PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThere is no single best Backblaze alternative for everyone. IDrive is the better fit if you need one account to cover several devices or want features such as mobile backup and disk imaging. Carbonite is worth comparing if you want unlimited storage for one computer and an option that includes an external hard drive. If your priority is unlimited backup for one computer, Backblaze itself may remain the simpler fit.
Start with the backup pattern you need
Cloud backup plans that advertise unlimited storage can still differ in what they cover, how long they keep deleted files, and how you get data back. Decide first whether you are protecting one computer or several devices, whether external drives need coverage, and whether you need a recoverable archive or just a backup of current files.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- One computer, straightforward unlimited backup: Backblaze Personal Backup is the baseline to compare against.
- Several devices or broader features: IDrive is the alternative to investigate first.
- One computer plus an external drive: Carbonite Plus or Prime may suit, subject to their current plan terms.
- Long-term retention or an archive: confirm retention settings and archive support explicitly; unlimited capacity does not necessarily mean files remain backed up after they disappear from the source computer.
- Fast recovery of a large data set: compare each provider’s current restore options, costs, and practical limits before subscribing.
How the services compare
| Service | Coverage and storage | Notable features | Price evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backblaze Personal Backup | Unlimited data backup for a computer; Backblaze says locally connected external drives can be backed up. Not designed for archiving/cold storage or file sharing and syncing. | 30-day deleted, lost, or damaged file retention is stated in Backblaze help. The pricing page lists optional Forever file version retention for an additional fee. | Backblaze lists $99 per year; its product page also lists $9 per month and $189 for two years. Provider prices accessed in 2026; verify current checkout pricing and terms. |
| Carbonite Basic | Unlimited storage for one computer, according to Carbonite’s plan page. | Does not include the external-drive coverage identified for Plus and Prime on Carbonite’s page. | Carbonite displayed a promotional annual price of $76.79 when accessed in 2026; not a confirmed renewal price. |
| Carbonite Plus | Unlimited storage for one computer plus one external hard drive, according to Carbonite’s plan page. | Check current plan details for any additional features you need. | Carbonite displayed a promotional annual price of $85.79 when accessed in 2026; not a confirmed renewal price. |
| Carbonite Prime | Unlimited storage for one computer plus one external hard drive, according to Carbonite’s plan page. | Check current plan details for any additional features you need. | Carbonite displayed a promotional annual price of $105.29 when accessed in 2026; not a confirmed renewal price. |
| IDrive Personal | TechRadar describes a 5TB Personal plan in its 2026 review. This is a capacity-limited plan, not the same promise as unlimited storage. | TechRadar reports support for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, mobile data backup, and disk-image functionality. | TechRadar described the 5TB plan at just under $70 per year in its 2026 review. Secondary, time-sensitive pricing; confirm the provider’s current checkout offer and renewal terms. |
These are not like-for-like plans: Backblaze and Carbonite emphasize unlimited storage under different computer and drive coverage rules, while the IDrive plan described by TechRadar has a stated capacity and broader device support. Backblaze’s comparison material and Carbonite’s plan page are provider-authored; TechRadar is a secondary source, not an independent test conducted for this comparison.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Backblaze: the baseline for one computer
Backblaze Computer Backup is an automatic cloud copy for computer files and locally connected external drives, according to its service description. The service is not intended as cold storage or an archive for files removed from the computer, nor as a file-sharing or syncing service, as Backblaze explains in its help article. That distinction matters: a backup service that follows files on an active computer is not automatically a place to store files indefinitely after deleting them locally.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Backblaze says deleted, lost, or damaged files are retained for 30 days under its standard retention terms. Its pricing page lists an optional Forever file version retention add-on for an additional fee. Check your account settings and current terms to confirm which retention option applies to you. Backblaze pricing
For readers who need a single-computer service, the listed price is $99 per year, with $9 per month and a $189 two-year plan also shown on Backblaze’s product pages. Those are provider prices accessed in 2026, not a guarantee of what a new subscriber or renewing customer will pay. Pricing page · Personal Backup product page
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
IDrive: compare it if one account must cover several devices
IDrive is a stronger candidate than Backblaze when the requirement is broader device coverage rather than unlimited storage for one computer. TechRadar’s 2026 review describes support for Windows and Mac computers as well as Android and iOS devices, plus mobile data backup and disk-image functionality. It also describes a 5TB Personal plan; check IDrive’s own plan page for current capacity, device limits, included features, and renewal price before choosing. TechRadar’s IDrive review
The trade-off is the plan’s stated storage limit: the 5TB plan described by TechRadar is not unlimited. That can be a sensible exchange if you need to protect several devices within the plan allowance, but less suitable if a single computer’s data exceeds that capacity or you specifically want an unlimited-storage plan. TechRadar’s price description of just under $70 per year is time-sensitive and may reflect an offer, so do not assume it is the current standard or renewal price.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Carbonite: compare tiers for one computer and an external drive
Carbonite’s plan page lists unlimited storage for Basic, Plus, and Prime, but the coverage distinction is important: Basic is for one computer, while Plus and Prime are listed for one computer plus one external hard drive. If backing up an attached external drive is part of your requirement, compare the plan inclusions rather than relying on the unlimited label alone. Carbonite plan information
When accessed in 2026, Carbonite displayed promotional annual prices of $76.79 for Basic, $85.79 for Plus, and $105.29 for Prime, alongside struck-through prices and discount labels. Treat those as promotions, not established renewal prices; check the current checkout total and renewal terms. The available evidence here does not establish a full feature-by-feature distinction between Plus and Prime, so verify Carbonite’s current plan comparison for any specific feature you need.
