Backblaze

What is Backblaze?

Backblaze is a cloud backup and storage company that provides simple, affordable, and reliable data protection solutions for individuals and businesses. Founded in 2007, Backblaze has built its reputation on offering unlimited backup storage at a fraction of competitors’ prices while maintaining enterprise-grade reliability. The company operates its own custom-designed storage infrastructure, allowing it to deliver exceptional value without compromising on data security or availability.

What distinguishes Backblaze from other backup solutions is its radical simplicity combined with genuinely unlimited storage. While many backup services impose caps or charge per gigabyte, Backblaze Personal Backup offers true unlimited backup for a flat monthly fee. The software quietly runs in the background, continuously backing up all user files without requiring complex configuration or ongoing management. This set-it-and-forget-it approach has made Backblaze the go-to choice for users who want reliable backup without the hassle.

Beyond personal backup, Backblaze offers B2 Cloud Storage, an affordable S3-compatible object storage service used by developers, businesses, and other backup solutions. The combination of consumer-friendly backup software and developer-friendly cloud storage has positioned Backblaze as a versatile player in the data protection space, serving everyone from individual photographers protecting their portfolios to enterprises storing petabytes of data.

Key Features

• Unlimited Backup: Back up everything on your computer without storage limits for one flat monthly or annual price, including external drives when connected.
• Continuous Backup: Files are automatically backed up as they change, typically within minutes, ensuring minimal data loss in any disaster scenario.
• External Drive Support: External hard drives connected to your computer are included in your unlimited backup at no additional cost.
• Military-Grade Encryption: All data is encrypted using AES-128 encryption before leaving your computer, with optional private encryption key for additional security.
• Easy File Restore: Restore files through the web interface, receive them on a USB drive, or get an entire hard drive shipped to you for large restores.
• Version History: Access previous versions of files and deleted files for up to 30 days (extendable to one year with additional subscription).
• Mobile App Access: View and download backed-up files from iOS and Android devices, locate your computer if lost or stolen.
• Locate My Computer: Track your computer’s location if it’s lost or stolen, helping with recovery efforts.
• Inherit Backup: Transfer existing backup history when replacing a computer, maintaining continuous protection without re-uploading everything.
• B2 Cloud Storage: Affordable object storage with S3 compatibility for developers, businesses, and integration with third-party tools.

Recent Updates and Improvements

Backblaze continues enhancing its platform with focus on performance, security, and user experience improvements.

• Improved Upload Speeds: Optimized upload algorithms and threading result in faster initial backups and better utilization of high-speed connections.
• Enhanced macOS Support: Better integration with recent macOS versions including improved handling of system permissions and APFS snapshots.
• Extended Version History: New subscription option extends file version history to one year, providing longer protection against ransomware and accidental changes.
• B2 Performance Updates: Significant performance improvements to B2 Cloud Storage including faster uploads, downloads, and reduced latency.
• Updated Mobile Apps: Redesigned iOS and Android apps with improved file browsing, faster downloads, and enhanced security features.
• Groups Management: Improved business account management with better user and computer organization for IT administrators.
• API Enhancements: Expanded B2 API capabilities with new features for developers building on Backblaze infrastructure.
• Security Improvements: Enhanced two-factor authentication options and improved account security features across all products.

System Requirements

Windows

• Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)
• Processor: Any modern processor
• RAM: 1 GB minimum
• Storage: 100 MB for installation
• Internet: Broadband connection required

macOS

• Operating System: macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later
• Processor: Intel or Apple Silicon
• RAM: 1 GB minimum
• Storage: 100 MB for installation
• Internet: Broadband connection required

B2 Cloud Storage

• Any S3-compatible client or integration
• REST API access available from any platform
• Command-line tools available for Windows, macOS, and Linux

How to Install Backblaze

Windows Installation

1. Visit the Backblaze website and download the installer
2. Run the downloaded executable file
3. Create a new account or sign in to existing account
4. Allow initial scan to identify files for backup
5. Initial backup begins automatically

# Using Windows Package Manager
winget install Backblaze.Backblaze

# Silent installation (for IT deployment)
install_backblaze.exe -createaccount email@example.com password groupid grouptoken

# Check backup status via command line
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Backblaze\bztransmit.exe" -status

macOS Installation

1. Download the installer from Backblaze website
2. Open the DMG and run the installer package
3. Grant required system permissions when prompted
4. Create account or sign in
5. Authorize full disk access in System Preferences for complete backup

# Using Homebrew
brew install --cask backblaze

# Grant Full Disk Access
System Preferences ? Security & Privacy ? Privacy ? Full Disk Access
Add "Backblaze.app" and "bzfilelist"

# Verify installation
ls /Library/Backblaze.bzpkg/

B2 CLI Installation

# Install via pip (all platforms)
pip install b2

# Authorize account
b2 authorize-account [applicationKeyId] [applicationKey]

# Create a bucket
b2 create-bucket myBucket allPrivate

# Upload a file
b2 upload-file myBucket /path/to/file.txt remote-name.txt

# Sync a folder
b2 sync /local/folder b2://myBucket/folder

Pros and Cons

Pros

• True Unlimited Backup: No storage caps or per-gigabyte pricing means backing up terabytes costs the same as backing up gigabytes.
• Exceptional Value: Among the most affordable backup solutions while offering enterprise-grade reliability and infrastructure.
• Set-and-Forget Simplicity: Minimal configuration required; software handles everything automatically once installed.
• External Drive Inclusion: Unlike many competitors, external drives are included in unlimited backup at no extra cost.
• Strong Security: Data encrypted before transmission with option for private encryption key that even Backblaze cannot access.
• Physical Drive Restore: Unique option to receive backup on USB drive or hard drive for fast large-scale restores.
• Transparent Operations: Company regularly publishes detailed hard drive reliability statistics, demonstrating commitment to transparency.

