What it backs up30 of 30
Where backups go15 of 20
Safety and recovery19 of 25
Price18 of 25
backup tool · IDrive Inc.
IDrive
Cloud and local backup for several computers in one account, with whole-machine images and a private encryption key.
In short
- The free Basic plan gives 10 GB of cloud backup with no credit card1.
- IDrive Mini costs $0.25 a month for 100 GB, billed yearly; Personal 5 TB is $6.99 a month the first year, then $9.991.
- Entire Machine Backup copies Windows, programs and boot files to the cloud, a local drive or a NAS3.
- Backups use 256-bit AES with an optional private key that IDrive does not store2,6.
- It keeps up to 30 previous versions of each file5.
IDrive suits people who want both cloud and local backup, including a whole-machine image, from one app3,5. Personal covers several computers under one user, and the free Basic plan and the $3-a-year Mini plan cost little to start1. 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 hardware1,3.
Best for: Households backing up several PCs who also want a full system image.
Where the points come from
What it backs up 30 of 30 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Full system image | YesEntire Machine Backup copies the operating system, programs, system and boot files, and restores the whole machine3. | 8 / 8 |
| File and folder backup | YesYou add files, folders and drives to a backup set1. | 4 / 4 |
| Incremental backups | YesAfter the first backup, only modified parts of files are sent3,5. | 6 / 6 |
| Scheduled backups | YesBackups can run daily or on chosen days at a set time5. | 4 / 4 |
| Bootable rescue media | YesRestore Media Builder creates a bootable USB drive for a machine restore4. | 8 / 8 |
Where backups go 15 of 20 points
Safety and recovery 19 of 25 points
| Rule | What is published | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Encrypted backups | Yes256-bit AES with an optional private key that IDrive does not store2,6. | 7 / 7 |
| Backups shielded from ransomware | Not publishedIDrive says snapshots help restore files from before an attack, but does not say backups are locked against changes7. | 0 / 6 |
| Restore to different hardware | YesWhole-machine backups can be restored to dissimilar hardware through WinRE, though IDrive warns this may fail3. | 6 / 6 |
| Versions and retention rules | YesKeeps 30 previous versions; periodic cleanup can run every 5 to 30 days2,5. | 6 / 6 |
Price 18 of 25 points
The rule behind each line: how we score backup tools.
Plans and prices
As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.
| Plan | Price as listed | Per month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic1 user | Free1 | $0 | 10 GB |
| Mini 100 GB1 user | $0.25/month, billed yearly1 | $0.25 | 100 GB |
| Mini 500 GB1 user | $0.83/month, billed yearly1 | $0.83 | 500 GB |
| Personal 5 TB, monthly1 user, multiple computers | $11.99/month1 | $11.99 | 5 TB |
| Personal 5 TB, yearly1 user, multiple computers | $6.99/month first year, then $9.99/month, billed yearly1 | $6.99 | 5 TB; first-year discount |
Personal yearly plans are 30% off the first year, and standard pricing applies from the second year1. Two years of Personal 5 TB cost $179.82 instead of $239.761. IDrive says these plans are for new sign-ups for a limited time1.
Strengths
- Whole-machine images can be restored, including to dissimilar hardware through WinRE3.
- A Restore Media Builder makes a bootable USB drive to start a machine restore4.
- Backups can go to IDrive's cloud, a local or USB drive, or a network share3,5.
- A private encryption key keeps backups readable only by you6.
- Personal covers multiple computers under one user1.
Limits
- Personal yearly prices are discounted only for the first year; standard pricing applies after that1.
- IDrive warns that whole-machine restores may fail on dissimilar hardware, RAID setups or with boot file issues3.
- Entire Machine Backup does not work with EFS encryption turned on3.
- Previous versions are capped at 30 per file5.
- Going over the Personal storage limit costs $0.25 per GB a month1.
Other backup tools
- 1
EaseUS Todo BackupHome users who want a free edition with schedules and encryption100/100$39.95/yrfirst-year price, one PC - 2
DuplicatiPeople who want free encrypted backups to cloud storage they already pay for86/100$24/yrfirst-year price, one PC - 3
Paragon Backup & Recovery Community EditionHome users who want a free system image backup to a local or external drive84/100$19.95/yrfirst-year price, one PC - 5
AOMEI BackupperHome users who want a one-time licence and a free starting point82/100$39.95/yrfirst-year price, one PC
Sources
- IDrive pricing plans, IDrive. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- IDrive features multiple device backup and more, IDrive. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Entire machine backup - Backup your entire system, IDrive. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Frequently asked questions on IDrive Entire Machine Backup, IDrive. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- FAQs on online backup via IDrive Windows application, IDrive. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Strong security and privacy with private key, IDrive. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- IDrive Snapshots - Protect your data against ransomware, IDrive. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Website: www.idrive.com · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with IDrive Inc..