Backblaze.com Review

Based on looking at the website, Backblaze.com appears to be a legitimate and comprehensive cloud storage and backup service.

The site clearly outlines its offerings for both business and personal use, emphasizing data protection, performance, and cost-effectiveness.

It offers solutions for systems backup and recovery, active media archiving, application & AI storage, and simplified computer backup for Macs and PCs.

The platform highlights S3 compatible object storage with a focus on free egress, which is a significant differentiator.

Overall Review Summary:

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Amazon.com: Check Amazon for Backblaze.com Review Latest Discussions & Reviews:

• Website Clarity: Excellent, with clear distinctions between services.
• Service Offerings: Diverse, covering personal computer backup and enterprise-level object storage.
• Pricing Transparency: Pricing is mentioned $15/TB/mo for B2 Overdrive, and there are clear “Start Free” options. Specific pricing details for computer backup would require further navigation but are generally well-documented.
• Security & Privacy: Strongly emphasized with dedicated sections on cloud security, backup security, and a clear privacy policy.
• Customer Support: Advertised as “always-on support” with “actual humans.”
• Ethical Considerations: From an ethical standpoint, particularly concerning Islamic principles, Backblaze.com’s core service of data storage and backup is permissible. It deals with data integrity and protection, which aligns with responsible digital stewardship. There are no apparent elements related to Riba interest-based transactions, gambling, or other forbidden categories visible on the homepage. Their focus on data privacy “The cloud is the only thing on sale, not customer data” is a positive ethical indicator.
• Credibility: Enhanced by customer testimonials Plex, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, integration partners, and the fact that Backblaze is a publicly traded company BLZE, suggesting a level of corporate transparency and accountability.

Best Alternatives for Cloud Storage & Backup:

1. Sync.com

   

   • Key Features: End-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge privacy, file sharing, collaboration tools, automatic backup, version history, cross-platform compatibility.
   • Price: Free tier available 5GB, paid plans starting around $8/month for 2TB.
   • Pros: Exceptional privacy and security focus, easy to use, excellent for sensitive data.
   • Cons: Speeds can sometimes be slower than competitors due to strong encryption, no dedicated server-side backup options for complex infrastructures.

2. IDrive

   • Key Features: Backup for multiple devices computers, servers, mobile, snapshot and versioning, hybrid backup cloud and local, physical data shipment for large restores, competitive pricing.
   • Price: Free tier available 10GB, paid plans starting around $59.62/year for 5TB.
   • Pros: Supports a wide range of devices and operating systems, robust feature set for comprehensive backup, good value for money.
   • Cons: User interface can feel a bit cluttered, initial backup might take longer due to data encryption.

3. pCloud

   • Key Features: Lifetime plans, strong encryption client-side encryption with Crypto folder add-on, fast synchronization, media streaming, file versioning, public folder for hosting.
   • Price: Free tier 10GB, lifetime plans starting around $175 for 500GB.
   • Pros: Lifetime plan option is cost-effective long-term, excellent for media, good security.
   • Cons: Zero-knowledge encryption is an extra paid feature, less focused on traditional “backup” compared to some competitors.

4. Carbonite

   • Key Features: Automatic cloud backup for personal computers, unlimited cloud storage for personal plans, easy recovery, mobile access, optional courier recovery.
   • Price: Personal plans start around $7.49/month billed annually for unlimited storage.
   • Pros: Truly unlimited storage for personal plans, set-it-and-forget-it automation, straightforward recovery process.
   • Cons: Can be slower than some alternatives, less flexible for advanced users or server backup needs.

5. Zoolz Cloud Backup

   • Key Features: Hybrid backup cold and hot storage, deduplication, military-grade encryption, support for servers and external drives, lifetime retention.
   • Price: Various plans, often competitive, with cold storage offering significant savings.
   • Pros: Cost-effective for archiving large amounts of data, strong encryption, good for businesses.
   • Cons: Cold storage retrieval times can be slow, user interface might require some learning.

6. Nextcloud Self-Hosted Requires technical expertise and a server/NAS

   • Key Features: Complete control over your data, file syncing and sharing, collaboration features, extensible with numerous apps, open-source.
   • Price: Free software, but requires hardware and potentially IT expertise.
   • Pros: Ultimate privacy and security as data remains on your own hardware, highly customizable, no subscription fees for the software.
   • Cons: Requires technical setup and maintenance, hardware costs, reliability depends on your own infrastructure.

7. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office

   • Key Features: Comprehensive cyber protection backup, anti-malware, ransomware protection, disk imaging, active disk cloning, robust recovery options.
   • Price: Annual subscriptions, typically starting around $49.99/year for 1 computer without cloud storage. Cloud storage tiers are additional.
   • Pros: All-in-one solution for security and backup, reliable disk imaging, strong ransomware protection.
   • Cons: Can be more expensive if you opt for cloud storage and multiple devices, feature-rich interface can be overwhelming for beginners.

Find detailed reviews on Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org, for software products you can also check Producthunt.

IMPORTANT: We have not personally tested this company’s services. This review is based solely on information provided by the company on their website. For independent, verified user experiences, please refer to trusted sources such as Trustpilot, Reddit, and BBB.org.

Backblaze.com Review & First Look

When you first land on Backblaze.com, the immediate impression is one of professionalism and clarity.

The homepage is designed to swiftly convey the core value proposition: robust, affordable, and accessible cloud storage and backup solutions. It’s not just a splash page.

It’s a well-structured entry point for both individual users looking to protect their personal files and enterprises seeking scalable object storage for complex workloads like AI/ML and HPC.

The site immediately highlights key differentiators such as “terabit speed,” “exabyte scale,” and “free egress,” which are crucial selling points in the cloud storage market.

For someone evaluating cloud services, these phrases signal a focus on performance and cost-efficiency, two critical factors for adoption. Kanners-ashines.uk Review

The visual layout, with distinct sections for “Systems backup and recovery,” “Active media archive,” “Application & AI storage,” and “Simplify computer backup,” guides visitors directly to the solution relevant to their needs.

This segmentation suggests a deep understanding of diverse user requirements.

Backblaze.com Features

Backblaze.com is not just a one-trick pony.

It offers a compelling suite of features catering to both personal and enterprise-level demands.

From safeguarding individual photos to powering large-scale AI infrastructure, the platform positions itself as a versatile cloud storage provider. Sur-ronbikes.com Review

Personal Computer Backup: Unlimited, Easy Data Protection

For the everyday user, Backblaze offers a “set it and forget it” solution for computer backup. It promises automatic, unlimited, and secure backups for files in the cloud. This simplicity is a major draw, alleviating the common anxiety of data loss. The service covers both Macs and PCs, ensuring broad compatibility. The key features include:

• Unlimited Storage: A significant advantage, meaning you don’t have to worry about running out of space for your ever-growing digital life.
• Automatic Backup: Once installed, it works silently in the background, continuously backing up new and changed files.
• Versioning: Retains previous versions of files for a certain period, allowing recovery from accidental edits or corruption.
• Easy Restoration: The website emphasizes a straightforward restoration process, whether you need to download a single file or an entire drive.

B2 Cloud Storage: S3 Compatible Object Storage

This is where Backblaze caters to developers, businesses, and enterprises.

B2 Cloud Storage is designed for scalable object storage, directly competing with services like Amazon S3 but with a distinct advantage: “free egress.” This means you don’t pay fees to download your data from the cloud, which can lead to substantial cost savings for data-intensive applications. Key aspects of B2 include:

• S3 Compatible API: Allows seamless integration with existing tools and applications that are already designed to work with Amazon S3, minimizing migration effort.
• Performance: Built to deliver high performance at a fraction of the cost, crucial for demanding workloads like AI/ML, data lakes, and cloud-native applications.
• Free Egress: As highlighted, this is a major cost-saver, especially for businesses with high data retrieval needs.
• Open Cloud Portability: Reduces vendor lock-in, providing flexibility in how and where data is used across different cloud environments.
• Solutions for Specific Workloads:
  • Systems backup and recovery: For protecting revenue-generating infrastructure with immutable cloud backups.
  • Active media archive: Streamlining content production and sharing workflows.
  • Application & AI storage: Accelerating exabyte-scale AI/ML and data-intensive applications.

Security and Privacy Commitments

Backblaze places a strong emphasis on the security and privacy of user data. Thegoodestateagent.com Review

This is crucial for any cloud service, as users entrust their valuable information to a third party. The website highlights:

• Lock-tight Security: While they state “there’s no lock-in,” they claim their security is “lock-tight.”
• Data Encryption: Implies data is encrypted at rest and in transit.
• Account Security: Focuses on protecting user accounts, not just the data itself.
• “Providing actual privacy”: A direct statement that “the cloud is the only thing on sale, not customer data. PII safety is a top priority.” This commitment to privacy is a significant ethical consideration, aligning with principles of trustworthiness and protecting personal information.
• Compliance: They state they are “compliant for most use cases, and steadily adding certifications,” demonstrating a commitment to industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Backblaze.com Pros & Cons

Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of any service is crucial for making an informed decision.

