Cloud-based file backup

[RastaManBob]

Hello,

Following a recent loss of data (MicroSD card that was not backed up = loss of holiday photos!) I’ve learnt the hard way and I am currently looking for a cloud-based file backup solution. This must be able to backup all file types (not just images and video). Ideally it would be support sync and perhaps file history.

Can anybody recommend 'the' best cloud-base file backup solution? Ideally I'd like to spend as little as possible (given that I imagine this will turn into a cost for life!) but I appreciate that cheapest is not always better, especially when you're entrusting the service with the protection of your data!

At the moment my storage requirements are as low as 25GB but I'd ideally like 50GB+ which should build in future-proof for at least the next year (probably a few!). At this price Google Drive looks like a good shout but I hear DropBox (and even Box) mentioned a lot.

Any recommendations?

Thank you!

 

[RastaManBob]

Thanks. Looking around I see there is a real difference between cloud storage and cloud backup options. I'm not quite sure at the moment exactly which I require (or would prefer) but it's all food for thought. Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[RastaManBob]

Just found MEGA.nz gives 50GB for free. That would be more than enough for me. Any experience with MEGA and any reason I should go for a paid service when 50GB will be sufficient for my use?

 

[RastaManBob]

Thanks again for the replies - I understand the difference between sync (maintains a single copy of the files on the local drive and mirrors them in the cloud, enabling you to also have them available on other machines) and backup (maintains multiple revisions on the cloud, possible to access these on other machines via and app/browser but typically does not auto-sync between the two). I've found sync services with a free plan that would be sufficient (MEGA, 50GB). I've not found any backup services with a free plan with enough storage.

I've given some thought into which of these I'd really want and I think it's the backup option - My use case here is not really to grant my access to my files remotely (though it's a nice thing to have) but to have a backup in case of infection or data loss. This means MEGA is not going to be enough. The issue with most of the backup plans is that while data storage might well be unlimited the number of computers that can backup to them (and even the backup of multiple machines is not to the same folder so no sync ability) is limited. On first glance this is fine for me as although we have multiple computers only one of them really holds valuable data - The others are consumption devices. The issue, though, is that if I ever do create a file on another PC I need to remember to copy it to the 'main' backup PC for the files to be backed up in the cloud. Additionally, and more importantly, the data loss that's encouraging this backup was on a mobile phone - I don't regularly backup the files from the phone to a PC (or anywhere else for that matter)... If I had I would not have lost the data in the first place (the only storage that's failed was that in the phone!). As a result any cloud backup solution must have the ability to backup (not just access) mobile phone data (read: photographs).

One idea that I've had - but it seems a little clunky, though it does help to emphasise how sync and backup services complement rather than replace each other - is to have all devices (including phones) sync to the main computer via a cloud sync service such as MEGA (e.g., map MEGA to a folder named 'Camera Uploads' on the computer which is populated from the phone) and then have a single backup solution for that PC which includes that folder. Alternatively, a solution that offers both in one package...

In light of what I've described can anybody recommend a good package? It seems the likes of CrashPlan don't really help me - It'll backup the computer but I'd be the weak link in having to remember to transfer files from the mobile phone. They do not (as I can see) have an app to manage this in any way. The only solution I've seen that comes close is IDrive but I'm not sure how well this works as a backup solution. Data is limited to 1TB (still plenty given I only need 50GB) but holds the last ten file revisions rather than all. Maybe a good compromise, though?

Sorry for the lengthy post - I thought I'd asked a simple question yesterday but I really had no idea that my decision is entirely down to my entire backup approach. Hopefully my requirements are a little better defined now...

 

[RastaManBob]

Thanks KIA. It looks like an incredibly good solution! I could use Dropbox (or MEGA - more storage on free account!) to sync mobile content (e.g., folder on computer 'Mobile uploads' within 'My Documents') and then run Arq to back up the entire My Documents (and probably Desktop) folder of the computer.

My only issue is that it takes a number of years to recover the investment costs of the Arq software. Additionally I'm not even sure that it ever becomes cheaper given that the likes of CrashPlan work out at 5 USD / month = ~3.50 GBP / month (and I could use the same backup strategy). Even discounting the cost of Arq I'm not sure that I can get a data plan with anybody for that 42 GBP / year that will match the unlimited offerings from the likes of CrashPlan. Dropbox, for example, free plan is unsuitable and the next plan would be 7.99 GBP / month for 1 TB. Am I missing something here? Do you recommend Arq because it's a good solution or because it's possible to out price the existing commercial solutions? If so can you recommend an Arq supported storage plan that works out at a reasonable price for (initially) 50 GB of storage?

