Backblaze is a good brand and one of the best-value ways to protect your data in the cloud. Its personal Computer Backup plan gives you effectively unlimited backup for a single computer at a low flat price, and its B2 Cloud Storage undercuts the object-storage pricing of the hyperscalers by a wide margin. For anyone who wants a simple, affordable safety net — or a cheap S3-compatible storage bucket — Backblaze is a standout.
The one-line verdict: Backblaze delivers unbeatable value on both consumer backup and developer-grade cloud storage, with transparency and simplicity that rivals struggle to match. The caveats are that its personal plan backs up one computer at a time (not network drives, and with a 30-day version window by default), it isn’t a full-featured sync-and-share service, and it lacks default zero-knowledge privacy unless you set your own key. It’s worth it for straightforward backup and cheap storage; people wanting file sync or collaboration should look elsewhere.
Company overview
Backblaze was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Mateo, California. It is a public company (NASDAQ: BLZE) that built its name on a single, clear promise: cheap, unlimited, dependable cloud backup for regular people. Over time it expanded into B2 Cloud Storage, an S3-compatible object store aimed at developers and businesses that want a low-cost alternative to Amazon S3. It remains an independent, focused storage company rather than a division of a larger group.
Backblaze’s reputation is unusually good for a data company, thanks in large part to its long-running “Drive Stats” reports — publicly published data on hard-drive failure rates across its data centers. That transparency built real trust with a technical audience and set the brand apart. Its whole identity rests on doing affordable, reliable storage well, which keeps it laser-focused, but also means it competes against giants who can bundle storage into wider ecosystems.
What Backblaze makes
Backblaze is a cloud-backup and storage company with two core products:
- Computer Backup — unlimited, automatic cloud backup for a single Mac or PC at a flat rate.
- B2 Cloud Storage — low-cost, S3-compatible object storage for developers and businesses.
- Restore options — download restores, or paid physical drive shipments for large recoveries.
- Business & enterprise backup — centralized backup management for teams.
- Drive Stats — its public reports on hard-drive reliability (not a product, but a signature of the brand).
- Integrations — works with tools like Veeam, Cyberduck, and many backup and sync apps via B2.
Standout Backblaze products in 2026
The flagship for individuals is Computer Backup, which backs up a single computer with effectively unlimited storage for around $9 / £8 a month (cheaper paid annually). For developers and businesses, B2 Cloud Storage is the star — S3-compatible object storage priced far below Amazon S3, with notably low or free egress in many scenarios. Its physical restore-by-mail option, where Backblaze ships your data on a drive, is a genuinely useful feature for large recoveries.
Backblaze is best understood as part of a wider backup and storage strategy. Our Best Cloud Storage 2026: Top Personal Plans Compared roundup shows where it sits against sync-focused services, and How to Back Up Your Computer to the Cloud (2026) explains how to build a proper backup routine around it. Photographers and creators protecting large libraries should also see our How to Back Up Your Photos (The 3-2-1 Way) guide for how Backblaze fits alongside local backups.
Strengths
Outstanding value. Backblaze’s personal plan offers effectively unlimited backup for one computer at a low flat price, and B2 storage dramatically undercuts the hyperscalers on cost.
Genuinely simple. Computer Backup installs, runs automatically in the background, and requires almost no configuration, which is exactly what most people need from a backup tool.
S3-compatible B2 storage. B2 works with the huge ecosystem of tools built for Amazon S3, making it an easy, cheaper drop-in for many developers and businesses.
Low or no egress fees. Compared with the notoriously high data-transfer charges of some rivals, Backblaze’s egress pricing is far friendlier, especially through partner networks.
Remarkable transparency. Its public Drive Stats hard-drive reliability reports are unique in the industry and have earned lasting trust from a technical audience.
Weaknesses & criticisms
One computer per personal plan. Computer Backup covers a single machine per license and doesn’t back up network-attached (NAS) drives, so multi-device households pay per computer.
