Softwr

Software · head to head

IDrive vs Packer

IDrive logo

IDrive

Software

Affordable online backup with multiple device support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
P

Packer

Software

Build automated machine images

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: IDrive the advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward; Packer packer 1.10.0 and later is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1 with IBM Corporation as licensor, not an OSI open source licence
  • They diverge on capability: IDrive covers Multiple device backup, Packer covers Image building.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which IDrive and Packer actually diverge.

Attributes where IDrive and Packer differ
AttributeIDrivePacker
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, WebLinux, Windows, Mac
Founded19952013

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 IDrive

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

Only in Packer

  • Image building
  • Multi-platform support
  • Provisioners
  • Builders
  • Post-processors
  • Variables
  • Data sources
  • Validation

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

IDrive

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

Packer

  • Building identical machine images for multiple clouds from one templatenot IDrive
  • Baking golden AMIs and VM images into a CI pipelinenot IDrive
  • Creating immutable infrastructure artifacts consumed by Terraformnot IDrive

Where each one falls short

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

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

Packer

  • Packer 1.10.0 and later is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1 with IBM Corporation as licensor, not an OSI open source licence
  • The Additional Use Grant forbids offering Packer to third parties on a hosted or embedded basis in a paid product that competes with IBM's paid versions of Packer
  • Each version converts to the MPL 2.0 Change License only four years after that version is first published, and the Change Date is set separately per version
  • Alternative licensing for uses outside the grant must be arranged with the licensor rather than taken under the public licence

Pricing, plan by plan

IDrive

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

Packer

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Multi-platform image building
    • Template-driven
    • Provisioner support

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Packer if

  • You need image building.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac.
  • You also want multi-platform support.
Packer review

Questions people ask

Is IDrive or Packer better?
Neither clearly leads. IDrive starts at Free and Packer at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IDrive or Packer?
IDrive starts at Free and Packer at Free.
Does IDrive or Packer run on more platforms?
IDrive runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web. Packer runs on Linux, Windows, Mac.
Can I use IDrive for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is IDrive best used for?
IDrive is most often used for online backup for computers, servers and mobile devices, backing up multiple machines under one account. Of those, online backup for computers, servers and mobile devices and backing up multiple machines under one account are not what Packer is typically brought in for.
What can IDrive do that Packer cannot?
IDrive covers Multiple device backup, True archiving, Continuous protection, IDrive Express. Packer covers Image building, Multi-platform support, Provisioners, Builders. Both handle Windows support, Linux support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on IDrive

More on Packer

Keep looking

Other head to heads