Carbonite Review
Note: We receive a commission for purchases made through the links on this site. Our sponsors, however, do not influence our editorial content in any way.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Carbonite: User Reviews
Carbonite: Comments
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.
No comments yet.