Online backup services are a great way to store your critical data online, all of the data is managed by the software application provided by the company, all you have to do is simply select the folders and then the taskbar application is set to work, quickly and easily uploading new versions of files as and when they are changed on your computer.
Online backup is useful for
- Working on files from different computers
- Collaboration on projects with other users
- Storing sensitive data safely and securely off-site
- Useful for uploading holiday pictures from camera onto online backup to free up memory stick space.
What’s particularly great is that many online backup providers have free accounts which you can easily sign up for. We name four of the best.If you’re still not convinced, there are plenty of services similar to Dropbox that you can use as well.
SugarSync 5GB Free
SugarSync is by far the most feature packed and user friendly online backup and synchronization out there, it has 5GB free accounts and users can even get another 500MB bonus when they refer a friend to a max allowable of 10GB absolutely free. SugarSync’s strong point is the wide array of synchronization features however the desktop application can be slow at times.
Mozy 2GB Free
Mozy is the most popular free online backup solution out there, what I like particularly about Mozy is the light application and speed of upload and download. However you are restricted to 2GB with Mozy on their free accounts which does spoil it a bit.
DropBox 2GB Free
Dropbox is a fantastic provider that also has 2GB of free allowance, Dropbox has very useful synchronization ability much like SugarSync, however its strong point is its simplicity and ease of use. It has wide support for almost all computing devices, included Android, iPhone as well as Linux, which isn’t supported very well by other mainstream online backup companies. Each free user can get 2GB accounts absolutely free, for life, and gets another 250MB added from each referral.
OpenDrive 5GB Free
Opendrive isn’t as widely known as the other three online backup providers, mainly because it’s relatively new, however it doesn’t offer a whopping 5GB completely free. What I like particularly about OpenDrive is that as well as supporting data synchronization it also supports online file collaboration and online file editing, meaning that even if you’re away from your regular computers, you can access your account through an internet cafe and access and edit your files through your web browser, making it remarkably accessible.
So is online backup safe?
So you like the sound of online backup, but aren’t you a little worried about security of your files? Well did you ever stop and wonder how safe your email account is? Yet you pass through highly sensitive data. The fact is online backup services like the above use highly secure SSL connectivity and encryption on the server as well, so in practice they should be as safe as online banking.
Guest Post
Written by Abdul Karim, writer for online data backup services, a full time technology geek with interest in computer modding, data security, blogging and gadgets.
With software out there to convert gmail accounts to regular storage and that links multiple gmail accounts together that give 7GB of storage for each account, I’d go with that. But even to be totally legit, Google offers cloud storage at extremely low rates relative to all other online backup service costs. I currently have 200GB of Google storage for $50/year. Go ahead, compare that to any other online backup service out there.
Google storage is $50/year for 200GB of cloud storage. I refused to pay for cloud storage because of the enormous prices, then when I saw Google selling it unbelievably cheap relative to all other cloud storage companies ( go ahead…look up how much 200GB costs else where) I couldn’t pass it up.
Ya thats an unbelievable price, but I heard that its bite less in performance, If you have used service would like to know how did you find it.
(Sorry about double post by the way, I didn’t see any
confirmation dialogue that my first post worked)
Anyway, not sure if I am utilizing it enough to vouch for it but for my needs, it backs up my data at my standard connection speeds, and gives it back the same. I’ve not experienced any issues.
MiMedia brings you a totally new approach to online storage – a way to protect, access, enjoy and share your digital life all in one place. MiMedia is MORE than backup. Start your free trial today at http://www.mimedia.com.
Check us out on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVOquldmUXE
Great online backup services up there.I have only tried out SugarSync and i would like to say that is a great backup solution and on the other hand there is one called Safecopy backup which is also cost effective.
Good review. I tried Drop Box but didn’t like it. I’ve been using/testing SugarSync now for 7 weeks and am very pleased with it. It’s simple and reliable, and I’ve been using it to synch three computers and share the files. The 5 Gb free account has so far proved to be big enough. SugarSynch is still running a bonus scheme whereby you get an extra 500 Mb of space free (i.e. 5.5 Gb free) if you signup using a referral link from an existing user. Here’s mine for anyone that wants to give it a try: https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=e6rc27hn96db7
Try SugarSync and give 10Gb Bonus, just now!
https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=cz57tat87zzw2
I am Using DropBox but there are few issues during the sharing of the files, few files are not been shared with users and once you have given permissions to inner folder you can share the main folder, you need to fresly create a new folder.
Oh no!These backup services are not free at all.Well the only free thing i know is that they offer free trial versions.Otherwise thanks for the information.
Thank you for this comparison. I personally have been using Sugarsync for a long time now and am more than happy. Not only are they cheaper than most of its competitors, they also offer by far the best product in the market today.
Also, if you use the following link to sign up for Sugarsync, you now get 5.5 GB of free online storage forever: https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=ejjfpyq3n6nmz
Wonderful post and the above article can give one a good choice of chosing an online backup serive that suits one’s backup services.I use Dropbox for sharing my files online.It is so fast when it comes to that and for backing up,I use SafeCopy online when ever i want to backup my files online.
Sugarsync is not that great . It is oneof the few that does NOT have a “search”.
Dropbox and almost all the others do. If you have some hundreds files you are in trouble:
browse and browse and browse for the file.
Also it is very buggy. People that share with you often do not get the syncronization and shouldn’t it the main feature????
Bleah!
R
I personally have been using Sugarsync for a long time now and am more than happy. Not only are they cheaper than most of its competitors, they also offer by far the best product in the market today.
Also, if you use the following link to sign up for Sugarsync, you now get 5.5 GB of free online storage forever: https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=ejjfpyq3n6nmz
Awesome! Great article, hope we see more of it from you.
I use SugarSync for over half a year. So far I am very pleased. The interface is very intuitive, it has also versioning (or whatever it is called – you have access to old versions of files).
For free they offer 5 GB of disk space that can be enlarged by recommending friends. Both user and his friend get the additional 500 MB. There is no limit to the amount of additional storage so in theory you can build really big account.
If someone want to try and get 500 MB of additional space here is my referal link where you can register:
https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=drt9r8hcim6z4&utm_source=txemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=referral
I recommend using Iozeta unlimited online back up.
Hello,
Today SugarSync can now have a quota UNLIMITED Storage!
You start with 5GB
+250 MB if you have an iPhone / Android / Blackberry
+750 MB if you create a file and you share it (SIMPLE)
+500 MB if you register through this link: https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=bqwi798vmex5t&utm_source=txemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=referral
+500Mb per friends you invite after your inscription.
And you can do this an illimited number of time !
Cordially,
E. GREGOIRE
Try SugarSync and give 10Gb Bonus in paid program, just now!
https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=cz57tat87zzw2
I’ve been using SugarSync and sugarsync for about a year now and I’m really satisfied. Very little system load compared to other similar products I’ve tried and has never once crashed.
If you sign up via my referral link below we both get an extra 500 MB if you sign up for a free account or 10 GB if you sign up for a 30 GB account or larger:
http://goo.gl/JEN9Z
or dropbox
http://db.tt/7UuDW32
I’ve tried both Mozy and Dropbox. They are equally good and you can’t go wrong with either one of them! It will be better if you backup your files at both online backup services. That’s what I did ;). Anyway, thanks for the information!