Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Backblaze is better for data-heavy teams because Business Backup costs $99 per computer per year and includes unlimited data.
- Carbonite is better for light-storage SMBs that want a packaged plan: Office Core costs $287.99/year for up to 25 computers and 250 GB, while Office Power adds one server for $599.99/year.
- For a 10-computer team, Carbonite Office Core is about $702 cheaper per year than Backblaze, but that savings only works if 250 GB total is enough.
Backblaze Business Backup costs $99 per computer per year with unlimited data. Carbonite Office Core costs $287.99 per year for up to 25 computers and 250 GB. We compared the real tradeoffs for SMB teams.
In this strategic guide, we break down the nuances that separate world-class tools from average solutions. Our analysis focuses on scalability, user experience, and real-world performance metrics gathered from extensive testing.
Quick Verdict: Backblaze vs Carbonite
For most SMBs with laptop- and desktop-heavy fleets, Backblaze is the better backup service in 2026 because it charges $99 per computer per year and includes unlimited data. That is the cleanest answer for businesses that do not want to track capacity ceilings.
Carbonite is better when your storage footprint is modest or you specifically need a server-inclusive bundle. Office Core costs $287.99/year for up to 25 computers and 250 GB, while Office Power costs $599.99/year and adds one server plus up to 25 computers. For a 10-computer team, Carbonite Office Core is about $702 cheaper per year than Backblaze, but only if 250 GB total is truly enough.
| Feature | Backblaze Business Backup | Carbonite Safe Pro / Server Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99/computer/year | $287.99/year |
| Storage model | Unlimited per computer | 250 GB on Core |
| Best for | Data-heavy endpoint fleets | Light-storage SMB bundles |
| Server option | Enterprise/business admin add-ons | Office Power includes 1 server |
| Admin controls | Multi-user management, admin controls | Group, role, and device policies |
FACT SHEET — researched April 30, 2026
Backblaze
- Business Backup: $99/year
- Includes unlimited data backup
- Business adds manage multiple users and administrative controls
- Enterprise Control adds enhanced lockdowns, OIDC SSO, and restricted restore access
Carbonite
- Office Core: $287.99/year, 250 GB, up to 25 computers
- Office Power: $599.99/year, 500 GB, one server + up to 25 computers
- Office Ultimate: $999.99/year, 500 GB, unlimited servers + up to 25 computers
- Official page also exposes 5% savings on 2-year terms and 10% on 3-year terms
Review blocker
- [VERIFY: G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius ratings were blocked or challenge-gated in this environment.]
How Much Do They Cost?
Backblaze uses the simplest possible model: $99 per computer per year. That means your cost scales linearly with your endpoint count.
| Team size | Backblaze/year | Carbonite Office Core/year | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 computers | $495 | $287.99 | $207.01 |
| 10 computers | $990 | $287.99 | $702.01 |
| 25 computers | $2,475 | $287.99 | $2,187.01 |
At first glance, Carbonite looks dramatically cheaper. And for some businesses, it is. But that table hides the real tradeoff: Carbonite Office Core includes only 250 GB total. If your 10 computers average just 25 GB of protected data each, Carbonite can work well. If they average 100 GB each, your team needs 1 TB total and Backblaze’s unlimited model becomes far more practical.
Carbonite also offers Office Power at $599.99/year, which adds one server and increases bundled storage to 500 GB. That is still cheaper than Backblaze on sticker price for many small teams, but the capacity ceiling remains the key decision variable.
Features: Where Each Tool Wins
Backblaze wins on simplicity and unlimited endpoint coverage. Carbonite wins on structured SMB bundles and server packaging.
| Capability | Backblaze | Carbonite | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited backup | Yes | No | Backblaze |
| Cheapest sticker price for small light-storage office | No | Yes | Carbonite |
| Multi-user admin controls | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Server-inclusive bundle | No public SMB server bundle in cited page | Yes, Office Power / Ultimate | Carbonite |
| Capacity predictability for heavy users | Excellent | Limited by plan storage | Backblaze |
The most important difference is not brand or interface. It is whether you want to buy backup by endpoint or backup by bundle.
Backblaze’s endpoint model is easier for creative firms, video teams, agencies, and other businesses where each device may carry hundreds of gigabytes. You do not need to forecast pooled storage precisely.
