Cloud backup used to be simple: pick a service, install it, let it run. But as backup needs have evolved, more devices per household, mobile data worth protecting, NAS drives full of family archives, the differences between services have become more consequential. IDrive and Carbonite both carry strong reputations, but they’ve grown in very different directions.
Carbonite built its name as a business-focused backup and endpoint protection platform. It integrates with IT management workflows, offers compliance-oriented features, and targets organizations that need centralized control over multiple endpoints. For a small IT team managing company laptops, that’s genuinely useful. But for individuals, families, or small teams that just want to protect all their devices without enterprise overhead, Carbonite can feel like overkill at a premium price.
IDrive focuses on value and coverage. One account protects an unlimited number of computers, smartphones, tablets, and NAS drives, all sharing a generous storage pool starting at 5TB. For anyone managing more than one device, IDrive consistently delivers more backup per dollar. This comparison walks through every angle so you can pick the right service for your actual situation.
⚡ Quick Verdict
- →Pick IDrive if you need affordable multi-device backup for individuals, families, or small teams, with NAS support and mobile backup included.
- →Pick Carbonite if your business needs endpoint protection, compliance features, and centralized IT management in a traditional managed backup solution.
📋 Table of Contents
IDrive Overview
IDrive is a long-running cloud backup service with a clear value proposition: one plan, unlimited devices, generous storage. The 5TB personal plan runs around $79.50/year, with first-year promotions often as low as $2.95. That single plan covers Windows PCs, Macs, iPhones, Android phones, tablets, and NAS drives, all sharing the storage pool. IDrive supports continuous backup, 30-day file versioning, 256-bit AES encryption with a private key option, and a physical drive shipping service (IDrive Express) for large restores. It’s one of the top picks in our roundup of the best cloud backup services for personal use, and its device model is particularly strong for families and small offices.
Carbonite Overview
Carbonite is a backup and endpoint security platform owned by OpenText. Its personal Safe plans start at $72/year for unlimited storage on one computer, competing directly with Backblaze. Its business-tier plans add endpoint protection, threat detection, and compliance reporting features aimed at IT administrators. Carbonite has a longer enterprise heritage than IDrive and integrates with MDM and security toolchains that large organizations already use. The trade-off is that Carbonite’s pricing scales steeply at the business level, and even the personal plans lack NAS support and mobile backup, features that IDrive includes at its base tier.
Pricing Compared
On the personal side, Carbonite Safe Basic starts at $72/year for unlimited storage on one Windows or Mac computer. That’s slightly cheaper than IDrive’s $79.50/year for 5TB across unlimited devices, but the comparison breaks down quickly when you look at what each plan actually covers.
Carbonite Safe Basic covers one computer with unlimited storage but no mobile backup, no NAS support, and no external drive backup. To get those features you move to higher Carbonite tiers at $111 - $149/year, still for just one computer. IDrive’s $79.50 plan covers all your devices. For a household with two laptops and two phones, IDrive at $79.50 beats Carbonite’s per-device pricing by a wide margin.
At the business level, Carbonite pricing scales significantly, plans with endpoint protection and compliance tools can run several hundred dollars per year per seat. IDrive Business plans start at $99.50/year for 250GB across all users, scaling up to enterprise tiers. For small businesses watching budget carefully, IDrive’s value per gigabyte is substantially better than Carbonite’s business plans.
Storage & Device Coverage
This is the clearest differentiator. IDrive covers unlimited devices, computers, smartphones, tablets, and NAS, under one plan. A family of four with four phones, three laptops, and a home NAS pays the same price as a single user with one laptop. Carbonite’s Safe plans cover one computer per subscription. Mobile backup is not included at the base tier. NAS support is absent across all personal Carbonite plans. For the multi-device backup needs of modern families, IDrive’s model is simply more practical and more affordable.
Backup Features & Speed
Both services offer continuous automatic backup and scheduled backups. IDrive supports 30-day file versioning, local backup alongside cloud backup, and its IDrive Express physical drive service for fast large uploads or restores. Carbonite’s automatic continuous backup is reliable and well-regarded; its higher tiers add features like automatic video backup and mirror image backup (full disk image, not just files). For businesses, Carbonite’s endpoint security integration provides threat monitoring that IDrive doesn’t offer. If your primary need is straightforward file-and-folder cloud backup, both services are capable; if you need integrated endpoint security, Carbonite has the edge.
Recovery & Platform Support
IDrive supports file restoration via its desktop app, web interface, and mobile app. The IDrive Express service ships a physical drive for large-scale recovery. Platform support covers Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux. Carbonite restores via desktop app and web interface. Its higher-tier plans support bare-metal restore (restoring a complete system image to new hardware), which is a genuine advantage for business disaster recovery. Platform support covers Windows and Mac; Linux is not supported on standard Carbonite plans. Neither service requires contacting support for a restore, both are self-service through their apps.
IDrive vs Carbonite: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | IDrive | Carbonite |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes (10GB) | No |
| Storage Limit | 5TB - 100TB plans | Unlimited (1 computer) |
| Devices Covered | Unlimited devices | 1 computer per plan |
| NAS Backup | Yes (native support) | No |
| Mobile App Backup | Yes (iOS & Android) | No (base plan) |
| Continuous Backup | Yes | Yes |
| Versioning | 30 versions | 3 months (base plan) |
| Encryption | 256-bit AES, private key option | 256-bit AES |
| Business Features | IDrive Business plans | Strong endpoint + compliance |
| Starting Price | $79.50/yr (5TB, all devices) | $72/yr (unlimited, 1 computer) |
Which Should You Choose?
Pick IDrive if: You have multiple computers, phones, or a NAS to protect. You want a single subscription that covers your whole household or small team. You want a free tier to evaluate the service. You need Linux support or a private encryption key.
Pick Carbonite if: Your business needs endpoint detection, compliance reporting, or IT-managed centralized backup. You need bare-metal system image restore for disaster recovery. You’re an IT administrator looking for a backup platform that integrates into your existing security toolchain.
🎯 Back Up Every Device With IDrive
One account. Unlimited computers, phones, tablets, and NAS drives. Plans from $79.50/yr, often $2.95 for the first year.
Try IDrive Free →Frequently Asked Questions
Does Carbonite back up mobile devices?
Carbonite Safe Basic does not include mobile device backup. Higher-tier Carbonite plans add automatic photo and video backup from mobile devices, but this feature is not included in the entry-level plan.
Can IDrive back up a NAS drive?
Yes. IDrive natively supports NAS backup for devices like Synology and QNAP. Carbonite does not support NAS backup on any personal plan.
Is IDrive cheaper than Carbonite?
For a single computer, Carbonite Safe Basic at $72/year is slightly cheaper than IDrive’s 5TB plan at $79.50/year. But IDrive covers unlimited devices for that price, while Carbonite covers only one computer. For multi-device households, IDrive is significantly cheaper.
Does Carbonite offer a free trial?
Yes, Carbonite offers a 30-day free trial on its Safe personal plans. IDrive offers a free plan with 10GB of storage and also provides a 30-day trial on paid plans.
Does IDrive support bare-metal restore?
IDrive supports disk image backup and restore, allowing full system recovery. Carbonite’s higher-tier business plans include bare-metal restore for complete system recovery to new hardware, which is a stronger feature for enterprise disaster recovery scenarios.
How many file versions does Carbonite keep?
Carbonite Safe Basic retains file versions for 3 months. IDrive retains up to 30 previous versions of each file without a strict time limit. For longer version history, Carbonite’s Plus and Prime tiers offer extended retention.
Is Carbonite good for small businesses?
Carbonite has strong business-oriented features including endpoint protection, compliance reporting, and centralized management. However, its per-device pricing can be expensive for small teams. IDrive Business plans offer better value per device for small businesses that don’t need Carbonite’s security suite features.
Does IDrive encrypt data with a private key?
Yes. IDrive offers a private encryption key option, meaning your data is encrypted before it leaves your device and IDrive staff cannot access it. Carbonite uses 256-bit AES encryption but does not offer a user-managed private key on standard plans.
Which service is better for Linux users?
IDrive supports Linux via a command-line interface. Carbonite does not offer a Linux client on standard plans, making IDrive the clear choice for Linux users.
Can I restore files from IDrive on my phone?
Yes. IDrive has iOS and Android apps that allow you to browse and restore backed-up files directly from your mobile device. Carbonite’s mobile app is primarily for viewing and downloading files, with limited restore functionality.
Does Carbonite have a physical drive restore option?
Carbonite does not offer a physical drive shipping service for restores. IDrive’s Express service ships a hard drive loaded with your backed-up data, which is useful for large restores when downloading would take days.
Which backup service has better value for families?
IDrive is significantly better value for families. A single IDrive plan covers every family member’s devices, laptops, phones, and a shared NAS, for one annual price. Carbonite charges per computer and doesn’t include mobile or NAS backup at the base tier.
Final Word
Carbonite is a solid, enterprise-grade backup platform with genuine strengths in endpoint security and compliance. But for the vast majority of individuals, families, and small teams, those features come at a cost premium that doesn’t justify the price when measured against actual backup needs. IDrive delivers broader device coverage, better per-dollar value, NAS support, and a free tier to get started, all under a simpler pricing model. If you’re not an IT administrator managing compliance obligations, IDrive is the more practical pick. For further reading, see our guides to the best cloud backup services for personal use and the best multi-device cloud backup for families.