Hosting
IDrive Inc.
Cloud backup provider for personal devices, teams, servers, NAS and business applications, with separate sync and object-storage products.
What it is
IDrive is a proprietary backup service for computers, mobile devices, external drives, NAS and business systems. Its current Personal monthly plan is $11.99 for 5 TB, while Basic provides 10 GB without a credit card; annual and two-year discounts apply only to the first year before standard pricing. Backup, Cloud Drive synchronization and IDrive e2 object storage are distinct services. IDrive retains up to 30 prior file versions and offers an optional user-defined encryption key, but losing that private key makes restoration impossible. Storage overages are separately chargeable.
Key features
Device backup
Protects supported PCs, Macs, Linux systems, phones, tablets, external drives and NAS devices by plan.
Snapshots and versions
Maintains historical views and up to 30 previous versions of backed-up files.
Private-key encryption
Offers AES-256 client-side protection with a user-defined key not stored by IDrive.
IDrive Express
Uses shipped physical storage for eligible bulk backup seeding and retrieval workflows.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Multi-device coverage: One account can protect supported desktop, mobile, external-drive and NAS data.
- Historical recovery: Snapshots and up to 30 prior file versions provide point-in-time options against mistakes or ransomware.
- Optional private key: Client-selected encryption can keep the decryption key off IDrive servers.
- Physical transfer option: IDrive Express can seed or retrieve large backups without consuming normal internet bandwidth.
Where it falls short
- Discounts expire: Annual and two-year promotional rates revert to standard pricing after the first year.
- Overage can be expensive: Personal and business-family plans publish per-GB monthly charges above quota.
- Private-key loss is terminal: IDrive cannot decrypt private-key backups if the customer loses the key.
- Product names can confuse: Backup, Cloud Drive sync, application backup and e2 object storage have different activation and billing.
Who it is for
Individuals and small-to-medium organizations needing centralized backup across heterogeneous devices and willing to test restores and quota behavior.
Our verdict
IDrive offers broad device coverage and useful version history at competitive capacity tiers, but choose the correct product, budget after introductory discounts, prevent quota overage, and prove both ordinary and disaster restores before treating the backup as dependable.
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What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.No
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.Yes
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.No
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-08-24
- IDrive — Plans and pricing ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: 10 GB Basic tier, no-card requirement, $11.99 monthly Personal 5 TB plan, Personal Team and Business scopes, first-year discount boundary, standard renewal pricing, overage rates, Cloud Drive separate activation, USD pricing
- IDrive — Online backup features ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: multi-device and external-drive backup, Cloud Drive distinction, IDrive Express, snapshots, up-to-30 versions, NAS add-on, incremental transfer, mobile apps, manual deletion and Archive Cleanup behavior
- IDrive — Backup security ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: AES-256 transfer and storage encryption, optional private key, key not stored on IDrive servers, irrecoverability without private key, US data-center statement, third-party network reviews
- IDrive — Security FAQ ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: default versus private key, local decryption, stored one-way validation sample, account reset deletion consequence, two-factor authentication documentation
- IDrive e2 — Object-storage pricing ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: separate S3-compatible product, usage and annual billing, minimum storage charge, egress-policy boundary, first-year discount distinction
Limit: Official IDrive pricing, feature, security and e2 pages were reviewed; ToolCompare did not create an account, install clients, measure backup speed, verify every supported OS or NAS, fill a quota, incur overage, test version retention, ship an Express drive, inspect data-center controls, lose or escrow a private key, back up SaaS or servers, or perform file, image or disaster restoration. Promotions, quotas, retention and product terms can change.