Backblaze vs Carbonite: which should you choose?
Quick answer: Backblaze is built for personal-backup, while Carbonite suits personal-backup. For most users Carbonite is the stronger default, but Backblaze can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case. Carbonite has the lower entry price.
Backblaze and Carbonite look similar on the surface; the differences show up in practice. Below we compare them on pricing, strengths and the use cases each one fits, then give a clear verdict.
Side-by-side
| Backblaze | Carbonite | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Cloud Backup | Cloud Backup |
| What it's known for | Unlimited personal computer backup for one flat price, plus B2 object storage that undercuts AWS S3 on price and egress. | Set-and-forget unlimited automatic backup for a single computer, a long-standing consumer/SMB backup brand (OpenText). |
| Pricing | Personal Backup ~$9/mo or ~$99/yr unlimited (1 computer); B2 ~$6/TB/mo | ~$8.34/mo (~$99.99/yr) Safe Basic unlimited (1 computer); Plus/Prime and business tiers higher |
| Best audience | Individuals wanting cheap set-and-forget backup, and developers needing low-cost S3-compatible object storage. | Non-technical users wanting fully automatic, hands-off backup for one computer. |
| Best for | personal-backup, developers | personal-backup, set-and-forget |
| Entry price | ~$8.25/mo or ~$99/yr | ~$4.91-8.34/mo (~$99.99/yr) |
| Biggest strength | Simplest unlimited personal backup at a low flat rate. | Genuinely unlimited storage for one computer at a flat rate. |
| Main caveat | Personal Backup covers only one computer per license. | Basic plan excludes external drives and some video file types by default. |
Features compared
Beyond the spec sheet, these are the capabilities that define each tool:
Backblaze key features
- Unlimited Personal Backup for one computer at a flat price (incl. attached external drives)
- B2 Cloud Storage S3-compatible object storage at ~$6/TB/month
- Free egress on B2 up to 3x average monthly storage, then ~$0.01/GB
- No minimum storage duration on B2 (delete anytime without penalty)
Carbonite key features
- Automatic continuous backup with unlimited storage for one computer (personal)
- Set-and-forget scheduling with encryption in transit and at rest
- Courier recovery (physical disk) on the Prime tier
- External drive backup on Plus and Prime tiers
Pricing tiers side by side
Backblaze plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Backup | ~$8.25/mo or ~$99/yr | unlimited storage, 1 computer |
| B2 Cloud Storage | ~$6/TB/mo | first 10GB free; free egress up to 3x stored data |
| B2 Overdrive | custom | high-throughput tier with unlimited free egress |
Carbonite plans
| Plan | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Basic | ~$4.91-8.34/mo (~$99.99/yr) | unlimited, 1 computer, no external drives |
| Safe Plus | ~$6.99/mo (~$132/yr) | adds external drive backup |
| Safe Prime | ~$8.74/mo (~$162/yr) | adds courier recovery |
| Business | from ~$24/mo | multi-computer, tiered storage |
Tiers compiled from the vendors' published plans and independent reviews; prices are approximate and change often, so confirm current figures (and your region's taxes) on each vendor's site.
Strengths compared
Where Backblaze wins
Unlimited single-computer backup paired with the cheapest mainstream S3-compatible object storage.
- Simplest unlimited personal backup at a low flat rate.
- B2 undercuts AWS S3 dramatically on storage and egress.
That makes it the stronger pick for individuals wanting cheap set-and-forget backup, and developers needing low-cost S3-compatible object storage.
Where Carbonite wins
Veteran set-and-forget unlimited backup for a single computer, now under OpenText.
- Genuinely unlimited storage for one computer at a flat rate.
- Simple, fully automatic set-and-forget operation.
That makes it the stronger pick for non-technical users wanting fully automatic, hands-off backup for one computer.
Verdict: choose by fit
Pick by fit rather than by an overall score.
- Choose Backblaze if you fit its core audience — individuals wanting cheap set-and-forget backup, and developers needing low-cost S3-compatible object storage.
- Choose Carbonite if you fit its core audience — non-technical users wanting fully automatic, hands-off backup for one computer.
FAQ
Is Backblaze better than Carbonite?
Carbonite is the stronger default for most users, but Backblaze can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case.
What is the main difference between Backblaze and Carbonite?
Backblaze is unlimited single-computer backup paired with the cheapest mainstream S3-compatible object storage. Carbonite is veteran set-and-forget unlimited backup for a single computer, now under OpenText.
Which is cheaper, Backblaze or Carbonite?
Entry pricing differs: Backblaze starts at ~$8.25/mo or ~$99/yr, while Carbonite starts at ~$4.91-8.34/mo (~$99.99/yr). Compare the tiers above against your usage.
Sources
Facts above are drawn from these independent reviews and the vendors' own pages for Backblaze and Carbonite: