- External Backup Drives For Mac
- Backup Drives For Mac
- External Backup Drive For Mac
- Top Backup Drives For Mac 2018 Holiday
- Best Backup Drive For Macbook Pro 2018
- Best Backup Drives For Mac
- Backup Drives For Mac Reviews
There are uncountable ways to lose the data that you keep on your Mac. Power surges, theft, random drive failure, HFS+ errors (until you’ve updated to High Sierra) and more all threaten your valuable files. The best way to protect your files is through using any of our best online backup solutions and we have made a further selection of the very best cloud backup for Mac. Our favorite is Backblaze for several reasons, but plenty of others deserve mention, too.
External hard drives are used to backup large amounts of information outside of your Mac’s internal hard drive. Anyone who’s ever lost all of their data after a computer crash can understand how important that is. The 9 Best External Hard Drives to Buy in 2018 Back up your songs, photos and files with these external hard drives. Use it for Time Machine on your Mac, back up.
If you’re not sure if cloud is your thing, we also have a best Mac backup article that talks a little more about your options when it comes to online, hardware as well as hybrid backup. We also have a Time Machine review if Apple’s hardware option is the one that tickles your fancy most. With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the five best providers for cloud backup, allowing you to keep your data on distant servers.
Starts from$458per month for Unlimited GB
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Seagate Backup Plus Fast Top capacity USB 3.0 portable drive. Seagate's new Backup Plus Fast portable drive is the quickest and most capacious compact external hard drive to date. This one is the best for MacBook owners. Most portable hard drives are made for Windows. It shouldn’t put off any but the most technophobic Mac owners, but the Toshiba Canvio Premium for Mac is a true plug and play drive. The iPhone flash drive is designed with a standard USB 3.0 side and a Lightning connector on the other, making it a breeze to plug in, transfer, and store and share files between your iPhone and your Mac.
Best Cloud Backup for Mac for 2019
provider
$ per month
top features More
- 1
- Backblaze★★★ Best Unlimited Cloud Backup ★★★
www.backblaze.com - /month
- Continuous Backup
- Incremental Backup
- External Drive Backup
- NAS Backup
- Unlimited Backup
- Versioning
- Private Encryption
- 2
- IDrive★★★ Best Cloud Backup ★★★
www.idrive.com - /month
- Continuous Backup
- Incremental Backup
- External Drive Backup
- NAS Backup
- Unlimited Backup
- Versioning
- Private Encryption
- 3
- Cloudberry Backup
www.cloudberrylab.com - $200/month
- Continuous Backup
- Incremental Backup
- External Drive Backup
- NAS Backup
- Unlimited Backup
- Versioning
- Private Encryption
- 4
- SpiderOak ONE
www.spideroak.com - /month
- Continuous Backup
- Incremental Backup
- External Drive Backup
- NAS Backup
- Unlimited Backup
- Versioning
- Private Encryption
- 5
- Carbonite
www.carbonite.com - /month
- Continuous Backup
- Incremental Backup
- External Drive Backup
- NAS Backup
- Unlimited Backup
- Versioning
- Private Encryption
Starts from$458per month for Unlimited GB
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Best Cloud Backup for Mac: Backblaze
With an easy to use interface, competitive pricing and unlimited storage, Backblaze isn’t just the best Mac backup; it’s earned first place among all our online backup reviews. If you’re using a Mac, chances are you appreciate software that is streamlined and easy to use. Backblaze certainly keeps in line with the Mac experience as it couldn’t be simpler to get started. Download the app and it will do the rest.
There’s no need to worry about how much data is syncing, either, as Backblaze gives you unlimited space. Backblaze also automatically configures backups so you don’t have to yourself. While it does give you the option to customize its behavior if you’d like, you can simply decide to let it do all the work, too.
If you keep external drives to make up for the smaller SSDs that Macs tend to come with, these will also be covered by Backblaze and are included in the unlimited data for that computer.
Backblaze is also integrated into macOS more than most other backup providers. Rather than providing a separate app to adjust settings, Backblaze can be configured directly from within “system preferences,” the control center where you fine-tune all other settings, as well.
Backblaze puts ease of use first while still offering a very secure service. Your data will be secured before leaving your computer using AES 128-bit encryption. To secure transfers, Backblaze uses TLS, another standard encryption method that is effectively uncrackable. For most users, this should be enough.
