Best Online Backup Reviews

 

 

 

	Category	SugarSync	Mozy	MyPCBackup	LiveDrive	Carbonite
#	Overall Rating	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5
1	Works on multiple computers?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2	Sync between computers?	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
3	Access to past file editions?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
4	Backup specific files first?	Yes	No	No	No	No
5	Quality level of encryption?	Low	High	Medium	Medium	Low
6	Support Mac PC & mobile?	High	High	Medium	High	Medium

 
One of the newest advancements in computer backup services has been the creation of online backup services companies who promote online backup services as opposed to software options. These options are popular to most customers for several reasons:

• Online Backup services do not normally take up any storage space on the home computers like computer backup software.  This can become a big issue over time as backups can pile up over the course of the year and begin to hog space on the home hard drive.  Many of the online backup companies also offer unlimited plans in terms of backup storage.  In practice, there is usually some kind of a limit but it is still a great option when you consider the alternative of having to save all this space on external or internal hard drives with computer backup software.

• Online backup services allow customers to be able to retrieve their files from any computer with an internet connection.  This allows them to also be able to access a file if they are on the road or away from home.  Plus, the best online backup services will also give you access to previous versions which can be ideal for finding past versions of documents, spreadsheets, reports, etc. that have changed over time.

• Online backup services are also normally faster although this will depend in large part of the speed of your internet connection.  This means that your computer will be more greatly protected as these online backups are kept more up to date and are even done in real time with the best companies.

• Protection against floods, theft, fires, etc. Since the backups are made online, people are less susceptible to the risk caused by flooding, theft, fires or other issues that could destroy a home computer and its data files.

Of course, computer backup software still has one main advantage that customers should keep in mind.  This main advantage is that its superior in delivering protection for OS files.  These are a the files that help run your computer and these are protected by completing disk imagining or mirror imaging backups of your hard drive.  This particular backup is needed to protect these OS files and your program files in the event of a hard drive crash.  The vast majority of online backup service companies do not offer this option at all and the few that do can only offer a copy made to your hard drive in a partition which only offers decent protection.  This is why we still recommend that customers use backup software as well online backup options.  To find out which backup software we recommend, please visit our sister site at: http://www.bestbackupsoftwareguide.com/.

Now, what the best online backup services do offer is excellent protection for data files.  These are the files that include your word documents, spreadsheets, reports, photos, music, videos, etc.  These can also be priceless to many people when you consider how valuable that school report or family digital photos could be.  This is why it is very important that you have a solid option chosen.  Here, we take a look at what you should be looking for in online backup services and how the best online backup services stack up in these criteria.

	Category	SugarSync	Mozy	MyPCBackup	LiveDrive	Carbonite
#	Overall Rating	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5
1	Works on multiple computers?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2	Sync between computers?	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
3	Access to past file editions?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
4	Backup specific files first?	Yes	No	No	No	No
5	Quality level of encryption?	Low	High	Medium	Medium	Low
6	Support Mac PC & mobile?	High	High	Medium	High	Medium

 

1.  Does the service work on multiple computers?

The reality is that not all the services will allow you to do backups for all your computers or may only do so at an increased cost.  Make sure if you need the ability to backup multiple computers that the company you choose allows this.  We recommend that you use the same online backup service for all your computers to make it easier to monitor the backups and learn their one process.

2.    Do you need the ability to synchronize files between multiple computers?

A number of the online backup service companies will give you the ablity to synchronize files on all your computers.  This is important because regardless of which computer or mobile device you are on, you will be able to get the most up-to-date file as it gets synchronized to all the other computers regardless of which computer the changes were made on.  This can be a very important option for those who have multiple computers at home or bring a lot of work home from the office.

3.    Do you have access to past editions?

Access to past editions or past backups can be very important.  Many customers will want to have access to past editions of reports that have since been changed over time.  This feature which is not available with all the online backup services allows them the ability to find these files easily.

4.    Does it have the ability to backup specific files first or separately?

This can also be an important criteria if you find yourself where you have to make continues changes to certain files more than others and it is very important that these changes are accounted for by faster saves or backups.  Some of the best online backup service companies provide this feature to customers to where they can prioritize what gets backed up first or separately.

5.    What level of encryption do you need?

Another area of concern for some customers is how protected that they want their files to be.  Since this information is online, it is potentially more susceptible to virtual theft than say backup software.  All of the main companies in this field will offer encryption up to 128 bit AES Encryption.  However, some customers may want additional security for their files and there are several companies that offer greater encryption protection.

6.    Do you have a Mac or PC?  Do you use mobile devices?

Most of the online backup services operate with PC computers that use Windows 7, XP, or Vista.  A smaller amount work with Mac computers.  Obviously, if you have a MAC, you need to make sure the service provider can work with Mac computers.

 

A second aspect that you will also want to pay attention to is whether mobile devices can interact with the online backup service and which mobile devices can be used.  If you currently use mobile devices or are planning to get one in the near future, you should make sure the online backup service works with that mobile device.  This particular area is evolving as these companies are working to expand their reach to these devices but a number of companies still have a limited reach in this area.

***If you would like to find out what we think are the best online backup service companies are and how they perform in these criteria, you can take a look at our extensive reviews of these companies.  These online backup reviews should help you best decide which option is right for your computers.***

Best Online Backup Reviews

Sugarsync Online Backup Review

Mozy Online Backup Review

MyPCBackup Online Backup Review

LiveDrive Online Backup Review

Carbonite Online Backup Review

	Category	SugarSync	Mozy	MyPCBackup	LiveDrive	Carbonite
#	Overall Rating	#1	#2	#3	#4	#5
1	Works on multiple computers?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2	Sync between computers?	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
3	Access to past file editions?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
4	Backup specific files first?	Yes	No	No	No	No
5	Quality level of encryption?	Low	High	Medium	Medium	Low
6	Support Mac PC & mobile?	High	High	Medium	High	Medium