Cons

• No Network Drive Backup: Cannot backup network-attached storage (NAS) or mapped network drives, only locally-attached drives.
• Single Computer License: Each subscription covers one computer; backing up multiple machines requires multiple subscriptions.
• 30-Day Default Retention: Deleted files and old versions are only kept 30 days by default (extended retention costs extra).
• No Image-Based Backup: File-based backup only; cannot create bootable system images for bare-metal restore.
• Limited File Exclusion: Less granular control over what gets backed up compared to some enterprise solutions.

Backblaze vs Alternatives

Who Should Use Backblaze?

Backblaze is ideal for:

• Individual Users: Anyone wanting simple, affordable, unlimited backup without needing to think about it or manage storage limits.
• Photographers and Creatives: Those with large media libraries who need unlimited storage for terabytes of photos, videos, and project files.
• Non-Technical Users: People who want reliable backup without complex setup, ongoing management, or technical decisions.
• External Drive Users: Those with multiple external drives who want everything backed up without additional costs or complexity.
• Developers: Those needing affordable S3-compatible cloud storage through B2 for applications, backup integrations, or archival storage.
• Small Businesses: Companies needing reliable employee computer backup with central management capabilities.

Backblaze may not be ideal for:

• NAS Users: Those needing to backup network-attached storage should consider services like IDrive or direct NAS backup solutions.
• System Administrators: Those requiring image-based backup for bare-metal restore need traditional backup software like Acronis.
• Multi-Computer Households: Families with many computers may find per-device pricing adds up compared to multi-device alternatives.
• Long Retention Needs: Those requiring extended version history beyond 30 days should factor in additional subscription costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Backblaze safe and secure?

Yes, Backblaze uses strong encryption to protect your data. All files are encrypted using AES-128 encryption before leaving your computer and remain encrypted during transit and storage. You can optionally set a private encryption key that only you know, ensuring that even Backblaze employees cannot access your files. The company operates Tier IV-certified data centers with multiple security controls and has a strong security track record.

How long does the initial backup take?

Initial backup time depends on how much data you have and your internet upload speed. With typical broadband (10 Mbps upload), backing up 1 TB takes approximately 10-14 days of continuous backup. Backblaze offers a “Fireball” service where they ship you a high-capacity drive to fill locally and return, dramatically speeding up initial backup for users with large data sets or slow connections.

What happens if I disconnect an external drive?

When you disconnect an external drive, Backblaze maintains the backup data for 30 days. If you reconnect the drive within 30 days, backup continues normally. If disconnected longer, those files will be removed from backup. You can prevent this by periodically connecting drives or extending your version history subscription to keep files longer.

Can I restore my entire computer from Backblaze?

Backblaze backs up your files but is not designed for complete system restore. It protects documents, photos, music, and other personal files, but not the operating system, applications, or system settings. For complete disaster recovery including OS, you need to reinstall the operating system and applications, then restore your files from Backblaze. For image-based backup, consider complementary tools like Macrium Reflect (Windows) or Time Machine (Mac).

What is the difference between Personal Backup and B2?

Backblaze Personal Backup is unlimited backup software for individual computers at a flat monthly rate. B2 Cloud Storage is object storage priced per gigabyte, designed for developers, applications, and integration with other backup tools. Personal Backup is for protecting your computer’s files; B2 is infrastructure storage for building applications, archiving data, or using with third-party backup software that supports S3-compatible storage.

Final Verdict

Backblaze has earned its reputation as the simplest, most affordable unlimited backup solution available. The combination of genuine unlimited storage, straightforward pricing, and set-it-and-forget-it operation makes it the obvious choice for users who want reliable backup without complexity. The addition of B2 Cloud Storage extends Backblaze’s value to developers and businesses needing affordable cloud infrastructure.

The key to understanding Backblaze is recognizing what it optimizes for: simplicity and value. It won’t satisfy users who need NAS backup, system imaging, or extensive customization options. But for its target use case—protecting the important files on your computer—Backblaze delivers exceptional value. The peace of mind knowing your photos, documents, and creative work are safely stored offsite is worth far more than the modest subscription cost.

For individual users seeking hassle-free backup, Backblaze is among the easiest recommendations in the software world. Install it, create an account, and forget about it—your data is protected. The company’s transparency about their infrastructure, published hard drive statistics, and customer-friendly policies further reinforce confidence in the service. For anyone not already backing up, Backblaze removes every excuse and makes protecting your data genuinely effortless.