Backblaze Personal Backup

Continuously back up a selected computer to user-owned object storage and test restores

NOT REALLY · consider alternatives
price $9/mo per seatsubscription / year $108estimated build time closest consolation build: one sittingreplaced by 0 people

A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Backblaze Personal Backup, continuously back up a selected computer to user-owned object storage and test restores. The hard boundary is unlimited backup economics, client reliability, restore logistics, support, and durable infrastructure, plus reliability, durability, and cross-device sync.

Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability

What you give up

  • unlimited backup economics, client reliability, restore logistics, support, and durable infrastructure
  • global sync network
  • battle-tested conflict resolution
  • ransomware recovery guarantees
  • mobile clients and support

Why people still pay

People still pay for Backblaze Personal Backup because storage subscriptions sell confidence that files will still exist after a lost device, bad sync, or provider incident. The recurring cost buys chunking, encryption, conflict detection, versions, garbage collection, bandwidth, restore drills, monitoring, billing, and disaster recovery, not just the visible interface.

Your build guide

The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.

Before you start

  • user-owned server or S3-compatible bucket
  • PostgreSQL
  • MinIO or object storage
  • desktop filesystem permissions
  • backup key stored offline
01
Use Next.js 15, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, MinIO, and a Tauri 2 sync client.
02
Store version metadata, tombstones, device identifiers, and integrity checks in PostgreSQL.
03
Interface for this file sync, sharing and backup workflow: a desktop window with source import, a work list, and result export.
engineering roadmap

Implementation plan

1

Phase 1, architecture and data

Use Next.js 15, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, MinIO, and a Tauri 2 sync client. Store version metadata, tombstones, device identifiers, and integrity checks in PostgreSQL.

2

Phase 2, implement

Add file history, point-in-time restore, key export, storage usage, and scheduled restore tests.

3

Phase 3, implement

Continuously back up selected folders, encrypt files client-side, track versions, restore them from user-owned object storage, and test restores regularly.

4

Phase 4, review and output

Continuously back up a selected computer to user-owned object storage and test restores. Add file history, point-in-time restore, key export, storage usage, and scheduled restore tests.

5

Phase 5, recovery and acceptance

Provide upload and restore queues with pause, retry, bandwidth limits, and resumable transfers. Verify this invariant with a saved fixture: An invalid input or interrupted operation must retain the source and show a recoverable state; exported records must reload with the same IDs. State the practical limit: unlimited backup economics, client reliability, restore logistics, support, and durable infrastructure.

the pro prompt
Build me a focused file sync, sharing and backup workflow for the personal core of Backblaze Personal Backup. Requirements:

- Use Next.js 15, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, MinIO, and a Tauri 2 sync client. Store version metadata, tombstones, device identifiers, and integrity checks in PostgreSQL.
- Paid product context: Continuously back up a selected computer to user-owned object storage and test restores. Build only this DIY scope: Continuously back up selected folders, encrypt files client-side, track versions, restore them from user-owned object storage, and test restores regularly.
- Add file history, point-in-time restore, key export, storage usage, and scheduled restore tests.
- Continuously back up selected folders, encrypt files client-side, track versions, restore them from user-owned object storage, and test restores regularly.
- Continuously back up a selected computer to user-owned object storage and test restores.
- Use a desktop window with source import, a work list, and result export. Required input or access: user-owned server or S3-compatible bucket; MinIO or object storage.
- Recovery: Provide upload and restore queues with pause, retry, bandwidth limits, and resumable transfers.
- Acceptance: with one labelled sample, show the input, saved intermediate state, and exported result; verify this invariant: An invalid input or interrupted operation must retain the source and show a recoverable state; exported records must reload with the same IDs.
- Out of scope: unlimited backup economics, client reliability, restore logistics, support, and durable infrastructure; global sync network. Keep this a personal, inspectable workflow.
- Include a README with setup, a sample input, required keys or permissions, data location, and the supported scope.

$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy AGENTS.md · generated from this app's build plan

share on X ↗

Alternatives to building your own

DuplicatiBrowser-driven encrypted backups to nearly any storage target, with more knobs than charm.15kjul 2026open source↗KopiaEncrypted snapshots to storage you choose; the cloud bill and restore drills are still yours.14kaug 2026open source↗BBackrestRestic with buttons, schedules, checks, and enough guardrails to avoid living in a terminal.7.1kaug 2026open source↗

all 3 free alternatives to Backblaze Personal Backup →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real

Backblaze Personal Backup pricing

planmonthlyannual (per mo)what you get
computer backup$9$8.25Unlimited backup data for 1 computer plus directly attached external drives; NAS devices are excluded.$99/year; a 2-year term is $189, equivalent to about $7.88/month.

free tierno permanent free tier; 15-day trial

billingmonthly + annual + 2-year; subscriptions are priced per computer

hidden costs30-day version history is standard; 1-year history can be enabled without an added recurring fee, while Forever Version History bills data older than 1 year at $0.006/GB/month. Shipped USB restores require an upfront device charge, refundable only if returned within the stated window.

pricing sources checked 2026-08-11 · pricing source ↗

Questions about Backblaze Personal Backup

Can you build your own Backblaze Personal Backup with AI?

A full replacement is not the recommended project. A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Backblaze Personal Backup, continuously back up a selected computer to user-owned object storage and test restores. The hard boundary is unlimited backup economics, client reliability, restore logistics, support, and durable infrastructure, plus reliability, durability, and cross-device sync.

What does the Backblaze Personal Backup build prompt cover?

The prompt starts with this scope: Continuously back up selected folders, encrypt files client-side, track versions, restore them from user-owned object storage, and test restores regularly. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: unlimited backup economics, client reliability, restore logistics, support, and durable infrastructure; global sync network; battle-tested conflict resolution. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.

How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?

Start with the Backblaze Personal Backup prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.

How long will this Backblaze Personal Backup project take?

The catalogue estimate is closest consolation build: one sitting for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.

What would I give up by replacing Backblaze Personal Backup?

unlimited backup economics, client reliability, restore logistics, support, and durable infrastructure; global sync network; battle-tested conflict resolution; ransomware recovery guarantees; mobile clients and support. People still pay for Backblaze Personal Backup because storage subscriptions sell confidence that files will still exist after a lost device, bad sync, or provider incident. The recurring cost buys chunking, encryption, conflict detection, versions, garbage collection, bandwidth, restore drills, monitoring, billing, and disaster recovery, not just the visible interface.

What price is this guide comparing against?

The recorded Computer Backup plan is $9/mo per seat (monthly per computer), checked 2026-07-31. Check the linked pricing source before buying. Building your own also has hosting, API and maintenance costs; the recorded amount is not a guaranteed saving.

What can I use instead of building Backblaze Personal Backup?

Duplicati: Browser-driven encrypted backups to nearly any storage target, with more knobs than charm. Kopia: Encrypted snapshots to storage you choose; the cloud bill and restore drills are still yours. Backrest: Restic with buttons, schedules, checks, and enough guardrails to avoid living in a terminal. Compare all listed options at https://howtovibecodeit.dev/backblaze-personal-backup/alternatives. Check each option's license, hosting needs and feature limits.

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