Backblaze.com, while robust, has its own set of advantages and potential drawbacks.

Advantages of Backblaze.com

• Unlimited Personal Backup: For personal users, the unlimited storage for a fixed, affordable price is a major draw. You never have to worry about managing storage quotas for your primary computer.
• Cost-Effective B2 Cloud Storage: The primary advantage for B2 is its competitive pricing, especially with the “free egress” model. This can lead to significant cost savings compared to other hyperscale cloud providers, particularly for applications with high data retrieval needs.
• Simplicity and Ease of Use: The personal computer backup service is designed for ease of use, with a “set it and forget it” approach that appeals to non-technical users.
• S3 Compatibility: For developers and businesses, the S3 compatible API of B2 Cloud Storage simplifies migration and integration with existing tools and workflows.
• Strong Privacy Stance: The explicit statement that “the cloud is the only thing on sale, not customer data” is a strong indicator of their commitment to user privacy, which is ethically commendable.
• Publicly Traded Company: Being listed on NASDAQ BLZE adds a layer of transparency and accountability, often inspiring more trust than privately held companies. This also means more publicly available financial information.
• Performance Focus: The emphasis on “terabit speed” and “blazing speed” indicates a dedication to high-performance infrastructure, critical for modern data workloads.

Potential Considerations Cons

• Initial Backup Speed: While overall performance is touted, initial full backups for large datasets can sometimes take a considerable amount of time, depending on internet connection speeds.
• Limited File Access in Browser Personal: For personal backup, while you can restore files, the web interface might not offer the same direct file browsing and editing capabilities as a typical cloud sync service like Dropbox or Google Drive. It’s primarily a backup, not a live collaboration tool.
• No Linux Support for Personal Backup: As of the website’s claims, personal computer backup primarily supports Macs and PCs, leaving Linux users needing to explore B2 Cloud Storage or alternatives for their personal devices.
• Data Restoration Method: While they offer various restoration methods direct download, USB hard drive shipment, some users might find the physical shipment method for very large restores less convenient than pure cloud-based options, although it can be faster for truly massive datasets.
• Limited Free Tier for B2: While B2 offers a free tier, it’s typically limited in storage capacity compared to some competitors, meaning serious users will quickly move to paid plans.

Backblaze.com Alternatives

*   Niche: Zero-knowledge, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage and collaboration.
*   Why Consider: If privacy and security are your absolute top priorities, Sync.com's zero-knowledge architecture ensures that even they cannot access your data. Ideal for sensitive documents and personal files.
*   Key Features: End-to-end encryption, file sharing with advanced controls, version history, cross-platform apps, free tier available.
*   Pricing: Free 5GB, paid plans start around $8/month for 2TB.

*   Niche: Comprehensive multi-device backup for personal and small business users.
*   Why Consider: IDrive excels at backing up a wide array of devices computers, servers, mobile, external drives under a single account. It's highly versatile.
*   Key Features: Multi-device backup, disk image backup, hybrid backup cloud + local, snapshot and versioning, file sharing, competitive pricing.
*   Pricing: Free 10GB, paid plans from $59.62/year for 5TB.

*   Niche: Cloud storage with lifetime plans and strong media capabilities.
*   Why Consider: For those who prefer a one-time purchase over recurring subscriptions and value media streaming directly from the cloud.
*   Key Features: Lifetime plans, pCloud Crypto client-side encryption add-on, built-in media player, file versioning, public folder functionality.
*   Pricing: Free 10GB, lifetime plans for 500GB or 2TB.

*   Niche: "Set it and forget it" unlimited cloud backup for personal computers.
*   Why Consider: Very similar to Backblaze's personal backup, offering unlimited storage for a single computer, with a strong focus on simplicity.
*   Key Features: Unlimited cloud storage for personal plans, automatic backup, easy file recovery, U.S.-based support.
*   Pricing: Starts around $7.49/month annual billing.

