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From the Cloud backup & online storage comparison

IDrive compared: pricing model, features, assessment

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B Backup

Use cases

Automatic backup of several computers of one person, including Linux, external hard drives and mapped network drives; backup of iPhone, iPad and Android; NAS backup via Hyper Backup or HBS3 as an add-on.

Our assessment

Suits you if you want to back up several devices and even your entire system in one account and need plenty of storage. If a storage location in the EU matters to you, IDrive is less suitable, as its data centres are in the USA.

  • USA (choice not confirmed) – not confirmed for the plan considered
  • End-to-end encryption: Optional at no extra cost
  • Number of devices: 1 user, multiple computers and mobile devices
Published
12 Oct 2026
Updated
12 Oct 2026
Provider
10
Stefan Petri Selection, review and responsibility

Strengths

  • Multiple PCs, Macs, Linux computers and mobile devices in one account[9][3]
  • Backup of the entire system with complete machine restore[9]
  • Up to 30 versions, snapshots and 30-day trash[9][10]
  • NAS backup for Synology and QNAP via Hyper Backup, Cloud Sync and HBS3[11]
  • DPA with standard contractual clauses for all customers, automatically part of the terms of service[6][5]

Weaknesses

  • Data centres in the USA[4]
  • The discount only applies in the first year[3]
  • Native NAS support is a paid add-on[11]
  • Changing the private key requires an account reset that deletes all backed-up files[8]

Fact sheet

Product
IDrive (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, iPadOS, Android)
Vendor
IDrive Inc.
Licence
proprietary
Pricing model
Subscription (yearly)
Plan
IDrive Personal 5 TB, yearly
Data location
USA
Company headquarters
United States
Location selectable
not stated
Location applies to this plan
not stated
Note on location
Data centres in the USA; an EU region is not documented for Online Backup
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
End-to-end encryption
Optional at no extra cost
Note on encryption
Optional private key; desktop apps decrypt locally. Web access decrypts through a separate intermediate processor before delivery to the browser. This prevents an unrestricted zero-knowledge claim for every access method. Changing the key through an account reset deletes all backed-up files.
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Version history
Up to 30 versions per file, plus snapshots for point-in-time recovery
Retention of deleted files
30 days
Behaviour after accidental deletion
You can recover deleted files from the trash for 30 days. With True Archiving, IDrive does not remove any data from the online account until you delete it yourself. Snapshots allow restoring to an earlier point in time.
External drives and NAS
Synology and QNAP natively via Hyper Backup, Cloud Sync and HBS3 (paid add-on); alternatively the NAS as a mapped drive on a computer running IDrive
Number of devices
1 user, multiple computers and mobile devices
Operating systems
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, iPadOS, Android
Cancellation and term
not stated

What IDrive backs up

IDrive is an online backup service for many devices in one account: PCs, Macs, Linux computers as well as iPhones, iPads and Android devices. A personal account is meant for one user who may back up several computers. Besides individual folders, IDrive can back up the entire system, so you can fully restore a computer after a total failure.

Backups run automatically: IDrive detects changed parts of files and only transfers those. External hard drives and mapped network drives can also be included.

Location, GDPR and encryption

IDrive is based in California, and according to IDrive the application runs in data centres in the USA. An EU region is not documented for online backup. For the GDPR, IDrive offers a data processing addendum (DPA) for all customers, which is automatically part of the terms of service and incorporates the standard contractual clauses. IDrive also refers to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.

Your data is encrypted with 256-bit AES during transfer and storage. By default, IDrive uses a system-generated key. If you want to keep control yourself, you set up a private key; the current FAQ describes setup at the first desktop login. IDrive states that the key is not stored on backup servers. Changing it later is possible through an account reset, but this deletes all backed-up files and makes existing local backups inaccessible.

Desktop apps decrypt locally. According to IDrive, web access decrypts on a separate intermediate processor before transmission to the browser over TLS. The access methods therefore provide different confidentiality properties; an unrestricted zero-knowledge promise for every restoration method would be misleading.

Versions, snapshots and trash

IDrive keeps up to 30 earlier versions of every backed-up file; for accounts created before 7 November 2018, IDrive states ten versions. In addition, there are snapshots: they show the state of your data at a specific point in time and, according to IDrive, do not count against your storage quota. You can recover deleted files from the trash for 30 days.

With True Archiving, IDrive does not automatically delete data from the online account, even if you remove it on your computer – only when you delete it yourself. That is useful for archives but can fill up your storage.

NAS support

For NAS devices from Synology and QNAP, IDrive offers a direct connection via the NAS's own tools: Synology Hyper Backup, Cloud Sync and QNAP HBS3. This connection is a paid add-on billed per terabyte. Alternatively, you mount the NAS as a network drive on a computer running the IDrive app. In the business plans, IDrive explicitly mentions NAS devices.

Plans and pricing model

IDrive Personal comes with 5, 10 and 20 TB, further tiers up to 100 TB, plus team and business plans. You pay yearly or for two years; the English pricing page also mentions monthly payment. New customers get a discount that only applies in the first year; after that you pay the regular price. If you exceed the storage limit, IDrive charges extra fees per gigabyte. Prices are in US dollars, with taxes added where required. You'll find current amounts on IDrive's pricing page.

Who IDrive suits

In our view, IDrive suits you if you want to back up several devices – such as a laptop, desktop and smartphone – in one account and also need Linux or a full-system backup. NAS support via Hyper Backup or HBS3 also makes IDrive interesting for small offices.

If storage in the EU and a provider based in Europe are your priority, a service with an EU data centre is the more obvious choice. Also check before renewal how the price develops after the first year, and run through a restore once after setting up – then you know your backup will work when it matters.

Who is IDrive suitable for?

Editorial assessment

  • For photographers partly suited

    Back up computer, external drives and smartphone in one account

    Plenty of storage and many devices; client images, however, are stored in the USA.

  • For designers well suited

    Back up several work computers with versions

    Automatic backup of several devices, 30 versions and snapshots for project files.

  • For freelancers and small teams partly suited

    Back up devices and NAS of a small team

    DPA and NAS support available; check the US storage location for data protection first.

Conclusion

IDrive covers a lot for backup: several computers running Windows, macOS and Linux, mobile devices, external and mapped drives, full-system backup, snapshots and up to 30 versions per file. The DPA with standard contractual clauses applies automatically. The main catch for freelancers in Germany is the US storage location; an EU region is not documented for online backup. Also note that the discount only applies in the first year and changing the private key later requires an account reset that deletes all backed-up files. Desktop apps decrypt locally; web access uses a separate intermediate processor.

Visit provider – IDrive. Opens the provider’s website in a new tab

Sources

  1. Tarifmodelle plans - IDrive® · provider · Pricing page (German), section "IDrive Persönlich", yearly price row (regular and first year) · As of 11 Oct 2026
  2. IDrive® usage terms · provider · Pricing page (German), section "IDrive Persönlich", yearly price row (regular and first year) · As of 11 Oct 2026
  3. IDrive® pricing plans · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  4. Ensures strong security and privacy – IDrive® · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  5. IDrive®- Data Processing Addendum · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  6. GDPR - IDrive® · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  7. IDrive® ensures strong security and privacy · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  8. FAQs on data security, secure access in cloud - IDrive® · provider · “How does the private encryption key work?”: local desktop decryption, separate intermediate processor for web access · “Can I change my private encryption key?” and note on deleting all backed-up files · As of 11 Oct 2026
  9. IDrive® features multiple device backup and more... · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  10. IDrive® online backup – Secure multiple devices and more · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026
  11. NAS backup to IDrive® cloud · provider · As of 11 Oct 2026

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