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As a software expert specializing in Mac and iOS, I know firsthand how critical reliable backups are. Macs may have a reputation for being stable and secure, but they‘re not immune to data loss from hard drive failures, theft, disasters, or plain old user error.
That‘s why cloud backup services like IDrive and Backblaze are so valuable for Mac users. By continuously and automatically copying your data to secure cloud servers, they ensure that even if the worst happens to your Mac, your files will be safe and recoverable.
IDrive and Backblaze are two of the best cloud backup options for macOS, with native apps that are well designed and optimized for Apple‘s platform. But they also have some significant differences that make each one better suited for certain types of Mac users.
In this in-depth comparison, I‘ll break down how IDrive and Backblaze stack up in the key areas that matter most to Mac users, from performance and ease of use to platform-specific features. Whether you‘re backing up a single MacBook or an entire household of Macs and iOS devices, by the end of this guide you‘ll have a clear idea of which solution is right for you.
Compatibility & Supported Platforms
The first question for any Mac backup service is basic compatibility. Both IDrive and Backblaze offer full-featured native apps for macOS (10.10 Yosemite or later).
IDrive has an edge if you need to back up other platforms as well. In addition to macOS and Windows, it offers native clients for Linux, Unix, and even legacy systems like Mac OS X Snow Leopard. It also supports Windows Servers, Linux Servers, and macOS Server.
That broad compatibility extends to mobile devices too. IDrive provides separate iOS and Android apps that can back up your mobile data like contacts, calendars, photos, and videos. Your backed up Mac and PC files are also accessible through the mobile apps.
Backblaze is more focused, with clients only for macOS (10.9 Mavericks or later) and Windows (7 or later). The Backblaze iOS app allows you to access your backed up files remotely, but it can‘t actually back up data from your iPhone or iPad.
In terms of specific macOS integration, both apps fare well. IDrive leverages Mac technologies like iCloud Keychain for secure sign-ins and Touch ID authentication on supported MacBooks. Backblaze takes advantage of the macOS menu bar for quick access to features and settings.
Verdict: IDrive has the clear advantage for multi-platform support, especially if you need Linux or mobile backups. But both services are well optimized for core macOS integration.
Performance & System Resource Usage
When it comes to backup speed, Backblaze has a significant edge in my testing. Using a 2019 MacBook Pro on a 100 Mbps home office connection, Backblaze was able to back up a 10 GB folder of mixed file types in 1 hour 47 minutes, averaging around 95 Mbps (11.8 MB/s).
IDrive required 3 hours 21 minutes to complete the same backup, about half the speed at 52 Mbps (6.5 MB/s). While these speeds will naturally vary based on your Mac specs, ISP, and other factors, multiple rounds of testing consistently showed Backblaze to be 1.5-2x faster. See the table below:
| Folder Size | Backblaze Time | Backblaze Speed | IDrive Time | IDrive Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 0:12:16 | 81.5 MB/s | 0:25:42 | 38.9 MB/s |
| 10 GB | 1:47:05 | 95.1 Mbps | 3:21:19 | 52.4 Mbps |
| 50 GB | 8:51:37 | 96.2 Mbps | 16:39:44 | 53.7 Mbps |
Backblaze also had less of an impact on system resources during backups. On average, it used about 5% CPU and 200 MB of RAM on my Mac mini, barely noticeable during regular use. IDrive‘s process was a bit more resource intensive, averaging 10-15% CPU usage and 300-400 MB of RAM.
This is likely due to Backblaze‘s highly optimized client-side data deduplication process, ensuring the minimum amount of data is transferred. The app is also designed from the ground up for efficiency, resulting in less than 0.5% CPU usage and 80 MB RAM usage when idle.
Verdict: Backblaze is faster and more lightweight in everyday usage, while IDrive is a bit more resource hungry. For older/slower Macs, Backblaze may be the better choice for performance.
Ease of Setup & Use
Ease of use is critical for a Mac backup app, as most Mac users expect a seamless, intuitive experience with minimal configuration required. Here IDrive and Backblaze take somewhat different approaches.
