There are many good reasons to use the best Mac cloud backup. While iCloud is a simple way to store data on Macs, it’s not the only solution. If you use multiple Apple devices, share your iCloud storage with other individuals, or use iCloud services, the iCloud program may quickly become overloaded with data and costly. Although Apple devices are well-known for their protection, iCloud’s protection doesn’t match it. In 2014, over a dozen prominent celebrities had their iCloud accounts hacked. There was also a phishing scam in 2019 where hackers persuaded users to hand over sensitive information. Fortunately, there are alternative cloud storage and backup services. Here are the best ones for Macs.
List of the Best Mac Cloud Backup Services
- Backblaze
- Carbonite
- iDrive
Backblaze
- Pros: User-friendly, users can designate their own encryption key, unlimited backup, can find a stolen device
- Cons: Only keeps items deleted for 30 days, no free plans, security isn’t the best, no auto upload from devices
- 2-Factor Auth: Yes, SMS and/or app
Key Insight
The interface of Backblaze is user-friendly, and you can set up the app directly within System Preferences on macOS. It is compatible with macOS, and it can be configured directly within System Preferences. Although it comes with 128-bit AES encryption, which is extremely difficult to break, it is not as secure as the 256-bit AES encryption used in iCloud.
TLS encryption is used for data transfers, which are virtually uncrackable, and third-party firms are regularly hired to test and enhance security features. There are also theft-prevention features that track your computer’s IP address when it connects, as well as two-factor authentication, which requires you to enter both a password and a code sent to your device or email to log in. It is easy to get started with Backblaze thanks to its standard Mac functionality. Backups will be automatically set up for you, so you don’t have to do it yourself.
Backblaze offers three different data recovery methods: USB flash drives, USB hard drives, and downloadable ZIP files. Each computer protected with Backblaze must have a license. Your monthly bill will increase to $35 if you want to protect five devices. You may, nevertheless, switch which of your gadgets is backed up with Backblaze by transferring the license or inheriting a backup state on a new machine.
Carbonite
- Pros: Prime and Plus plans have Anti-virus, file explorer, has external drive backup, unlimited storage for Mac users
- Cons: No mobile app, sharing features are non-existent, online interface lags, only windows had private key encryption
- 2-Factor Auth: Yes
Key Insight
Carbonite’s unlimited backup and storage can be accessed with the assistance of its user-friendly system. Like Backblaze, Carbonite offers a per-device subscription with the option to upgrade. With Carbonite, you can customize your settings. You may also automatically restore your files without having to manually manipulate them. While the continuous backup setting is the same as that used by Carbonite, customization options are available.
However, data at rest is protected by 128-bit AES, which is less secure than the industry-standard 256-bit AES, and data that is transmitted over TLS TLS is encrypted. Webroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus is included, which is a cloud-based antivirus program that is popular. You can also recover files directly from within the app using the solution’s step-by-step recovery feature. Carbonite offers seven-day-a-week phone support from 9 AM to 8 PM EST. Unlike other services, Carbonite does not let you share files from your online storage.
IDrive
- Pros: Unlimited devices per account, disk image backup, has file sharing, you can restore files regardless of when they were created
- Cons: Basic sharing options, no unlimited backup plans, amount of storage is not unlimited
- 2-Factor Auth: Yes, by email
Key Insight
Cloud storage and NAS backup among other backup alternatives are available from IDrive. There are also server and disk image backups. IDrive provides unlimited devices per account and allows you to encrypt data with a private key. It is the only service that enables you to encrypt your data with a private key, which is a zero-knowledge solution.
With a password for your data, it is encrypted into code. IDrive cannot access your information since you’re the only one with the key. There is a real-time, continuous backup alternative as long as the files are less than 500 MB. You may also set a highly-detailed schedule to backup your files at specific times and frequencies.
You can rapidly back up or retrieve enormous amounts of data using IDrive Express. You may back up your Mac using IDrive Express, which is a physical data transfer service. After you finish backing up your data using the pre-installed hardware, you’ll return the hard drive to IDrive, where they’ll upload your data to your online account.