Linode Backup Service vs IDrive
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Linode Backup Service and IDrive.
Quick Verdict
3.3/5
Linode Backup Service
0 reviews
3.6/5
IDrive
0 reviews
IDrive is rated higher (3.6 vs 3.3). Linode's managed backup service creates automatic daily, weekly, and biweekly backups of your Linode VPS. Stored for 2 or 4 weeks. Simple restore via Linode dashboard. IDrive is one of the longest-running online backup services. Supports PCs, Macs, iOS, Android, and servers. 5TB plans affordable. Snapshot retention and NAS backup support.
Linode Backup Service Automatic backups for Linode VPS | IDrive Online backup for computers, servers, and NAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.3 (0 reviews) | 3.6 (0 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | paid | freemium |
| Starting price | From $2/mo | Free tier available✓ |
| Best for | Akamai Cloud (Linode) users wanting a zero-maintenance restore safety net for single instances — especially as one layer alongside off-site storage. | Households and small businesses with multi-terabyte data across several devices, servers, or NAS boxes who want one pooled, affordable backup subscription |
| Features | ||
| IPv6 | ||
| DDoS protection | ||
| Automated backups | ✓ | |
| Snapshots | ✓ | |
| Managed option | ||
| Bare metal | ||
| GPU available | ||
| S3-compatible | ||
| Hourly billing | ✓ | |
| Free tier | ✓ | |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | backups includedeu datacenterus datacenterapac datacenter | free tiermobile app |
| Visit Linode Backup Service → | Visit IDrive → | |
Linode Backup Service
Pros
- + Cheap and effortless: from $2/month, one-click enable, no software to install
- + Live full-disk snapshots taken while the instance runs — no downtime
- + Four restore points including a persistent manual snapshot slot
- + Managed via Cloud Manager, Linode CLI, and REST API for fleet scripting
- + Free with Linode Managed ($100/instance/month)
Cons
- - Automated retention capped at 14 days — shallow for compliance or ransomware scenarios
- - Stored in the same data center as the instance — off-host but not off-site
- - Excludes attached Volumes and encrypted disks (unencrypted ext3/ext4 only)
- - Backups are deleted together with the instance; not an archive
- - Not available in distributed compute regions; priced per instance
IDrive
Pros
- + Free 10 GB tier, no credit card required
- + NAS, server (SQL/Exchange/Oracle/VMware/Hyper-V), and SaaS backup under one pooled plan
- + Very competitive per-terabyte pricing on Personal and Team plans
- + SOC 2 Type 2 certified with AES-256 encryption and optional private-key encryption
- + Archiving, snapshots, and IDrive Express cover ransomware recovery and slow-link seeding
Cons
- - Interface feels dated and takes learning before it is comfortable
- - Initial upload speeds trail faster rivals; Express is the workaround
- - No published uptime SLA or data-center locations for the core product
- - Promotional annual pricing renews at higher list rates
- - No data-residency region choice for compliance-sensitive storage
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