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Secure Your Data With Online Backup Software

You can either tear out your hair when a disaster strikes your hard drive or you can prepare for it ahead of time, but data loss is as inevitable as death and taxes. An online backup service is one of the best ways to protect yourself against such threats as a crashed hard drive or accidental deletion. Natural disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes can also spell the end of your digital media and documents. Even if you're among the very few who diligently perform local backups at regular intervals, you could still lose data if you don't store backups offsite.

Online backup services scan your hard drive for files worthy of protecting, encrypt them for security, and send them up to the company's online servers. Once your files are uploaded, you can access and restore your data from anywhere. Though there's some overlap, online backup services shouldn't be confused with cloud storage and file syncing services like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and SugarSync. Those services do store files in the cloud, but they aren't designed to automatically protect all important documents and media files, let alone system files. Their strategy is generally to sync just one folder with all its subfolders to the cloud, and in some cases, to offer online collaborative document editing. Many backup services offer folder-syncing capabilities, but few syncing services offer full-scale backup functionality.

That being the case, we believe that an online backup service is ideal for protecting your files, this solution will not appeal to everyone. Read our guide on how to choose the best backup plan for more specific advice on how to implement a backup method that works for your needs.

You can read more from the press release. Also, I just found a more powerful app called — which allows Mac users to not only extract many types of archives, but you can also use it to create archives or preview content of an archive without extracting. Free zip program for mac. I recommend BetterZip to those of you who often need to handle a different kind of files on a PC and Mac. Note: BetterZip isn't freeware ($24.95 for the paid version), but a free trial is offered. Those additional features are not available in The Unarchiver or Archive Utility.

How Much Does Online Backup Cost?

Since you're probably going to be paying for a backup service for years, cost is an important factor to consider. All the services rounded up here are subscription-based, but they partition their features and fees differently, so it's worth comparing plans closely before committing to one. Most construct pricing tiers based on the amount of cloud storage included, however, or by the number of devices you can use with an account. A few services offer permanent free accounts, but those plans impose paltry storage limits or restrict key features to the paid versions. Watch out for file-size upload limits as well.

The best backup software for Mac 2018. (there's a 30-day free trial, too), you download the Mac app and get started. Carbonite's welcome email warns that your initial backup could take. Several backup services offer free online backup plans. The only catch with a free plan is that you're heavily restricted, at least compared to their premium offerings, as to how much data you're allowed to backup.

Home backup users have different needs than businesses. If you need a larger-scale cloud solution for your company, check out our roundup of the best online backup services for businesses. These plans typically cover many more devices and include better administration features, but at an increased cost.

Create a Backup Set and Schedule Uploads

Backup services vary widely in how they set up and perform backups. For example, the totally hands-free Backblaze automatically encrypts and uploads all your important files without any input. On the other hand, services such as IDrive and Acronis True Image let you choose specific files you want from a file tree. Note that some services restrict you from backing up specific file types or using particular sources, such as from an external or network drive. Make sure the service you choose supports all your needs.

There are a few common practices for configuring when backups occur. The most common option is on a fixed schedule, such as once a day, week, or month. The second, which we prefer, is to upload file changes whenever they're changed and saved, otherwise known as a continuous backup setting. Services only transfer the modified part of the file in this scenario, so as not to overburden your internet connection or take up unnecessary storage. A third way is simply to upload files manually. Some may appreciate this degree of control, but this method is only effective if you remember to regularly run the backup.

How Secure Are Online Backup Services?

Most services encrypt your files with strong systems such as AES 256 before sending them up to the servers over an encrypted connection. The majority of products we tested also offer a private encryption key option. If you choose to manage your own encryption keys (basically the 'key' that decrypts your backup), know that it is your responsibility to remember it. The online backup service itself will not be able to help you reset the password if you forget it. On the flip side, this means that no one (including employees of the backup service and law enforcement officials) other than you can unlock your backups. This is ideal from a privacy and security standpoint. Use a password manager to keep track of your private encryption key if you think you will forget it.

Restoring Folders and Files

An online backup service isn't much use if it doesn't make the process of restoring or recovering your data quick and simple. For example, a service should offer search tools for finding particular files in your backup. It's also desirable for a service to be able to replicate an entire folder-tree structure so that it can help you recover from bigger data losses. Keep in mind that if you buy a plan that covers just one computer, you may have to transfer the account to a new PC if you ever switch your main device or if you need to restore data from a damaged computer to a replacement.

Many services also offer a feature called versioning. This saves incremental changes you make to files as recoverable snapshots of the file. It's useful in case you need to get back information from an earlier version or if your latest file save becomes corrupted. Services vary widely in how many versions they keep and how long they're saved. Best-in-class services, such as SOS Online Backup and SpiderOak ONE keep an unlimited number of file versions forever.

