How much does Carbonite cost in 2026? Plans and value, broken down
Carbonite pricing can look dense; this page breaks it down clearly. Carbonite sits in the cloud backup space and offers paid plans only, with the paid tiers laid out below from its public pricing page.
Veteran set-and-forget unlimited backup for a single computer, now under OpenText. Carbonite keeps things paid-only, so budget for a subscription from day one. Set-and-forget unlimited automatic backup for a single computer, a long-standing consumer/SMB backup brand (OpenText).
Plans & pricing tiers
| Plan | Price (approx.) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Basic | ~$4.91-8.34/mo (~$99.99/yr) | unlimited, 1 computer, no external drives |
| Safe Plus | ~$6.99/mo (~$132/yr) | adds external drive backup |
| Safe Prime | ~$8.74/mo (~$162/yr) | adds courier recovery |
| Business | from ~$24/mo | multi-computer, tiered storage |
Pricing here reflects published tiers at the time of writing; confirm current costs, billing cycle and local taxes with the vendor.
Prices verified 2026-06-28 from public vendor pricing. Plans and prices change — always confirm on the vendor's own site. No price here is guaranteed.
What you're paying for
The capabilities you are paying for with Carbonite include:
- Automatic continuous backup with unlimited storage for one computer (personal)
- Set-and-forget scheduling with encryption in transit and at rest
- Courier recovery (physical disk) on the Prime tier
- External drive backup on Plus and Prime tiers
- Optional private encryption key for advanced privacy
Feature availability varies by tier, so cross-check the plan column before settling on one.
Which plan to pick
Carbonite is built for non-technical users wanting fully automatic, hands-off backup for one computer. Match that description and the Safe Basic plan (~$4.91-8.34/mo (~$99.99/yr)) is where to start; a higher tier earns its cost only when you need set-and-forget.
Is Carbonite worth it?
Paid access starts at roughly $8.34 per month. If personal-backup is your goal, start low: the cheapest paid tier covers it for most users, and set-and-forget is what eventually pushes you up a level. If money is tight, weigh the entry tier against rival tools before you commit.
Pricing watch-outs
- More expensive and slower than rivals like Backblaze for similar value.
- Personal plans offer unlimited storage for a single computer.
Drawn from independent reviews and the vendor's own plan details (see sources below).
With Carbonite, cost is driven more by the plan you choose than by raw usage, which makes budgeting simpler than with seat- or usage-metered tools.
Pricing FAQ
Does Carbonite have a free plan?
Carbonite is a paid tool without a standing free plan; check its site for any current trial or money-back window.
How much does Carbonite cost?
Its cheapest paid plan, Safe Basic, lists at ~$4.91-8.34/mo (~$99.99/yr). Paid access starts at roughly $8.34 per month. The exact bill depends on billing cycle and how many seats or how much usage you need.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Carbonite?
There are cheaper cloud backup options that cover the core job; the Carbonite alternatives page lines up their entry costs for you.
Is Carbonite cheaper billed annually?
The summarised prices reflect annual billing where the vendor advertises it; monthly billing is typically higher, so the yearly commitment is the cheaper route if you're confident in the tool.
Which Carbonite plan should I choose?
If you fit that profile, begin on the Safe Basic plan (~$4.91-8.34/mo (~$99.99/yr)) and upgrade later, when set-and-forget becomes a real constraint.
Sources
Figures and facts on this page are drawn from the following Carbonite sources, so you can verify them yourself: