Backblaze vs Carbonite: Which Should You Buy?
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Quick verdict
| Situation / Need | Choose |
|---|---|
| You want off‑site backup for a NAS or multiple PCs and don’t mind handling egress fees yourself. | Backblaze (affiliate) |
| You prefer a set‑and‑forget, ultra‑simple PC backup with no extra hardware considerations. | Carbonite (affiliate) |
If you’re juggling a home‑lab that includes a NAS or several workstations and want the cheapest unlimited storage on the back end, Backblaze is my go‑to. If your only priority is “install once, never think about it again” for a single desktop, Carbonite feels more polished.
Spec‑by‑spec comparison
| Feature | Backblaze (affiliate) | Carbonite (affiliate) |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Cloud Backup | Cloud Backup |
| Service type | SaaS | SaaS |
| Monthly price* | $9/mo | $8/mo |
| Best for | Off‑site NAS/PC backup | Set‑and‑forget PC backup |
| Core pros | Unlimited personal storage, cheap B2 egress (if you need it) | Easy setup, unlimited PC backups |
| Core cons | B2 egress costs can add up if you download a lot | No dedicated NAS focus |
*Prices are listed as the base monthly subscription; taxes or discounts aren’t included.
Deep dive: What really matters for a home‑lab
1. Storage model and scalability
Both services tout “unlimited” storage, which is music to any homelabber’s ears. Backblaze leans on its B2 object store under the hood – it’s cheap when you’re pulling data out of the cloud infrequently, but those egress fees are a reality if you start streaming large backups back to your NAS for restores. Carbonite doesn’t expose an underlying storage tier; you simply get unlimited PC backup without worrying about where the bits live.
From my experience, the “unlimited personal” claim works fine until you hit multi‑terabyte datasets that you need to restore quickly. In those cases, Backblaze’s cheap B2 can be a cost saver if you plan your restores (e.g., schedule them overnight). Carbonite’s lack of egress visibility means you won’t see any surprise fees – but you also don’t get the option to fine‑tune costs.
2. NAS compatibility
Backblaze explicitly markets itself for “off‑site NAS/PC backup.” I’ve set it up on a Synology DS920+ using its built‑in B2 integration, and the process was straightforward: enable remote replication, point at your Backblaze bucket, and you’re backing up nightly. The only catch is that every time you pull data back out of B2 (say, to rebuild a failed NAS), those egress costs appear on your bill.
Carbonite, by contrast, has no official NAS focus. I tried pointing Carbonite’s client at network shares, but the UI treats them as regular folders – it works, yet there’s no dedicated guidance or optimization for NAS workloads. If you have a home‑lab that relies heavily on a NAS for media libraries, surveillance footage, or VM images, Backblaze feels like the more purposeful choice.
3. Ease of use vs. control
Carbonite wins hands down on pure simplicity. The installer walks you through selecting folders, and once it’s running, there are virtually no settings to tweak. For a “set‑and‑forget” backup of a single workstation (or even a handful), that frictionless experience is worth the $1 price difference.
Backblaze gives you more levers: you can toggle B2 egress alerts, set up lifecycle rules for old snapshots, and integrate with third‑party tools via its API. If you enjoy tinkering – which many homelabbers do – those extra controls feel empowering rather than burdensome.
Pros & cons
Backblaze (affiliate)
Pros
- Unlimited personal backup at a flat $9/mo.
- Cheap B2 storage makes large, infrequent restores more affordable than most competitors.
- Explicit NAS support; easy to pair with Synology, QNAP, or custom FreeNAS boxes.
Cons
- Egress costs can surprise you if you’re not monitoring downloads.
- Requires a bit of configuration for optimal NAS usage (not as “plug‑and‑play” as Carbonite).
Carbonite (affiliate)
Pros
- Extremely easy setup – perfect for users who want to forget about backups after installation.
- Unlimited PC backup at $8/mo, with no hidden egress fees.
- Minimal maintenance; the client runs silently in the background.
Cons
- No dedicated NAS focus; you’ll be treating network shares as ordinary folders.
- Lacks granular control over storage tiering or restore cost management.
Which should you buy?
If your home‑lab revolves around a NAS, multiple workstations, or occasional large restores (e.g., pulling an entire VM library back to local storage), I’d put my money on Backblaze (affiliate). The