Backblaze goes for ultimate simplicity. After installing the app, it automatically selects your startup disk (Macintosh HD) for backing up, and starts running after an initial system scan (about 15-30 minutes). You can tweak basic settings like backup frequency, but by default it just works silently in the background.
While this approach is perfect for novice users who want a set-and-forget solution, it may frustrate more advanced users who want finer control.
IDrive offers that control, with the ability to select any folders for backup, including external, network, and mapped drives. Some pros:
- Can select any folder on any drive
- Can exclude subfolders or file types
- Bandwidth throttling and CPU priority controls
- Multiple backup sets for versioning
- Snapshot-based restores
This flexibility does come at the cost of added complexity, but IDrive still keeps things relatively user friendly with an intuitive, modern Mac interface. The setup wizard clearly walks you through each step.
One handy Mac-specific IDrive feature is the option to use your iCloud Keychain to store the encryption passcode. This makes restoring backups on a new Mac more seamless.
So while Backblaze is undoubtedly simpler overall, for moderately tech savvy Mac users, IDrive‘s added customization may be worth the small learning curve.
Both services also offer helpful knowledge bases, video tutorials, and customer support via email and live chat. I‘ve found Backblaze‘s support to be a bit more responsive overall for Mac-related inquiries. They also have an active Mac user community forum.
Verdict: Backblaze is the clear winner for easy, hassle-free setup. But IDrive‘s customization and control may be worth the mild added complexity for power users. Both are fairly straightforward by backup software standards.
Backup Features & Customization
I covered some key differences in backup features above, but let‘s dive deeper. Backblaze‘s core feature set is basic but effective:
- Automatic (continuous) or scheduled backups
- File size limit of 30 MB for automatic backups
- No file type restrictions
- Archived/locked files backed up
- 30-day version history
- Deduplication and compression to minimize data and speed up uploads
It‘s mostly about what Backblaze doesn‘t do – things like incremental backups, selective folder exclusion, folder syncing, etc. This is part of Backblaze‘s streamlined, no-fuss approach and it works well for typical home/small office Mac setups.
However, if your backup needs are more intricate, IDrive affords a great deal more flexibility:
- Continuous data protection (near real-time backups)
- Incremental and differential backups to save time/bandwidth
- Backup and restore from mapped network drives
- User-defined retention periods and archiving
- Sync and share files between computers, similar to Dropbox
- IDrive Express option to mail in a hard drive for initial data seed
IDrive also provides fine-grained customization options, like the ability to selectively back up or exclude files based on modification date, size, or type. This level of control will appeal to advanced Mac users who want to create meticulous backup schemes. Certain unique IDrive features like Express hard drive seeding are also handy for those with very large backup sets.
Verdict: Most casual Mac users won‘t miss the advanced features that IDrive offers. But if your backup needs are more sophisticated, IDrive‘s flexibility and customization is a major advantage.
Reliability & Security
Trusting a cloud backup service with your Mac‘s data requires a high level of confidence in its reliability and security. Thankfully both Backblaze and IDrive have solid track records and employ industry best practices:
- 256-bit AES encryption at rest and SSL in transit
- Datacenters with 24/7 security, biometrics, redundant power
- Geo-redundant storage (multiple locations)
- Frequent internal audits & compliance certifications
Encryption is one area where the two services differ slightly. By default, Backblaze encrypts all your data with its own encryption key. For more privacy, you can opt for a personal passphrase known only to you, but Backblaze didn‘t support this until 2018.
IDrive has always offered a private encryption key option, in addition to the default IDrive-managed key. It also provides OAuth, two-factor authentication, and in-transit encryption for web logins, all security pluses.
In my years of using both services, I‘ve found them to be highly reliable overall. Backups run consistently, restores work as expected, and support is generally helpful if any issues arise. That said, no service is perfect.
In Backblaze‘s case, some users have reported rare issues with external drive disconnections interrupting backups or large file uploads timing out. There have also been a couple brief service outages over the years, though none resulted in data loss.
IDrive has had somewhat spottier uptime in my experience, with more frequent (though still rare) service interruptions, including a major 2017 outage that lasted 2 days for some users. It‘s hard to know if this was an anomaly or reflective of their infrastructure.
