Carbonite VS Mozy - a Cloud Back-up Comparison

Carbonite versus Mozy

When it comes to online backup and storage solutions, the fact of the matter is that Carbonite, Mozy, and just a handful of others almost have the entire industry cornered. Two of the oldest services on the market today, they also enjoy a sterling silver reputation as far as customer support and innovative features go – and though Mozy certainly took it a little bit on the chin when they dropped their unlimited storage plan.

However, each of the services are still two of the most widely recommended and referred cloud-based storage solutions out there – four distinctly different reasons that will go into right here

Carbonite

Really distinguishing themselves right around the same time that Mozy was dumping its unlimited plan in mid-2011, the fact of the matter is that Carbonite has quickly become may be the most used online backup stored solution out there. Due to a ridiculously streamlined and simple to use interface, all of the necessary features needed to properly administer a solution like this (without any of the bloat that other platforms wrapped in to justify high prices) and a dedicated customer support team that is actually responsive and it should come as no surprise here it

With clients across the Windows and Mac platforms – with development currently underway for Lennix users as well – and a range of mobile applications for the iOS and Android marketplace, Carbonite is an incredibly useful platform so long as you are only trying to back up a single computer. Because they don’t offer multiple computer plans – you’ll have to purchase a Carbonite account for each and every platform you’re looking to backup – they’ve gotten a considerable amount of heat, though their unlimited storage size mitigates a lot of that pressure.

But there is something interesting you should know about the unlimited storage size that they offer. While it’s true that there are no limits to the amount you can upload, file size are limited to 4 GB at the maximum and your speed will be throttled if you start to push upwards of 250 gig or so. This is critically important to understand, and while it’s probably not an issue for many people who are just looking to backup music or pictures it can certainly become an issue for those running enterprise grade machines.

As mentioned above, the customer service and support with Carbonite is first class all the way, offering email, live chat, and phone service for each and every one of their customers. Almost everyone who has written a Carbonite review has spoken of how perfect and timely their customer service has been in remedying all issues – even if the instances of those issues are far and few between. Attractively priced, Carbonite really hits the sweet spot between features, price, and usability that very few other options could even come close to.

Mozy

Once regarded as of the biggest name in cloud-based backup services, Mozy has definitely seen a bit of their influence drop steadily ever sense they decided to do away with their unlimited backup plans in 2011. This is especially true since their immediate competitors have aggressively marketed their unlimited services, really putting the crunch on Mozy as frequently as they can.

Even still, Mozy remains competitive by offering plans of 50 GB and 125 GB (as well as extra storage plans that can be custom tailored for specific prices). Most casual users will probably never even need to use this much space, but the fact of the matter is that small business and enterprise grade users will definitely be crippled pretty significantly.

With a dedicated filesharing app called Mozy Stash that still has a couple of bugs that need to be worked out you should be able to distribute your files across a broad range of connected devices, but the real gem is that all of your computers, smart phones, and tablets can use the single Mozy service to backup all of their files. This is something that Carbonite refuses to offer, forcing you to purchase a new Carbonite account for each and every one of your computers – really strapping people for cash when they most need it.

And while the monthly price seems ridiculously low and attractive – it’s only $5.95 – the yearly cost of Mozy will actually be higher than Carbonite in the long run ($65.89 compared to $59 for Carbonite), and the year two prices jump up dramatically. This is definitely something that needs to be understood and accounted for ahead of time before you decide to make your investment decision.

Final verdict

Hopefully you have a better understanding of whether or not you should consider moving forward with Carbonite or Mozy, depending upon your specific and unique needs in regards to cloud-based online backup solutions. Originally starting off as almost mirror images of one another, Carbonite and Mozy have forked distinctly, with one focusing on offering unlimited amounts of storage while the other promises convenience thanks to the multiple computer backup solution.

If you’re only looking to protect a single machine, then this becomes a no-brainer – Carbonite all the way. However, if you have a number of computers at home or in the office that you want to protect, and you don’t have too terribly much data to back up, then it becomes the smart purchase to move forward with Mozy.

