SpiderOak Editor's Review

SpiderOak Backup, sync and protect your data with this cross platform, cloud-based tool.

Cloud storage is something that everyone should have. Everyone. Period. Everywhere. You should also have more than one backup or instance of your data on more than one service. You should be using, for example, OneDrive AND Google Drive AND Dropbox AND SpiderOak. Yes... SpiderOak. It’s a very cool, very secure, multi-platform, cloud-based sync service, and it's pretty cool.

Back in 2011, one of the first articles I wrote for InformationWeek was a roundup of cloud-based backup services, and SpiderOak made the cut then. It’s a GREAT service that doesn’t get half as much lime light as it really deserves. Its biggest draw – privacy. SpiderOak can't look at your data. They don't have your encryption keys.

SpiderOak encrypts all of your data on its servers. This means that only YOU can get at your data. No plaintext data, no keys, or file meta data is ever stored on their servers. All this ensures absolute confidentiality of your data. SpiderOak couldn't decrypt it, even if ordered to by a court of law. The service is fast. I've been using it for quite some time now, and SpiderOak always has my data up and synchronized well before any of the other services I use. I'm not certain if it’s the compression they're using or some other feature; but it's always, quick, accurate and reliable.

App Pro’s: Competitively priced storage plans, easy to use, 100% private

App Con’s: Free plan doesn't offer enough storage space

Conclusion: SpiderOak is the leading private backup solution and has 100% Zero Knowledge of your data. You can get 2GB of space for free, or 1TB of space for only $12 a month. Plans start at $7 a month for 30GB; and go up to 5TB. You can pay monthly or annually; and you can upgrade, downgrade or cancel your plan at any time.

The only issue that I see with SpiderOak is the same issue that I see with OneDrive – they don't offer enough space on their free plan; and then their 1TB plan is $2USD more expensive than Google Drive. However, that shouldn't deter you for using this 100% private service. SpiderOak is an awesome service and one that I can't recommend highly enough. Stop what you're doing and download it now, especially if privacy and cloud storage is a concern to you. This is a must have.