9.5
Spot Score
Carbonite Review: Is It The Right Backup Software For Your Team?
Best for SMB teams · Mid-market
GDPR
SOC 2
HIPAAStarts from $4.91 / Month when Billed Yearly
Overview
Pricing
Features
Buyer feedback
Alternatives
Media
Security & Compliance
Support
FAQ
Blogs
SpotSaaS Analysis for Carbonite
Carbonite serves IT administrators, small business owners, and remote workers looking for reliable data backup solutions. With a rating of 4.2/5 from 432 reviews, it is broadly validated, indicating general satisfaction among users.
The software excels in providing automatic, easy, and reliable data backup, which significantly reduces the risk of data loss. Its user-friendly interface and setup process make it accessible for a wide range of users. However, the initial backup process can be time-consuming, especially for large data volumes, which may lead to frustration.
Quick facts about Carbonite
What is Carbonite?
Backup software for Windows and Mac to protect data when disaster strikes. Carbonite's online backup service makes it easy and affordable to back up all the important files. With Carbonite, user can be sure that if something goes wrong with computer, all of the precious photos, videos and other data will be safe and accessible.
Pricing
Starts from $4.91 / Month when Billed Yearly
Best For
Built for growing teams, from small businesses to mid-market
Security & Compliance
SOC 2GDPRHIPAASSO & MFA supported
Data residency:🇺🇸
Platform
Installed - Windows
Installed - Mac
Desktop only — no mobile app
Carbonite Software Demo
Carbonite was reviewed internally using user feedback, in-house testing, and market research to assess its performance, reliability, and user experience. Learn how we review products and our evaluation process.
Who should consider Carbonite
- Use cases
- Small business data protection, Medium business IT backup management, Individual user file backup
- Team types
- IT administrators, Small business owners
- Company size
- 1-50 employees, 51-500 employees
- Workflow style
- Simple and streamlined
- Setup complexity
- Low
Why teams choose Carbonite
Automatic and reliable data backup reducing risk of data loss
User-friendly interface and easy setup process
Timely notifications and intuitive backup scheduling
Is Carbonite right for you?
Best for simple, automated backup of important files on small to medium businesses.
Choose Carbonite if
- You need easy, automated backup with minimal setup and management effort.
- You want unlimited cloud storage for a single computer's data backup.
- You require reliable scheduled backups with timely notifications for peace of mind.
Consider alternatives if
- You have large initial data volumes needing fast backup completion.
- You need extensive multi-device support or advanced backup for diverse hardware.
What buyers should know before shortlisting Carbonite
Carbonite is a cost-effective backup solution for individuals and small businesses protecting a single computer. The platform offers unlimited storage and automated scheduling, which reduces manual intervention.
Setup takes 15–30 minutes for most users, and the interface requires minimal technical knowledge. Key limitations to verify in a demo: initial backups can take 24–72 hours depending on file volume, certain file types (particularly databases and some video formats) may not sync on every scheduled run, and the auto-backup feature occasionally requires a manual restart after system updates.
These are documented issues, not edge cases. Test the backup speed with your actual file types before committing.
Check integration requirements carefully. Carbonite works on Windows and Mac but does not support Linux, NAS devices, or network-attached storage.
If you need to back up multiple computers, each requires a separate license—there is no family or business plan discount. Verify your internet speed; Carbonite uploads at your connection's maximum speed, so homes with sub-5 Mbps upload will see very slow initial backups.
Pricing is straightforward: one annual rate per computer with no hidden tiers. However, renewal rates often increase 20–30% after year one.
Confirm the renewal price before purchase. Customer support is available via email and chat but not phone.
Response times average 4–6 hours during business hours.
Carbonite pros and cons
- Carbonite pros
Automatic and reliable data backup reducing risk of data loss
User-friendly interface and easy setup process
Timely notifications and intuitive backup scheduling
- Carbonite cons
Initial backup can be very time-consuming for large data sets
Automatic backup issues with certain file types like videos requiring manual updates
Ready to try it?
Get started with Carbonite
Connect with the team for a personalised demo.
Still comparing?
See how it stacks up
Compare Carbonite side-by-side with top Backup Software alternatives.
What is the pricing of Carbonite?
