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File Storage & Backup · head to head

IDrive vs Spanning Backup

IDrive logo

IDrive

File Storage & Backup

Affordable online backup with multiple device support

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spanning Backup logo

Spanning Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

SaaS backup for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only IDrive has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: IDrive the advertised annual rates are first year introductory prices, with standard pricing applying from the second year onward; Spanning Backup cloud-only deployment; no on-premise or self-hosted options available
  • They diverge on capability: IDrive covers Multiple device backup, Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where IDrive and Spanning Backup differ
AttributeIDriveSpanning Backup
Starting priceFree$4/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, WebCloud SaaS
CategoryFile Storage & BackupBackup & Disaster Recovery
Founded19952010

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 IDrive

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

Only in Spanning Backup

  • Automated daily backup
  • Point-in-time restore
  • Cross-user restore
  • eDiscovery
  • Unlimited storage
  • Admin delegation
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365

Both cover

  • Web 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 Spanning Backup
  • Backing up multiple machines under one accountnot Spanning Backup

Spanning Backup

  • Cloud-to-cloud backup and disaster recovery for Microsoft 365 applicationsnot IDrive
  • Data protection and compliance management for Google Workspace and Salesforcenot 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

Spanning Backup

  • Cloud-only deployment; no on-premise or self-hosted options available

Pricing, plan by plan

IDrive

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

Spanning Backup

$4/month
  • Spanning Backup$4/month
    • Daily backup
    • Point-in-time restore
    • Unlimited storage

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 Spanning Backup if

  • You need automated daily backup.
  • You work on Cloud SaaS.
  • You also want point-in-time restore.
Spanning Backup review

Questions people ask

Is IDrive or Spanning Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. IDrive starts at Free and Spanning Backup at $4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, IDrive or Spanning Backup?
IDrive has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for IDrive and $4/month for Spanning Backup.
Does IDrive or Spanning Backup run on more platforms?
IDrive runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Web. Spanning Backup runs on Cloud SaaS.
Can I use IDrive for free?
Yes. IDrive has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Spanning Backup starts at $4/month.
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 Spanning Backup is typically brought in for.
What can IDrive do that Spanning Backup cannot?
IDrive covers Multiple device backup, True archiving, Continuous protection, IDrive Express. Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, Point-in-time restore, Cross-user restore, eDiscovery. Both handle Web support.
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Related pages

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