Thanks!

 

[RastaManBob]

Thanks again, KIA.

I will definitely avoid MEGA on your recommendation - As the sync service will only be used as a method of automatically getting data from phone to computer it actually does not need to be a huge amount of storage. Originally MEGA's 50GB was a differentiator and would be necessary given I was planning as using it as *the* backup source but now that I understand I want to use a more complete backup solution I don't need a sync with such large storage. Phew!

So after *lots* of time searching it seems that I can either buy an 'all in one' solution which *backs up* (not just sync) computer and mobiles. One of the mobiles is Windows Mobile and with this in mind the only solution I've found is IDrive. That's 5 USD / month. No other 'all in one' solutions work across all of the devices necessary.

The other solution is to use *any* backup plan and use a sync service to get the data from mobile to the (single) backup PC. This approach allows me to get a cheaper 'single PC' license rather than the multi-license required for the 'all in one solution'. I'll be fine to use a free sync service and there are many backup solutions all around 5 USD / month - CrashPlan being the most obvious.

It seems either approach will cost the same so I just have to (somehow) manage to decide between the options.

Add in the third option of using Arq - That's (per your post) 2 USD / month. The application costs 40 USD (though I'd probably opt for lifetime updates making it 70 USD but let's ignore that for now...). That means this option breakeven against one of the two 5 USD suggestions above after 2 years. Every month from then on I'm saving - APART from the fact I've *only* got 100 GB for the 2 USD Google Drive plan rather than unlimited for one of the previous options. While at the moment I'm only using 25 GB clearly this will soon go up given the file versioning options (meaning I'll soon be storing multiple versions of documents, etc). With Google Drive if I ever needed more than the 100 GB I'd have to jump to the next storage level of 1 TB at 10 USD... At which point I'm definitely better off going with one of the commercial solutions. In summary, it seems I'm better off with Arq while my requirements remain low but it switches to being better to use IDrive/CrashPlan once storage requirements exceed 100 GB.

Geez - None of these seem like the 'clear cut' approach! There's no wonder I've always given up making a decision in the past...

Google Cloud Nearline looks like a good option with storage at 0.01 USD / GB / month chargeable for only what is actually used so it scales nicely as requirements increase (rather than having to jump to the next discrete plan). However, with that retrieval and network fees apply so the price is a lot more complicated to predict.

EDIT: What do you make of Duplicati rather than Arq? That'd save the one-off Arq purchase but it does not seem to have as many recommendations online...

 

[RastaManBob]

I use Backblaze because the CrashPlan UI is/was awful.

Thanks for the advice.

Spent *lots* of time looking now (too long!). I've got it down to a few options - Will eventually decide on one of these!

(No particular order).

1.
IDrive
(It includes mobile backup, so separate sync no required)
Total: ~3.50 GBP / mo

2.
CrashPlan
Free dropbox (or alternative) for mobile backup sync
Total: ~3.50 GBP / mo

3.
Arq
Storage (probably Google Drive or Google Cloud Nearline)
Total: ~30.00 GBP one-off + 1.40 GBP / mo
[NB, might be possible to lose the one-off if Duplicati can replace Arq]

4.
zovo
Free dropbox (or alternative) for mobile backup sync
Total: ~1.67 GBP / mo

zovo looks like the obvious choice but it's a Livedrive reseller. Livedrive don't seem to get hugely favourable reviews, though for the saving perhaps I can put up with any limitations. TBD.

 

[RastaManBob]

If you have Amazon Prime you unlimited Photo cloud storage in with the plan.
For £79 you get the video streaming service, music streaming service, unlimited photo storage and obviously Prime delivery.

Honestly for the equivalent of £6.50 per month nothing comes close.

I already have Prime but I want to backup more than images and if I'm going to have to get a service to backup other data I'd rather my images were stored alongside those so that everything is in one place.

 

[RastaManBob]

I'm a big fan of v1.3.4, but it doesn't support Google Drive's latest authentication method. v2 doesn't feel ready for prime time.

I guess v2 being a little green at the moment goes without saying - It's currently only at preview release stage!

