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Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head

Comet Backup vs IDrive

Comet Backup logo

Comet Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

White-label backup software for service providers

From
$49/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IDrive logo

IDrive

File Storage & Backup

Affordable online backup with multiple device support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only IDrive has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Comet Backup endpoint costs starting at $2 per endpoint per month on top of base plan; IDrive the advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward
  • They diverge on capability: Comet Backup covers White-label branding, IDrive covers Multiple device backup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Comet Backup and IDrive actually diverge.

Attributes where Comet Backup and IDrive differ
AttributeComet BackupIDrive
Starting price$49/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, Mac, Linux, Web
CategoryBackup & Disaster RecoveryFile Storage & Backup
Founded20171995

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Comet Backup

  • White-label branding
  • Bring your own storage
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Chunking deduplication
  • Delta compression
  • Multi-tenant
  • AWS S3
  • Azure

Only in IDrive

  • Multiple device backup
  • True archiving
  • Continuous protection
  • IDrive Express
  • Snapshots
  • File sharing
  • iOS
  • Android

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Mac support
  • Linux support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Comet Backup

  • MSP backup and disaster recovery solutionsnot IDrive
  • Cloud-to-cloud backup automationnot IDrive
  • Ransomware protection with immutable storagenot IDrive

IDrive

  • Online backup for computers, servers and mobile devicesnot Comet Backup
  • Backing up multiple machines under one accountnot Comet Backup

Where each one falls short

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

Comet Backup

  • Endpoint costs starting at $2 per endpoint per month on top of base plan
  • Storage costs vary based on destination, adding to overall expenses

IDrive

  • The advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward
  • The two year offer discounts only the first year, so the second year reverts to the full rate
  • Team plans tie user and computer counts to the storage tier, so 10 TB means exactly 10 computers
  • Business storage costs far more per terabyte than Personal, at $719.88 a year for 1.25 TB against $143.88 for 5 TB

Pricing, plan by plan

Comet Backup

$49/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Comet Backup review.

IDrive

Free
  • Personal$4/month
    • 5TB storage
    • Unlimited devices
    • IDrive Express

Which should you pick?

Choose Comet Backup if

  • You need white-label branding.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want bring your own storage.
Comet Backup review

Choose IDrive if

  • You need multiple device backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web.
  • You also want true archiving.
IDrive review

Questions people ask

Is Comet Backup or IDrive better?
Neither clearly leads. Comet Backup starts at $49/month and IDrive at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Comet Backup or IDrive?
IDrive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $49/month for Comet Backup and Free for IDrive.
Does Comet Backup or IDrive run on more platforms?
Comet Backup runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. IDrive runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web.
Can I use IDrive for free?
Yes. IDrive has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Comet Backup starts at $49/month.
What is Comet Backup best used for?
Comet Backup is most often used for msp backup and disaster recovery solutions, cloud-to-cloud backup automation, ransomware protection with immutable storage. Of those, msp backup and disaster recovery solutions and cloud-to-cloud backup automation are not what IDrive is typically brought in for.
What can Comet Backup do that IDrive cannot?
Comet Backup covers White-label branding, Bring your own storage, End-to-end encryption, Chunking deduplication. IDrive covers Multiple device backup, True archiving, Continuous protection, IDrive Express. Both handle Windows support, Mac support, Linux support, Web support.
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