If you’ve got large numbers of files and don’t want to worry about running out of space to backup, then an unlimited storage plan is an excellent choice. Typically offered by traditional online backup providers, these plans tend to have low-end prices, but still come with plenty of features.
If you just want to store a few files for sharing or accessing remotely, then you might want to look elsewhere, but unlimited storage is perfect for anyone looking to backup everything they’ve got and keep it safe indefinitely. We’ve picked through all of the biggest subscriptions on offer, and come up with 5 of the best unlimited backups available in 2016. Read on for an overview of their features, and to find out who took the number one spot!
Best Unlimited Backups Summary
[top5table CrashPlan Backblaze Carbonite LiveDrive Acronis ratings=”5,4.5,4.2,4,3.6″]
Winner
CrashPlan
[vpnbest value=”5″] 5/5
PROS- Automatic and scheduled backups
Excellent security
Low price
Easy to use
CONS- Backup from limited devices
No file sharing options
CrashPlan ticks all of the boxes for a traditional online backup. You won’t find any file sharing here, and you’ll have to pay extra if you want to access your backup from more than one device, but you can’t do much better when it comes to secure storage.
Automatic backups, with the option to set a schedule and limit run times to keep your laptop running smoothly, mean that you can just set it up and let it run, but there are still plenty of ways to customise the process. End-to-end encryption and the option to set a private encryption key that won’t be held on CrashPlan servers, mean that you can be confident that your files are kept safe, and there are plenty of customer service resources to help you out if you get stuck.
Prices start at $4.99 per month to backup from one device, or $12.49 per month to cover up to 10, and a 30-day free trial is available to give you a taste of what’s on offer.
2nd place
Backblaze
[vpnbest value=”4.5″] 4.5/5
- PROS
- Very easy to use
Automatic backups
Low price
Good security
- CONS
- Very few advanced options
No file sharing
Backblaze is the very best for convenience, with software that’s super easy to set up and requires little to no input to keep running.
Unlimited storage space means that you won’t ever run out of space, and automatic or scheduled backups will take care of uploading and updating files. All you need to do is check up on things once in awhile, and wait until you need to restore something.
At $5 per month for everything Backblaze has to offer it’s hard to complain, although if you’re looking for advanced settings, you won’t find much to play with. For new users, however, basic settings that include end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication and unlimited file versioning should mean that Backblaze does pretty much everything you need.
3rd place
Carbonite
[vpnbest value=”4.2″] 4.2/5
- PROS
- Very easy to use
Simple processes work very well
Automatic and manual backups
- CONS
- Security is currently limited
No file sharing
Carbonite isn’t the most versatile of the major online backup providers, but what it does, it does very well. Uploading and restoring files just takes a click, and there are no significant limitations placed on your backups – large documents and some file types will need to be uploaded manually, but so long as you don’t mind a little extra work, almost anything can be stored online.
Until very recently, Carbonite also offered file sharing in the form of their Sync and Share app – although this will be defunct from the 1st of March 2016. While the ability to give others access to backed up files is an advantage, their decision to cancel the service in order to focus on data protection sounds promising – especially as their security measures are currently a little weak.
With these changes promised in the months to come, it’s hard to predict exactly where Carbonite will end up. The fundamental processes that are their greatest strength are unlikely to change, however, meaning that their appeal should endure regardless. Prices start at $5 per month for access to limited features – check out the link to find out more.
4th place
LiveDrive
[vpnbest value=”4″] 4/5
- PROS
- Lots of different ways to backup
File sharing available
Easily customizable
- CONS
- Lack of end-to-end encryption
Confusing software
LiveDrive is a provider with many strings to its bow, offering not just an unlimited backup service, but also a dedicated plan for file sharing with added local storage space, and a third option that brings the two together.
If you opt for their $6.50 per month Backup plan, you’ll get unlimited storage space and automatic backups. Alternatively, you can try out their Pro Suite, which adds sync and share options to the bundle, as well as 5TB of local storage space.
Available for $17.50 per month, the LiveDrive Pro Suite is certainly versatile, but it’s also, unfortunately, something of a jumble. Combining two subscriptions’ worth of features into one plan hasn’t exactly been seamlessly done, and you’ll find a confusing maze of options to navigate through just to do simple things like upload or share files.
If you can get past the initial difficulties, however, LiveDrive has plenty to offer. Click the button to find out more!
5th place
Acronis True Image Cloud
[vpnbest value=”3.6″] 3.6/5
- PROS
- Automatic and scheduled backups
File sharing
Archiving - Good security
- Automatic and scheduled backups
- CONS
- File management processes are slow
Lack of security for shared files
Website is confusing in places
- File management processes are slow
With unlimited storage space and the option to run both local and online backups, Acronis True Image Cloud is a versatile backup service with plenty to offer. Whether you want to archive your data, restore your computer to a previous system state or share your files with family and friends, Acronis gives you a way to do it.
There’s an encouragingly large range of security options available too, with end-to-end encryption and the capacity for users to set a private encryption key that is never visible to Acronis or its employees.
Although the software can be a little hard going at times, and there are limited privacy options available when you’re sharing files, Acronis True Image Cloud still has a lot to offer its subscribers. With monthly fees starting at $8.33 for one computer and three mobile devices, and a 30-day free trial on offer to give you a taste of what Acronis is all about, why not give it a try by following the link below!
Our criteria
As with all of our Top Backups lists, we pick out the providers that we think perform best all-round. After all, what’s the point of unlimited storage space if you’re wrestling with impossible software or paying way over the odds? We look not just at their features, but also their customer support, security, and ultimate value for money – and bring you reviews of the best scorers.
Conclusion
There are lots of different reasons to backup, and lots of different ways to do it. If you’re looking for automatic backups, low-hassle processes, and (most importantly) plenty of space, then these providers should give you a good place to start.
Best Unlimited Backups Summary
[top5table CrashPlan Backblaze Carbonite LiveDrive Acronis ratings=”5,4.5,4.2,4,3.6″]