Web and Mobile Backup Apps

One of the biggest advantages of using an online backup service is that it lets you access your files from anywhere. Most online backup providers let you view and download files from a web browser, but that should be the bare minimum. Many also include file-sharing options, the best of which even let you specify a password for access and an expiration date for the shared item.

All the online backup services we tested offer Android and iOS apps, but the quality and utility of those apps vary widely. Some just offer simple document and media file downloads from your existing backups, but the most feature-complete allow you to back up the data on your mobile devices.

Backup Performance

An online backup service's speed depends on how quickly it can encrypt, compress, and upload files to its servers. This should be of particular concern if you need to back up (or restore) a large amount of data. A high-performance backup service also minimizes its effect on network and system resources. Make sure to check out our speed test results in the review of any service you're contemplating using. Backup speed should not be the sole determinant of which online backup service you use, but fast upload speeds can certainly make initial and subsequent backups less disruptive.

Disaster Recovery and Bulk Data

Some services go above and beyond, including extra capabilities that improve the experience. For example, a few offer disk courier services for bulk uploads and restores via an external drive that the company ships and manages. A couple of these services throw in a local backup component, too. If you go that route, you should take a look at our roundup of best external hard drives. Some of these services can even track your device's location and let you remotely wipe it in case it's lost or stolen.

Best Online Backup Services Featured in This Roundup:

• IDrive Review

  
  MSRP: $69.50
  

  Pros: Easy setup. Unlimited devices per account. Disk image backup. File Explorer integration. Folder syncing. Bulk uploads and restores via mail. Fast upload speeds in testing.

  Cons: No true continuous backup option. Fractured web interface. Storage isn't unlimited.

  Bottom Line: You won't find a better overall online backup service than the full-featured IDrive, especially for the price.

  Read Review

• Acronis True Image Review

  
  MSRP: $49.99
  

  Pros: Excellent desktop interface. Fast upload speeds in testing. Local and cloud backup. Full disk image backup and restore. File syncing. Ransomware Protection.

  Cons: Expensive. Slow web interface and mobile apps. Lacks password protection for shared files.

  Bottom Line: Acronis True Image's full disk backups, fast performance, and useful extras such as active file protection, make it well worth the cost.

  Read Review

• SOS Online Backup Review

  
  MSRP: $44.99
  

  Pros: Robust security options. Archival features. Can back up external and network drives. Local backup.

  Cons: Expensive. Outdated desktop and mobile interfaces. Continuous protection limited to individual files. No File Explorer integration. No free or unlimited storage accounts.

  Bottom Line: SOS Online Backup offers top-notch security features and true archiving for your files, but expect to pay top dollar for this service.

  Read Review

• Backblaze Review

  
  MSRP: $50.00
  

  Pros: Unlimited storage. Easy setup. Strong security settings. Close integration with B2 cloud storage service. Ability to back up or restore via mailed drive.

  Cons: Licenses are for a single computer. Convoluted backup selection. No File Explorer or Finder integration. No private sharing of backup files. Basic mobile app.

  Bottom Line: Backblaze is a streamlined and secure online backup service. It's good for novices, but it may frustrate users who want more control over backups.

  • In the Control Center window, click to expand KDE Components. • Open the KDE Control Center by clicking on K and selecting Control Center. • Click to select Email Client. • Click to select Component Chooser.

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• Carbonite Review

  
  MSRP: $71.99
  

  Pros: Unlimited online backup storage for one computer. File Explorer integration. Continuous backup option. Easy guided setup. Excellent web interface.

  Cons: Expensive for multiple computers. Limited mobile apps. Base version doesn't back up external drives. Lacks file sharing and syncing.

  Bottom Line: Carbonite is an easy-to-use online backup service that offers unlimited storage, but a license only covers a single computer and you can't use it to back up your mobile devices.

  Read Review

• SpiderOak ONE Review

  
  MSRP: $69.00
  

  Pros: Strong privacy features. Unlimited computers per account. File syncing included. Well-designed, full-featured desktop application.

  Cons: Buggy mobile apps. No search in web interface or mobile app. No two-factor authentication. Slow performance in testing.

  Bottom Line: SpiderOak ONE offers top-notch security features and flexible backup and sharing options, but it's more expensive than the competition.

  Read Review

• Livedrive Review

  
  MSRP: $8.00
  

  Pros: Unlimited storage. Effective desktop and mobile apps. Solid versioning capabilities.

  Cons: Expensive. Base tier only protects a single computer. Lacks standard backup and security options. Slow performance in our upload tests. No full disk backup option.

