Tusk is a Mac app that automatically backs up your project folders to multiple locations and tracks where every file lives — even when your drives aren't connected.
Cloud backup for Mac means paying a service to keep independent copies of your files offsite, so a fire, theft, or drive failure at home doesn't take everything. That's different from cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud), which syncs and mirrors whatever's on your Mac. Cloud storage is not a backup. This guide covers services that actually are.
The category splits into two approaches: whole-Mac backup with no config (Backblaze), and software that lets you pick folders and your own cloud destination (Arq, Tusk).
Neither replaces local backup. Cloud restore of 500GB over home internet takes days. Cloud backup is one layer in a 3-2-1 setup: your offsite copy, not your whole strategy.
TL;DR: Backblaze Personal ($99/year) for unlimited whole-Mac backup with zero config. iDrive ($70/year for 5TB) for multi-device households. Arq ($49.99 one-time + storage costs) if you want to pick your own S3 bucket and control encryption. Tusk for project-level backup to S3 or Google Drive alongside local drives.
What to Look for in Mac Cloud Backup
What gets backed up. Whole Mac (Backblaze), selected folders (Arq, Tusk), or multi-device (iDrive).
Storage limits. Unlimited (Backblaze Personal) vs capped pools (iDrive 5TB, Arq Premium 1TB).
External drive support. Backblaze backs up drives connected in the last 30 days. Arq and Tusk let you choose which folders on external drives to include.
Encryption. Client-side encryption (you hold the key) vs server-side (provider can access). Arq encrypts before upload. Backblaze encrypts in transit and at rest but holds the key unless you add a private encryption key.
Version history. How many past versions of a changed file are kept. Arq excels here. Backblaze keeps versions for 30 days (extendable).
Restore speed. Download over internet (slow for large video) vs mailed hard drive (Backblaze offers this for a fee).
Backblaze Personal Backup
Price: $99/year ($9/month) for one computer. $189 for two years.
Storage: Unlimited.
What it backs up: Your entire Mac, including user files, and external drives that have been connected within the last 30 days.
Backblaze is the simplest option. Install the app, point it at your Mac, and it runs continuously in the background. No decisions about which folders to include. No per-GB billing.
The catch for creatives: the 30-day rule on external drives. If you archive a drive over winter and don't plug it in for 31 days, that data falls out of coverage. Backblaze is designed for active working drives, not cold storage.
Large restores are slow. Downloading 400GB over a home connection takes days. Backblaze offers a mailed USB hard drive restore (extra cost) for large recoveries.
Best for: whole-Mac offsite backup as a hands-off layer. One machine, lots of data, minimal configuration.
iDrive
Price: ~$70/year for 5TB (Personal plan, first-year discounts common). ~$99.50/year after renewal.
Storage: 5TB shared across all devices.
What it backs up: Multiple computers, phones, and tablets under one account.
iDrive makes sense when you have more devices than data per device. A MacBook, a Mac Studio, an iPhone, and an iPad all backed up to one 5TB pool. The math works for moderate data volumes across many devices.
The math breaks when one machine has 4TB of video footage. You'd fill 5TB with a single workstation. For a solo creative with terabytes of footage, Backblaze's unlimited plan wins on value.
iDrive supports external drives, NAS backup (via desktop client), and client-side encryption with a private key.
Best for: multi-device households with moderate storage needs per machine.
Arq Backup
Price: $49.99 one-time per computer (perpetual license including one year of updates; volume discounts apply for multiple Macs). Arq Premium: $6/month for up to 5 devices with 1TB of included storage.
Storage: You choose. Pair with Backblaze B2 ($6/TB/month), Wasabi, AWS S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, or a local NAS.
Arq is software, not a storage service. You buy the app once, pick your cloud destination, and configure which folders to back up. Everything is encrypted client-side with a key you control. The cloud provider cannot read your files.
Arq keeps full version history. Every version of every changed file is retained (subject to your retention settings). If a Lightroom catalog gets corrupted and you don't notice for two weeks, you can restore an earlier version.
For video editors, Arq works best for project files, catalogs, and exports. Backing up terabytes of raw footage through Arq to B2 is possible but slow and adds up in storage costs. Use Arq for the files that change and matter, not every RAW clip you've already archived locally.
Best for: encrypted cloud backup with version history, especially if you already use S3-compatible storage.
