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IDrive has been around for years, and it still wins our “safe pick” for full-device backup. It’s simple to set up, fast enough for the first upload, and—most importantly—reliable when you need to restore. Below is exactly what stood out in 2025 after running fresh backups and restores on a Windows laptop and a MacBook.
Quick verdict
If you want full-machine backup with versioning and a clean restore flow, IDrive is the easiest way to get it done. It’s cheaper than most rivals, supports external drives, keeps multiple versions, and lets you restore without weird hoops. We’d only skip it if you absolutely need “unlimited” backup for one computer (then Backblaze might be cheaper).
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Pros
- Real full-device backup with file versioning (keeps multiple copies).
- External drive and NAS support.
- Fast incremental backups; bandwidth throttling available.
- Easy restore: whole machine or selective files/folders.
- Affordable plans (often discounted), plus business options.
Cons
- First backup can take hours/days (normal for any cloud backup).
- No truly “unlimited” plan (storage is metered).
- Power users might want more advanced scheduling granularity.
Pricing
Plans change, but the sweet spot most readers pick is the Personal plan with 5TB or 10TB. Business users usually go for IDrive e2 (object storage) or IDrive 360 (endpoint backups at scale). Check the current promo:
Restore experience
IDrive’s restore flow is the main reason it converts for our readers. You can browse and pull individual files from previous versions, or clone an entire machine. The desktop app is straightforward, and the web portal lets you grab files remotely if you’re traveling.
Good alternatives
If you need true “unlimited” storage for a single computer, Backblaze is the usual pick. If you want object storage and S3-compatible buckets for apps/workflows, IDrive e2 is great value. For family PCs and centrally managed devices, IDrive 360 is simpler to roll out.
IDrive FAQ
Q1: Is IDrive secure?
A: Yes—TLS/SSL in transit, 256-bit AES at rest; private key option is available.
Q2: Does IDrive keep previous versions?
A: Yes—versioning is a strong point; you can restore earlier copies of files.
Q3: How long does the first backup take?
A: Depends on your upload speed and data size. Subsequent backups are incremental and much faster.
Q4: Can I back up external drives?
A: Yes, and you can include/exclude drives/folders from the plan.
