Why do we need a list of backups for freelancers? It might seem like a bit of a niche topic, but we know from experience that if you’re working solo, keeping your data secure is a huge part of building and maintaining a professional reputation. That’s because, if it all goes wrong and your data disappears, there’s no dodging the responsibility. It’s all on you.
Not many looming deadlines will be extended just because your hard drive crashed – so whether you analyse, design, consult or create, failing to make sure that your files stay safe no matter what isn’t really an option. Luckily, we’ve come up with this handy list of the 5 best backups for freelancers to help you out – so have a browse, and invest in protecting your hard work today.
Best Backups for Freelancers – Summary
[top5table IDrive Backblaze GoogleDrive ElephantDrive Acronis ratings=”5,4.5,4.2,4,3.7″]
Winner
IDrive
[vpnbest value=”5″] 5/5
PROS- Low price
Simple to use
File sharing
End-to-end encryption
CONS- Price increase in second year
IDrive is a great all-round backup service, offering cheap storage plans along with some extensive features. Local backups and archiving make it a great choice if you’re looking to protect completed projects that you won’t be accessing too often, while file sharing means that you can send your work to clients simply and securely.
An easy-to-use interface means that those of you that aren’t tech specialists won’t need a handbook to keep on top of your data, while end-to-end encryption should give you confidence that your work will stay confidential.
IDrive is a steal at just $3.71 per month for 1TB of storage space – although be prepared for that to increase to $4.95 in your second year. It’s well worth the money, however – simple, reliable and secure.
Interested in giving IDrive a try? Click the link below to sign up today!
2nd place
Backblaze
[vpnbest value=”4.5″] 4.5/5
- PROS
- Easy to use
Low price
Unlimited storage space
End-to-end encryption
- CONS
- No file sharing
If you want to make sure that your hard drive and everything on it will be secure no matter what, Backblaze is the right choice for you.
Simplicity is the name of the game here, so you won’t find lots of fancy features, but basic processes are streamlined and accessible, and continuous/scheduled uploads mean that you can rest comfortably in the knowledge that your backup is being kept constantly up to date.
It’s an excellent solution for those with lots of data, too, as Backblaze is one of a small number of online backup services still offering an unlimited storage plan. There’s end-to-end encryption on offer too, and the affordable monthly price tag of just $5 certainly won’t break the bank.
To find out more or get your Backblaze subscription today, just click the link below.
3rd place
Google Drive
[vpnbest value=”4.2″] 4.2/5
- PROS
- Very accessible
Great collaboration options
Easy file sharing
Good free plan
- CONS
- Weak security
If you’re a writer or work primarily from text documents, Google Drive is not just a good backup tool, but also an excellent resource for collaboration and file sharing. You can create new text documents, presentations and spreadsheets, uploaded files can be easily organised, and you can customise both public and private sharing permissions – allowing read only access as well as the ability to edit or just leave comments.
The only significant downside to Google Drive is its security, as your files will be encrypted in transfer only, and aren’t protected while stored on Google’s servers. This is significantly less secure than many other Cloud storage providers but, for some, the convenience may be worth it.
Chances are that you’ve got a Google account already, in which case signing up for Google Drive is simplicity itself – just enter your login details, and you’ll get an automatic 15GB of free space. When this runs out, paid plans range from 100GB for $2 per month to 30TB for $300 /month.
Fancy giving Google Drive a try? Click the button below to check it out!
4th place
ElephantDrive
[vpnbest value=”4″] 4/5
- PROS
- NAS and local backup support
Scheduled uploads
End-to-end encryption
Upload files from multiple devices
- CONS
- Software can be hard to use
ElephantDrive is the backup provider of choice for most NAS users, but it has plenty of other strengths too. Automatic and scheduled uploads, file sharing and unlimited file versioning all make keeping storing your files online simple and stress-free, and the option to backup from multiple devices is a great bonus if you want to access your files on the go.
Prices are reasonable, with 1TB of storage available for $9.95 per month, and although the software isn’t always the easiest to use, there are some good customer support resources available if you get stuck, and end-to-end encryption will keep everything private and secure.
Click below to give ElephantDrive a try!
5th place
Acronis
[vpnbest value=”3.7″] 3.7/5
- PROS
- Unlimited storage space
End-to-end encryption
Archiving
- CONS
- Backup from limited devices
Higher prices of larger plans
Another solid all-rounder, Acronis’ True Image Cloud program incorporates both online and local file storage, providing some pretty heavy duty protection for your files.
With unlimited storage space on offer, you’ll never run out of space, and archiving and file sharing are also available – making Acronis a good choice whether you want to store your data long-term, or access it regularly. Files are protected with end-to-end encryption before they even leave your PC, and you can backup files from up to five devices, depending on which subscription you opt for.
Storage accessible from one computer and three mobile devices is available for approximately $9.32 per month, 3 computers and 10 mobile devices for $14.91, and 5 computers and 15 mobile devices for a monthly fee of $18.65. If Acronis sounds like the right choice for you, just follow the link below to subscribe!
3-2-1 Backups
If you’re worried about keeping your portfolio safe in the long-term, you might want to consider following the 3-2-1 backup strategy, which combines both online and offline storage to keep your data safe no matter what.
Under this approach, your files will be stored in three separate locations – in the Cloud, on a local hard drive that can be quickly accessed, and on a NAS device or a second hard drive that’s stored in a different geographical location.
By taking this extra precaution you can ensure that, even if your hard drive fails, your laptop is stolen, or your online backup provider goes bust, you’ll still be able to retrieve a copy of your files.
Conclusion
With so many great online backup providers available, there’s no reason to take risks with your work. Whether you want instant access, long-term security or a little bit of everything, a small investment now could save you a lot in the long run.
Best Backups for Freelancers – Summary
[top5table IDrive Backblaze GoogleDrive ElephantDrive Acronis ratings=”5,4.5,4.2,4,3.7″]