Limited version history by default. The standard plan keeps deleted and changed file versions for 30 days; extending that history costs extra, which can catch out people who discover a problem late.
Not a sync-and-share service. Backblaze is built for backup and storage, not real-time file syncing or collaboration, so it isn’t a Dropbox or Google Drive replacement.
No default zero-knowledge privacy. Backups are encrypted, but by default Backblaze can access your data unless you set your own private encryption key, and using that key adds a restore step.
Sparser features than all-in-one rivals. It deliberately does less than bundled ecosystems, so people wanting productivity apps or deep sharing tools won’t find them here.
Reliability & support
Backblaze is highly reliable and, unusually, backs that reputation with public data: its Drive Stats reports openly track hard-drive failure rates across a very large fleet, which speaks to how seriously it takes data integrity. Backups run automatically and dependably, restores work as promised — including the option to have data shipped on a physical drive for large recoveries — and B2 storage has a solid uptime record. For a service whose entire job is keeping copies of your data safe, its track record inspires confidence.
Support is handled mainly through documentation, email, and ticketing rather than phone lines, and the general consensus is that it’s responsive and competent, though there’s no 24/7 live chat on consumer plans. Business and enterprise customers get more structured support options. As with any backup, the smart approach is to follow a 3-2-1 strategy — keep multiple copies in more than one place — and treat Backblaze as one strong, affordable pillar of that plan rather than your only copy.
Who should buy Backblaze
Backblaze is the right choice for individuals who want a simple, affordable, set-and-forget cloud backup for their main computer, and for developers and businesses who need cheap, S3-compatible object storage without the high egress fees of the big clouds. If your priority is protecting data or storing large volumes at the lowest sensible cost, Backblaze is hard to beat on value.
Backblaze is a weaker fit for people who want real-time file sync and sharing, households wanting one plan to cover many devices or a NAS, and privacy-critical users who need zero-knowledge encryption without extra steps. Those users should look at sync-focused services in our Best Cloud Storage 2026: Top Personal Plans Compared guide, or at privacy-first options like Proton Drive, and can still use Backblaze specifically for its cheap, reliable backup and storage.
FAQ
Is Backblaze a good brand?
Yes. Backblaze is a good brand and a leader in low-cost cloud backup and storage, praised for unbeatable value, simplicity, and unusual transparency through its public Drive Stats reports. Its main limitations are one-computer personal plans, a default 30-day version window, and the fact that it’s a backup service rather than a sync-and-share tool.
Where is Backblaze from and who owns it?
Backblaze is an American company, founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Mateo, California. It trades publicly on the NASDAQ (BLZE) and is an independent company focused on backup and storage, not a division of a larger tech group.
Is Backblaze reliable?
Yes. Backblaze is highly reliable and backs its reputation with public Drive Stats data on hard-drive failure rates. Backups run automatically, restores work dependably (including physical drive shipments), and B2 storage has a strong uptime record. As always, keep more than one backup copy for critical data.
Is Backblaze worth it in 2026?
For simple, affordable backup and cheap cloud storage, yes — personal Computer Backup is around $9 / £8 a month for effectively unlimited backup of one computer, and B2 storage costs far less than Amazon S3. It’s less suited to anyone who mainly wants file sync, sharing, or coverage for many devices under one plan.
Backblaze vs Carbonite — which is better?
Both offer unlimited-style personal backup, but Backblaze is generally cheaper, simpler, and more transparent, and it adds low-cost B2 storage for developers. Carbonite has its own long history and business features. For most individuals wanting value and simplicity, Backblaze is the easier recommendation.
Does Backblaze back up external and network drives?
Backblaze Computer Backup can include connected external USB drives (as long as they’re plugged in regularly), but it does not back up network-attached storage (NAS) drives on the personal plan. If you need NAS or multi-device coverage, B2 Cloud Storage paired with a backup tool is the better route.
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