  Bottom Line: Livedrive delivers unlimited online storage for a single computer and as many mobile devices as you'd like, but you can't use private encryption keys with the service and it lacks a continuous backup feature.

  Read Review

• OpenDrive Review

  
  MSRP: $99.00
  

  Pros: Reasonable pricing and unlimited storage plans. Good web interface. Fast performance in our upload tests. Free account.

  Cons: Disjointed desktop interface. Unintuitive restore settings. Mobile app stutters occasionally.

  Bottom Line: Online backup service OpenDrive is a good value and uploads files quickly, but its options for restoring backed-up files are not intuitive and its mobile apps need improvement.

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• Zoolz BigMind Review

  
  MSRP: $35.88
  

  Pros: Top-notch desktop and web apps. Good performance in our upload speed tests. Permanent free version. Easy sharing options.

  Cons: Expensive top-tier plans. Limited versioning. No private encryption key, disaster recovery, or folder syncing options. Pushy subscription upsells.

  Bottom Line: BigMind offers sophisticated apps and is easy to use, but it lacks common features found in competing online backup services, including private encryption key protection and robust versioning.

  Read Review

• ElephantDrive Review

  
  MSRP: $99.50
  

  Pros: Flexible versioning and archiving capabilities. Good sharing options. Fast upload speeds in our tests.

  Cons: Disjointed and buggy applications. 2GB upload-file-size limit for home accounts. Outdated Android app. No 2FA.

  Bottom Line: ElephantDrive's flexible backup and versioning capabilities are overshadowed by its file upload limitations and unintuitive desktop experience.

  Read Review

Maybe you're just curious and want to know what files get copied when you backup your iPhone using iTunes. Maybe you need to access certain backed up databases from your iPhone such as your contacts, voicemails or text messages. Whatever the case may be, iExplorer comes built-in with the most powerful and easiest to use iTunes backup extractor.

What you will need

• An iPhone, iPad, or iPod
• USB cable to connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod
• A Mac or PC with iTunes installed

Before you begin

If you don't already have iExplorer installed download it by clicking the button below. For more detailed installation instructions, click here.

Accessing Backups

If you're looking to browse files of an existing iPhone backup by iTunes or want a new iPhone backup - iExplorer lets you browse the raw files and folders that are created every time you backup your device with iTunes and it can seamlessly parse various database files such as your text messages, notes, voicemails, etc, thereby making everything easily readable and exportable. In the following tutorial we'll show you how you can easily browse and access these iTunes backup files on either a Mac or Windows computer.

Browse Current iTunes Backup on iPhone

To view the files and folders of the iTunes backup data that is currently on an iPhone or iPad, first open iExplorer on your Mac or PC. Then, go ahead and connect your device with its USB cable to your computer. Once the device is connected, iTunes may prompt you to sync your device - click 'No' or 'Cancel.' We recommend that you avoid syncing the device to iTunes as, in some cases, doing this may result in the permanent loss of data from your device.

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After your device is connected, iExplorer will display the Device Overview screen. You can return to this home screen at any time by clicking on your device's name in the navigation panel on the left. To get started accessing the device’s backup data, click Backups in the middle panel. You can also access the backups section on the device by clicking Backups through the sidebar on the left.

You'll then be prompted to make a backup selection. If you didn't already have an iTunes backup on this computer, iExplorer will ask whether to create one, either 'Yes' or 'No', or if you have an existing backup, you'll be asked whether to 'Use Last Backup' or 'Refresh' to create a new one. If it's been less than 24 hours since your last backup, iExplorer will automatically load the existing backup. If you need to make a newer one, you can right-click on Backups in the left panel and choose to refresh.

Browse Existing iTunes Backup of iPhone

With iExplorer, accessing the contents of a backup that was previously created by iTunes of an iOS device is easy. Simply start iExplorer then, if no device is connected, click “Explore iTunes Backups.” Then, in the left column of iExplorer you’ll see a section titled “Browse iTunes Backups” under which you’ll see all of the backups from iTunes listed. If a backup was encrypted at the time it was created, it may not appear here.

Is There A Free Email Backup Program For Mac

Browsing iTunes Backups

Once you have your backup selected, you can view the raw files and folders inside the backup by clicking “Backup Explorer.” Otherwise, you can click on Messages, Contacts, Voicemail, Call History, Notes, Safari or Calendar to access the database information from the backup but parsed together in a much more readable fashion. The raw files and directories of the iTunes backup can be easily transferred using drag-and-drop and additional access options are available from the right-click context menu.

Have questions that aren't addressed here? Please visit our Support Center for iExplorer FAQs.
Feel free to contact us if your problem persists.

Cheers,
Macroplant Staff