Cloud backup vs cloud sync: two products, one confusing name
Backup and sync solve opposite problems and fail in opposite ways. Backup restores what you lost; sync mirrors what you deleted. For unlimited whole-computer backup, Backblaze at $99/year is the clean answer. For multi-device backup with sync features on a budget, IDrive's first-year $6.99/month for 5 TB works — just know the renewal price.
The one-sentence version
Cloud backup keeps versioned copies of everything and lets you rewind; cloud sync keeps one mirror of chosen folders on every device. When ransomware encrypts your drive, backup gives you yesterday's clean copy. When you delete a file by accident, sync happily deletes it from the cloud too, because it assumes you meant it.
Most people own one of each without realizing they are different categories — which is how a Google Drive or Dropbox account gets mistaken for a backup system. It is not. This guide is about the dedicated backup category and where it overlaps with the sync drives in our best cloud storage comparison.
| Service | Category | Price | Version history | Deletion mirrored? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backblaze | Backup | $99/year, unlimited, 1 computer | 30 days (1 year add-on) | No | Whole-computer peace of mind |
| IDrive | Backup + sync | 5 TB: $6.99/mo first year ($11.99 standard) | 30 versions | No | Multi-device households |
| pCloud | Sync | 500 GB: $4.99/mo | 30 days (recovery) | Yes | Everyday file access |
| Sync.com | Sync | 150 GB: $3.50/mo (annual) | 60-180 days by tier | Yes | Encrypted multi-device access |
Backblaze: the flat-rate unlimited backup
Backblaze Personal Backup is the simplest product in this category: $99 a year, unlimited data, one computer, everything backed up continuously by default. There is no capacity slider to optimize and no per-gigabyte anxiety. The 30-day version history (extendable to a year for a fee) means a file you deleted a month ago is still recoverable — the core feature a sync drive cannot match. The limits are also honest: it is desktop-only, it does not cover network drives on the personal plan, and restores come as downloads or a shipped drive rather than instant re-sync.
IDrive: backup with sync bolted on
IDrive competes on coverage rather than simplicity. One account can back up multiple computers, phones, and network drives — an area where Backblaze's personal plan simply does not play. The headline price of $6.99 a month for 5 TB is a first-year promotion; the standard rate is $11.99 a month. Versioning is 30 versions per file, deeper than most sync drives but shallower than Backblaze's time-based window. IDrive also bundles sync folders, which makes it a legitimate "both in one" purchase for people who want a single subscription. The trade-off is a busier interface and promotional pricing that requires reading the renewal terms.
Where sync drives pretend to be backups
pCloud and Sync.com both sell 30-day-or-longer file recovery and call it a safety net. It helps with overwrites, but it does not change the fundamental model: sync drives mirror deletions, and their recovery features are per-file restore tools, not whole-machine rewind. If your laptop is stolen or ransomware locks your drive, a sync drive contains whatever survived your last good sync — and if the ransomware ran while the client was connected, it may contain the encrypted copies too. For disaster recovery, that is the wrong tool. For everyday access across devices, it is exactly the right one, and both are solid picks in their category, as detailed in the storage comparison.
What restoring actually looks like
The difference between the two categories shows most clearly in a disaster. Laptop stolen: with a backup service, you install the client on the new machine, log in, and restore everything — files, folders, settings — from the last good state. With a sync drive, you get back whatever was in the synced folders, and nothing else. Accidental delete: with backup, you browse the version history and pull the file back. With sync, you check whether the provider's recovery feature covers the deletion window — pCloud keeps 30 days, Sync.com keeps 60 to 180 depending on the plan — and if you are outside that window, the file is gone everywhere. Neither category is strictly better; each wins the disaster it was designed for. The mistake is expecting one product to cover both.
Do you need both?
For irreplaceable data, yes. The 3-2-1 rule — three copies, two media types, one off-site — has survived every cloud marketing cycle because it keeps working. A practical stack: a sync drive for the files you touch daily (pick from the comparison above), plus a true backup service for the whole machine. At $99 a year, Backblaze is the lowest-effort way to satisfy the "one off-site" leg, and unlike sync subscriptions, its price has stayed flat for years.
Selection advice: Buy Backblaze if you want unlimited whole-computer backup and zero capacity math. Buy IDrive if you need to cover several machines under one account and can accept the year-two price. Buy a sync drive instead only if you are certain you want access, not recovery — and consider a lifetime plan if the sync drive will hold cold data for years. Our evaluation method is on How We Pick.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between cloud backup and cloud sync?
- Cloud backup continuously copies your files to off-site storage and keeps version history, so a deleted or corrupted file can be restored. Cloud sync mirrors folders across devices: when you delete a file on one device, it disappears everywhere. Backup protects against data loss; sync protects against device loss and enables multi-device access.
- Is Backblaze better than IDrive?
- Backblaze is simpler: $99 a year for unlimited backup of one computer with no capacity decisions. IDrive is cheaper for multiple devices and adds sync features, but its advertised low price applies to the first year only and capacity is capped. Pick Backblaze for a single-computer unlimited backup; pick IDrive if you have several machines and a tight budget.
- Can a sync drive replace a backup?
- Not safely. Sync drives mirror deletions and overwrites, so a ransomware infection or an accidental mass delete propagates to the cloud copy. Some sync drives keep version history, but retention windows are shorter and restore tools weaker than dedicated backup services. Keep both: sync for everyday access, backup for recovery.
- How much does unlimited cloud backup cost?
- Backblaze Personal Backup costs $99 per year for unlimited data from one computer, and its Business plan costs $99 per year per computer. That flat-rate model is the main reason dedicated backup services remain popular alongside cheaper subscription sync drives.
- Do I need cloud backup if I already use cloud storage?
- Usually yes, for anything irreplaceable. Cloud storage protects files you have chosen to upload. Backup services also protect files you never thought to sync: system settings, app data, hidden folders. The 3-2-1 rule still applies: three copies, two media types, one off-site.