Our verdict · 8.3/10 Excellent
A favourite of privacy-minded users and small offices that want control. Not a centrally managed business backup platform.
Key takeaways
- Best for: Small offices with a few computers.
- Strongest area: Value for money (9.0/10). Weakest: Support & reliability (7.2/10).
- Price: $59.99 one-time per computer — free trial available.
- Watch out for: No central admin console.
What is Arq Backup?
Arq backs up computers with client-side encryption and versioning to storage you choose, from NAS drives to Backblaze B2, Wasabi, S3 or Google Drive. Arq Premium bundles 1 TB of storage for up to five computers.
Arq Backup is made by Arq Backup and is reviewed here as a backup service. It is priced on a one-time basis, and our editorial score is 8.3 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose Arq Backup if
- Small offices with a few computers
- Privacy-focused users
- Backing up to a NAS plus cloud
Not for you if
- Central management of many endpoints
- Server and VM backup
Key features
Data is encrypted before it leaves the computer.
Keep and restore older file versions.
NAS, SFTP, B2, Wasabi, S3, Google Drive, OneDrive.
Built-in 1 TB of cloud storage.
- Backblaze B2
- Wasabi
- Amazon S3
- Google Drive
- OneDrive
- Synology
Pros & cons
What we like
- Client-side encryption
- Use any storage destination
- One-time licence option
- Detailed versioning
Watch out for
- No central admin console
- You manage storage
- Smaller support team
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arq 7 | ≈ $59.99 / device / mo | One-time, bring your own storage |
| Arq Premium | ≈ $69.99 / yr | Up to 5 users · Includes 1 TB |
Pricing watch-out: Arq Premium is $69.99/year for up to 5 computers with 1 TB storage; extra storage $0.00699/GB/month.
True cost at 5, 10 and 25 seats
Cheapest paid plan that fits each team size, from indicative list prices checked November 5, 2026. Excludes tax, add-ons, onboarding fees and promotional discounts.
Pricing watch-outs
- Seat cap. Arq Premium is limited to 5 users; growing past that forces an upgrade.
- Yearly pricing. At least one plan is priced per year. Confirm whether monthly billing is offered and what it costs.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing, last checked November 5, 2026 (source). Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 7.8 | 2.00 | |
| Ease of use | 15% | 8.0 | 1.20 | |
| Value for money | 15% | 9.0 | 1.40 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 7.2 | 0.70 | |
| Security & privacy | 30% | 9.0 | 2.70 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 5% | 8.2 | 0.40 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for security products | 8.3 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask Arq Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for Arq Backup against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check Arq Backup’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any backup service
Check Arq Backup against the same list we use for every backup service — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Automatic, continuous backup
- Version history and retention
- Immutable or ransomware-protected storage
- Simple restore workflow
- Transparent storage pricing
See every ranked option in Backup & Recovery.
Arq Backup alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Cheaper
Backblaze≈ $6/mo vs $600/mo at 10 users (cheapest paid plans, indicative) - Has a free plan
Veeam Data PlatformArq Backup has no free plan; Veeam Data Platform does - Easier to useBackblazeEase-of-use score 9.4 vs 8.0
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as Arq Backup. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
Simple, unlimited computer backup and low-cost cloud storage.
Affordable multi-device cloud backup, plus S3-compatible object storage.
Automatic cloud backup for computers and servers, now part of OpenText.
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
Arq Backup FAQ
Is Arq a one-time purchase?
Arq 7 is a one-time licence per computer; Arq Premium is an annual subscription with storage.
Can Arq back up to a NAS?
Yes, along with most major cloud storage services.
Does Arq Backup have a free plan?
No, Arq Backup does not offer a permanent free plan, but a free trial is available. Pricing starts at $59.99 one-time per computer (indicative).
Who is Arq Backup best for?
Arq Backup is best for: small offices with a few computers; privacy-focused users; backing up to a NAS plus cloud.
How much does Arq Backup cost for a team of 10?
On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users (Arq 7) works out at roughly $600 per month, or about $7,199 per year, before tax, add-ons and discounts.
How is the Arq Backup score calculated?
The 8.3/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for security products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to Arq Backup?
Popular alternatives include Backblaze, IDrive, Carbonite. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.