Carbonite Versus Dropbox
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- The Good
- User-friendly
- Affordable, simple pricing
- Automatic backup of files
- Unlimited cloud-based storage
- The Bad
- No sync features
- Multiple computers not accommodated
- Can’t create public sharing links
- Tends to be slow
Carbonite was one of the original online backup services made available to average people. It continues as one of the more popular backup systems. It is easy to use, will back up your system automatically and does it all at a reasonable price.
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- The Good
- 2 GB instant free storage
- Mobile apps
- Restore deleted files
- The Bad
- One user profile
- Can’t track changes
- Collaboration difficult
Dropbox is one of the most popular programs in the cloud storage genre. It differs in that it doesn’t back up your computer. It lets you store your files online, sync them and share them with others. It is not a full online backup service, however, and thus doesn’t include features and protections common in such services.
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- Price
- Basic home plan
- $59.99/year
- Plus home office plan
- $99.99/year (Windows only)
- Prime plan
- $149.99/year (Windows only)
With Carbonite, you’re allowed to back up whatever you want, such as photos, system settings and documents. If you subscribe to the Plus or Prime plans, you can back up mirror images of external hard drives and your computer systems. Carbonite’s plans for business all support an unlimited number of computers.
- Price
- 2GB storage
- Free
- 50GB storage
- $9.99 per month
- 100GB storage
- $19.99 per month
- 1000GB storage
- $99 per month
Dropbox has a very simple pricing plan; a plus for any user. The fees for Dropbox are comparable to similar services. Its cost per computer goes up as the amount of storage increases.
- Specs
- Supports Windows (all versions) and MacOS
- 128-bit military-grade encryption
- Desktop program and web app
- Supports file sharing
Carbonite allows you to back up all your important files, photos and documents automatically. You can log in to your account from anywhere, on any device and have full access to your files. Setup is simple and recovery takes just a few clicks. Carbonite is compliant with HIPAA, GLBA, FERPA, SOC 2, TYPE 2 and PCI. It also supports remote file access along with granular backup, hyper-v and live applications. As a business user, you can back up data from unlimited SAN, NAS and EHD servers.
- Specs
- Windows and Mac compatible
- Mobile apps for iOS, Android, BlackBerry
- File sharing available
Dropbox doesn’t offer a free trial, but you can sign up for free with a 2GB storage capacity at no cost. Once you install the Dropbox software, an icon link appears on your desktop. File synchronization is an included feature. Dropbox will keep your deleted files for up to 30 days. File sharing, photo album sharing and music streaming are all features offered by Dropbox. It will back up Outlook and allows folder collaboration. There is no local encryption, and you can’t back up your hard drive to Dropbox.
- Features
- Automatic, continuous backup
- Restore wizard and recovery service
- Hard drive recovery service
- Mobile and web access
Carbonite adds an additional feature to indicate if a file is currently backed up or not. A series of colored dots lets you know at a glance that your files are safely backed up, are awaiting backup or not scheduled for backup at all. In the Windows version, red and yellow dots report your file status. In the Mac version, a red dot indicates that the file is currently not selected for backup. Carbonite also supports file versioning. This means that multiple versions of older files are available to you. If you remove a file from your hard drive, Carbonite will wait 30 days for you to replace it. After that, the servers delete the file.
- Features
- Automatic organization and backup
- Offline access
- Preview and download
Dropbox has several useful features, such as automatic updates and accessibility from any device. It offers an efficient syncing feature. The file sharing and file storage are superior, and the ability to share large files is refreshing. Backup and file recovery are available online — a user-friendly feature. Users can share files via email, chat or text message through simple link-sharing.
- Security
- 128-bit military-grade encryption
- Uses RAID 6 redundant storage
Carbonite is serious about security for its cloud storage, providing not just system security but also physical server security. It uses advanced 128-bit Blowfish encryption and a combination of server-side encryption and local encryption. Windows users can manage their own encryption key. There is 24-hour security server surveillance and controlled server room access. Servers have on-site emergency backup generators with uninterruptible power supplies. Unauthorized third-party access is not allowed.
- Security
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Two-step user verification
- Cannot customize encryption key
The lack of a private encryption key is necessary to provide the file-sharing feature of the app. Files resting on the server have 256-bit AES encryption. The service maintains the encryption keys because doing otherwise would make it difficult to sync and share files, which is a major priority for Dropbox. Files stored with Dropbox are completely private and are only accessible to others if you provide a link to them. You can also share any file with others as you see fit.
