Unlimited online backup plans are just that: plans by online backup service providers that offer an unlimited amount of storage space for your data.
Several years of tax returns, some music, and even a video or two might do just fine on a free online backup plan. A bit more data than that might be well suited with a standard plan from any of the popular online backup services out there.
However, if you have 10,000 MP3s, 40 ripped Blu-ray movies, and a few virtual machines that you can’t live without, an unlimited online backup plan is probably a better fit for your data.
Below is a list of every unlimited online backup plan that I could find, ranked by my personal preference based on my experiences with each. There are also business-class backup services that offer unlimited online backup plans, but see my Business Online Backup list for those.
If price is the biggest factor for you, you can skip right to my Price Comparison: Unlimited Online Backup Plans. My Online Backup FAQ, Online Backup Q&A, and Online Backup Feature Comparison Chart pieces might also be helpful.
1. Backblaze
Backblaze offers my favorite unlimited plan for online backup because it’s super-simple.
Few if any would have trouble figuring out how install their backup software and get everything important backed up to the cloud.
Backblaze costs $5.00 /month for unlimited online backup for one computer. If you’re willing to pay up front for 2 years of service, the price comes down to $3.96 /month.
A really big plus in my book is the clear, no-strings-attached, way in which Backblaze explains their unlimited plan: “There are no limits to how much data you can backup with Backblaze so you can be sure you won’t go over any backup limit.”
2. CrashPlan Unlimited
CrashPlan Unlimited is another unlimited online backup plan I have no trouble recommending.
Their software is fantastic (very easy to use), the encryption level is high (very safe), and the price is low ($5.99 /month or as low as $3.96 /month with a 4 year prepayment).
A second unlimited online backup plan is also available from CrashPlan called CrashPlan Family Unlimited.
The Family Unlimited plan is identical to the standard Unlimited plan but allows backup from more than one computer. This plan costs $13.99 /month, or as low as $8.96 /month when you pay for 4 years in advance.
CrashPlan has mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.
3. Carbonite Basic/Plus/Prime
Carbonite has three unlimited online backup plans, all of which have to be paid one year at a time.
Carbonite Basic comes in at $5.00 /month, Carbonite Plus at $8.33 /month, and Carbonite Prime at $12.50 /month. The more expensive the plan, the more features you get. You can read all those details in my review.
Tip: Carbonite’s least expensive Basic plan seems to not support backup of videos, but it does – it just excludes them by default. You can remove this exclusion in Carbonite’s software.
Carbonite is a very solid company with a long history (Internet-relative, of course) of keeping data securely backed up. If Backblaze or CrashPlan doesn’t fit your needs, Carbonite is a fantastic choice!
Note: Carbonite has removed its unpopular throttling practices for new customers but is still rolling out the removal for existing accounts.
4. SOS Personal Cloud
SOS Online Backup offers two absolutely fantastic unlimited online backup plans, both packed with features.
The first is Personal Cloud (1) which runs $6.67 /month when you pay by year, or as low as $5.83 /month when you prepay for 2 years. One computer is supported.
The second plan, called Personal Cloud (5), supports up to five computers and costs $33.33 /month with a 1 year prepayment or $29.16 /month with a two year upfront payment.
Both of SOS’s unlimited backup plans support external hard drives, unlimited versioning, and much more.
5. Livedrive Backup
The Livedrive Backup plan is Livedrive’s cheaper unlimited online backup plan and costs $8.00 per month. The other is Pro Suite, and comes in at a higher $25.00 per month.
A two year prepayment brings Livedrive’s plans down to $6.00 per month for Backup and $19.00 per month for Pro Suite.
Livedrive Backup is cheaper because it works on only one computer, whereas the Pro Suite plan can be used on up to 5 computers.
Livedrive Review & Sign Up Information
One interesting thing about Livedrive’s plans: they’re relatively inexpensive if you want to add more computers, at just $1.50 per month for each additional one. Some services force you to purchase a higher tiered plan, sometimes with more computers than you need, just to get the other one in your house on the account. Most require another full priced account altogether.
6. Cyphertite Personal
Cyphertite is a small company with just one US datacenter location, but I loved how easy the software was to use and the fact that it’s open source.
Cyphertite Personal runs $10.00 per month for unlimited online backup. More than one computer is allowed.
Cyphertite’s unlimited backup plan pricing might be a bit higher than other plans on this list, but price isn’t always the only thing to consider. In this case, security was a big factor in my ranking. Cyphertite requires the use of a passphrase that you create, meaning no one – not the NSA or even Cyphertite – can decrypt your data without that code that only you know.
Some other backup services add this extra layer of security too, but Cyphertite is the only one I know of that requires it.
7. Nomadesk
Nomadesk is another unlimited online backup plan that I found fast and really easy to use.
With a 1 year prepayment, the longest term you can prepay with Nomadesk, this plan costs $9.00 per month. Month-to-month will run you $10.00 per month.
8. AltDrive
AltDrive is another online backup service with two unlimited plans: AltDrive Gold for just one computer, priced at $4.45 /month. AltDrive Platinum supports three computers and runs $9.95 /month.
You can get a slight discount per month if you pay annually.
9. OpenDrive
OpenDrive offers two unlimited backup plans. Personal Unlimited is $19.95 /month and Business Unlimited will run you $29.95 /month.
Both of these plans are identical aside from the option for custom branding and more user accounts with the Business Unlimited plan.
Order either one on a yearly basis to get what equates to two months free.
10. Iozeta
Iozeta has two online backup plans, both of which provide unlimited online backup.
The first plan, Unlimited Backup (clever, huh?), is priced at $6.88 /month. You’ll get almost 50% off if you choose to prepay for a year.
The other unlimited option includes some additional features and runs $11.88 /month. This plan is called Unlimited Backup with Livedrive and also offers a steep discount if you buy all 12 months at once.
Both of these plans support 5 computers at this price, but more can be added for $0.88 each.
Iozeta has a free trial if you’re interested in their service.