5. Nextcloud Self-Hosted

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   • Niche: Open-source, self-hosted file sync, share, and collaboration platform.
   • Why Consider: If you demand absolute control over your data and infrastructure, Nextcloud allows you to host your own cloud, ensuring data never leaves your physical control. Requires technical expertise.
   • Key Features: File sync and share, calendaring, contacts, video calls, extensible with numerous apps, full data ownership.
   • Pricing: Free software, but requires investment in hardware and IT management.

6. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office

   • Niche: Integrated cybersecurity and backup solution.
   • Why Consider: If you want an all-in-one package that combines robust backup capabilities with advanced anti-malware and ransomware protection.
   • Key Features: Disk imaging, file backup, active ransomware protection, anti-malware, vulnerability assessment, cloud backup options.
   • Pricing: Annual subscriptions, varying by features and cloud storage.

7. Wasabi Cloud Storage

   • Niche: Hot cloud storage with a simplified, flat pricing model no egress fees.
   • Why Consider: A direct competitor to Backblaze B2, Wasabi also offers no egress fees and positions itself as a significantly cheaper alternative to Amazon S3 for hot storage. Ideal for businesses and developers.
   • Key Features: Hot storage, S3 compatibility, flat pricing model storage only, high performance.
   • Pricing: Typically around $6/TB/month.

How to Cancel Backblaze.com Subscription

Canceling a subscription is a common inquiry, and for a service like Backblaze, it’s designed to be straightforward.

For both personal computer backup and B2 Cloud Storage, the cancellation process is typically managed through your online account portal.

For Backblaze Computer Backup Personal:

1. Log in to your Backblaze account: Go to the Backblaze.com login page and enter your credentials.
2. Navigate to “My Account” or “Billing”: Once logged in, look for a section related to your account settings, billing, or subscriptions. This is often found in a sidebar or top menu.
3. Locate your subscription: You should see details of your active computer backup subscription.
4. Initiate cancellation: There will typically be an option to “Cancel Subscription,” “Manage Plan,” or similar. Follow the prompts. You might be asked for a reason for cancellation or offered alternatives.
5. Confirm cancellation: Ensure you receive a confirmation email or see a confirmation message on the site, indicating that your subscription has been successfully canceled and that no further charges will be incurred. Backblaze usually allows access to your backed-up data for a period e.g., 30 days after cancellation, giving you time to download any necessary files.

For Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage:

1. Log in to your B2 account: Access your B2 account via the Backblaze.com login.
2. Go to “Billing” or “Account Usage”: In the B2 console, find the section that deals with billing information or account usage.
3. Remove Payment Method: To effectively stop future charges, you often need to remove your payment method. For B2, charges are based on usage, so stopping usage is key.
4. Delete Buckets and Data: The primary way to cease charges on B2 is to delete all your data and storage “buckets.” As long as data resides in your buckets, you will be charged for storage.
   • Navigate to your “Buckets” section.
   • Delete all files within each bucket.
   • Delete the buckets themselves.
5. Contact Support Optional but Recommended: If you are unsure or want to ensure all billing ceases, it’s advisable to contact Backblaze support directly. They can confirm that your account is fully cleared of any potential future charges.

How to Cancel Backblaze.com Free Trial

Canceling a free trial before it converts to a paid subscription is essential to avoid unwanted charges. Speedaf.com Review

Backblaze’s free trial for personal backup is typically 15 days, and for B2, it includes 10GB of free storage with a certain amount of free downloads and transactions.

For Backblaze Computer Backup Free Trial:

1. Monitor the trial period: Keep track of when your 15-day free trial is set to expire. Backblaze usually sends email reminders.
2. No payment method entered: If you did not enter a payment method during signup for the free trial, the trial will simply expire, and your account will revert to a basic state where data is eventually purged, with no charges incurred. No active cancellation is necessary in this scenario.
3. Payment method entered: If you provided payment details upfront which is less common for their standard personal backup trial but possible for other promotions, you would follow the same steps as canceling a full subscription log in, navigate to billing, cancel subscription before the trial period ends.
4. Data retention: After the trial expires, any data backed up during the trial period will typically be retained for a limited time e.g., 30 days before being deleted. If you decide not to proceed, ensure you download any data you need before this window closes.

For Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage Free Tier:

1. B2 operates on a free tier, not a limited-time trial: Backblaze B2 doesn’t technically have a “free trial” in the sense of a timed period that expires into a paid subscription. Instead, it offers a “free tier” that includes:
   • 10 GB of free storage.
   • 1 GB of free downloads per day.
   • 2,500 free B2 Class C transactions per day.
   • 2,500 free B2 Class B transactions per day.
2. No active cancellation needed for the free tier: As long as your usage stays within these free tier limits, you will not be charged. You can continue using it indefinitely within these constraints.
3. To avoid charges for exceeding the free tier: If you start using more than the free allocation, you will be charged. To stop these charges, you must:
   • Delete all data and buckets: As outlined in the “How to Cancel B2 Cloud Storage” section, removing all your data and associated buckets is the surest way to stop any usage-based charges.
   • Monitor usage: Regularly check your B2 usage reports in your account to ensure you are not exceeding the free tier if you intend to use it without cost.

Backblaze.com Pricing

Understanding the pricing structure is crucial for any cloud service, and Backblaze aims for transparency, though it’s important to distinguish between their two main offerings.

Backblaze Computer Backup Personal & Business

Personal Computer Backup:

This is typically priced as a flat monthly or annual fee, offering unlimited storage for a single computer.

• Monthly: Around $9/month
• Annually: Around $99/year saving compared to monthly
• Two Years: Around $189/two years further savings

These prices often include basic features like automatic backup, file versioning for 30 days, and standard support. Xrchainlimited.com Review

Additional features, such as 1-year file version history, might be available as an add-on for an extra charge e.g., $2/month. Restoring data via a USB hard drive shipment also incurs a refundable deposit cost, which is reimbursed upon return of the drive.

Business Computer Backup:

For businesses, the pricing scales per computer, with volume discounts available.

• Typically starts around $70/computer/year, with pricing decreasing as more computers are added.
• Offers centralized management, enhanced reporting, and often more robust support options.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage Object Storage

B2’s pricing model is usage-based, similar to other object storage services, but with a significant differentiator: free egress.

• Storage Cost: Starts at $0.005/GB/month or $5/TB/month. This is highly competitive, often significantly cheaper than Amazon S3 Standard $0.023/GB/month or Google Cloud Storage Standard $0.020/GB/month.
• Download Egress Cost: FREE. This is a major selling point. While other providers charge for data downloaded from their cloud, Backblaze B2 offers unlimited free egress, which can drastically reduce overall costs for applications with high data retrieval needs.
• Transaction Costs:
  • Class B Transactions: $0.004/10,000 transactions e.g., listing files, copying files.
  • Class C Transactions: $0.004/10,000 transactions e.g., reading files, writing files.
• Free Tier: As mentioned, B2 includes a free tier with 10 GB of storage, 1 GB of daily downloads, and 2,500 free Class B and C transactions per day. This allows users to test the service or host small applications without incurring costs.
• Minimum Duration for Stored Files: Files are typically charged for a minimum of 30 days, even if deleted sooner. This is a common practice among cloud storage providers to manage infrastructure costs.

Example Cost Calculation for B2:

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If you store 10 TB of data with Backblaze B2 and retrieve 5 TB of data in a month:

• Storage Cost: 10 TB * $5/TB = $50
• Egress Cost: 5 TB * $0/TB = $0
• Total Estimated Cost excluding transactions, which are usually minor unless you have millions: $50/month

Compare this to a typical provider like Amazon S3, where 5 TB of egress alone could cost hundreds of dollars.

This illustrates why Backblaze B2’s free egress is such a compelling factor for specific use cases.

Backblaze.com vs. Competitors

When evaluating Backblaze.com, it’s essential to understand its position relative to other major players in the cloud storage and backup market. Prosoundgear.com Review

Each competitor brings its own strengths, catering to different user needs and budgets.

Backblaze Computer Backup vs. Carbonite

• Backblaze: Focuses on unlimited, automatic backup for single computers Mac/PC. Known for its simplicity and relatively low cost for unlimited storage. Offers an extended version history as an add-on.
• Carbonite: Also offers unlimited personal backup for a single computer, with a similar “set it and forget it” philosophy. Carbonite often has slightly more tiered pricing plans for different features e.g., external drive backup.
• Key Differentiator: Backblaze often has a slight edge on initial pricing for unlimited storage. Carbonite has been in the market longer and might be perceived as a more established brand by some, though Backblaze’s public listing adds significant credibility. Both are excellent choices for simple, comprehensive personal computer backup.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage vs. Amazon S3

