--- title: IDrive canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/idrive/ category: Backup Software points: 82 rank: 4 of 9 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # IDrive Cloud and local backup for several computers in one account, with whole-machine images and a private encryption key. 82 points out of 100. #4 of 9 backup tools. Vendor: IDrive Inc.. Website: https://www.idrive.com/ - The free Basic plan gives 10 GB of cloud backup with no credit card [1]. - IDrive Mini costs $0.25 a month for 100 GB, billed yearly; Personal 5 TB is $6.99 a month the first year, then $9.99 [1]. - Entire Machine Backup copies Windows, programs and boot files to the cloud, a local drive or a NAS [3]. - Backups use 256-bit AES with an optional private key that IDrive does not store [2][6]. - It keeps up to 30 previous versions of each file [5]. Verdict: IDrive suits people who want both cloud and local backup, including a whole-machine image, from one app [3][5]. Personal covers several computers under one user, and the free Basic plan and the $3-a-year Mini plan cost little to start [1]. The catch is the yearly price: Personal discounts apply only to the first year, and IDrive warns that whole-machine restores may fail on dissimilar hardware [1][3]. Best for: Households backing up several PCs who also want a full system image. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | What it backs up | Full system image | Yes | 8/8 | Entire Machine Backup copies the operating system, programs, system and boot files, and restores the whole machine [3]. | | What it backs up | File and folder backup | Yes | 4/4 | You add files, folders and drives to a backup set [1]. | | What it backs up | Incremental backups | Yes | 6/6 | After the first backup, only modified parts of files are sent [3][5]. | | What it backs up | Scheduled backups | Yes | 4/4 | Backups can run daily or on chosen days at a set time [5]. | | What it backs up | Bootable rescue media | Yes | 8/8 | Restore Media Builder creates a bootable USB drive for a machine restore [4]. | | Where backups go | Destinations | Local or USB drive, Network share or NAS, Vendor's own cloud | 15/20 | IDrive's cloud, external, USB or mapped drives, and network or NAS locations [3][5]. | | Safety and recovery | Encrypted backups | Yes | 7/7 | 256-bit AES with an optional private key that IDrive does not store [2][6]. | | Safety and recovery | Backups shielded from ransomware | Not published | 0/6 | IDrive says snapshots help restore files from before an attack, but does not say backups are locked against changes [7]. | | Safety and recovery | Restore to different hardware | Yes | 6/6 | Whole-machine backups can be restored to dissimilar hardware through WinRE, though IDrive warns this may fail [3]. | | Safety and recovery | Versions and retention rules | Yes | 6/6 | Keeps 30 previous versions; periodic cleanup can run every 5 to 30 days [2][5]. | | Price | Free edition | Yes | 10/10 | Basic plan, 10 GB free with no credit card [1]. | | Price | First-year price, one PC | $3/yr | 8/8 | Mini 100 GB, $0.25 a month billed yearly [1]. | | Price | One-time licence | No | 0/7 | Plans are monthly, yearly or two-year subscriptions [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Basic | Free [1] | $0 | | Mini 100 GB | $0.25/month, billed yearly [1] | $0.25 | | Mini 500 GB | $0.83/month, billed yearly [1] | $0.83 | | Personal 5 TB, monthly | $11.99/month [1] | $11.99 | | Personal 5 TB, yearly | $6.99/month first year, then $9.99/month, billed yearly [1] | $6.99 | Personal yearly plans are 30% off the first year, and standard pricing applies from the second year [1]. Two years of Personal 5 TB cost $179.82 instead of $239.76 [1]. IDrive says these plans are for new sign-ups for a limited time [1]. ## Strengths - Whole-machine images can be restored, including to dissimilar hardware through WinRE [3]. - A Restore Media Builder makes a bootable USB drive to start a machine restore [4]. - Backups can go to IDrive's cloud, a local or USB drive, or a network share [3][5]. - A private encryption key keeps backups readable only by you [6]. - Personal covers multiple computers under one user [1]. ## Limits - Personal yearly prices are discounted only for the first year; standard pricing applies after that [1]. - IDrive warns that whole-machine restores may fail on dissimilar hardware, RAID setups or with boot file issues [3]. - Entire Machine Backup does not work with EFS encryption turned on [3]. - Previous versions are capped at 30 per file [5]. - Going over the Personal storage limit costs $0.25 per GB a month [1]. ## Sources 1. [IDrive pricing plans](https://www.idrive.com/pricing), IDrive, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [IDrive features multiple device backup and more](https://www.idrive.com/online-backup-features), IDrive, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Entire machine backup - Backup your entire system](https://www.idrive.com/entire-machine-backup), IDrive, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Frequently asked questions on IDrive Entire Machine Backup](https://www.idrive.com/machine-backup-faq), IDrive, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [FAQs on online backup via IDrive Windows application](https://www.idrive.com/online-backup-classic-faq), IDrive, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Strong security and privacy with private key](https://www.idrive.com/online-backup-security), IDrive, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [IDrive Snapshots - Protect your data against ransomware](https://www.idrive.com/snapshots), IDrive, accessed 2026-10-08