Backblaze B2 (Cloud Storage, Not Personal Backup)
Price: $6/TB/month ($0.006/GB). Free egress up to 3x stored volume per month.
B2 is object storage, not a personal backup app. You need software (Arq, Tusk, Synology Hyper Backup) to push files to it. The B2 vs Wasabi vs R2 comparison covers pricing details.
Best for: the cloud destination behind a backup tool, especially for large archives where you control what goes up.
Tusk (Project Backup to Cloud)
Price: $79 one-time (Mac app). Cloud storage costs separate.
Tusk isn't a cloud backup service. It's a Mac app that backs up your project folders to S3-compatible storage (including B2 and Wasabi) and Google Drive, alongside local external drives.
The difference from Arq: Tusk is project-aware. It watches folders continuously, handles SD card ingest, tracks file status per destination, and tells you what's safe to delete locally. Arq is better for whole-folder cloud archiving with version history. Tusk is better for the creative workflow where you need to know which drive has the January shoot.
Best for: photographers and video editors who want project-level backup to cloud and local drives in one tool.
Sync.com and pCloud (Sync, Not Backup)
Sync.com and pCloud are cloud storage with sync. Files mirror between your Mac and the cloud. Delete locally, delete in the cloud. They're useful for sharing and access, not for backup.
The difference matters. Cloud storage is not a backup. Sync services propagate deletions and overwrites. Backup services keep independent copies.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Service | Price | Storage | Devices | External drives | Client-side encryption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backblaze Personal | $99/year | Unlimited | 1 Mac | Yes (30-day rule) | Optional private key |
| iDrive Personal | ~$70/year | 5TB | Multiple | Yes | Yes |
| Arq + B2 | ~$50 app + $6/TB/mo | Pay per use | 1-5 Macs | Yes (selected folders) | Yes |
| Tusk + B2 | $79 app + $6/TB/mo | Pay per use | 1 Mac | Yes (project folders) | Via cloud provider |
Which Cloud Backup Should You Pick?
One Mac, lots of data, want zero config: Backblaze Personal.
Multiple devices, moderate data each: iDrive.
Want encryption you control and version history: Arq + B2.
Creative workflow with project folders, SD cards, and multiple drives: Tusk + B2 (or Google Drive).
Most photographers and video editors end up with local drives for speed and cloud for offsite. The cheapest storage comparison helps with the local side.
FAQ
Backblaze Personal at $99/year is the best set-and-forget option for whole-Mac backup with unlimited storage. iDrive at ~$70/year for 5TB is better for multi-device households. Arq Backup ($49.99 one-time) paired with Backblaze B2 ($6/TB/month) is best if you want client-side encryption and full version history. For creative project workflows with external drives and SD card ingest, Tusk ($79 one-time) backing up to B2 or Google Drive covers the project-level use case the others miss.
For personal use on a single Mac, yes. Backblaze Personal backs up all user data on your internal drive and external drives connected within the last 30 days with no storage cap. The 30-day rule is the main limitation: unplug an archive drive for more than 30 days and it drops from coverage. Backblaze also doesn't back up system files, applications, or caches. For terabytes of video footage on a single machine, it's genuinely one of the best value options available.
Backblaze Personal: $99/year flat (unlimited on one Mac). iDrive: you'd need a higher-tier plan above the 5TB personal tier. Arq + B2: roughly $60/month for 10TB storage ($6/TB), plus the $49.99 Arq license. Wasabi: about $80/month for 10TB ($7.99/TB). For large video libraries, Backblaze Personal is the simplest math if it's all on one computer. For selective folder backup, B2 or Wasabi through Arq or Tusk lets you back up only what matters.
No. iCloud Drive syncs files between your Mac and Apple's servers. Delete a file on your Mac and it deletes in iCloud. iCloud is storage and sync, not backup. Apple does offer iCloud device backups for iPhone and iPad, but macOS doesn't have an equivalent automatic whole-Mac cloud backup through iCloud. For Mac cloud backup, you need a dedicated service like Backblaze, iDrive, or Arq.
No. Cloud restore of large video files is too slow for cloud to be your only copy. Downloading 500GB over a typical home upload connection (30-50 Mbps up) takes days. Backblaze offers mailed drive restores for emergencies, but that's not a daily workflow. Use cloud as the offsite layer in a 3-2-1 setup. Local SSDs and HDDs handle daily offloads, editing, and fast recovery. Cloud handles the 'my apartment flooded' scenario.