File Storage & Backup · head to head
Carbonite vs Microsoft OneDrive
Carbonite
File Storage & Backup
Simple and reliable cloud backup for businesses
- From
- $6/month
- Rated
- -
Microsoft OneDrive
File Storage & Backup
Cloud storage that comes with Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Carbonite upload speeds are significantly slower than competitors due to lack of block-level algorithms and multithreading; Microsoft OneDrive storage is not sold standalone at these tiers; it is bundled into Microsoft 365 subscriptions, with Basic limited to 100 GB and only Personal and above reaching 1 TB per person
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Carbonite and Microsoft OneDrive actually diverge.
| Attribute | Carbonite | Microsoft OneDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $6/month | On request |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Web | Web |
| Founded | 2005 | Unknown |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage & Backup).
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 Carbonite
- Automatic backup
- Continuous protection
- Remote file access
- Bare metal restore
- Encryption
- Compliance support
- Microsoft 365
- Windows Server
Only in Microsoft OneDrive
Nothing recorded that Carbonite does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Carbonite
- Data protectionnot Microsoft OneDrive
- Disaster recoverynot Microsoft OneDrive
- Business continuitynot Microsoft OneDrive
- Ransomware protectionnot Microsoft OneDrive
- Compliancenot Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive
No use cases recorded yet. See the Microsoft OneDrive review.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Carbonite
- Upload speeds are significantly slower than competitors due to lack of block-level algorithms and multithreading
- Bandwidth throttling control is limited, preventing users from managing full bandwidth allocation
- Mobile apps and web access are more limited than sync-first services like Dropbox or Google Drive
- Uses AES-128 encryption instead of industry-standard AES-256
- Hybrid backup support is restricted to professional plans, unavailable for personal users
Microsoft OneDrive
- Storage is not sold standalone at these tiers; it is bundled into Microsoft 365 subscriptions, with Basic limited to 100 GB and only Personal and above reaching 1 TB per person
- Family and Premium plans cap shared storage at 1 TB per person even when only 1 of the allotted 6 people are using the subscription
- Subscriptions automatically renew and must be canceled through the Microsoft account dashboard to stop billing
Pricing, plan by plan
Carbonite
$6/month- Basic$6/month
- Automatic backup
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Easy restore
Microsoft OneDrive
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft OneDrive review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Carbonite if
- You need automatic backup.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Web.
- You also want continuous protection.
Choose Microsoft OneDrive if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft OneDrive from Carbonite on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Carbonite or Microsoft OneDrive better?
- Neither clearly leads. Carbonite starts at $6/month and Microsoft OneDrive at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Carbonite or Microsoft OneDrive?
- Carbonite starts at $6/month and Microsoft OneDrive at On request.
- Does Carbonite or Microsoft OneDrive run on more platforms?
- Carbonite runs on Windows, Mac, Web. Microsoft OneDrive runs on Web.
- What is Carbonite best used for?
- Carbonite 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 Carbonite do that Microsoft OneDrive cannot?
- Carbonite covers Automatic backup, Continuous protection, Remote file access, Bare metal restore.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Carbonite: Does Carbonite offer unlimited storage?
Yes, Carbonite's personal plans (Safe Basic through Safe Server Ultimate) offer unlimited cloud storage, though business plans have tiered storage starting at 250 GB.
SourceCarbonite: What is Carbonite's pricing?
Personal plans range from $4.91 to $83.33 per month with annual billing. Business plans start around $50-$75 per endpoint annually, with volume discounts available for multi-year contracts.
SourceCarbonite: How fast are Carbonite's upload speeds?
Carbonite's upload speeds are notably slow and are consistently identified as the platform's main weakness. The lack of block-level algorithms and multithreading contributes to these speed limitations.
SourceCarbonite: What encryption does Carbonite use?
Carbonite uses AES-128 encryption at rest, which is an unusual choice in 2026 when AES-256 is the industry standard.
SourceRelated pages
More on Microsoft OneDrive
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