So on the basis of v1.3.4 would you say Arq is still worth the $40 above it? Or perhaps you would go with Duplicati? It seems v1.3.4 does not include all metadata which is a shame (so it's not a 100% backup) but maybe not a deal breaker. I've emailed Arq to see how they stand on that. I know the Mac version restores all metadata but it does not explicitly say the same of the Windows version.

https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/pricing?ref_=cd_home_navpricing is worth considering - 60 USD per year for unlimited.

Now that is a really interesting proposition and one I've seen mentioned before. But the same page on the UK (rather than US) version (either browse to it from the Amazon homepage or just changed .com to .co.uk) does not offer that and in fact the UK has many more bands none of which are as good value. Have you experience of that unlimited plan? If so, is it possible to purchase with a standard Amazon UK account (if so odd you have to purchase it from the American site and they do not offer it on the UK one) or do you have to create/use a US account? It's not really an issue and I have a card which does not charge extra for foreign transactions...

Do you have experience of Google Cloud Storage Nearline? I still think it looks a great, albeit complicatedly priced, option.

EDIT: Just logged in via the US 'unlimited' link to my UK account and it just forwards me to the Amazon Cloud page where I have my 5GB storage (and unlimited photographs as a Prime member). If I click on 'Change Plan' I only have access to the options on the UK site... I'm not sure if it's possible to get the unlimited plan other than perhaps creating a (seperate) US accounts but even then with a UK card I'm not sure if it'd again limit the plan options...

EDIT 2: See here: https://www.thurrott.com/cloud/62604/get-one-year-of-unlimited-amazon-cloud-drive-storage-for-just-5
A few guys in the comments who managed (presumably before Amazon managed to fix the UK accounts loophole) to make the unlimited purchase but it never actually activated and they eventually received an email telling them the order could not be fulfilled and instead they were offered 1 year of 100GB for free instead. I'll keep hunting to see if I can find a way to get hold of it but it does not look simple!

 

[RastaManBob]

1.3.4 will be fine if it suits your needs. You just won't be able to use any of the modern cloud providers. 1.3.4 is compatible with Hetzner Storage Box.

Thanks - I'll check out Hetzner. It seems to be more expensive than Google Drive at 100GB (which is the plan I'd need) but it has better granularity and becomes cheaper than Google Drive as storage increases. Definitely one to think about - Duplicati + Hetzner might be a good option!

I have a UK Amazon account and I'm offered the unlimited plan when I visit the .com version of Amazon Cloud Drive. ACD is very fast and responsive in terms of throughput and API. I think I had to clear my Amazon cookies before the .com site would offer the unlimited product.

I've just tried again on multiple PCs with cookies cleared and when I log in (on US) I get forwarded directly to my Drive (on UK). The only way to change the plan is via the settings (by which point I'm in the UK and only get the UK options). I imagine this is because I already have a plan (due to Prime). I'm sure if I opened another account only for this it would work but I don't want to do this - I've read all sorts of horror stories of accounts being closed by Amazon when users have multiple accounts and that is not a good situation to be in when the data is your backup. Additionally, Amazon are clearly trying to prevent UK users making that purchase (certainly not assisting it) and so it's not too much of a stretch to consider they'd object if they found out. I don't think the ACD is the one for me.

Re Google Cloud Storage Nearline, no, but it's competitively priced. Just mind the deletion fees. Arq + Nearline is a good combination.

Arq + Nearline looks great (but still actually not as good as unlimited plans - such as the dismissed ACD ones! - once storage requirements increase). I'm also not sure how the deletion charges will work with Arq thinning option (which I'd want to use) which "saves the hourly backups for the past 24 hours, daily backups for the past month, and weekly backups until the amount of data stored at the destination reaches the budget you've set". If I understand this correctly the hourly backups will be dropped after 24 hours. If this means data deletion from Nearline that component of the cost would begin to be significant. I'll reach out to Arq if it looks likely I'll go down that route...

 

[RastaManBob]

Just be careful that any "photo storage" provider is not compressing your photos if you want the originals.

I'm a big fan of Google Photos, but i dislike the fact that they compress them. So i store the raws on Box, Dropbox and OneDrive, and then upload a copy to Google Photos. If i need to download a raw, then i grab it from one of the three.

Thanks for the advice. Should not be a problem if I use Arq/Duplicati but if I use anything else I'll make sure to check that out before I commit to that as my backup solution!