Researched comparison
Best Backup Software for Architecture Firms in 2026
Tierlyn may earn a fee from some links on this page, and some placements are paid and labelled. Neither one decides the order. See our disclosure.
CrashPlan is the best pick for most architecture firms, because its endpoint plan offers unlimited cloud storage and unlimited versioning for active workstation files. It costs $88 per user per year billed annually, from the CrashPlan pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026. Server and NAS data need separate cover, so pair it with a server backup plan for shared project archives.
Key takeaways
- CrashPlan is the best pick for most firms for workstation CAD and BIM files, on unlimited storage and versioning.
- Backblaze Business Backup is a simple per computer option for Mac and PC workstations, but it does not cover servers.
- IDrive Business suits small pooled storage needs, but its 250 GB entry tier is too small for most CAD libraries.
- Acronis Cyber Protect suits firms that want server, virtual machine, and workstation cover in one console.
- Always back up linked references with the main file, and test a full project restore, not one file.
Contents
- Comparison
- CrashPlan
- Acronis Cyber Protect
- Backblaze Business Backup
- IDrive Business
- Veeam Data Platform
- Datto Business Continuity
- Which tool handles large CAD and BIM files best?
- How much version history does a firm need?
- Should a firm back up workstations, servers, or both?
- How does a firm keep a safe offsite copy?
- FAQ
- How we choose
Tier labels are an editorial grouping, not a number and not a rating out of any total. S means a top tier pick for most readers. A means a strong choice with a clear strength. B means a solid option for a specific need.
Comparison at a glance
Comparison
| Tool | Best for | Standout feature | Price range | Free plan/trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrashPlan | Most architecture firms | Unlimited endpoint storage and versioning | $88 per user per year, billed annually (2 Nov 2026) | Free trial stated |
| Acronis Cyber Protect | Mixed server and workstation estates | One console for devices and servers | $85.00 per year per workstation (2 Nov 2026) | Trial stated on vendor page |
| Backblaze Business Backup | Simple Mac and PC backup | Unlimited data per computer | $99 per computer per year (2 Nov 2026) | Trial stated on vendor page |
| IDrive Business | Small pooled storage | Unlimited users on one storage plan | $99.50 per year for 250 GB (2 Nov 2026) | Free trial stated |
| Veeam Data Platform | Server and virtual estates | Replication and instant recovery | Quote only (2 Nov 2026) | Free Community Edition up to 10 workloads |
| Datto Business Continuity | Appliance plus cloud recovery | Instant local and cloud virtualization | Quote only (2 Nov 2026) | Demo on request |
Ranked by tier
most architecture firms for active workstation files.
CrashPlan
Best for most architecture firms for active workstation files.
CrashPlan endpoint backup is built for laptops and desktops that hold active project work. Its small business endpoint plan lists unlimited cloud storage and unlimited versioning, which matters when a CAD file is saved many times in one day. A bad save or an overwritten sheet can be rolled back to an earlier version. It supports Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints, so a mixed studio can use one plan.
Pros:
- Unlimited cloud storage and unlimited versioning on the endpoint plan.
- Continuous backup for workstation files, with self serve restore.
- Device migration help when a designer moves to a new machine.
Cons:
- Server cover: CrashPlan server backup is a separate plan at $15.75 per server per month billed annually at $189, with 250 GB pooled storage per server and an add-on at $90 per year per 250 GB.
- A firm with a large shared library on a server or NAS will pay more than the endpoint price alone.
- The small business endpoint pricing also applies to firms with fewer than 250 employees, so larger firms need a custom quote.
Price: $88 per user per year billed annually for endpoints, from the CrashPlan pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: firms whose main data lives on servers or NAS devices, with few active workstations, should compare Veeam, Acronis, or IDrive Business first.
Best for: most architecture firms for active workstation files.
firms that want workstations, servers, and virtual machines in one console.
Acronis Cyber Protect
Best for firms that want workstations, servers, and virtual machines in one console.
Acronis Cyber Protect combines backup and endpoint security in one agent for physical servers, virtual machines, and workstations. That helps a firm that runs a file server, a render node, and designer laptops under one IT owner.
Pros:
- One agent and console for servers, virtual machines, and workstations.