However, if you demand the highest security for your backups, Backblaze also offers zero-knowledge security. You can set a private encryption key so that only you can ever decrypt your data. This will make it impossible for Backblaze to recover your password should you ever forget it though, so do this with caution.
These security measures are also only effective as long as you’re the only one with access to your account. With every service, you should set a secure password, but Backblaze does offer extra protection with two-factor authentication so even if someone acquired your password, they’d still need your phone in order to get in.
Other Reasons We Like Backblaze
Recoveries are flexible; Backblaze offers .zip downloads or can ship you a USB flash drive or hard drive if your internet speeds would otherwise get in the way of getting your data back.
More advanced users will be glad to know that despite Backblaze’s easy to use approach, there are still fair customization options including scheduling, throttling and file-type exclusions.
Backblaze also has solid support through email, live chat or a well-written knowledge base. Emails are answered within a business day with thorough responses. Overall, the service is simply the best out there, for more details read our Backblaze review.
Pros:
- Unlimited backup
- Competitive pricing
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Limited to one computer
- No mobile backup
- Versioning limited to 30 days
External Backup Drives For Mac
Starts from$458per month for Unlimited GB
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IDrive
IDrive is a powerful service that fills in for rare cases when Backblaze isn’t quite the right fit. With competitive pricing, high data caps and unlimited devices, IDrive might be the best choice if you have too many computers to use with Backblaze. Read our IDrive review for the whole picture.
IDrive isn’t quite as user-friendly as Backblaze, but still offers a very solid service. Because IDrive has limited storage, it does require that you manually choose which folders to backup on setup.
This manual process is a bit of a pain when compared to the streamlined setup of Backblaze, but if you have several machines to backup, the process will save your data on IDrive’s servers. Thankfully, IDrive does have some default folders selected that are reasonable.
IDrive also has a wealth of customization options including a highly detailed scheduling page and the ability to use IDrive to backup locally as well as to remote servers. If you’d prefer not to schedule, IDrive does have “continuous data protection” which updates the backup within 15 minutes of a change made to your files.
In addition, users who need extra security will appreciate that IDrive does allow you to use a private encryption key when you first start using it. However, this will disable sharing and file syncing. If you need a zero-knowledge provider and a sync folder, you’ll need a separate service like you can read about in our Sync.com review.
While IDrive’s UI is rather dated and lacks the feel of most Mac-oriented software (for example: IDrive automatically creates a desktop shortcut. We’ve had the dock for that since the release of OS X in 2001), it still offers a high value, customizable solution for someone using multiple computers.
IDrive uses 256-bit AES encryption to keep your files safe. This protocol has never been cracked and will keep your files safe as long as a potential cybercriminal doesn’t have a key.
IDrive’s support for private encryption keys is also good for anyone who can’t afford their data to be accessed under any circumstance. The service could be improved by offering the ability to activate a private encryption key after starting to use IDrive and by implementing two-factor authentication, however.
IDrive offers a competitive pricing model, too. You need commit on a yearly basis, but can use 5GB for free, indefinitely. This will allow you to get familiar with the software before signing up for a full subscription. At $52.12 a year for 2TB, it’s only slightly more expensive than a single Backblaze plan. If you use more than one computer and stay under 2TB, this pays back quickly.
Other Reasons We Like IDrive
Although IDrive has data caps, you won’t run into a hard ceiling. You can store more data than your plan allows, but will be charged a fee. While the fee may be frustrating, it does mean that in an emergency you can store more than your limit without immediately upgrading your plan. To find out more how the caps work, check out our IDrive review.
IDrive also features a syncing folder like Google Drive or Dropbox making it a hybrid service. IDrive can be a solution both for backing up your computers and keeping them in sync. This even extends to your phone as IDrive offers an app for both iOS and Android so you can keep all your photos in the cloud.
IDrive offers 5GB for free (it’s one of our best free storage providers for a reason, after all), so there’s no reason for you not to check it out.
Pros:
- Unlimited devices
- Competitive pricing
- File versioning
- Syncing and sharing
Cons:
- Harder to use than Backblaze
- No unlimited backup plan
- No two-factor authentication
Starts from$434per month for 2000 GB
Free plan available
Free plan available
CloudBerry Backup
CloudBerry is certainly an unusual backup service as it doesn’t actually offer any storage. It’s an alternative solution that comes in the form of a one-time payment for backup software and flexible subscriptions to a variety of separate storage providers. We also have a full CloudBerry Backup review for your reading pleasure.
