Backblaze B2 is a new cloud storage service designed to compete with Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) vendors like Amazon Web Services (AWS) S3, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Services by offering bulk cloud storage at dirt cheap prices.

So dirt cheap, in fact, that unlike the other providers mentioned above, Backblaze hopes that B2 will bring the flexibility and performance of a true IaaS storage providers to small teams, individual enthusiasts, and small businesses that may not be able to afford a large-scale solution.

Could Backblaze B2 be your next cloud provider? Keep reading to find out.

Door with chain

Both Bitcasa Drive and Copy.com are shutting down in May. These aren’t the first cloud storage services to shut down and leave their users hanging, and they likely won’t be the last. If you’re wondering where you should put your data after they’ve closed, you’ll be happy to know that there are many suitable alternatives to these services.

Backblaze Storage PodWith the myriad of great backup services available these days, keeping your data safe is easier than ever. But restoring data can still be a pain, especially in the case of a broken or restored computer. You could be looking at hundreds of gigabytes or even terabytes of information to download. To make matters worse, most DSL and cable providers now place download caps or throttling gates on their users, and a single restore can break internet access for a whole month.

Last week, Backblaze announced B2, an ambitious cloud storage platform intended to compete with the likes of Amazon S3 and Microsoft Azure. The company is known for its Backblaze consumer backup service, but is now looking to shake up the cloud infrastructure market by releasing the cheapest Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platform to date.

Since Backblaze automatically selects files to backup – including files on external hard drives – this makes it one of the easiest online backup services out there.  It’s particularly suited for novice computer users, or people who don’t want to deal with complicated backup software.  In this blog post, I’ll show you exactly how to backup your computer with it.

OprahThe contest is closed.  Winners have been emailed their codes.  Thanks for participating!

For the holidays, I’m giving away 10 annual subscriptions to Backblaze Online Backup, worth a combined retail value of $500.  The winners will be chosen at random, so everybody has an equal chance.

Backblaze is an unlimited online backup service for PC and Mac.  It lets you backup all your computer files for as little as $3.96/month.  Founded in 2007, the company now stores over 100 petabytes of customer data.

I’ve been using Backblaze for over a year now, and it has protected my PC the entire time.  Backblaze has changed slightly since my last review, so I’ve re-written it to reflect what I think of it now, in 2014.

Backblaze vs CarboniteBackblaze and Carbonite are two of the leading online backup services.  They both offer unlimited cloud storage, affordable pricing, and similar features.  Carbonite has been in business a couple years longer, and is a $300 million publicly traded company.  Backblaze on the other hand has taken the online backup industry by storm, and is now storing over 100 petabytes of customer data.

CrashPlan vs Backblaze: which is better?

CrashPlan and Backblaze are two of the most popular online backup services out there. They both can backup an unlimited amount of data on your computer, have similar prices, similar features, and a dedicated user base.

So which should you choose? I’ll take a look at each of these juggernauts in this in-depth comparison.