Backblaze Computer Backup

What is Backblaze Computer Backup?

Backblaze Computer Backup is a subscription service that automatically backs up eligible files from a Windows PC or Mac to the cloud. Each license covers one computer and its supported, directly attached external drives. The attraction is a flat price with unlimited backup storage rather than a storage-capacity plan. This profile covers Computer Backup, not the separate Backblaze B2 object-storage service.

The distinction matters. A backup preserves recoverable copies of files; it is not automatically a shared drive, a multi-device sync folder or a full operating-system image. Backblaze’s supported-data documentation excludes network-mounted drives and NAS from Computer Backup and describes default exclusions for system, application and temporary files. Check the actual files you need to protect instead of assuming “unlimited” means every device or workload.

How backup and restore work

Install the native client, allow the required operating-system permissions and review the selected drives and exclusions. The client can back up continuously, with its control panel showing the selected data, remaining upload queue and backup status. The official Windows control-panel guide explains an important limit: recently changed files may not have been detected yet even when the previous upload queue reached zero. A displayed backup time is not a promise that every just-created file is already safe.

Initial backup time depends on the size of the data, the internet upload connection and the computer’s availability. Keep the machine online and inspect the backup rather than relying on a first-day estimate. After setup, perform a small restore test. That checks the full recovery path, including sign-in, file selection, destination permissions and available disk space.

The restore documentation describes choosing a computer, a historical time and a destination, then selecting files and folders to recover. Restores need free space for temporary data and completed files. Backblaze also offers web downloads and a mailed-drive option; mailed recovery has purchase, shipping and return conditions that should be checked when needed, not treated as an unconditional free service.

Pricing and retention

Official personal pricing is US$9 per month, US$99 per year or US$189 for two years, per computer. A 15-day trial is available; there is no permanent free Computer Backup tier. The pricing page also covers business administration and enterprise options, which should not be assumed included in a personal license. Taxes and optional extras can change the checkout total.

By default, old versions and deleted files are retained for 30 days. Backblaze’s current version-history page says one-year history can be enabled for free. Forever history adds US$0.006 per GB per month for files older than one year. This is a settings choice with cost and retention consequences, not a reason to delete the only local copy of a file and treat backup as permanent storage.

External-drive handling deserves special attention. Drives must meet the supported connection and filesystem rules, and their continued availability affects backup maintenance. Read the external-drive guide and the current retention settings before putting a drive away for months. Computer Backup does not include NAS backup or mobile-device backup under the desktop license.

Security and practical fit

Backblaze describes encrypted transmission and storage, optional private encryption keys and two-factor authentication. These are vendor-documented controls, not the results of our security audit. Account recovery, key management and the ability to complete a restore remain the user’s responsibility. Review the privacy policy and terms before subscribing, especially for regulated or confidential business data.

Our desk-review verdict: Backblaze is a sensible shortlist for someone who wants broad automatic file protection for one supported computer without choosing a storage allowance. It is a weaker fit for Linux, NAS, full-system imaging, multi-computer coverage under one license or a collaboration/sync workspace. Test recovery with representative files and retain another appropriate backup copy. No hands-on upload-speed, recovery or ransomware-resilience benchmark was performed for this review.