CloudBerry is far from a straightforward backup solution. It’s intended to be used by those with more familiarity with cloud solutions or IT professionals. If that’s not you, you’d probably be better served by a solution such as Backblaze.
You’ll have to manually set up a storage provider and the folders you want backed up as well as a long list of other configurable options. This will seem daunting to many users, but the ability to completely customize your backups (including streamlined hybrid backups) is exactly what others may want out of a cloud service.
There are some limitations of CloudBerry on Mac, though. Block level backup and image backups are not yet available. If these aren’t deal breakers and you’re looking for a highly customizable system, CloudBerry might just be the answer.
Security with CloudBerry Backup is dependent on the storage provider you choose. CloudBerry offers up to 256-bit AES encryption with private keys. If you take advantage of this, CloudBerry is extremely secure. This isn’t supported on all of the 65 plans that CloudBerry is compatible with though, so you’ll have to do further research when picking a plan.
Other Reasons We Like CloudBerry Backup
CloudBerry is certainly targeted at those with IT experience as well as businesses (it won our best SMB backup mega-battle with ease). The one time cost of $30 for basic license is reasonable, though further fees can rack up fairly quickly. CloudBerry’s versatility lends itself well to someone who is looking for a cross-platform solution that includes machines running macOS.
Pros:
- Powerful toolset for professionals
- Restore images as VMs in the cloud
Cons:
- No included storage
- Not for casual users
- No mobile app
SpiderOak ONE
SpiderOak prioritizes security and privacy above all else, taking the time to publish general security articles on its blog for anyone to read, regardless of membership. It does still maintain a clean and easy to use interface making it a very attractive offer for less advanced users who just want some extra privacy. You can read our full SpiderOak review for more on this service.
The “manage” tab of the SpiderOak interface gives you access to information that would require visiting the website for other services. Here, you can keep track of everything you have stored on SpiderOak servers. This makes recovering or linking files very easy.
You will need to keep track of how much storage you’re using as SpiderOak is priced by storage amounts and the smaller ones may become restrictive when dealing with backups of your whole Mac.
Unlike the other selections so far, SpiderOak is zero-knowledge by default. You won’t need to do any extra configuration to get this level of security. Your data will also be secured using 256-bit AES encryption and transferred using TLS.
SpiderOak is quite a bit more pricey than our first two selections, though both Backblaze and IDrive have the option to use a private key. The main feature you have to gain is a zero-knowledge backup that can also work as a sync service.
Other Reasons We Like SpiderOak ONE
The inclusion of syncing and sharing with the backup service makes SpiderOak a flexible all-in-one solution. Files can be shared from within the SpiderOak app using links. It is worth noting though that shared links will not be encrypted using a private key. Thankfully, SpiderOak does a good job.
Pros:
- Zero-knowledge provider
- Strong focus on privacy & security
- Plenty of control for advanced users
Cons:
- On the expensive side
- File syncing is slow
- Based in the U.S.
Starts from$575per month for 150 GB
Free plan available
Free plan available
Carbonite
Carbonite takes a similar approach to Backblaze in providing a per-device plan with unlimited storage and a simple, easy to use system. If you have previously used CrashPlan, you may be familiar with Carbonite as the former industry leader’s recommended CrashPlan alternative. You can read the full Carbonite review.
Carbonite is mostly automatic. Once you download it, it will work automatically unless you want to customize the way it runs. It does offer slightly more customizability in it’s scheduling than Backblaze, but defaults to the same continuous setting to make sure your backups are always up to date.
Carbonite also offers more step-by-step recovery than Backblaze by allowing you to recover files directly to their original location from directly within the app. You don’t need to download a .zip archive and extract files manually.
Carbonite’s similarities to Backblaze extend to its security. It uses 128-bit AES encryption, transfers with TLS encryption and offers an optional zero-knowledge service that must be manually enabled. Carbonite does have a small difference in that when using private encryption keys, it switches to 256-bit AES encryption. Carbonite also provides two-factor authentication to keep you safe in the case of password theft.
Customer support is an area where Carbonite distinguishes itself from Backblaze. It has phone support available seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 9:20 p.m. EST. Email support is also quick and thorough. Carbonite has even won 48 awards for its customer service. In addition, it offers a quality knowledge base for users who wish to troubleshoot for themselves.