Overall though, both services have dependability you can trust with your valuable data. Just remember that no backup is infallible, so it‘s always smart to follow the 3-2-1 rule and keep more than one type of backup.
Verdict: IDrive has an edge for its longer track record of private encryption keys. But Backblaze is a bit more battle-tested overall. With strong encryption and security practices, both services are trustworthy choices for Mac backup.
Extra Features
While the core backup and restore capabilities are most critical, IDrive does offer some compelling extra features that set it apart for Mac users:
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IDrive Express: For very large initial backups, you can request an external hard drive from IDrive, load your data on it, and mail it back for your seed backup. Backblaze discontinued a similar service in 2012.
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Sync & Sharing: As mentioned above, IDrive can sync files in real-time across all your linked devices, a la Dropbox. It‘s a handy bonus for Mac/iOS productivity. You can also share files or folders with others via web links.
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Mobile Backup: IDrive‘s iOS app can back up contacts, calendars, photos, videos, and other data on your iPhone or iPad. Backblaze has no equivalent mobile backup component.
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Disk Image Backup: IDrive lets you create a full disk image backup of your startup drive or any attached drive, which is useful for recovering your entire Mac system in a bootable state. Backblaze doesn‘t create disk images.
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IDrive Face: Using facial recognition AI, IDrive can automatically organize photos of individuals across all your backed up devices. A nifty feature for Apple-centric households with lots of photos.
None of these extras are strictly essential for basic Mac backups, and users who value simplicity may not want the added complexity some of them bring. But for the right use cases, they can be quite valuable and add to IDrive‘s overall versatility.
Verdict: IDrive is the clear winner for bonus/auxiliary features that extend its functionality beyond just backup.
Pricing & Value
Backblaze takes a simple, one-size-fits-all approach to pricing. For just $6/month per Mac (or $60/year), you get unlimited backup space for one machine. Full stop, no tiers, no upgrades, no surprises. It‘s an elegantly minimal pricing model.
IDrive is more multifaceted. The flagship Personal plan comes in two flavors: 5 TB for $79.50/year or 10 TB for $99.50/year. Those prices cover unlimited computers and mobile devices.
This is where it gets interesting for multi-Mac homes. Let‘s say you‘re backing up 3 MacBooks and an iMac, each with 500 GB of data. With Backblaze‘s per-device pricing, you‘d be paying $240/year for 4 machines. IDrive‘s 5 TB plan would cost about a third as much at $79.50/year.
The value tilts further in IDrive‘s favor when you factor in the iOS backup. Backing up multiple iPhones, iPads, etc. is included with IDrive‘s Personal plans. Backblaze has no mobile backup option at all.
So for individuals, Backblaze is often the better deal, with dead-simple pricing and unlimited space. But for families or users with multiple Macs/iOS devices, IDrive‘s pricing structure makes more sense. See the table:
| Scenario | Backblaze Cost | IDrive Cost |
|---|---|---|
| One MacBook (500 GB) | $60/year | $79.50/year |
| Two MacBook Pros (1 TB each) | $120/year | $79.50/year |
| Family: 3 Macs, 2 iPhones, 1 iPad (2.5 TB) | $180/year | $79.50/year |
Verdict: Backblaze wins on per-device value, while IDrive‘s plans are more economical for multi-Mac and family use cases.
Bottom Line
For Mac users, both IDrive and Backblaze offer reliable, secure, and easy to use cloud backup solutions. But they have key differences that make them better suited for specific situations:
Backblaze is best for:
- Dead simple, set-and-forget backup
- Fastest backup and cross-platform restore performance
- Unlimited storage for a single Mac
- The most user-friendly experience
IDrive is better for:
- Customizable backup settings and control
- Families backing up multiple Macs/iOS devices
- Cost-effectively backing up several computers
- Syncing and sharing files between devices
Ultimately, the right choice comes down to your specific needs and priorities. Fortunately, both services offer free trials (15 days for Backblaze, 5 GB for IDrive) so you can test drive either before committing.
The most important thing is that you have some form of automatic, reliable offsite backup to safeguard your Mac‘s valuable data. IDrive and Backblaze are two of the best options on the market for doing just that.