Backblaze vs Box: Which One Do You Actually Need?

Backblaze and Box solve different problems — one is cheap offsite backup/object storage, the other is enterprise file sharing and collaboration. Here's how they compare on price, features, and use case.

Updated 2026-10 · 2026

Backblaze

Unlimited cloud backup and low-cost object storage

$9/mo per computer (unlimited backup) or $6/TB/mo (B2 storage)computer or TB/month

Strengths

+Unlimited backup storage for a flat fee per computer
+B2 Cloud Storage is among the cheapest S3-compatible object storage available
+Free egress up to 3x your average monthly storage (useful for CDN/restore workflows)

Weaknesses

-No real collaboration, commenting, or document editing features
-Not built for sharing files with external clients/teams on an ongoing basis
-No granular enterprise permissions or workflow automation

Best for

Individuals and small teams needing cheap offsite backup or raw cloud storage, not file collaboration

Box

Enterprise content management and secure file collaboration

Free (10GB, individual) / Business from $20/user/mouser/month

Strengths

+Real-time co-editing with Office 365 and Google Workspace
+Granular permissions, retention policies, and legal hold for compliance
+Deep integrations (Slack, Salesforce, DocuSign, Microsoft 365)

Weaknesses

-Expensive per-seat pricing once you add Business Plus or Enterprise features
-Storage limits even on paid tiers unless on Business or higher
-Not designed as a backup target for full computer/system backups

Best for

Teams that need secure external file sharing, collaboration, and compliance controls

Feature Comparison

Feature	Backblaze	Box
Primary use case	Backup & object storage	File sharing & collaboration
Free tier	No (15-day trial)	Yes — 10GB free (Individual)
Unlimited storage option	Yes (Computer Backup plan)	No (capped by plan, even Business)
Real-time document co-editing	No	Yes (Office 365 / Google Docs integration)
S3-compatible API	Yes (B2 Cloud Storage)	No (REST API, not S3-compatible)
Version history	30 days default, extendable	Yes, with configurable retention
External sharing controls	Basic share links (B2)	Advanced — expiration, passwords, watermarking
Compliance (HIPAA, SOC2, legal hold)	SOC2, limited compliance tooling	Extensive (HIPAA, FedRAMP, legal hold, retention policies)
SSO / enterprise admin controls	No	Yes (Business plans and up)
Pricing model	Flat fee per computer or pay-per-TB	Per-user/month, tiered plans
Egress costs	Free up to 3x storage (B2)	Not applicable (no egress billing)
Best suited team size	Solo / small teams / developers	Small to large teams, including enterprise

The Verdict

Backblaze and Box aren't really competitors — Backblaze is the cheapest way to back up computers or store large volumes of data, while Box is built for teams that need to share, co-edit, and govern files with compliance controls. If you're paying for Box just to store and back up files without collaboration needs, you're overpaying; switch to Backblaze's B2 or Computer Backup and save significantly. If you need external sharing, admin controls, or Office/Google integration, Box's cost is justified.

How to switch from Backblaze to Box

1Export your data from Backblaze: for B2 Cloud Storage, use rclone or the B2 CLI (`b2 sync`) to download bucket contents to local disk; for Computer Backup, initiate a restore from the web dashboard and download the ZIP (or order a USB drive for large datasets).
2Unzip and organize restored files locally, checking folder structure and file integrity before uploading anywhere.
3Create your Box account and set up a Business plan if you need multiple users, then install Box Drive or use the web uploader to bring files in.
4Recreate any automated backup jobs in a dedicated backup tool (Box isn't a backup replacement) — pair Box with a proper backup solution if you still need offsite backup coverage.
5Reconnect integrations: set up Box's Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Slack connections, and migrate any API-based workflows from B2's S3-compatible endpoints to Box's native API.
6Invite your team to Box, assign folder permissions, and turn off Backblaze billing once all data and workflows are confirmed working in Box.

Backblaze vs Box: common questions

How do I export my data from Backblaze to Box?+

If you're using Backblaze B2, use the B2 CLI or any S3-compatible client (like Cyberduck or rclone) to download your bucket contents, then upload them into Box via the web app, Box Drive, or the Box API. If you're using Backblaze Computer Backup, you'll need to restore your files first (as a ZIP via web browser or USB drive shipment), extract them, and then upload to Box manually or with Box's sync client.

What features do I lose moving from Backblaze to Box?+

You lose unlimited flat-rate backup storage and the low per-TB object storage pricing — Box's storage is capped by plan and costs more per GB at scale. You also lose the S3-compatible API if you were using B2 for app/developer storage, since Box uses its own REST API instead.

Is Box's free tier enough for a small team?+

Box's free Individual plan (10GB) is meant for one person, not a team — there's no team/admin layer until you hit a paid Business plan starting at $20/user/month (3-seat minimum). For small teams needing shared folders, SSO, and admin controls, budget for at least Business Starter ($5/user/mo, 100GB) or Business.

Does Box integrate with the tools we already use?+

Yes — Box has mature integrations with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Salesforce, DocuSign, and Zoom, plus an open API for custom workflows. Backblaze has far fewer native integrations since it's built as storage infrastructure, not a collaboration layer.

Will switching from Backblaze to Box cost more long-term?+

Likely yes, if you're comparing raw storage costs — Box's per-user pricing adds up fast for teams storing large volumes of data, versus Backblaze's flat per-TB or per-computer rates. But if you need collaboration, sharing, and compliance features Backblaze doesn't offer, the added cost reflects genuinely different functionality, not just markup.