Arq Backup vs IDrive (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Arq Backup if

• Fits if you already pay for cloud storage and want a one-time backup program
• Works for backing up to a NAS plus a cloud account at once

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want storage included, as Arq 7 is the app only and your provider bills extra
• Not for you if you use Linux, as the vendor lists Mac and Windows only
• Pricey if you keep updating, at $25 per computer for each year after the first
• Watch out: Arq Premium adds 1 TB for $69.99 a year, then $0.00699 per GB a month above that

Pick IDrive if

• Fits if your household has several computers and phones to back up in one account
• Works for small businesses backing up servers, NAS boxes and laptops together

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you mainly want Dropbox-style sync, as Cloud Drive is a separate service you have to switch on
• Pricey if you budget on the advertised price, since the 30% off covers the first year only and not app sign-ups
• Tight if you're staying free, as 10 GB won't hold a whole computer
• Watch out: going over your storage costs $0.25 per GB a month on Personal and $0.50 on Team and Business
• Watch out: Mini is yearly only, for new sign-ups and marked limited time, and server backup is $5 a server a month below Business

Arq Backup

• No Linux, iOS or Android apps; the vendor lists Mac and Windows only.
• Arq 7 does not include storage, so cloud fees from your provider are extra.
• Updates are included for one year; after that, further years cost $25 per computer.
• Arq Premium storage above 1 TB is billed at $0.00699 per GB per month.

IDrive

• Advertised prices are 30% off the first year only, and the discount is not available when signing up from the mobile apps.
• Cloud Drive sync is a separate service that has to be activated; it is distinct from cloud backup.
• Going over the storage limit costs $0.25 per GB a month on Personal and $0.50 per GB on Team and Business.
• Server backup is a $5 per server a month add-on on Mini, Personal and Team, and is part of Business.

Arq Backup

Your own destinations

Back up to a cloud account you already have, an SFTP server, a NAS or an external drive, or several of these at once.

Client-side encryption

The vendor says backups are encrypted so only the owner can read them, and stored in an open, documented format.

Versioned history

Keeps multiple versions of files so you can restore an earlier copy after corruption, deletion or ransomware.

Efficient backups

Uses compression, de-duplication and block-level incremental backup, with APFS snapshot support on Mac.

Schedule and limits

Run hourly or daily, skip certain Wi-Fi networks or battery power, cap bandwidth, and set exclusion rules.

Open-source restore tool

A separate open-source tool, arq_restore, lets advanced users read backed-up data directly.

IDrive

Many devices in one account

Back up PCs, Macs, Linux machines, iPhones, iPads, Android devices and external or NAS drives into one account, with continuous backup of changed files.

Cloud Drive sync and sharing

Sync folders across linked devices in real time, share files with view or edit permissions, and edit Office files and PDFs in the browser.

Snapshots and versioning

Keeps up to 30 previous versions of every backed-up file, with snapshots for point-in-time recovery and a 30-day trash for deleted files.

Private-key encryption

Files are encrypted with 256-bit AES, optionally with a key you define that IDrive says is not stored on its servers.

IDrive Express shipping

Back up or restore bulk data by mail on a physical drive: free once a year on Personal, three times a year on Team and Business, then $59.95 a request.

Cloud app backup add-ons

Back up Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Dropbox and Box accounts for $20 per seat a year, with a 7-day free trial.

Arq Backup

• Arq 7$59.99

  per computer, one-time

  App only; you supply the storage. Includes one year of updates, then $25 per computer per year if you want more.

• Arq Premium$69.99

  per year

  Arq 7 on up to 5 computers plus 1 TB of vendor-managed storage and web access to backups.

IDrive

• Basic$0

  10 GB of storage with no credit card required.

• IDrive Mini$0.25

  per month for 100 GB, billed annually

  One user. 500 GB is $0.83 a month. Sold on yearly billing only, to new sign-ups, and the pricing page marks it "Limited time only".

• IDrive Personal$9.99

  per month for 5 TB, billed annually ($11.99 billed monthly)

  One user, multiple computers. Advertised at $6.99 a month for the first year. 10 TB is $14.99 a month and 100 TB $99.99, billed annually.

• IDrive Team$9.99

  per month for up to 5 users, billed annually ($11.99 monthly)

  5 computers, 5 users and 5 TB, managed from a web console. Advertised at $6.99 a month for the first year; 10 users and 10 TB is $19.99 a month.

• IDrive Business$19.99

  per month for 500 GB, billed annually

  Unlimited users, computers, servers and NAS devices. Advertised at $13.99 a month the first year; 1.25 TB is $49.99 a month, or $59.99 billed monthly.

Arq Backup

No public discounts listed.

IDrive

• Other savings

  30% off the first year

  New sign-ups on yearly Personal, Team and Business plans pay 30% less for the first year, such as $6.99 instead of $9.99 a month for Personal 5 TB. Standard pricing applies from the second year.

• Other savings

  50% off the first year of a 2-year plan

  Two-year plans take 50% off the first year: Personal 5 TB is $179.82 for 2 years instead of $239.76.

• Annual discount

  Lower price with yearly billing

  Personal and Team 5 TB cost $9.99 a month billed yearly against $11.99 billed monthly, a saving of about 17%.

• Education

  50% off for students and schools

  Students, educational institutions and anyone with a valid education email address can get Personal or Business at half price, as a limited-period offer.