configuration time, especially when integrating with systems like NAS devices.

2. Technical Requirements & Integration

Any complex technical hurdles?

For computer backup, a stable internet connection is the main requirement; initial backups can be throttled. B2 Cloud Storage implementation demands S3-compatible applications, command-line tools, or API development. What I found about deployment is B2 requires specific technical expertise for integration, unlike the desktop client.

Your IT team needs S3 compatibility knowledge for B2. Prepare for initial network bandwidth usage and potential custom integrations.

3. Training & Change Management

Will your team adopt Backblaze easily?

For computer backup, training is virtually non-existent; the interface is self-explanatory and ‘set it and forget it’. B2 Cloud Storage users, typically IT or developers, already possess the necessary technical skills. Implementation-wise, the user interface is functional but basic, so manage expectations for modern polish.

Expect high adoption for computer backup. For B2, ensure your technical users understand S3 concepts or are ready to learn specific API interactions.

4. Support & Success Factors

What support will you get?

Backblaze’s support is generally good, primarily via email/tickets with live chat available. It’s not 24/7 enterprise-level phone support. From my implementation analysis, support response times are typically within one business day. While robust, large-scale B2 deployments might need more hands-on internal IT planning.

Plan for ticket-based support and supplement with internal IT expertise for complex B2 integrations. Rely on community resources for common issues.

Implementation Checklist

• Timeline: Computer backup: under 5 mins; B2: hours to days for setup.
• Team Size: Computer backup: individual user; B2: IT or developer for integration.
• Budget: Minimal beyond software; consider developer time for B2 API/S3 integration.
• Technical: Stable internet (backup); S3-compatible app/API for B2.
• Success Factor: Understanding product scope (simple backup vs. technical B2).

Overall, Backblaze implementation offers distinct experiences by product. The key to success is matching your technical needs to the right service. Its simplicity makes personal backup effortless, while B2 is powerful for technical users.

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Who’s Backblaze For

Does Backblaze fit your business needs?

This Backblaze review helps you self-qualify. I’ll analyze who Backblaze serves best, providing clear guidance on business profiles, team sizes, and specific use cases where it excels or falls short.

1. Ideal User Profile

Simple, cost-effective backup for individuals and SMBs.

Backblaze is ideal for freelancers, small business owners, and creative professionals needing reliable, “set it and forget it” computer backup. From my user analysis, they prioritize simplicity and cost-effectiveness for single-machine data protection. For IT admins, B2 suits affordable large-scale data archiving.

You’ll achieve success by valuing straightforward solutions over complex features, saving time and money on essential data protection.

2. Business Size & Scale

Scales from solo users to tech-savvy SMBs.

For computer backup, Backblaze perfectly suits individuals or small teams focused on protecting individual workstations. User-wise, for B2 Cloud Storage, it works well for tech-savvy SMBs or mid-market companies archiving massive datasets. It avoids enterprise-level complexity and costs.

You’ll find a great fit if your business values affordability and straightforward, reliable service without needing sprawling infrastructure.

3. Use Case Scenarios

Automated computer backup or large data archiving.

This software excels at two core scenarios: effortless, unlimited computer backups for Macs/PCs, or as a highly cost-effective cloud storage solution (B2) for developers and IT teams. What I found about target users is that it’s perfect for server backups or media hosting.

You’ll determine alignment if your main priority is simple workstation protection or affordable, S3-compatible cloud storage for big data.

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4. Who Should Look Elsewhere

When Backblaze isn’t your perfect match.

If you need multi-device family plans for computer backup, a modern, feature-rich UI, or rapid initial upload speeds for multi-terabyte systems, Backblaze might fall short. From my user analysis, businesses needing advanced file collaboration features should look elsewhere.

Consider solutions offering multi-device discounts, extensive file sharing, or higher performance for very large initial data transfers.

Best Fit Assessment

• Perfect For: Individuals, freelancers, small businesses, and tech-savvy SMBs.
• Business Size: Solo users to mid-market companies needing cost-effective storage.
• Primary Use Case: Automated PC/Mac backup; affordable large data archiving/hosting.
• Budget Range: Predictable, low monthly/annual fees, significant S3 cost savings.
• Skip If: Need multi-device family plans, advanced UI, or ultra-fast initial uploads.

This Backblaze review highlights that your best fit depends on prioritizing simplicity, cost, and specific backup/storage needs. Assess your operational complexity and data volume to confirm if it aligns with Backblaze’s strengths.

See If Backblaze Fits Your Needs →

Bottom Line

Backblaze simplifies data protection for you.

My comprehensive Backblaze review reveals a cloud storage and backup solution designed for astonishing ease and affordability. I’ve distilled my analysis into a clear recommendation to guide your software decision with confidence.

1. Overall Strengths

Simplicity and value truly shine.

Backblaze excels by providing ‘set it and forget it’ computer backup and incredibly affordable B2 cloud storage. Its focused approach ensures reliability, making data protection astonishingly easy for users. From my comprehensive analysis, its low, predictable costs are a major win.

These strengths mean you gain critical data protection without complexity or budget surprises, fostering immense peace of mind and operational stability.

2. Key Limitations

Every solution has trade-offs.

While powerful, Backblaze has limitations. The initial full backup can be notably slow for multi-terabyte systems. Additionally, the user interface, though functional, lacks modern polish compared to some competitors. Based on this review, the desktop client feels quite basic.

These are generally manageable trade-offs, not deal-breakers, for most users prioritizing simplicity and cost over cutting-edge aesthetics.

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3. Final Recommendation

Is Backblaze right for you?

My recommendation is strong: you should choose Backblaze if your priority is straightforward, affordable, and reliable cloud backup or object storage. It’s ideal for individual users, creative professionals, and SMBs. From my analysis, it offers exceptional value for money in its focused niches.

Your decision should confidently lean towards Backblaze if simplicity and cost-effectiveness are your top requirements for data protection.

Bottom Line

• Verdict: Recommended
• Best For: Individuals, SMBs, and creatives needing simple, affordable data backup/storage.
• Biggest Strength: Unmatched “set it and forget it” simplicity and highly predictable low costs.
• Main Concern: Initial backup speed can be slow for very large datasets.
• Next Step: Explore their free trial to assess ease of use and features.

This Backblaze review confidently shows that for those prioritizing ease, reliability, and affordability, Backblaze is a highly recommended solution for protecting your valuable data assets. It’s truly a top contender.

Try Backblaze Based on This Review →