Carbonite: User Reviews
Dropbox: User Reviews
Carbonite: Comments
Dropbox: Comments
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When talking cloud storage, Carbonite is one of the best and most-trusted services on the market. Its affordable prices garner you unlimited backup space to your cloud. With its multitude of services, it is hard to find another service that delivers the same options for a comparable amount on a monthly or yearly fee.
One of the strong points of Carbonite is the ease of navigation with its interface. A user-friendly dashboard has a very low learning curve for most users. Setup is simple and straightforward. The extended time it takes for the initial backup is common, as this is fairly normal across the spectrum for initial backups.
The default will automatically back up your documents, photos, email and music you have stored on your computer. This means you don’t have to take the time to set parameters individually on the files you want backed up.
How Does Carbonite Work?
If you’re looking for ease of use, Carbonite is your best bet. But don’t let its easy interface fool you: it packs a punch. Carbonite’s automatic backup feature means new or updated files get backed up almost as soon as you create them.
You can invite others to view files and add comments for a group to see and respond to by using Carbonite’s Sync & Share center. This is a valuable resource for teams that need to collaborate on projects. You can effortlessly access all the files and documents necessary to stay up-to-date on what your team is doing. You can eliminate the frustrating bouncing back and forth between your email inbox and your cloud storage dashboard.
What Makes Carbonite Stand Out?
Carbonite’s file-restoring feature sets it above the pack. You can restore a file via three primary means when using Carbonite: web app, PC client or backup drive. The desktop recovery feature is a lifesaver for those who make mistakes at times. With Carbonite, this is an easy fix.
You can address accidental deletions through the Carbonite desktop application. The deleted file can be immediately repaired.
Common Reviews of Carbonite
Most reviews of Carbonite are glowing. There is a lot of praise for the automatic backup, security and file restoration features. The file versioning feature that gives you 30 days to recover a file version is also a popular talking point.
By default, Carbonite only backs up certain file types. This leads to some frustration among users because it doesn’t back up all the files in a folder. You can alter this option by making a few changes in the settings but it is something that not everyone remembers to do.
There are also complaints about the speed with which Carbonite works its magic. Some of the uploading and downloading tends to get a little slow sometimes. For those not in a hurry, this is a moot point. But for those on a tight schedule, this can be frustrating.
Overall, Carbonite comes highly recommended for individuals and small businesses. It is a cost-effective way to keep files and sensitive data secure.
Is Carbonite for Me?
Carbonite is one of the most popular brands for cloud backup. It is more a backup solution than just a cloud storage application. Carbonite’s optimized cloud-based solution meets the needs of individuals and small businesses who are seeking a secure way to back up their systems off-site.
If you need an affordable, reliable system for restoring your PC and portable files in case of data loss or system failure, Carbonite is a great choice for any individual or small business.
If all you need is online storage, Dropbox is a great way to go. It is not, however, a cloud-based computer backup. It can’t automatically back up your entire computer. With Dropbox, you create a folder in your online space into which you drag files to store them.
How Does Dropbox Work?
Dropbox allows you to handle any stored file from your computer or mobile device. You can combine files from multiple devices into one online space. These files will then be available to you or other users from any of the devices you’ve loaded with the Dropbox app. Or you can access your space directly through the Dropbox website.
What Makes Dropbox Stand Out?
Dropbox does away with many of the features that are, frankly, typical annoyances when doing business online. If you begin a project on your office computer, you can upload the files to Dropbox, then access them at home on your computer there. There’s no need to attach files to emails and send them.
Is your tablet or work computer prone to crashes? A computer crash isn’t such a tragedy when a few minutes of downloading files from a Dropbox account gets you back to work. Bandwidth limits can be manually set.
Common Reviews of Dropbox
One complaint mentioned more than once is Dropbox’s lack of FTP ability. If you need to transfer files via FTP, you are out of luck with Dropbox — that feature isn’t offered.
Many cite the ability to limit bandwidth as a definite positive. This feature can come in handy if you’re uploading or downloading files from desktop software frequently during the day. Limiting the bandwidth helps if you don’t want your network to get bogged down when you’re using Dropbox a lot.
Some describe Dropbox’s pricing for upper limit storage capacity and number of users as “pricey” when compared to some of its competitors. Some feel that the price should include computer backup, but that is not a feature Dropbox currently offers.
Is Dropbox for Me?
Dropbox’s simplicity makes it a good fit for anyone, whether an internet novice or a seasoned pro. If all you’re looking to do is back up small files, such as pictures, routines and agendas, texts or presentation files, then Dropbox is for you.
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