• Backblaze B2: Pitches itself as a significantly more affordable hot storage solution, primarily due to its free egress. This makes it incredibly attractive for applications with high data retrieval rates, such as media streaming, large-scale data analytics, or disaster recovery where rapid data restoration is critical. Its S3 compatible API makes it easy to migrate from or integrate with existing S3-centric workflows.
• Amazon S3 Simple Storage Service: The industry giant and original object storage service. Offers a vast ecosystem of integrated AWS services EC2, Lambda, Glacier, etc., multiple storage classes Standard, Infrequent Access, Glacier, Deep Archive, and unparalleled global reach and scalability.
• Key Differentiator: Egress Fees. Amazon S3 charges for data egress, which can become prohibitively expensive for large data transfers. While S3’s ecosystem and range of storage classes are more extensive, B2’s straightforward pricing and free egress can lead to massive cost savings for specific use cases. For deep integration within the AWS ecosystem, S3 is often the default. For pure storage with high egress and cost-effectiveness, B2 is a strong contender.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage vs. Wasabi Cloud Storage

• Backblaze B2: Offers free egress and competitive storage costs $0.005/GB/month. Files have a 30-day minimum storage period.
• Wasabi: Also offers a flat pricing model with no egress fees, positioning itself as “hot cloud storage at 1/5th the cost of Amazon S3.” Wasabi’s pricing is often slightly higher per GB than B2’s base storage, typically around $0.0059/GB/month $5.99/TB/month, but without any transaction fees beyond an initial upload charge for some services, which is generally quite low. Wasabi also has a 90-day minimum storage charge.
• Key Differentiator: Transaction Fees and Minimum Storage Duration. Wasabi generally boasts no transaction fees, simplifying cost predictions, whereas B2 has modest Class B and C transaction fees. However, B2 has a shorter minimum storage duration 30 days vs. Wasabi’s 90 days, which could be beneficial for rapidly changing data. Both are excellent choices for cost-effective hot storage with free egress, and the choice often comes down to specific workload patterns and billing nuances.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage vs. Google Cloud Storage

• Backblaze B2: Focuses on simplicity, S3 compatibility, and especially free egress for hot data. Best for straightforward object storage needs where egress costs are a major concern.
• Google Cloud Storage GCS: Offers a highly scalable and flexible object storage service with multiple storage classes Standard, Nearline, Coldline, Archive and integrates deeply with Google Cloud Platform’s extensive suite of services AI/ML, BigQuery, Kubernetes, etc.. GCS also charges for egress.
• Key Differentiator: Ecosystem and Pricing Complexity. GCS is part of a broader, powerful cloud ecosystem, offering more specialized storage classes and global infrastructure. However, its pricing structure can be more complex due to various factors like regional storage, operations, and egress fees. B2 is simpler and more cost-effective for pure storage with high egress.

Backblaze.com Company & Credibility

Understanding the company behind the service is just as important as evaluating the service itself.

Backblaze projects an image of transparency and stability, which are crucial for a cloud provider entrusted with valuable data.

Publicly Traded Company

One of the most significant indicators of Backblaze’s credibility is its status as a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol BLZE. This means: Organifishop.com Review

• Financial Transparency: As a public company, Backblaze is subject to rigorous financial reporting requirements by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission SEC. This provides a level of transparency into their financial health and operations that privately held companies do not typically offer.
• Accountability: Public companies are accountable to their shareholders, which often translates to a greater focus on sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and long-term viability.
• Investor Relations: The presence of an Investor Relations section on their website provides access to financial reports, earnings calls, and other corporate information, allowing stakeholders to delve into the company’s performance and strategy.

Customer Trust and Testimonials

The homepage prominently features testimonials from notable users, which serves as social proof and builds trust:

• Plex: A well-known media streaming service, using Backblaze B2 to serve 9PB/month and achieving $70K/month in savings. This highlights the scalability and cost-effectiveness for large-scale media operations.
• Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville: This demonstrates adoption by academic and research institutions, emphasizing the reliability and ease of use for critical data protection “1 day implementation,” “40 year legacy protected”.

These real-world examples from diverse sectors tech and academia underscore Backblaze’s capability to serve different organizational needs effectively.

Commitment to Security and Privacy

Beyond just features, Backblaze emphasizes its foundational commitment to security and privacy:

• Dedicated Security Pages: Links to “Explore cloud security” and “Explore backup security” indicate a detailed approach to protecting data at various layers.
• Privacy Policy: A clear link to their Privacy policy on the homepage demonstrates adherence to data protection regulations and transparent data handling practices. Their explicit statement “The cloud is the only thing on sale, not customer data. PII safety is a top priority” is a strong reassurance to users concerned about their personal information.
• Compliance: Their claim of “Scaling compliance” and “steadily adding certifications” suggests ongoing efforts to meet industry standards and regulatory requirements, which is vital for business and enterprise adoption.

Support and Accessibility

The mention of “Always-on support” with “actual humans” and a clear “Get help” link signifies a commitment to customer service, an often-overlooked aspect but critical for user satisfaction and problem resolution.

In summary, Backblaze.com projects an image of a reliable, secure, and customer-focused cloud storage provider that has achieved significant market presence and financial stability. Lendeavorusa.com Review

Backblaze.com Computer Backup Linux and NAS

While Backblaze’s personal computer backup primarily supports Macs and PCs, the question often arises for Linux users and those with Network Attached Storage NAS devices. Backblaze addresses these needs, but through its B2 Cloud Storage offering rather than the direct personal backup client.

Backblaze Computer Backup Linux: Not Directly Supported for Personal Backup

The standard Backblaze Personal Computer Backup client is not natively available for Linux operating systems.

This means Linux users cannot simply install a desktop application to perform unlimited, automatic backups in the same way Mac and Windows users can.

This is a common point of feedback from the Linux community.

However, Linux users are not left without options when it comes to leveraging Backblaze’s infrastructure. They can utilize Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage. Oscarcapitalfunding.com Review

• Using B2 with Linux: For Linux systems including servers, virtual machines, or even desktops, Backblaze B2 serves as a robust object storage solution. Users can integrate B2 with Linux environments through:
  • S3 Compatible APIs: Since B2 is S3 compatible, popular Linux command-line tools like s3cmd, rclone, or custom scripts that interact with S3 APIs can be configured to upload and manage data in B2 buckets.
  • Backblaze B2 Command-Line Tool b2 CLI: Backblaze provides its own official command-line interface for Linux, which allows direct interaction with B2 buckets for uploading, downloading, listing files, and managing data. This is typically the most direct and efficient way for Linux users to leverage B2.
  • Third-party Backup Software: Many third-party backup solutions available for Linux offer integration with S3-compatible cloud storage, making B2 a viable backend.

This approach provides powerful, flexible, and scalable storage for Linux, but it requires a more hands-on configuration compared to the “install and forget” nature of the personal backup client.

Backblaze Computer Backup NAS: Primarily via B2 Cloud Storage

Similar to Linux, Backblaze’s direct personal backup client does not inherently support backing up Network Attached Storage NAS devices directly as if they were a standard internal or external drive connected to a single computer.

The personal backup service is designed for a single user’s primary computer.

For backing up NAS devices, Backblaze’s solution is Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage.

• NAS Integrations with B2: Many modern NAS devices, especially from manufacturers like Synology and QNAP, have built-in applications or robust app stores that allow direct integration with S3-compatible object storage services. This means you can configure your NAS to replicate or back up its data directly to a Backblaze B2 bucket.
  • Synology: Often supports cloud sync or backup tasks directly to S3-compatible endpoints, which B2 can emulate.
  • QNAP: Similar to Synology, QNAP NAS devices frequently include robust cloud backup options that can be configured for B2.
• Third-party Software on NAS: For NAS devices without direct B2 integration, or for more granular control, users can often run third-party backup software or scripts on the NAS itself if it supports custom applications or SSH access to push data to B2 using the Backblaze command line tool or other S3-compatible utilities.
• Backing up NAS to a Computer with Backblaze: A less direct, but sometimes simpler, method is to mount the NAS as a network drive on a Windows or Mac computer that has the Backblaze personal backup client installed. However, Backblaze’s personal backup service has specific rules about network drives and external drives that must be consistently connected. For robust and reliable NAS backup, direct B2 integration is generally the preferred method.

In essence, while Backblaze offers a seamless personal backup for Macs and PCs, Linux users and NAS owners benefit from the more powerful and flexible B2 Cloud Storage, requiring a bit more technical setup to integrate. Onlinehumanhair.com Review

FAQ

What is Backblaze.com?

Backblaze.com is a cloud storage and backup service provider offering two main solutions: unlimited personal computer backup for Macs and PCs, and a highly competitive, S3-compatible object storage service called B2 Cloud Storage for developers and businesses, known for its free egress.

