The Carbonite Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Carbonite in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Carbonite
The Insider’s Guide
Automatic cloud backup for home computers and small businesses
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among file storage and sync services, read from Carbonite’s own pages.
Made by Open Text Corporation · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Carbonite’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Carbonite’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 34 of the 91 other file storage and sync services we grade
Carbonite, now part of OpenText, backs up computers to encrypted cloud storage so files can be restored after loss, damage or a malware infection. Personal plans cover one computer with unlimited storage. Professional plans add servers, group backup policies and fixed storage allowances for small businesses.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Carbonite, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it and it backs up in the background.
- 1
Best for automatic cloud backup for home computers
Carbonite backs up a computer in the background to the cloud, with unlimited space on personal plans from $71.99 a year.
- 2
Paid plans start at $6 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $71.99 per year for 1 computer, billed annually.
- 3
You can try it first
30-day free trial on business plans; 30-day money-back guarantee on personal plans
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
Windows, macOS, Web, iOS and Android.
- 5
Automatic encrypted backup
Files are backed up in the background and encrypted with 256-bit encryption at rest and in transit.
- 6
Unlimited personal storage
Personal plans list unlimited cloud backup space; the business plans have fixed allowances of 250 GB or 500 GB.
- 7
Recovery after malware
The vendor says uninfected files can be recovered within 2 weeks of a virus or malware event, for backed-up data.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 34 of 91
That is against the other file storage and sync services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Carbonite you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Carbonite at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $71.99 per year for 1 computer, billed annually
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial on business plans; 30-day money-back guarantee on personal plans
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Open Text Corporation
- Category
- File Storage & Sync
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.4 on the App Store, 1,111 ratings
The report card
Best for automatic cloud backup for home computers
Carbonite backs up a computer in the background to the cloud, with unlimited space on personal plans from $71.99 a year. It has no free plan, business storage is capped at 250 or 500 GB, and the sale prices come with no end date.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | $71.99 a year for one computer, about $6 a month, in the middle of the category. The price is shown with a discount and no end date. |
| Free plan and trial | D | Personal plans only have a 30-day money-back guarantee, which isn't a trial. Business plans have a 30-day free trial. |
| Features | C | Automatic encrypted backup, unlimited personal space, malware recovery and a phone companion. The phone app does not back up, and business storage is capped. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record. You install it and it backs up in the background. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, web, iPhone and Android, though the phone apps are only companions. No integrations or API are listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Carbonite is for
- Fits if you want one home computer backed up to the cloud with unlimited space
- Makes sense if you want a business trial for a small office
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a free plan or a personal trial, as there is only a money-back guarantee
- Watch out: personal plans are per computer, with Plus and Prime adding one external drive
- Watch out: business storage is 250 GB or 500 GB, with extra at $99 per 100 GB
- Tight if you want to back up from a phone: the apps are only for reaching files
- Pricey if you are a business on the Ultimate plan at $1,039.99 a year
Good to know
Good for
- Home users who want a set-and-forget backup of one computer
- Small offices backing up a few servers and workstations
- People who want antivirus bundled with backup
Worth knowing
- Personal plans are priced per computer; Plus and Prime add one external hard drive.
- Business storage is capped at 250 GB or 500 GB, with extra storage at $99 per 100 GB.
- The displayed prices are discounted from crossed-out ones and the pages give no end date.
- Listed system support is Windows 7+ or macOS 10.10+; the mobile apps are companions, not backup clients.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$6
A month to start, paid by the year
Carbonite is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $71.99 per year for 1 computer, billed annually.
The price is shown with a discount and no end date.
Personal Basic
$71.99
per year for 1 computer, billed annually
Unlimited cloud backup for 1 computer; shown as 25% off a crossed-out $95.99, with no end date given.
Personal Plus
$78.99
per year, billed annually
Adds an external hard drive to Basic; shown as 40% off a crossed-out $131.99, with no end date given.
Personal Prime
$121.49
per year, billed annually
Everything in Plus, with Webroot antivirus and courier delivery of recovered files for an extra fee.
Business Core
$230.39
per year, billed annually
250 GB for up to 25 computers, external drives and NAS; shown as 20% off $287.99. Extra storage is $99 per 100 GB.
Business Power
$639.99
per year, billed annually
500 GB for 1 server plus up to 25 computers, with bare metal backup; shown as 20% off $799.99.
Business Ultimate
$1039.99
per year, billed annually
500 GB for unlimited servers plus 25 computers; shown as 20% off $1299.99.
Trying it first
30-day free trial on business plans; 30-day money-back guarantee on personal plans
Read from carbonite.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Automatic cloud backup for home computers and small businesses. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: malware protection, dashboards.
