GWS Backup vs IDrive
GWS Backup
gwsbackup.com
IDrive
idrive.comSide by side
| Figure | GWS Backup | IDrive |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $0.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 16 |
| Spec score · Google Workspace Backup Software | 8.1 (#8) | 9.1 (#2) |
| Headquarters | Christchurch, Dorset, United Kingdom | Calabasas, California, United States |
| Security | The product supports 2FA login security and separate administration and restore-operation roles. | IDrive says data is encrypted with 256-bit AES in transit and at rest, and private encryption keys are not stored on its servers. |
| Support | Support is free and available by email; the maker says a person reads support messages. | IDrive says it offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone. |
Plans
IDrive
- IDrive Mini$0.25 a month
- IDrive Personal$11.99 a month
- IDrive Team$11.99 a month
- IDrive Business$59.99 a month
- IDrive Mini$3 a year
- IDrive Personal$119.88 a year
- IDrive Team$119.88 a year
- IDrive Business$239.88 a year
- BasicFree
- Microsoft Office 365 Backup$20 a year
In their own words
GWS Backup
GWS Backup is self-hosted software for backing up Google Workspace Gmail, Drive, Shared Drives, Calendars and Contacts. It can send backups to Google Drive, local disks or NAS, Amazon S3, and Azure Blob storage. After its initial full backup, it transfers only new mail and changed files. Restores can cover a workspace, account, folder, email or file, including transfer to a different user or download. Deleted source items remain in backup for one year; operators can configure version history and vault pruning. A live monitor shows transfers, and an audit trail records actions and backup results. Security options include 2FA and separate administration and restore roles. The maker says backups stay in storage controlled by the customer and do not pass through its infrastructure. Deployment options include Windows, Linux, cPanel and Docker. GWS Backup requires Node.js 22.5 or newer and an activated licence key. Its plan is free, covering up to 10 client workspaces and unlimited accounts, with one running installation per licence key.
IDrive
IDrive backs up computers, mobile devices, servers, and NAS devices to one account, with apps and access for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and the web. Its free Basic plan provides 10 GB of storage without a credit card; paid plans start at $0.25 per month for IDrive Mini, which includes 100 GB for one user. Backup and restore options cover files, devices, earlier versions, deleted files, disk images, and IDrive Express. The service retains up to 30 earlier versions of each backed-up file, and Snapshots provide point-in-time recovery. True Archiving keeps files in the account until you delete them or run Archive Cleanup. IDrive says it encrypts data in transit and at rest using 256-bit AES, with private keys optional, and that stored versions and Snapshots support recovery after ransomware incidents. Add-ons provide backup for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Dropbox, and Box. Team and Business plans include multi-user administration. Support is available 24/7 by live chat, email, and phone.