Backup & Recovery review

CrashPlan review

Unlimited endpoint backup per computer with long version retention.

ResearchedBy WhatsTheStack Editorial TeamLast verified

7.9GoodEditorial score / 10Editorial score 7.9 out of 10
Starting price
Around $10 / device / month
Free plan
No
Free trial
Yes
Visit CrashPlan

Prices are indicative; confirm on the vendor’s site.

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Our verdict · 7.9/10 Good

Simple, unlimited endpoint backup at a fair price. Limited for servers and SaaS.

Key takeaways

  • Best for: Laptop and desktop backup.
  • Strongest area: Security & privacy (8.4/10). Weakest: Integrations & ecosystem (6.6/10).
  • Price: Around $10 / device / month — free trial available.
  • Watch out for: Endpoint-focused only.

What is CrashPlan?

CrashPlan for Small Business backs up computers automatically with unlimited storage per device and unlimited version retention. Its focus on endpoints makes it a straightforward choice for protecting laptops and desktops.

CrashPlan is made by CrashPlan and is reviewed here as a backup service. It is priced on a subscription basis, and our editorial score is 7.9 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.

Who it’s for — and who should skip it

Choose CrashPlan if

  • Laptop and desktop backup
  • Small teams wanting unlimited storage
  • Long version history

Not for you if

  • Server or VM backup
  • SaaS data backup

Key features

Continuous backup

Back up files as they change.

Unlimited versions

Keep deleted files and versions.

Admin console

Manage devices centrally.

Ransomware recovery

Restore to a point before infection.

Integrates with
  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux

Pros & cons

What we like

  • Unlimited storage per device
  • Unlimited versions
  • Simple admin
  • Automatic backup

Watch out for

  • Endpoint-focused only
  • Restores can be slow for large data
  • Fewer extras

Pricing & true cost

ModelSubscription
Starts atAround $10 / device / month
Free planNot available
Free trialAvailable
CrashPlan pricing tiers (indicative)
PlanIndicative priceNotes
Essential≈ $10 / device / moMonthly
ProfessionalCustom quoteQuote

Pricing watch-out: Unlimited storage per device.

True cost at 5, 10 and 25 seats

5 seats$50/mo$600/yr · Essential
10 seats$100/mo$1,200/yr · Essential
25 seats$250/mo$3,000/yr · Essential

Cheapest paid plan that fits each team size, from indicative list prices checked October 31, 2026. Excludes tax, add-ons, onboarding fees and promotional discounts.

Pricing watch-outs

  • Quote-only tier. Professional has no public price. Ask for a written quote that includes onboarding and support fees.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
  1. Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
  2. Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
  3. Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
  4. Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
  5. Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
  6. 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 October 31, 2026. Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.

Score breakdown

How the CrashPlan score is calculated
CriterionWeightScoreWhat it meansPoints
Features & fit25% 7.4Excellent: Covers all core needs and most advanced needs; gaps are minor or niche.1.90
Ease of use15% 8.2Easy: Productive within a day; occasional help docs needed for advanced features.1.20
Value for money15% 8.2Good: Fair pricing; key features available on mid tiers; renewals predictable.1.20
Support & reliability10% 7.4Strong: Responsive support on paid tiers, strong docs and a good reliability record.0.70
Security & privacy30% 8.4Strong: MFA, encryption and admin controls as standard; audits published; minor gaps such as SSO only on top tiers.2.50
Integrations & ecosystem5% 6.6Adequate: Key integrations exist but others need an automation platform or workaround.0.30
Overall100%Weighted for security products7.9

Security & compliance facts

Security and compliance status for CrashPlan
ItemStatusQuestion to ask CrashPlan
Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords.Not verified by usCan 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 usIs 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 usCan 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 usWhich 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 usDo 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 usWill you sign a BAA, and on which plans?

We have not yet verified these items for CrashPlan against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check CrashPlan’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.

Before you buy any backup service

Check CrashPlan 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.

CrashPlan alternatives

Editor’s picks

Backblaze

Backup & Recovery

8.4Editorial score 8.4 out of 10

Simple, unlimited computer backup and low-cost cloud storage.

From
Computer backup around $9 / computer / month (billed annually for less)
Free plan
No
Researched
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Carbonite

Backup & Recovery

7.9Editorial score 7.9 out of 10

Automatic cloud backup for computers and servers, now part of OpenText.

From
From around $6 / month per computer (billed annually)
Free plan
No
Researched
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IDrive

Backup & Recovery

8.2Editorial score 8.2 out of 10

Affordable multi-device cloud backup, plus S3-compatible object storage.

From
Business from around $100 / year for 250 GB
Free plan
Yes
Researched
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Featured in: Best Cloud Backup Software for Small Business

Review history

  1. Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).

CrashPlan FAQ

Is CrashPlan unlimited?

Yes, storage is unlimited per device on small business plans.

Does CrashPlan back up servers?

It is focused on endpoints; consider server-focused tools for servers.

Does CrashPlan have a free plan?

No, CrashPlan does not offer a permanent free plan, but a free trial is available. Pricing starts at Around $10 / device / month (indicative).

Who is CrashPlan best for?

CrashPlan is best for: laptop and desktop backup; small teams wanting unlimited storage; long version history.

How much does CrashPlan cost for a team of 10?

On indicative list prices, the cheapest paid plan that fits 10 users (Essential) works out at roughly $100 per month, or about $1,200 per year, before tax, add-ons and discounts.

How is the CrashPlan score calculated?

The 7.9/10 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 CrashPlan?

Popular alternatives include Backblaze, Carbonite, IDrive. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.

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