Hosting & Cloud · Review · Updated 16 October 2026
IDrive reviewCloud backup for unlimited computers, phones and NAS under one account
Excellent
Brent score, out of 5
IDrive offers a lot of backup for the money: one Personal plan covers multiple computers, phones, external drives and NAS, with 30 file versions and point-in-time snapshots for ransomware recovery. The headline prices are first-year discounts, so plan for the renewal rate. For households and small offices that want one backup for every device, it is excellent value.
Price
Free 10 GB; Personal 5 TB from $6.99/month first year
Free option
Free plan
Best for
Households backing up several computers and phones on one plan
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Best for
- Households backing up several computers and phones on one plan
- Small offices that need server and NAS backup
- Privacy-minded users who want a private encryption key
- Anyone wanting ransomware recovery through versions and snapshots
Skip it if
- People who only want file sync like Dropbox or Google Drive
- Users who want truly unlimited storage on a single computer
- Anyone who may lose their private key, since IDrive cannot recover it
A failed laptop drive, a stolen phone or a ransomware pop-up can wipe out years of photos and work files in an instant. Most people know they should back up, but juggling separate tools for every computer, phone and NAS means it rarely gets done properly.
IDrive puts every device under one account and one storage pool. It keeps older versions of your files and point-in-time snapshots, so you can roll back to before a problem, and it lets you set your own encryption key.
This review covers each plan, the renewal pricing to budget for, and how IDrive compares with simpler backup services.
What is IDrive?
IDrive is a cloud backup service for individuals and businesses. You install the app on your computers, phones, servers or NAS, choose what to back up, and IDrive uploads it encrypted with 256-bit AES in transit and at rest. It keeps up to 30 versions of each file, takes account-wide snapshots, and retains deleted files until you remove them (True Archiving). Plans are sold by storage size rather than by device count.
Pros and cons
What we like
- One account backs up Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, servers, external drives and Synology or QNAP NAS
- Keeps up to 30 previous versions of each file, which do not count against your quota
- Snapshots let you roll back the whole account to a point before an infection
- Optional private encryption key that is never stored on IDrive servers
- IDrive Express ships a physical drive for very large first backups or restores
- Free 10 GB Basic plan with no credit card
What could be better
- Advertised yearly prices are first-year discounts; 5 TB Personal renews at $9.99/month equivalent
- Storage is capped per plan rather than unlimited
- The desktop app has many settings, which can feel busy for beginners
- Losing your private key means losing access to your data
Overall
Excellent
- Features4.6
- Ease of use4.1
- Value4.6
- Support4.0
Key features of IDrive
Back up every device
Windows PCs, Macs, Linux machines, iPhones, iPads, Android devices, servers, external drives and Synology or QNAP NAS units can all share one account. The Personal plan covers one user with multiple computers.
Versioning and snapshots
Up to 30 previous versions of each file are kept and do not count against your storage. Snapshots give point-in-time views of the whole account, so you can restore files from before ransomware hit.
Private encryption key
You can set a private key that IDrive never stores, so only you can decrypt your files. The trade-off is that a lost key cannot be recovered.
True Archiving
Files you delete locally stay in your IDrive account until you remove them or run Archive Cleanup. Items deleted from IDrive itself can be restored from Trash within 30 days.
IDrive Express
For very large first backups or full restores, IDrive ships a physical drive instead of relying only on your internet connection.
IDrive pricing
Checked 2026-10. Prices can change; confirm on IDrive Inc.’s site.
Basic
$0
free, no card needed
- 10 GB storage
- Backup add-ons available
Personal 5 TB
$6.99/month
billed yearly, first year ($9.99/month after); $11.99 month to month
- 1 user, multiple computers
- Phones, external drives, NAS
- 30 versions, snapshots
Personal 10 TB
$10.49/month
billed yearly, first year ($14.99/month after)
- 1 user, multiple computers
- Larger tiers up to 100 TB
Team 5 users
$6.99/month
billed yearly, first year ($9.99/month after)
- 5 users, 5 computers
- 5 TB storage
- Scales to 500 users
Business 500 GB
$13.99/month
billed yearly, first year ($19.99/month after)
- Unlimited users
- Multiple computers and servers
- Tiers up to 100 TB
Watch out: Prices are in USD; the yearly discount applies to the first year only (the 2-year plan discounts both years), and standard pricing applies after that.
See current IDrive pricing →What people use IDrive for
Family backup
A family backs up two laptops, a desktop and three phones on one Personal 5 TB plan. Photos from every phone land in the same account, with old versions kept if something is overwritten.
Small office ransomware plan
A five-person office uses a Team plan and keeps snapshots. If ransomware encrypts a shared folder, they restore from a snapshot taken the day before.
Home lab NAS backup
A home lab owner sends Synology NAS shares to IDrive offsite and uses IDrive Express to seed the first large upload by shipped drive.
How to get started with IDrive
- 1
Sign up for the free 10 GB Basic plan to test the app
- 2
Install IDrive on your main computer and choose folders to back up
- 3
Decide whether to set a private encryption key, and store it safely
- 4
Add your other computers, phones or NAS, then upgrade to a Personal plan when you outgrow 10 GB
IDrive alternatives
| Product | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| IDrive 4.4 | Households backing up several computers and phones on one plan |
| Backblaze | Choose it if you want unlimited backup for a single computer with very simple setup. |
| Carbonite | Choose it if you want a backup service with a long consumer track record and phone support. |
| 1Password4.7 | Not a backup tool, but pair it with any backup service to protect the passwords and keys you would need to restore. |
IDrive: frequently asked questions
Is IDrive free?+
Yes. IDrive Basic gives 10 GB of free storage with no credit card required. Paid plans start at 5 TB for Personal use.
How many computers can I back up with IDrive Personal?+
The Personal plan is for one user with multiple computers. Phones, external drives and NAS devices can also back up to the same account.
What does IDrive cost after the first year?+
The discounted yearly price applies only to the first year. For example, Personal 5 TB is $6.99/month equivalent in year one and $9.99/month equivalent after that, billed yearly in USD.
Does IDrive protect against ransomware?+
IDrive keeps up to 30 versions of each file and takes account snapshots, so you can restore files from before an infection. That works better than sync-only services, which can copy encrypted files over good ones.
Is IDrive secure?+
Files are encrypted with 256-bit AES in transit and at rest, and you can set a private key IDrive never stores. Keep that key safe, because IDrive cannot recover it.
Can IDrive back up a Synology or QNAP NAS?+
Yes. IDrive lists Synology and QNAP NAS backup among supported devices, available as an add-on even on the free plan.
Final verdict
Is IDrive worth it?
If you have more than one device worth protecting, IDrive covers them all under one plan with versioning and snapshots. Start with the free 10 GB, back up your most important folder today, and move to Personal 5 TB when you are ready to protect everything.
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Reviewed by
Amjid Ali, Founder and editor
Amjid Ali is a Melbourne-based AI and automation lead, author of five books on infrastructure, automation and digital transformation, and a corporate trainer whose courses on n8n, Proxmox, firewalls and ERP have taught thousands of IT professionals.
Last updated 16 October 2026 · How we review
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IDrive 4.4
Free 10 GB; Personal 5 TB from $6.99/month first year