IDrive

Carbonite

SpiderOak

Elephant Drive

Dropbox

 

iDrive Carbonite SpiderOak Elephant Drive Live Drive
Overall Rating:
Editors:
starstarstarstarstar
Users:(1)
4.54.54.54.54.5
Editors:
starstarstarstarstar
Users:(9)
1.561.561.561.561.56
Editors:
starstarstarstarstar
Users:(1)
33333
Editors:
starstarstarstarstar
Users:(5)
3.63.63.63.63.6
Editors:
starstarstarstarstar
Users:(0)
00000
Pricing Home: 5GB: Free
150GB:  $4.95/mo
1 Computer
500GB: $14.95/mo
5 Computers
Unlimited: $49.50/yr/1pc
Home: $59/yr
HomePlus: $99/yr
HomePremier: $149/yr
Unlimited Storage
per Computer
2GB:  Free
100GB:  $10/mo

Unlimited Computers

Lite(2GB):  Free
100GB:  $9.95/mo
2 Computers
500GB: $19.95/mo
5 Computers
2GB:  Free
50GB: $9.99/mo
100GB: $19.99/mo
per computer
Pricing Business: 50GB:    $9.95/mo
100GB: $19.95/mo
500GB: $49.95/mo
per Computer
250GB: $229/yr
500GB: $599/yr
All Computers
No Offering 50GB:  $25/mo
up to
1TB:  $415/mo
 
Free Trial 5GB Unlimited Time 15 Days 2 GB Free Account 15 Days 2GB Free Account
  buy now buy now buy now buy now buy now
Offer Free Version no None yes yes yes
Type of Backup scheduled or
continuous
continuous or
scheduled
continuous scheduled continuous
Detailed Review:

IDrive Review

Carbonite Review

SpiderOak Review

Elephant Drive Review

Dropbox Review

System Support

IDrive

Carbonite

SpiderOak

Elephant Drive

Dropbox

PC Support yes yes yes yes yes
Mac Support yes yes yes yes yes
Linux Support no no yes yes yes
Features

IDrive

Carbonite

SpiderOak

Elephant Drive

Dropbox

File Types Supported all all but some
excluded by default
all all all
External Drive Support yes yes no no yes
Mapped Drives yes no yes yes yes
Backup Open / Locked Files yes yes no yes no
Supports
Scheduled Backups
no no no check no
Public File Sharing no no check check check
Private File Sharing no
must be IDrive Users
no check check check
Versioning no no check check check
30 Versions 90 Days unlimited 30 Days to Unlimited 30 Days
Are Deleted Files Kept? no no check check check
until you delete or manually sync 30 Days unlimited unlimited unlimited
Individual File Size Limits none 4GB by default but you can override manually none Home: 1GB & 2GB
Business: 5GB
none
Monthly Transfer Limit none Home: 100GB
Business: 1TB & 2TB
none none none

Restore Options

IDrive

Carbonite

SpiderOak

Elephant Drive

Dropbox

Restore Directly
from Web
yes
drag & drop
yes
right click on file & select "Restore"
yes yes
copy & paste using TrunkDrive
yes
Get a DVD no yes
with HomePremier Plan
no no no

Service/Support

IDrive

Carbonite

SpiderOak

Elephant Drive

Dropbox

Customer Service Phone/Email/Chat
Good
Email/Chat
Fair
Priority Phone:($19.95/year)
Good
Phone/Email/Chat
Good
Phone/Email
Good
Email/Forum
Good
No Cancellation Fee / Refund Policy
(Make sure to review each vendor’s refund policy!)
yes yes   yes yes
Refunds prorated based on monthly rates. No Refunds. You can only cancel at renewal time. So make sure to use the Free Trial!   No Refunds issued! Dropbox accounts are prepaid and are non-refundable. 

Provider

IDrive

Carbonite

SpiderOak

Elephant Drive

Dropbox

Overall Rating:
starstarstarstarstar
starstarstarstarstar
starstarstarstarstar
starstarstarstarstar
starstarstarstarstar
  buy now buy now buy now buy now buy now
About

Software developer by trade, and current owner of Best Online Backup Deals. Our goal is to provide quality reviews of software and systems we use and feel are beneficial to home users and small businesses.