Softwr

File Storage · head to head

Arq Backup vs Microsoft OneDrive

Arq Backup logo

Arq Backup

File Storage

Mac and Windows backup to your own cloud storage

From
$50/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Microsoft OneDrive logo

Microsoft OneDrive

File Storage

Cloud storage that comes with Microsoft 365

From
$1.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Arq Backup runs on Mac and Windows only; Microsoft OneDrive free tier not available; minimum cost is $1.99/month for 100 GB storage
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arq Backup and Microsoft OneDrive actually diverge.

Attributes where Arq Backup and Microsoft OneDrive differ
AttributeArq BackupMicrosoft OneDrive
Starting price$50/year$1.99/month
PlatformsWindows, MacWeb
Founded2009Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Arq Backup

  • Client-side encryption
  • Hourly backups
  • Network backup
  • Deduplication
  • Immutable backups
  • Budget controls
  • AWS S3
  • Google Cloud

Only in Microsoft OneDrive

Nothing recorded that Arq Backup does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Arq Backup

  • Data protectionnot Microsoft OneDrive
  • Disaster recoverynot Microsoft OneDrive
  • Business continuitynot Microsoft OneDrive
  • Ransomware protectionnot Microsoft OneDrive
  • Compliancenot Microsoft OneDrive

Microsoft OneDrive

  • Personal cloud storage and file backupnot Arq Backup
  • Family file sharing and collaborationnot Arq Backup
  • Business document managementnot Arq Backup
  • Enterprise ransomware protectionnot Arq Backup

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Arq Backup

  • Runs on Mac and Windows only
  • Arq 7 is licensed per computer, and continuing to receive updates after the first year costs $25 per year per computer
  • Arq Premium covers up to 5 computers, so larger households or teams need more than one subscription
  • Arq Premium includes 1TB of storage and charges $0.0059 per GB per month beyond it

Microsoft OneDrive

  • Free tier not available; minimum cost is $1.99/month for 100 GB storage
  • Higher-tier plans required for advanced Copilot features
  • Per-user pricing increases significantly with family plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Arq Backup

$50/year
  • Arq Premium$50/year
    • 5 computers
    • Arq Cloud storage option
    • Email support

Microsoft OneDrive

$1.99/month
  • Microsoft 365 Basic$1.99/month
    • 100 GB cloud storage
    • Outlook access
    • OneDrive access
  • Microsoft 365 Personal$9.99/month
    • 1 TB cloud storage
    • Desktop Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote)
    • Copilot features
  • Microsoft 365 Family$12.99/month
    • Up to 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person)
    • 1-6 users supported
    • Same apps and features as Personal
  • Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99/month
    • Up to 6 TB cloud storage (1 TB per person)
    • 1-6 users
    • Extensive Copilot feature access

Which should you pick?

Choose Arq Backup if

  • You need client-side encryption.
  • You work on Windows, Mac.
  • You also want hourly backups.
Arq Backup review

Choose Microsoft OneDrive if

Nothing in the data separates Microsoft OneDrive from Arq Backup on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Microsoft OneDrive review

Questions people ask

Is Arq Backup or Microsoft OneDrive better?
Neither clearly leads. Arq Backup starts at $50/year and Microsoft OneDrive at $1.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arq Backup or Microsoft OneDrive?
Arq Backup starts at $50/year and Microsoft OneDrive at $1.99/month.
Does Arq Backup or Microsoft OneDrive run on more platforms?
Arq Backup runs on Windows, Mac. Microsoft OneDrive runs on Web.
What is Arq Backup best used for?
Arq Backup is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Microsoft OneDrive is typically brought in for.
What can Arq Backup do that Microsoft OneDrive cannot?
Arq Backup covers Client-side encryption, Hourly backups, Network backup, Deduplication.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Arq Backup: What are the different licensing models for Arq?

Arq 7 is a perpetual license with a one-time purchase and 1 year of free updates, then $25/year for continued updates. Arq Premium is a subscription model covering up to 5 computers with 1TB of included cloud storage.

Source
Microsoft OneDrive: How much does Microsoft OneDrive cost?

OneDrive pricing starts at $1.99/month for Microsoft 365 Basic with 100 GB storage. Personal plan costs $9.99/month with 1 TB storage. Family plan at $12.99/month supports 1-6 people with up to 6 TB total storage. Premium tier at $19.99/month adds advanced Copilot and AI features.

Source
Arq Backup: Is there a trial period before purchasing Arq?

Yes, Arq 7 includes a 30-day free trial.

Source
Microsoft OneDrive: Is there a free version of Microsoft OneDrive?

Microsoft does not offer a free OneDrive plan through their paid subscription tiers. However, users with Microsoft accounts receive 5 GB of complimentary OneDrive storage at no cost when creating a Microsoft account.

Source
Arq Backup: What are the storage costs beyond the included 1TB with Arq Premium?

Additional storage is billed at $0.0059/GB per month beyond the 1TB included with Arq Premium.

Source
Microsoft OneDrive: What security features are included in OneDrive plans?

All OneDrive plans include ransomware detection with files restore, password-protected and expiring-link file sharing settings, and anywhere editing with real-time collaboration. Premium and higher tiers offer exclusive agentic AI security features.

Source
Arq Backup: Can I access my backup data directly or is it in a proprietary format?

Arq uses open and documented backup formats with transparent storage, allowing users direct access to encrypted backup data.

Source
Arq Backup: Are perpetual licenses from earlier Arq versions still compatible?

Yes, perpetual licenses from Arq 5 and earlier remain compatible with Arq 7.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Arq Backup

More on Microsoft OneDrive

Keep looking

Other head to heads