Nikon1201

I need a simple cloud backup that backs up in real time

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I use Carbonite. Backs up new files in a few minutes after they are created or modified.

Others use BackBlaze.

I'm sure there is at least a third company.

(Don't forget to add your docs, PDFs, spreadsheets, and other important files, not just images.)

10MPlayer Loc: California

I use iDrive. It isn't the easiest to use but once you figure it out it does what it says it will. My problem is getting it to back up a remote drive that I access wirelessly.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Depends on your OS. If you are a Mac guy, then ICloud is a pretty easy solution. For PCs (or Macs), I like Amazon S3 (who is by far the largest of the cloud providers), Google or Microsoft. The advantage of these major cloud providers is that they can afford many data centers (which means more geographically distributed copies of your data and a primary data center closer to you), and are extremely unlikely to ever fail.

I use Amazon S3, which has three tiers (each with different attributes and pricing) and allows you to move files, folders or all your files between tiers in real-time as your needs change. I use the infrequent access (middle tier), which is $1 per 100GB per month. Backblaze is likely less expensive and publishes excellent quarterly drive reliability reports, but last I looked, only has 2 storage locations, whereas Amazon S3 keeps 3-5 geographically separate copies of your data, with your primary site being the one physically closest to you. That matters, because what typically drives data transfer rates using TCP/IP is latency (in addition to bandwidth) and if you live on the east coast and the data center is on the west coast, that can make a very measurable difference in performance.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

I use iDrive and have excellent success with it. It has lots of options and lots of space for not much money.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

You might try assigning a drive letter (called drive mapping) to the wireless drive. That may make it easier for the software to find it.

Bayou

iDrive

RLSprouse Loc: Encinitas CA (near Sandy Eggo)

I'm happy with BackBlaze.

DaveJ Loc: NE Missouri

I use Backblaze. Not had to access anything so far, and it works well in the background. 2 year rate was very competitive.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I’m one of those rare birds who still uses Microsoft’s free Sync Toy. Still works fine for me. I run it once a week.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I like BackBlaze, although I don't use it - just in-home backup. Whatever cloud service you use, make sure you have copies elsewhere. Just as in nature, clouds don't last forever.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

Sorry, folks. Cockpit error here. Sync Toy is not very good for cloud backup.... more of a local tool. My bad. 🙄

Amaize

There is “storage” and “backup” - not the same. ICloud, Amazon, Google primarily are storage systems - which essentially is like expanding your computer/desktop. You can work with the files just as if they were in your device, locally, though they free up your computer for the benefit of speed in processing. Cloud Backup is simply like an external hard drive where you have your photos loaded - but it’s like kept in a safe deposit box. Nice and safe, but you don’t work with your files there. To start, much depends on file size. If you have lots of photos, especially Raw (large file size) a system like Backblaze offers “unlimited” storage, which is truly unlimited. It will be at the bottom end of cost. Check out the details but I think it works for 1 device plus hard drives you can plug into the device. The downside is you must plug in your hard drive once a month, or otherwise when it is backing you up, it looks thru files, if the files are missing, it deletes them after 30 days. I’m told it is very simple out of the box, though maybe less options. A similar one is Crashplan - worth comparing - unlimited backup also, 1 device, any hard drives you plug in, but does not delete anything. So no worries about plugging in your hard drive monthly. I know with Crashplan, you can organize files and if you were traveling and needed access to a file, you could download easily. If all crashes and you need to restore, doing that thru the cloud may take weeks, but I know that Crashplan can also send you an ext hard drive like the next day. Both of the above I’m guessing are in the under $75 per year range - pretty good cost for the security. IDrive is not unlimited, but has a range of options, and is more flexible in setting up back up options. Carbonite is another option - can’t say much about it. I work totally off an ext HD, for LightRoom and all files - not on my computer. I keep a duplicate ext HD, separate from my “working HD.” I’m right at the point of moving to a RAID, so also reviewing cloud options. Now I have (had) 2 ext HDs plus cloud backup. I say “had” as I just got computer and working HD stolen when visiting kids in Madison Wisc - so thankful for the HD I had at home. I found Cloudwards has pretty good reviews of these, with pros/cons depending on your particular needs.

MtManMD Loc: Beaverton, Oregon

If you use Windows 10, you have a free OneDrive account with storage. I extend my storage to 100GB at $1.99/month. Not enough for my photos, but all of my other important files are there. If you subscribed to the personal Microsoft O365, you would have 1TB of OneDrive space with the subscription. OneDrive works to perfection, is a core product in Microsoft's Azure cloud, and lets you automatically sync between the cloud storage and your local PC. Actually, I sync mine to my personal desktop and laptop, to my work laptop, and to my iPhone. I can choose to include or exclude folders to sync, with the master copy always in the cloud. I can then access my files from whatever PC and from any Internet connection.

And, SyncToy will back it up to local backup drives with no issues.

mjmoly

I’ve used both Carbonite and BackBlaze. I’m using BackBlaze now. Easy to set up. Reasonably priced for unlimited quantity.