Automatic encrypted backup, unlimited personal space, malware recovery and a phone companion.
- Automatic encrypted backup
- Files are backed up in the background and encrypted with 256-bit encryption at rest and in transit.
- Unlimited personal storage
- Personal plans list unlimited cloud backup space; the business plans have fixed allowances of 250 GB or 500 GB.
- Recovery after malware
- The vendor says uninfected files can be recovered within 2 weeks of a virus or malware event, for backed-up data.
- Phone and browser access
- Backed-up files can be reached from a web browser or from the companion app for Android and iOS.
- Server and policy management
- Business plans add Windows server backup, bare metal image backup and policies set by group, role or device.
- Compliance support
- The business page says the service supports HIPAA, FERPA and GLBA compliance needs.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Carbonite is made by Open Text Corporation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
34/91
Other file storage and sync services it is graded above
Carbonite's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 34 of the 91 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 60 of 91) and worst on free plan and trial (D, above 9).
Its paid plans start at $6 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $6.64 for the category: 25 of the 60 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 11 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 92 file storage and sync services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Carbonite’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 14 of 91
- DFree plan and trialAbove 9 of 91
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 91
- BEase of useAbove 60 of 91
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 91
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 66 file storage and sync services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Carbonite is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Carbonite you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $71.99 a year.
What you could not
- An engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
- Connections that pull numbers from dozens of other services.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: HIPAA.
What this rests on. Carbonite’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
IDrive, CrashPlan, Arq Backup, Jungle Disk and Zoolz
The 5 tools Carbonite is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
IDrive
Free plan · from $0.25/mo
Cloud backup for many devices in one account, with a sync folder.
- IDrive has a free plan. Carbonite does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only IDrive lists a Linux app.
- Carbonite also covers malware protection and dashboards.
- 2.0GPA
CrashPlan
Free trial · from $2.50/mo
Business backup for laptops, servers, Microsoft 365 and Google.
- Only Carbonite lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only CrashPlan lists a Linux app.
- Carbonite also covers malware protection and dashboards.
- 2.4GPA
Arq Backup
Free trial · from $59.99 one-time
Encrypted Mac and Windows backup to storage you choose.
- Only Carbonite lists a web app.
- Only Carbonite lists iOS and Android apps.
- Arq Backup is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 1.6GPA
Jungle Disk
Paid
Endpoint backup and cloud network drive for small businesses.
- Only Carbonite lists a web app.
- Only Carbonite lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Jungle Disk lists a Linux app.
- 2.0GPA
Zoolz
Free trial · from $7.99/mo
Cloud backup for businesses, sold by storage tier.
- Only Carbonite lists iOS and Android apps.
- Carbonite also covers malware protection and dashboards.
- Zoolz also covers file sharing and file management.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Carbonite free?
No, Carbonite is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial on business plans; 30-day money-back guarantee on personal plans.
How much does Carbonite cost?
Carbonite lists 6 plans. Personal Basic: $71.99 per year for 1 computer, billed annually.
What platforms does Carbonite work on?
Carbonite is available on Windows, macOS, Web, iOS and Android.
How is Carbonite rated?
Carbonite's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.4 out of 5 from 1,111 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Does Carbonite have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Carbonite is listed for Windows, macOS, Web, iOS and Android.
Is Carbonite open source?
Carbonite is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Who makes Carbonite?
Carbonite is made by Open Text Corporation.
What are the alternatives to Carbonite?
The closest alternatives to Carbonite in our directory are IDrive, CrashPlan, Arq Backup, Jungle Disk and Zoolz.
How does Carbonite compare with other file storage and sync services?
Carbonite's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 34 of the 91 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 9.
Is Carbonite good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Carbonite C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $6 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $6.64 for the category: 25 of the 60 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Carbonite?
To replace Carbonite you would be making an engine that recognises new malware as it appears.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Carbonite’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Carbonite's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Open Text Corporation. Prices change, so check carbonite.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Carbonite, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/carbonite
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Carbonite: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/carbonite
Know someone choosing between file storage and sync services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/carbonite/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded file storage and sync services after Carbonite, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- File Storage & Sync Insider's GuideEvery one of the 92 file storage and sync services we grade, compared
- Google Drive Insider's GuideCloud storage tied to Google Docs, Gmail and Photos3.6 GPA
- Filen Insider's GuideEnd-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps3.4 GPA
- Microsoft OneDrive Insider's GuideMicrosoft's cloud storage, bundled with Microsoft 365 plans3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Carbonite’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Carbonite is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Open Text Corporation. Prices and plans change: check carbonite.com before you buy.