IDrive vs Permafiles
IDrive
idrive.comPermafiles
permafiles.comSide by side
| Figure | IDrive | Permafiles |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.25/mo | £1.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 16 | 8 |
| Spec score · Photo Storage Services | 9.3 (#6) | 8.9 (#7) |
| Headquarters | Calabasas, California, United States | United Kingdom |
| Product | IDrive backs up computers, mobile devices, servers, and NAS devices to one account. | Permafiles is fully managed cloud storage powered by the open source Nextcloud platform. |
| Security | IDrive says data is encrypted with 256-bit AES in transit and at rest, and private encryption keys are not stored on its servers. | The service describes HTTPS/TLS, two-factor authentication, brute-force protection, antivirus protection, and optional end-to-end encryption for supported folders and use cases. |
| Support | IDrive says it offers 24/7 support via live chat, email, and phone. | The contact page promises replies within 24 hours and offers live chat during office hours. |
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
Permafiles
- Nextcloud FreeFree
- Nextcloud Tiny£1.99 a month
- Nextcloud Small£2.99 a month
- Nextcloud Medium£3.99 a month
- Nextcloud Large£4.99 a month
- Nextcloud 1TB£9.99 a month
- Nextcloud 2TB£18.99 a month
- Nextcloud 3TB£27.99 a month
In their own words
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.
Permafiles
Permafiles is managed cloud storage built on the open-source Nextcloud platform, for files, photos, and folders. Users can share family photos and set permissions controlling who may access, edit, or download them. Shared links can also have passwords and expiration dates. Nextcloud Office supports online editing of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, while Nextcloud Talk provides calls with up to 10 people. The Nextcloud Mail app can connect to Gmail and other email services through IMAP and SMTP. Sync clients are listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, with web access as well. Security measures described include HTTPS/TLS, two-factor authentication, brute-force and antivirus protection, and optional end-to-end encryption for supported folders and use cases. Permafiles says its server infrastructure is hosted in Germany, while customer file data is stored with third-party S3-compatible storage in the United Kingdom. It also says it makes daily offsite backups and can restore a complete server failure within a couple of hours. The free plan includes 5 GB. Paid plans range from £1.99 per month for 64 GB to £27.99 per month for 3 TB.