Backblaze vs Datto: Complete Comparison 2026
An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.
Backblaze
8.6(5,200 reviews)
Simple, affordable cloud backup with unlimited storage for $9/month. No complex setup, no storage limits, and easy restores via download or USB drive.
Datto
8.8(3,400 reviews)
MSP-focused business continuity and disaster recovery platform with integrated backup appliances and instant cloud virtualization.
Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Backblaze | Datto |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Freelancers and creative professionals with terabytes of media files needing affordable unlimited backup | MSPs providing managed BDR services who need reliable instant recovery for small business clients |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Subscription |
| Starting Price | $6/mo | $100/mo |
| Deployment | cloud | hybrid |
| Platforms | WEB, WINDOWS, MAC | WEB, WINDOWS, LINUX |
| Rating | 8.6/10 | 8.8/10 |
Pros & Cons
Backblaze
Pros
- Unlimited backup storage at $9/month is the best price-to-value ratio in personal and small business backup
- Truly set-and-forget: install once, it backs up everything automatically with near-zero CPU and bandwidth impact
- USB drive restore option ships overnight so you can get terabytes of data back faster than downloading
- B2 Cloud Storage at $6/TB/month is a cheap, reliable S3-compatible target for Veeam and other backup tools
- Published hard drive reliability reports and transparent operations build genuine customer trust
Cons
- No server or VM backup capability at all—endpoints only, which limits usefulness for businesses with servers
- No bare-metal recovery or system image restore: if your drive dies, you restore files manually to a new machine
- No ransomware detection or protection—it will happily back up encrypted files without alerting you
- No centralized IT management beyond basic groups—enterprises need additional tools for policy enforcement
- File versioning keeps deleted files for only 30 days by default (extendable to 1 year for extra cost)
Datto
Pros
- Instant virtualization on local appliance or Datto cloud gets servers back online in minutes, not hours
- Inverse Chain Technology keeps the latest backup as a complete image—fastest possible restore of the most recent state
- Screenshot verification automatically proves every backup is bootable with daily OS-level confirmation
- Purpose-built for the MSP channel with multi-tenant management, automated billing, and partner support
- Cloud replication to Datto-owned infrastructure provides a true offsite safety net without third-party dependencies
Cons
- Hardware appliance costs ($2,500+) plus monthly cloud fees make it significantly more expensive than software-only solutions
- Kaseya ownership creates long-term pricing uncertainty—MSPs worry about future price increases after the acquisition
- Vendor lock-in is real: proprietary appliances and cloud infrastructure make migration to alternatives painful
- Not designed for direct enterprise use—the entire model assumes an MSP intermediary managing the deployment
- Cloud virtualization bandwidth depends on client internet speed, which can limit RTO for large environments
Pricing Comparison
| Product | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Backblaze | subscription | $6/mo |
| Datto | subscription | $100/mo |
Our Verdict
Choose Backblaze if...
Freelancers and creative professionals with terabytes of media files needing affordable unlimited backup
Choose Datto if...
MSPs providing managed BDR services who need reliable instant recovery for small business clients
Still Not Sure?
Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.