Carbonite comes in at $10 more than Backblaze per year without external drive backup and no monthly payment plan. This increase in pricing may be worth it if you plan to use some of Carbonite’s extra features, but for most users, Backblaze will likely be the better value.
Other Reasons We Like Carbonite
Carbonite offers versioning for up to three months, two months longer than Backblaze’s offering. This extra time can be very valuable when working on long-term work that may need to be recovered.
Carbonite’s iOS and Android app can also backup your photo library. Because Carbonite’s plan comes with unlimited storage, you can snap away without worrying about your last few gigabytes.
Quicken 2018 mac for dummies. Pros:
- Unlimited backup
- External drive backup
- Three months of versioning
- Good recovery options
Cons:
- A little expensive
- No versioning on macOS
- No monthly subscriptions
- Limited mobile backup
Conclusion
For most users, Backblaze takes the clear victory, offering unlimited backup for your Mac in a simple, well-integrated package at an affordable price. If you have more specific needs, IDrive may satisfy those who use multiple computers and CloudBerry offers a powerful solution for IT professionals.
Will Backblaze solve your backup needs or do you need a more niche product? Let us know in the comments below and thanks for reading.
When you purchased your computer, you thought it had plenty of space. Or at least, it seemed like it did… until photos, videos, programs, documents, and other files began crowding the disk space.
Whether desktop or laptop, 10 years old or only 2, running out of storage on your Mac or PC is a widespread problem with an easy solution.
For a lot of people, the go-to is cloud storage services such as iCloud or Google Drive, but these aren’t a great fit for everyone, especially if you have a lot of files or need to access them offline on both your mac and PC.
In this case, an external drive that’s Mac and PC interchangeable is the best option, because you’ll have all your files on hand at all times and it can store significantly more data than a cloud drive.
In this article, we’ll help you better understand the use cases of a physical drive, and round up the best Mac & PC compatible external drives for backup and storage purposes.
Quick Summary
Tired of learning all the “techy” terms related to hard drives? We understand. Here’s a brief of our recommendations to save you time exploring.
For Mac users: G-Technology Portable External Hard Drive 2TB
From the sleek design to the pre-formatting, this terabyte-sized drive is perfect for Mac users who need a little extra space and offers the transfer rate up to 140MB/s for accessing all your files.
For Windows PC users: WD 2TB Elements Portable
At 5400 RPM but only around 3″ x 4″, this tiny drive packs a real punch. You can get it in sizes from 1 to 4 TB, all of which are equally portable and will allow you to access your files with speed and efficiency wherever you go.
For the best of both worlds: Samsung T5 Portable SSD
Whether you simply prefer the speed of an SSD or use both Mac and PC on a regular basis, this drive offers formatting that works everywhere you go and top notch read/write rates. The drive is small, portable, and sleek (available in multiple colors!)
Who Should Get This?
You don’t have to be a power user to make use of an external drive, but if you aren’t sure you need one, here are some considerations:
- Has your computer slowed down due to being stuffed with files you aren’t necessarily using all the time?
- Do you need to backup your computer, especially if you’re worried about a crash soon due to the age of the machine?
- Are the fees for your cloud storage service not worth the amount of storage you get?
- Do you want to clean up old files that you only occasionally reference?
- Need a better place to run large applications from, or have programs you want to run on more than one computer?
If you’re saying yes to any of these, then there’s a good chance you would benefit from an external drive. It’ll give you space and security that you need.
However, an external drive might not be the best choice for you if you only have a few files that need storage, or if you already have a backup of your computer for example via backup software. In that case, using a small flash drive or an online cloud storage provider might be the better option.
External Drive for Mac and PC Compatible: What to Look for?
File Capacity
The number one consideration when buying an external drive is how much space it has to offer. Depending on what type of files you’ll be storing and how long you want the drive to last, you may want more or less space. However, when buying an external drive you should be getting at minimum 128GB, as anything less will be better served by a flash drive. Many people will be much more satisfied with closer to 1 TB of storage though since space tends to disappear faster than you would think.
Type: HDD and SSD
External drives come in two types: HDD and SSD. The former is what is normally referred to as a “hard drive”, since it uses a physical spinning disk to read and write data, while the latter, sometimes called a solid-state drive, actually uses flash memory and stores everything electronically and has no moving parts. An HDD tends to be cheaper, but SSDs are faster and more reliable.
