BackupKit vs CrashPlan

CrashPlan's pitch is appealing: continuous, near-unlimited backup to its cloud, with long version history, on a per-device subscription. For a single machine with a lot of data and a need for “just keep everything, forever,” it does that job well.

BackupKit takes the bring-your-own-storage route. There's no CrashPlan-style unlimited cloud included — instead you back up to storage you own and control, encrypted with your own key. The trade is “unlimited someone-else's-cloud” for “exactly the storage you choose, fully under your control.”

Where CrashPlan genuinely wins

Effectively unlimited storage and continuous backup. If you have several terabytes and don't want to provision or pay for storage separately, CrashPlan's included capacity and always-on, near-real-time protection with deep version history is hard to replicate with bring-your-own-storage. That's its real advantage, and it's a good one.

Where BackupKit wins

Ownership and keys. Your backups land on your storage, encrypted client-side with a key that never leaves your device. The destination can't read your data, and your data isn't hostage to an active subscription — if your license lapses, the encrypted archives are still on your NAS or cloud drive.

No per-device cloud tax. CrashPlan bills per device, continuously. BackupKit is $6/mo, $50/yr, or $149 lifetime, covering multiple personal devices, with storage costs that are whatever you already pay (often near zero if you own a NAS or have spare cloud space).

Continuous vs. scheduled

CrashPlan backs up continuously as files change. BackupKit runs on a schedule you set (daily, weekly, or custom intervals) with retention and versioning. For most documents and projects, a frequent schedule is plenty; if you need sub-minute, always-on capture of constantly changing files, CrashPlan's model fits that better.

Bottom line

Pick CrashPlan if you want effectively unlimited, continuous cloud backup with long version history and don't want to manage storage yourself — and you're fine keeping your data in their cloud on an ongoing subscription.

Pick BackupKit if you want to own where your backups live, hold your own encryption keys, avoid a per-device cloud subscription, and keep restorable archives that outlive any license.