Best Backup Software in 2026
Never lose important files with reliable backup protection.
By Toolradar Editorial Team · Updated
Backblaze is the simplest and best value for personal computer backup—unlimited storage for $99/year. iDrive offers better value for multiple computers and includes mobile backup. Time Machine (Mac) and File History (Windows) work well for local backup. For business, Acronis and Veeam lead the enterprise space.
Everyone knows they should backup their data. Almost no one does it properly until they lose something irreplaceable. Good backup software runs invisibly in the background, protecting everything automatically. The best backup is one you don't have to think about—set it up once and forget it exists until you need it. The cost of any backup solution is trivial compared to lost family photos or business data.
What Is Backup Software?
Backup software copies your data to a separate location so you can recover it if something goes wrong—hardware failure, theft, ransomware, or accidental deletion. Modern backup includes cloud backup (offsite), local backup (external drive), and hybrid approaches. Good solutions automate the process so it happens without thinking.
Why Backup Matters
Hard drives fail. Laptops get stolen. Ransomware encrypts files. Accidents happen. Without backup, data loss is permanent. The 3-2-1 rule is the gold standard: 3 copies of data, on 2 different media types, with 1 copy offsite. Good backup software makes this achievable without complexity.
Key Features to Look For
Runs without manual intervention
Offsite protection against local disasters
Recover previous versions of files
Protect backup data from unauthorized access
Back up everything without worrying about size
Easy recovery of individual files
Recover entire computer after failure
Protect phone photos and data
How to Choose Backup Software
Evaluation Checklist
Pricing Overview
Simplest set-and-forget cloud backup
Multiple devices including mobile backup
Full system image + cloud backup combo
Top Picks
Based on features, user feedback, and value for money.
Individuals wanting simple, unlimited cloud backup for one computer
Families and small businesses with multiple computers and phones
Mac users wanting local backup paired with a cloud service
Mistakes to Avoid
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Only having one copy of data — If your only backup is an external drive sitting next to your computer, a fire or theft loses both. The 3-2-1 rule exists for a reason: 3 copies, 2 media types, 1 offsite
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Never testing restoration — 30% of backup restores fail due to corruption or misconfiguration. Test a restore quarterly—download random files and verify they open correctly
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Keeping backup drive permanently connected — Ransomware encrypts every connected drive. Disconnect external backup drives between sessions, or use cloud backup that ransomware can't reach
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Confusing cloud sync with backup — Dropbox and Google Drive sync your current files—if a file is deleted or corrupted, that change syncs everywhere. True backup preserves point-in-time versions
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Waiting to start backing up — Hard drives have a 2-5% annual failure rate. On a 5-year-old drive, the probability of failure is significant. The cost of losing irreplaceable photos and documents is infinite compared to $99/year
Expert Tips
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Follow 3-2-1 for real protection — Time Machine to an external drive (local) + Backblaze (cloud) gives you 3 copies across 2 media with 1 offsite. Total cost: ~$150/year including the drive
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Enable private encryption keys — Backblaze and iDrive both offer personal encryption keys that prevent even the provider from reading your data. Set this up during initial configuration—it can't be added later on Backblaze
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Use iDrive Express for initial seeding — If you have 1TB+ to back up, the first upload can take weeks. iDrive ships you a physical drive to load data locally, then they upload it at their data center
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Extend Backblaze version history — Default is 1 year. For $2/mo extra, you get forever version history—worth it if you might need to recover old versions of documents
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Set up backup right now — Stop reading and do it. Backblaze takes 5 minutes to install and runs silently forever. The next hardware failure, theft, or ransomware attack is unpredictable
Red Flags to Watch For
- !No encryption at rest or in transit—your backup provider can see all your files
- !No versioning or only keeping the latest version—useless against ransomware that encrypts files before you notice
- !Storage limits that force constant management of what to include and exclude
- !No restore testing option—if you can't verify your backups work, they might not when you need them
The Bottom Line
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cloud sync (like Dropbox) the same as backup?
No. Sync mirrors your current files—if you delete or a file gets corrupted, that change syncs too. Backup preserves point-in-time copies you can restore from, even if current files are damaged.
How much storage do I need for backup?
Depends on your data. Most people have 200GB-1TB to back up. Services like Backblaze offer unlimited, removing the guesswork. Check your current disk usage to estimate.
How often should backups run?
Continuously or daily for important data. Most modern backup software runs in the background automatically. The goal is that you never lose more than a day's work.
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