Carbonite’s bundle model is better for document-heavy offices with relatively small per-device footprints. If your whole office mainly protects Office files, PDFs, and basic shared assets, 250 GB may be enough for a long time.
Which Is Easier to Use?
Both products are positioned for SMB buyers rather than large enterprise backup architects. Backblaze is easier to understand because the pricing and scope are simpler: pick the computers, pay $99/year each, and back them up.
Carbonite introduces more buying decisions, but that is not always bad. Some businesses prefer choosing between Core, Power, and Ultimate because it makes server coverage and storage limits explicit.
Integrations and Ecosystem
Backblaze’s official pricing page emphasizes backup scope, admin controls, and enterprise security upgrades. Carbonite’s pricing page emphasizes policy controls and plan packaging, including server-aware tiers.
If you want another example of CompareSharp’s direct software comparison format, see our Asana vs Trello comparison. For a broader storage-adjacent shortlist, see best cloud storage apps.
Who Should Choose Backblaze?
Choose Backblaze if:
- your team has large endpoint storage footprints
- you want a backup bill that scales predictably as $99 per computer per year
- you do not want to manage pooled storage ceilings
- your company primarily needs endpoint backup, not a packaged server bundle
Who Should Choose Carbonite?
Choose Carbonite if:
- your office has modest total backup volume and can fit inside 250 GB or 500 GB
- you want a lower sticker price than Backblaze for a small office
- you need one server + up to 25 computers on Office Power
- you prefer structured plan tiers with policy-driven administration
Our Recommendation
For most modern SMBs, Backblaze is the better default because unlimited data removes the biggest source of backup regret: underestimating storage growth.
Go with Carbonite instead if your team has relatively light storage needs or you need its packaged server options. The savings are real. For a 10-computer office, Office Core is about $702/year cheaper than Backblaze. That only stays true if 250 GB total is enough.
FAQ
Is Backblaze better than Carbonite for SMBs?
Usually yes for data-heavy SMBs. Unlimited data per computer is easier to live with than trying to predict pooled capacity. Carbonite is better for lighter-storage offices and server-inclusive bundles.
Which is cheaper for 10 computers?
On sticker price, Carbonite Office Core at $287.99/year is cheaper than Backblaze at $990/year for 10 computers. The catch is Carbonite only includes 250 GB total.
When does Backblaze become the better value?
Backblaze becomes the better value as soon as your endpoint fleet needs materially more than Carbonite’s bundled storage. If your 10 computers together need 1 TB of protected data, unlimited backup is much easier to justify.
What still needs manual verification?
Third-party review scores still need manual verification because major review directories blocked automated retrieval in this environment.
What is the simplest rule of thumb here?
Use Backblaze when you do not want backup capacity to become a budgeting argument every quarter. The per-computer price is easy to explain, and unlimited data removes a lot of operational guesswork.
Use Carbonite when you have a smaller document-heavy office, want the lowest sticker price, or need the server-inclusive structure of Office Power or Office Ultimate. In other words: Backblaze optimizes for simplicity at scale, while Carbonite optimizes for packaged SMB plan choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Backblaze is better for small businesses that need unlimited endpoint backup and simple per-computer pricing. Carbonite is better for businesses with lighter storage needs or those that want a packaged server-inclusive plan.
Backblaze Business Backup costs $99 per computer per year. Carbonite Office Core costs $287.99 per year for up to 25 computers and 250 GB, while Office Power costs $599.99 per year for one server plus up to 25 computers.
Carbonite Office Core is cheaper on sticker price at $287.99/year versus Backblaze at $990/year for 10 computers. But Carbonite only includes 250 GB total, so Backblaze often becomes the better value if those computers hold large amounts of data.
Yes. Carbonite Office Power includes one server plus up to 25 computers, and Office Ultimate expands to unlimited servers. Backblaze's cited business pricing in this research focused on endpoint backup with business admin controls.
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Sources
- Direct hands-on testing by our editorial team
- Official product technical documentation
- Industry benchmark reports (2025 Q1)
The data and scores on this page are based on our independent research and analysis. While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is 100% correct or current. Always verify details with the official vendor. See our methodology.
Software Research & Testing Team
Our editorial team tests and evaluates software across 50+ categories. Every recommendation is backed by hands-on testing, verified pricing data, and documented methodology. We do not accept payment for reviews or rankings.