Rank #4
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
External-drive coverage and a separate local copy
A cloud backup can be paired with a locally attached external hard drive as a separate physical copy. That can provide another recovery route without relying solely on downloading files, but the drive must itself be included in the backup plan if you also expect cloud protection for its contents. Backblaze describes coverage for locally connected external drives; Carbonite identifies one external hard drive in Plus and Prime. Confirm connection, eligibility, and retention conditions with the provider before relying on that coverage.
Recommended Free Tools
Choose a drive based on your data volume and the ports your computer supports; the available evidence does not establish a particular capacity, model, or brand as the right choice. A local drive is a backup destination, not an off-site copy: if it is lost or damaged along with the computer, it cannot serve as an independent recovery copy.
Best Value
- [Upgraded Version] - This external hard drive features a mirrored logo stripe combined with a striped anti-slip design, and the rounded corners of the casing make it easier to grip. The stripes also have a heat dissipation function, ensuring stable and fast data transfer.
- 【Ultra-thin and quiet】 - The motherboard adopts JMicron 578 noise-free solution, giving you a quiet working environment. Lightweight and portable size designed to fit in your pocket for easy portability.
- 【Ultra-Fast Data Transfers】 - Pairing this external hard drive with JMicron 578 solution USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 interfaces enables blazing-fast data transfer. It boasts theoretical read speeds of up to 125MB/s and write speeds of up to 103MB/s.
- 【Plug and Play】 - With no software to install, just plug it in and the drive is ready to use.The hard disk chip is wrapped with an aluminum anti-interference layer to increase heat dissipation and protect data.
- 【What You Get】 - 1 x Portable Hard Drive, 1 x USB 3.0 Cable, 1 x User Manual, Gift-type shell packaging ,Three-year manufacturer's warranty and free technical support services.
Questions to settle before you switch
How many devices does the plan cover?
Check whether the service is priced and limited per computer or per account, and whether mobile devices count toward the same allowance. Do not infer multi-device coverage from an unlimited storage label.
What happens to files you delete?
Separate version history from archive storage. Ask how long deleted files and prior versions remain recoverable, whether retention is included or paid, and whether files must remain on the source device to stay in the backup set.
How would you restore a large backup?
Review the provider’s current download process, any physical-media restore option, fees, eligibility rules, and delivery constraints. A service may store a large backup successfully while a full download is still impractical on a slow or metered connection. The available plan sources do not establish comparable restore costs or methods across these providers, so verify them directly before you need recovery.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Which operating systems and security controls are supported?
Confirm current support for your exact computer and mobile operating systems, plus how encryption and account security work. TechRadar reports IDrive support for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, but the sources cited here do not provide a comparable, current security specification across all three providers. Read the providers’ current documentation and enable available account-protection controls.
Quick Recap
Choose by the constraint you cannot compromise
- Choose Backblaze as the starting point if unlimited backup for one computer and locally connected external drives is the main need, and its retention model fits your recovery expectations.
- Compare IDrive first if one account needs to cover several computers or mobile devices, or if mobile backup and disk imaging matter more than unlimited storage.
- Compare Carbonite Plus or Prime if you want unlimited storage for one computer with an external hard drive included in the stated plan coverage. Verify the current price, renewal amount, and any tier-specific feature requirement.
- Keep an additional local copy if a faster or more convenient restore path matters, and store it separately enough to reduce the chance one incident affects both copies.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