All in all, the decision rests with you and your specific needs, but hopefully you better understand the landscape with cloud-based storage solutions now.

Carbonite versus CrashPlan - A Fair Comparison

Two very complete cloud-based backup solutions, it should come as no surprise to anyone that it is so incredibly difficult to pick Carbonite over CrashPlan (or vice versa). Both of them offer elite level services and have gained a tremendous reputation in the industry, and though they have different price points they are still so close that it is 100% natural to link them together.

It really all boils down as to which kind of computer user you are and what sort of online backup solutions you’re hoping for to make the perfect choice of Carbonite or CrashPlan. Hopefully our detailed breakdown below gives you the kind of peace of mind you need in making the right decision.

Carbonite strikes a chord with many users because of its simplicity, even though the feature list is not as deep as other offerings

While there are a number of cloud-based backup plans out there promising the moon and the stars as well as everything and the kitchen sink when it comes to features, Carbonite offers a more stripped-down and usable service than most.

This doesn’t mean that you’re going to find Carbonite to lack any of the critical essentials that one would be hoping for (you’ll still have an unlimited amount of space to backup almost anything, so long as they are on single source computers and are smaller than 4 GB), just that you’re not going to feel overwhelmed at any point in time with a flood of different options just there to confuse you.

Many people and clients that have decided to move forward with Carbonite have stated that the number one reason they chose to use this service over any other – including CrashPlan – is simply because the interface and backup system was so straightforward and simple to use. With a web access interface as well as a tool that you can download directly to your computer, the entire system is almost as easy as moving files around on your local machine – something that any computer user has more than enough experience with.

Truly designed for folks who are lighter users looking for a relatively seamless and straightforward online backup system for all of their local files (and those looking for online access to the same data) without needing all of the bells and whistles of truly enterprise grade backup systems, Carbonite is one of the older online backup solutions and one of the best. Enjoying a sterling silver reputation, you simply can’t go wrong deciding to invest in Carbonite as your go to choice.

CrashPlan has all of the special features you’re looking for – and then some – allowing for truly enterprise grade backup for multiple computers

Where Carbonite is strictly focused on the backup of just a single computer, CrashPlan allows you to backup all of the computers – and other mobile devices like your cell phone and tablets, to name a few. With a full-blown platform designed to offer all of the bells and whistles you could ever want to have access to as far as online backup scale – as well as a reputation stretching all the way back to 2007 as one of the top services in the industry – there is a reason so many people continue to migrate to CrashPlan on a regular basis.

Also offering 100% unlimited space for all of your backup needs but critically offering 448 bit encryption on those transfers as well as the ability to backup files from an unlimited amount of computers (with the CrashPlan family plan), you’ll also be able to enjoy special features that other options just can’t include. We’re talking about unlimited and forever file archiving, a dedicated iOS and Android app, user-defined file versioning, 100% automated backup scheduling, instant and continuous backup settings, and a whole host of other features CrashPlan is quickly becoming a go to solution for those looking for complete and total control over their cloud-based storage solution.

Absolutely designed for people and small businesses who require complete and total control over their online backup solution in ways that folks who are over the moon with Carbonite never will, CrashPlan is an enterprise grade product that is perfect for anyone who needs the peace of mind offered by these endless features. Considering the fact that the price points are identical as far as the first year goes (with the prices slowly growing as far as CrashPlan is concerned), the decision between the two is difficult unless you absolutely positively need these extra features.

Final verdict

While it’s impossible to say which service you should move forward with simply because it’s unknowable which kind of computer user you are and which features you need from your cloud-based storage solution, the difference between these two high-end options is so small that it’s almost inconsequential. Yes, you’ll find that Carbonite is a little bit more simplified and stripped down – but CrashPlan offers an endless amount of features including some that you may be kicking yourself later when not able to leverage them.

Only you’ll know which option is absolutely perfect for you, but know that regardless of which choice you end up making you’re going to be picking between two of the industry leaders. Millions of people all over the globe are already using these two services – and the trend looks to grow and grow in the future – making either one of these a very smart bet to move forward with.