Formatting
An external drive is typically formatted for either MacOS or PC use. While there are some drives that work on both, most tend need to be reformatted to be functional on the opposite system, and that will erase all your data. Formatting in the first place can also be difficult, so look for a drive that’s already formatted to work with your computer and know that you will only be able to access your files on machines of the same type.
Speed
All external drives are rated for read-and-write speeds, which is how fast they can store, retrieve, and display information. Higher speeds are better, but a small difference won’t be noticeable. An HDD is generally not capable of the higher speeds of an SSD, but they do tend to be much cheaper.
Best External Drive for Mac and PC Interchangeable: Our Picks in 2019
1. G-Technology Portable External Hard Drive 2TB
Using a Mac? This drive is preformatted just for you, offering a high transfer rate for fast file access and connects easily via USB-C. It will definitely stand up to regular use of creative editing applications and store files/backups well if you’re using in a more long-term frame.
Backup Drives For Mac
Pros:
- 2TB is a fair amount of storage space for any user, and this drive is available in larger sizes as well.
- The transfer rates up to 140 MB/s means you can easily access your files without sacrificing any time spent loading or waiting for files to transfer.
Cons:
- Pre-formatted for Mac, but can be reformatted to Windows.
- Not cross-compatible.
2. WD 2TB Elements Portable External Hard Drive
If you’re an avid PC user, this HDD drive from Western Digital has you covered. With sizes from 1 to 4 TB and plug-n-play functionality, you’ll start with your feet on the ground. USB 3.0 allows you to transfer files at up to 5MB/s, and the drive overall runs at 5400 RPM.
Pros:
- A high RPM means you don’t have to worry about sitting in front of your computer waiting for files to load, while the slim 3″ by 4″ design is super portable, perfect for taking files to and from work or another setting.
- Can even be used to backup games on your console.
Cons:
- Only for PC, unless you want to separately reformat to use with Mac.
3. Samsung T5 Portable SSD
Available from the smallest 250 GB size all the way up to 2TB, this external SSD from Samsung writes at 540MB/s, which is a stellar rate. It normally uses a USB-C cable, but if your computer doesn’t yet support this, a standard USB-A cable is also provided. This product also ranks in our best portable SSD drive review.
External Backup Drive For Mac
Pros:
- Formatted to work on Mac and Windows and even Android!
- A variety of storage options makes it easy to find the right size for you.
- The sleek drive is also very sturdy and fits into the palm of your hand.
Cons:
- Transfer speeds may be slightly lower if you can’t make use of the included USB-C cable.
Top Backup Drives For Mac 2018 Holiday
Useful Tips
Don’t forget to get an external drive case (like this one from Amazon), which will help protect your drive from potential damage caused by accidental scratch or dropping. It also allows you easily pack it into backpack or briefcase.
Want to format your external drive for Mac and PC compatibility? Check out this step-by-step tutorial we created earlier.
Want to format your external drive for Mac and PC compatibility? Check out this step-by-step tutorial we created earlier.
To extend the life of your storage drive, it’s a good practice to always put it on a flat and stable surface and away from heaters, humidifiers or air conditioners. Also, when you’re done with data backup or file transfer, make sure to properly eject the drive before plugging it out.
Still can’t decide between an HDD or SSD external drive? Check out this guide from PC World, which will help outline which is best depending on your situation. Alternatively, if you aren’t sure about getting an external hard drive at all, you can always try out a web-based cloud service first to see if it gives you space and flexibility you want.
Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox are great places to get started since they offer free options at the lowest tier, and paid users can get more than 1TB of storage space.
Final Words
Best Backup Drive For Macbook Pro 2018
Whether you prefer HDD or SSD, you’re looking for your first drive or your third, an external drive is usually a great solution for data backup and file storage on both your Mac and PC. Moving files off your computer will also help tune up your PC a little bit and will protect your important files from potential damage.
Best Backup Drives For Mac
Are you using both a Mac and PC, and how much space do you need for your external drive? Leave us a comment below and tell us how you’re making the most of your external drive!
Backup Drives For Mac Reviews
Influenced by the startup culture in the Silicon Valley, Jessica loves building things from zero to one and is keen on following news related to the Big Five tech giants and many SaaS startups.