Carbonite Pricing Plans
Basic
$58.99/year
$4.99/month BILLED ANNUALLY
Unlimited backup
Secure, encrypted cloud
Automatic file and photo backup
Show more +
Plus
$83.99/year
$6.99/month BILLED ANNUALLY
Unlimited backup
Secure, encrypted cloud
Automatic file and photo backup
Show more +
Prime
$104.99/year
$8.99/month BILLED ANNUALLY
Unlimited backup
Secure, encrypted cloud
Automatic file and photo backup
Show more +
Carbonite reviews and ratings
Buyer sentiment
Users generally find Carbonite reliable and easy to use for automated backups, though some experience frustration with initial backup speed and device support limitations.
What buyers like
- Ease of use
- Automatic backup reliability
- Backup scheduling and notifications
Common complaints
- Slow initial backup process
- Limited device and file type support
What users are saying
M
Marietta
11/07/21
Really useful for us. No more accidentally deleted files.
PROS & CONS What are the best aspects of this product? This tool does not disappoint. I've had to restore some of our company files a couple of ...
Read more
E
Estella
09/21/21
Protects my files.
PROS & CONS What are the best aspects of this product? I've discovered various uses for this program within my workspace. I use this mainly for ...
Read more
AR
Anonymous Reviewer
09/16/21
Bad experience with inflexible and slow service
PROS & CONS What are the best aspects of this product? Pricing was a draw but they were not clear that thunderbolt drives were not supported. What ...
Read more
F
Francisco
09/06/21
It is cost efficient
PROS & CONS What are the best aspects of this product? It has almost everything automated. There is a lot to desire about this product. When you set ...
Read more
J
Jim
09/02/21
Automates the back up process
PROS & CONS What are the best aspects of this product? The set up process is bliss. I am able to clearly understand how to do it on my own. It has a ...
Read more
O
Orlo
05/29/21
Keeps my mind at ease...
PROS & CONS What are the best aspects of this product? Carbonite is one of those unsung heroes that run quietly in the background. It's barely ...
Read more
- See if Carbonite fits your business
- Real pricing — no sales pressure
- A demo or quick answers, your call
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What are the features of Carbonite?
Automated storage refers to the utilization of technology to manage and store data in a more efficient and streamlined manner. This feature…
Backup scheduling refers to the process of setting up a predetermined schedule for automatically backing up computer data and files. This fe…
Cloud storage is an online data storage service that allows users to access and store their data remotely on the internet. It offers a flexi…
Compression option is a software feature that allows users to reduce the size of files without sacrificing quality. It is a crucial tool for…
Encryption is a crucial software feature that is used to protect sensitive information and data from unauthorized access. It involves conver…
Incremental backup is a useful feature offered by software that enables users to backup only the latest changes or additions to their files…
Mobile compatibility refers to the ability of software to function seamlessly on various mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. In…
Remote access is a software feature that allows users to access a computer or network from a remote location. This means that individuals ca…
Secure data storage refers to the process of storing sensitive information in a protected and controlled manner. This feature is crucial for…
Web access refers to the ability to connect to the internet and access websites and other online resources using a web browser. It is an ess…
Carbonite security and data handling
Key compliance certifications and security features for IT and security teams evaluating Carbonite.
Certifications
Security features
Developer & data
Alternatives to Carbonite
Carbonite Support Options
Frequently Asked Questions About Carbonite
Common questions buyers ask before choosing Carbonite.
Carbonite is a Backup Software. Carbonite offers Incremental Backup, Mobile Compatibility, Web Access, Compression Option, Automated Storage and many more functionalities.
Carbonite is a strong fit if: You need easy, automated backup with minimal setup and management effort.; You want unlimited cloud storage for a single computer's data backup.. Consider alternatives if: You have large initial data volumes needing fast backup completion.; You need extensive multi-device support or advanced backup for diverse hardware..
Buyers commonly note the following limitations of Carbonite: Initial backup can be very time-consuming for large data sets; Automatic backup issues with certain file types like videos requiring manual updates; Limited support for Thunderbolt drives and some Mac devices.
Some top alternatives to Carbonite includes Ada, Backblaze, IvyBackup, IDrive Online and ZipCloud.
Carbonite offers Subscription pricing model
The starting price of Carbonite is $4.91/Month when Billed Yearly
Ready to try it?
Get started with Carbonite
Get connected with the team for a personalised demo.
About the reviewer
Rajat Gupta is the founder of Spotsaas. Over the past two years, he has reviewed 2,000+ tools across CRM, HR, AI, and finance — applying hands-on product research and a background in commerce and the CFA program to evaluate software through a business and ROI lens. His goal: help teams make software decisions they won't regret.
Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].