Is Backblaze.com legitimate?

Yes, Backblaze.com is a legitimate company.

It is a publicly traded company BLZE on NASDAQ, providing a high degree of transparency and accountability, and has been in operation for many years with millions of users.

How does Backblaze computer backup work?

Backblaze computer backup works by installing a small client application on your Mac or PC.

Once installed, it automatically backs up all your data excluding operating system files, applications, and temporary files by default to the Backblaze cloud without you needing to do anything further. Unitedstatesautoshipping.com Review

What is Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage?

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is an S3-compatible object storage service designed for developers and businesses to store large amounts of data at a very low cost, notably offering free egress no fees for downloading your data. It’s used for applications, media archives, data lakes, and general cloud storage.

How much does Backblaze.com cost?

Backblaze Personal Computer Backup costs around $9/month, $99/year, or $189/two years for unlimited storage.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage costs $0.005/GB/month for storage, with free egress and small transaction fees.

Does Backblaze offer unlimited storage for personal backup?

Yes, Backblaze offers unlimited storage for its personal computer backup plan for a single computer, meaning you don’t have to worry about hitting storage limits for your files.

Can I back up my external drives with Backblaze?

Yes, Backblaze Personal Computer Backup can back up connected external hard drives, but they must be plugged in at least once every 30 days for the data to be retained. Fyidoctors.com Review

What are Backblaze competitors?

Backblaze’s competitors for personal backup include Carbonite, IDrive, and CrashPlan.

For its B2 Cloud Storage, key competitors are Amazon S3, Wasabi, Google Cloud Storage, and Microsoft Azure Blob Storage.

Does Backblaze offer a free trial?

Backblaze Personal Computer Backup offers a 15-day free trial.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage offers a free tier with 10 GB of storage and 1 GB of daily downloads that doesn’t expire, allowing you to use it indefinitely within those limits. Enrisecapital.com Review

How do I restore files from Backblaze?

You can restore files from Backblaze by logging into your account on their website.

You can download individual files, select a group of files for a ZIP download, or request a USB hard drive or flash drive containing your data for large restores for a refundable deposit.

Is Backblaze secure?

Yes, Backblaze emphasizes strong security measures, including encrypting data at rest and in transit, and maintaining secure data centers.

They also highlight a commitment to user privacy, stating they do not sell customer data.

Can I use Backblaze on Linux?

Backblaze Personal Computer Backup does not have a native client for Linux.

However, Linux users can utilize Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage through its S3-compatible API or the official Backblaze B2 command-line tool.

What is “free egress” for Backblaze B2?

“Free egress” means that Backblaze B2 does not charge fees for downloading retrieving your data from their cloud storage.

This is a significant cost advantage compared to many other cloud storage providers that charge for data egress.

Does Backblaze support NAS backup?

Backblaze Personal Computer Backup does not directly support NAS devices.

However, you can back up NAS data using Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, which many NAS devices like Synology and QNAP can integrate with directly, or by using third-party backup tools and scripts.

What is the Backblaze command line tool?

The Backblaze command-line tool b2 CLI is an official command-line interface that allows users to interact with their Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage buckets.

It provides functionalities for uploading, downloading, managing files, and configuring buckets directly from the command line, particularly useful for developers and automation.

Is Backblaze good for media storage?

Yes, Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is well-suited for media storage and active media archives due to its competitive pricing and free egress, which is crucial for frequently accessed and downloaded media files.

Personal backup is also good for archiving personal media files.

Does Backblaze protect against ransomware?

Backblaze’s backup service can help recover from ransomware attacks by allowing you to restore uninfected versions of your files from before the attack occurred.

It’s a critical component of a ransomware recovery strategy.

Can I pause Backblaze backup?

Yes, you can pause the Backblaze backup client from backing up your computer directly from the application’s settings or system tray icon.

How long does Backblaze retain deleted files?

By default, Backblaze Personal Computer Backup retains deleted files and previous versions for 30 days.

You can optionally extend this retention to 1 year or even indefinitely for an additional fee.

What is the difference between Backblaze Computer Backup vs B2?

Backblaze Computer Backup is an unlimited, automatic backup solution for individual Macs and PCs, designed for simplicity.

Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is an S3-compatible object storage service for developers and businesses, offering scalable, low-cost storage with free egress, designed for more complex data management and application integration.