Backblaze B2 vs MSP360 Explorer (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Backblaze B2 and MSP360 Explorer share a 2.0 GPA, both have a free plan and their prices can't be set side by side, so the choice depends on whether you care more about platforms, where Backblaze B2 grades higher, or ease of use, where MSP360 Explorer does.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Backblaze B2
S3-compatible object storage billed per terabyte
MSP360 Explorer
File manager for browsing and moving data in cloud object storage
Which one is for you
Pick Backblaze B2 if
- Fits if you have developers or an IT person to point backup tools at an S3 bucket
- Works for teams storing terabytes of backups that rarely get read back
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a folder that syncs to your laptop, as there is no consumer sync app
- Tight if you read a lot back: egress beyond 3 times your stored data costs $0.01 per GB
- Watch out: API calls past the first 2,500 a day cost $0.004 per 10,000 on Class D transactions
- Watch out: B2 Overdrive is $15 per TB and up, with a multi-petabyte commitment bought by quote
Pick MSP360 Explorer if
- Fits if you manage S3 or Azure buckets from a Windows desktop
- Works for restoring single files out of cloud backup storage
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want one clear price, because none could be confirmed and no plans are listed
- Not for you if you need folder sync, as Sync Folders was removed and Compare Folders replaces it
- Too light for Mac users wanting full control, since the Mac edition offers basic file management
- Watch out: the Windows version needs Windows 7 or later and .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher
How we grade them
| 2.0GPABackblaze B2Fair | 2.0GPAMSP360 ExplorerFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$6.95 per TB a month matches the category's middle price. This is a different kind of product from consumer storage, billed by the terabyte. | CNo price could be confirmed because the vendor's main site blocked our reader, so it sits in the middle of the category by default. |
| Free plan and trial | CThe first 10 GB is always free, with free egress up to 3 times what you store, and you'll pass 10 GB quickly. | CThe Mac help pages list a free version with file restore, transfer and monitoring beside a commercial one, but the limits are not shown. |
| Features | CStorage through an S3-compatible API with lifecycle and partner integrations, but the page shows no consumer sync app. It does its narrow job fully. | CIt browses and copies between local disk and several clouds, with MFA, Object Lock, command line and PowerShell. The Sync Folders feature was removed in Windows version 6.2, and the Mac edition is described as basic. |
| Ease of use | DIt needs an API, keys and tooling, so it's a developer service. No store rating on record. | CYou add each storage account and keys yourself, and Windows needs .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher. No store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | BThe vendor lists 8 integrations and an S3 API, but it is web only, with no apps. | CWindows and Mac desktop programs only, with no web or phone version. It connects to S3, Azure, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, Google Cloud and OpenStack. |
| Best for | cheap object storage for developers and IT teams | browsing S3 or Azure buckets from a desktop app |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Backblaze B2 and MSP360 Explorer. How we grade
Where they differ
- MSP360 Explorer also covers file sync.
At a glance
| Backblaze B2 | MSP360 Explorer | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $6.95 per TB / month | Not published |
| Free plan | The first 10 GB of storage is always free, with free egress up to 3x the data stored. | The macOS help pages list a free version with file restore, transfer and monitoring, beside a commercial one. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Backblaze | MSP360 |
| Price read from | backblaze.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Backblaze B2
- Egress beyond 3x the average monthly data stored costs $0.01 per GB, except to partner CDNs and compute services.
- Class D API transactions cost $0.004 per 10,000 calls after the first 2,500 each day.
- B2 Overdrive needs a multi-petabyte commitment and is sold by quote.
- It is a storage service for developers and IT teams; the page shows no consumer sync app.
MSP360 Explorer
- The vendor's main site blocked our reader, so pricing could not be confirmed and no plans are listed.
- The Sync Folders feature was removed as of Windows version 6.2; Compare Folders replaces it.
- The macOS edition is described as offering basic file management features.
- The Windows version needs Windows 7 or later and .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher.
Key features
Backblaze B2
- S3-compatible object storage
- The page describes S3-compatible storage for active archiving, backup and recovery, media and application workloads.
- No minimums on files or duration
- There are no minimum file size or storage duration fees, and class A, B and C API calls are free on pay as you go.
- Free egress allowances
- Egress is free up to 3x the average data stored, and free to partner CDNs and compute services such as Cloudflare, Fastly and bunny.net.
- Capacity commitments
- Customers can commit to a set amount of storage for 1 to 5 years, billed for the full term at contract start with a locked rate.
MSP360 Explorer
- Multi-cloud browsing
- Connects to Amazon S3, Microsoft Azure, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, Google Cloud, OpenStack and S3-compatible storage in one window.
- Copy between local and cloud
- Local-to-cloud, cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-local copying, with a queue to monitor transfers and no stated transfer limits.
- Storage-level controls
- Windows version manages ACLs, HTTP headers, object versions, Glacier restores and, for S3 only, storage classes and IAM roles.
- MFA protection and Object Lock
- The Windows help center documents MFA protection for file versions and an Object Lock feature.
- Command line and PowerShell
- A command line interface and a PowerShell snap-in are documented for scripting on Windows.
- Shareable links
- The macOS version generates web URLs for sharing content and lets you manage transfer bandwidth.
Plans
Backblaze B2
Backblaze B2$6.95
per TB / month, billed monthly on byte-hours stored
Pay as you go, or commit to capacity for 1 to 5 years with discounts. Free egress up to 3x stored data, then $0.01/GB.
B2 Overdrive$15
per TB / month and up
For AI, HPC and research workloads: dedicated vaults, unlimited free egress and a multi-petabyte commitment. Sold by quote.
MSP360 Explorer
Pricing could not be confirmed. See msp360.com.
Ways to pay less
Backblaze B2
- Other savings
Discounts for volume and term commitments
The pricing page says discounts are available when you commit to volume and a 1 to 5 year term; the amounts are not published.
MSP360 Explorer
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Backblaze B2 or MSP360 Explorer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Backblaze B2 starts at $6.95 per TB / month, and MSP360 Explorer has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Backblaze B2 or MSP360 Explorer?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Backblaze B2 and MSP360 Explorer have a free plan.
Which platforms do Backblaze B2 and MSP360 Explorer run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Backblaze B2 lists a web app and only MSP360 Explorer lists macOS and Windows apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.