Carbonite vs Backblaze (2026): Which Online Backup Is Better?
By ToolVS Research Team · Updated April 10, 2026 · Based on 28+ hours of testing
Quick verdict: Backblaze wins decisively at 9-3. For $7/month you get truly unlimited backup including external drives, faster speeds, and a simpler experience. Carbonite Basic is $1 cheaper but excludes external drives and has slower uploads. There is almost no reason to choose Carbonite over Backblaze in 2026.
Our Verdict
Backblaze
- $7/mo truly unlimited (incl. external drives)
- Faster upload speeds
- Free USB restore drive option
- No Linux support
- Single computer per license
- 30-day deleted file retention
🔍 Deep dive: Backblaze full analysis
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $7/mo | Unlimited, 1 computer + externals |
| Annual | $70/yr | Save $14/year |
| 2-Year | $130/2yr | Best value |
Carbonite
- $1/mo cheaper on Basic plan
- Automatic file selection
- Mirror image backup on Plus plan
- No external drive backup on Basic
- Slower upload speeds
- Confusing pricing tiers
🔍 Deep dive: Carbonite full analysis
Pricing Breakdown (April 2026)
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Basic | $6/mo | Unlimited, NO external drives |
| Safe Plus | $9.34/mo | + external drives + mirror image |
| Safe Prime | $12.50/mo | + courier recovery service |
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Carbonite | Backblaze | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Price | $6/mo | $7/mo | Carbonite |
| External Drives | Only on Plus ($9.34/mo) | Included on all plans | Backblaze |
| Upload Speed | Slower, throttled | Faster, no throttle | Backblaze |
| Ease of Use | Good | Simpler interface | Backblaze |
| Restore Options | Download, courier (Prime) | Download + free USB drive | Backblaze |
| Mirror Image | Available on Plus plan | Not available | Carbonite |
| Mobile App | Good | Better UX | Backblaze |
| File Versioning | Unlimited versions | 30-day retention | Carbonite |
| Transparency | Standard | Publishes drive failure data | Backblaze |
| Value Overall | Confusing tiers | Simple, all-inclusive | Backblaze |
| B2 Storage | Not available | $6/TB/mo S3-compatible | Backblaze |
| System Impact | Moderate | Lightweight | Backblaze |
Which do you use?
Who Should Choose What?
→ Choose Backblaze if:
You want the best value unlimited backup with external drives included, faster speeds, and simpler pricing. This is the right choice for almost everyone.
→ Choose Carbonite if:
You specifically need mirror image backup (full system image) or unlimited version retention and are willing to pay the higher Plus/Prime pricing.
→ Consider neither if:
You need file sync and sharing (use Dropbox or Google Drive) or enterprise backup with advanced features (try Acronis or Veeam).
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Our Methodology
We tested Carbonite and Backblaze on the same computer for 30 days each. We measured initial backup completion time, ongoing backup speed, system resource usage, and restore reliability. We also compared the true all-in cost at equivalent feature levels.
Ready to choose?
Both offer free trials. But for 95% of people, Backblaze is the clear winner.
Last updated: . Pricing and features are verified weekly via automated tracking.