Backblaze is a straightforward unlimited cloud backup service for Mac and PC. It continuously backs up all files (except the OS) for a flat monthly fee. The company also offers Backblaze B2, an S3-compatible object storage service that competes with AWS S3 on price. Publicly traded (BLZE) since 2021.
Backblaze dominates the "set it and forget it" personal backup market with unlimited storage at a flat rate. It competes with Carbonite (owned by OpenText) and CrashPlan, while Backblaze B2 competes with AWS S3, Wasabi, and Cloudflare R2 in object storage.
Now owned by OpenText (via Carbonite/Webroot). Similar unlimited backup model but more expensive. Stronger enterprise features but less loved by consumers due to speed and interface issues.
Pivoted from consumer to small business backup in 2017. Unlimited storage with strong versioning. More expensive than Backblaze but supports backing up external drives without restriction.
Backs up multiple devices (including phones) under one account with a shared storage pool. More versatile than Backblaze's single-computer model. Includes disk-based physical data delivery for large restores.
S3-compatible object storage with no egress fees. Competes directly with Backblaze B2 on price. Targets organizations tired of unpredictable AWS egress charges.
Backblaze's unlimited personal backup at $9/month is remarkably simple. Competitors add complexity with storage tiers and device limits. This simplicity is both a competitive advantage and a constraint on per-user revenue.
Backblaze B2 at $6/TB/month undercuts AWS S3 significantly. The no-egress-fee partnership with Cloudflare makes B2 attractive for developers. B2 revenue growth increasingly drives the business beyond consumer backup.
As users store more in cloud-native services (Google Photos, iCloud, OneDrive), the traditional backup-your-hard-drive model may shrink. Backblaze must evolve or accept that B2 is the growth engine while personal backup becomes a mature, stable revenue stream.
Backblaze competes with Carbonite (enterprise-backed), CrashPlan (small business), and iDrive (multi-device) in personal backup. Backblaze B2 competes with AWS S3, Wasabi, and Cloudflare R2 in object storage.
Backblaze is generally faster, cheaper, and better reviewed than Carbonite. Both offer unlimited backup, but Backblaze has a simpler interface and more transparent pricing. Carbonite has stronger enterprise features through its OpenText parent company.
Backblaze B2 is S3-compatible object storage at $6/TB/month, significantly cheaper than AWS S3. It is used by developers, media companies, and anyone needing affordable cloud storage with API access. The Cloudflare partnership eliminates egress fees for many use cases.