Free backup storage online is not very hard to get these days. But are they really secure, trustworthy and well, really free? Of course not. When you want to use free backup storage online then obviously this is going to have a couple of drawbacks. In this article we are going to talk a little bit about advantages and disadvantages of free online backup and storage. But first of all let’s look at the advantages.
No Mauricio, I don’t want to read the whole bladibla, take me right to where I can get free online storage and backup.
Free Backup Storage Online – Advantages
Here is a list of a few things to consider before signing up for free online backup storage. These are just basic recommendations and there might be more but in my experience these are the core facts.
Hell yeah, it’s free!
Sure, it’s free and that can be a huge advantage when you want to test a provider for example how quick the backups really are. Or you might just test the service. This is a very interesting point because I think if a company doesn’t value their free customers then it most likely sucks.
No commitment
In general there is no commitment when you sign up for free online backup providers. Most of them offer a free version and then you can upgrade to the paid version if you like their service and user interface. With no commitment you can feel free to leave whenever you want. However, be sure it’s really free forever. There are services out there that upgrade you automatically to their paid version. That’s why you have to be careful when there is a credit card required to sign up for the free accounts.
Quick fix
Sometimes you just need a quick storage or backup solution but probably you won’t need it forever. A free space somewhere could be the ideal solution for your needs. As long as you are sure the data you save is not crucially important for you, your boss or family then go ahead.
Huge Selection
I guess there are hundreds if not thousands of different online storage providers. Starting with the so called “file hosters” such as Rapidshare or Fileserve, private servers or other storage providers. This number diminishes dramatically when you are actively looking for free online backup. Because fewer companies offer that as well. This huge quantity of backup companies can also be frustrating because you don’t know which one to choose, right? But don’t worry that’s why I put together this website because I was in the same situation as you are probably right now.
Increase storage referring friends
This is actually very interesting. A couple of providers allow you to referr friends and family to their service and as a comission you get extra space! Dropbox for example gives you an extra 250MB for each and every person you referr. This is a great way to get a well sized free online backup storage.
Free Backup Storage Online – Disadavantages
As I mentioned before there are also quite a lot of drawbacks if you decide you want to try a free provider, or at least a free plan. I tried to come up with a few things. If you have any questions or if you can think of other important factors or disadavantages, please leave a comment below.
Hell yeah, it’s free!
No, you have not accidently scrolled up. The advantages of being free obviously is a disadvantage as well. Or at least it can be. Because it is free online backup providers tend not to have liability whatsoever for your data. Even with paid plans you don’t get a 100% liability of data loss. So you really have to be careful with the data you decide to put on a free online storage service.
Is it secure?
Good question. I think when you go with some reputable companies such as Mozy then yes it is secure. But you can never be 100% sure if you picked one of the secure online backup services. Do your homework well (you could read my reviews as a start) and then choose a provider. But never backup sensitive data with a free online backup storage provider.
Like living in a locker?
Well, you get what you pay for right? In terms of storage space it is what it is. Very, very little. If you are lucky you can get up to 5 GB which is nice for a couple of songs and images or documents but nothing for the serious backupper. It’s like having a locker: you really have to think about each and every item you store there because it is tiny. I don’t like to think. I don’t like to think about every file I store, uh, is it worth storing or not? But that’s up to you of course.
Only have one device?
Do you only have one device to backup? Great! Then you can use a free online backup service. Again this is nothing for me. I want to backup my iMac, Macbook Pro and iPhone and some other geekery lying around here. Most of the time you can only select on machine to backup from, if that’s enough for you, go ahead.
Good ol’ support
If you reed Cloudbackuping.com regularly you might have realized that I am a support geek. I absolutely LOVE great support. If I needed to make a list I’d do: 1. Security, 2. Support and then 3. Storage Space. Unfortunately with a free acount it is not very likely to get it. But as I already mentioned it’s always a good indicator to see how companies even value their free members. If they do a great job, well, then you have found the right backup provider.
Where to get free online backup storage?
As we can see there are a lot pros and a lot of cons as well. That’s why you really make sure to know what it is you are looking for. What are your backup needs? Make a list and write down what you want to backup and then decide on a service. Below you’ll fin a list of my favorite online backup services that also provide free accounts.
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I love to help people finding the best backup solution for their needs. Providing value and making a difference is what I strive for.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice article, Mauricio.
I think you may have missed one element of the so-called free back-up hosts.
IMO, all have an agenda when offering entry level free space, and it isn’t philanthropy or social justice
The more reliable sites offer differing levels of service e.g. free space (usually 2 GB) in the hope that you will exceed the free space and become a paying customer. I disagree that they don’t have a commitment. If they act fast and loose with your data, they bust out their business model (which is to attract paying customers coincident with appealing to entry-level free customers who may upgrade to paying status).
Just sayin’…
Hi Michael,
Thanks for your comment. I totally agree with you. Their agenda is to draw you in and once you’re in you’ll want to pay once you feel that you really need to backup your data.
My recommendation is that with a free account never safe sensitive data. Because if something happens you never know how you’ll end up.
Regards,
Mauricio