- Bare metal recovery, plus file and system restores.
- Cloud backup for an offsite copy, with local backup for fast restores.
Cons:
- Device based pricing and the entry tier cap: Standard is described on the vendor purchasing page as protecting up to five devices, so a studio with more than five machines needs a higher edition.
- Each workstation, server, and virtual host is licensed per device, so a firm with many render nodes or spare machines will see the bill grow per machine, not per storage pool.
- Check cloud storage included per device before assuming large CAD libraries fit the base price.
Price: $85.00 per year per workstation for Standard, from the Acronis purchasing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: firms that want unlimited workstation storage for a flat per user price should compare CrashPlan first.
Best for: firms that want workstations, servers, and virtual machines in one console.
simple, per computer backup of Mac and PC workstations.
Backblaze Business Backup
Best for simple, per computer backup of Mac and PC workstations.
Backblaze Business Backup offers automatic, unlimited backup for each covered Mac or PC, with a flat price per computer per year.
Pros:
- Unlimited backup data for each covered Mac or PC.
- Automatic backup with no per file storage cap on that computer.
- Web restore, plus mailed drive restore options per vendor page.
Cons:
- Scope: Computer Backup covers Mac and PC workstations, not servers or NAS devices as a Computer Backup licence.
- A firm that stores its project library on a NAS or file server needs separate storage, such as object storage, for that data.
- Advanced central controls are also a paid add-on: the vendor business page lists Enterprise Control at an extra $24 per year per computer, so check whether the base plan gives the admin controls your firm needs.
Price: $99 per computer per year, from the Backblaze business backup page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: firms with server or NAS based project libraries should compare CrashPlan with a server plan, Acronis, or Veeam first.
Best for: simple, per computer backup of Mac and PC workstations.
small firms that want many users on one pooled storage plan.
IDrive Business
Best for small firms that want many users on one pooled storage plan.
IDrive Business lets unlimited users, computers, and servers share one storage plan, with central administration from one console. It supports PCs, Macs, servers, and mobile devices, and offers snapshots for point in time recovery of files.
Pros:
- One pooled storage plan for unlimited users, computers, and servers.
- Snapshot recovery for point in time file versions.
- Server and database backup options on the Business plan.
Cons:
- The entry tier size: IDrive Business starts at $99.50 per year for 250 GB, with the next tier at $199.50 per year for 500 GB.
- A single large BIM model, plus linked files and revisions, can use a large share of 250 GB fast. A firm must size the tier by total project data, not by user count, and must budget for the tier jump when the library grows.
- First year promotional prices are lower than the standard rate, so budget on the standard rate, not the first year price.
Price: $99.50 per year for 250 GB, from the IDrive Business pricing page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: firms with multi terabyte CAD libraries should compare CrashPlan or Backblaze for workstations, plus a server plan, first.
Best for: small firms that want many users on one pooled storage plan.
firms with a server room, virtual machines, or a large shared file estate.
Veeam Data Platform
Best for firms with a server room, virtual machines, or a large shared file estate.
Veeam Data Platform covers virtual machines, physical servers, cloud instances, and file shares from one platform, with backup, replication, and instant recovery. Instant recovery can run a virtual machine from backup while storage is restored. Replication to a second site or cloud target gives an offsite copy for site level loss.
Pros:
- Backup and replication for servers, virtual machines, and file shares.
- Instant recovery for virtual machines, plus granular file restores.
- Immutable backup options and backup content scanning.
Cons:
- Price clarity and tier gating: Veeam publishes no dollar price on the licensing page we checked, so a firm must request a quote and add storage costs on top.
- Recovery Orchestrator, which automates recovery plans and tests, is included only with Premium, so entry tier buyers must run plans by hand.
- Workstation cover is licensed by workload, so a firm with many designer laptops must count each workload in the quote, not only servers.
Price: Quote only. No dollar price is shown on the vendor licensing page, from the Veeam licensing reference, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: small studios with only laptops, and no server or virtual estate, should compare CrashPlan or Backblaze first.
Best for: firms with a server room, virtual machines, or a large shared file estate.
firms that want an on site appliance plus a cloud copy they can boot.
Datto Business Continuity
Best for firms that want an on site appliance plus a cloud copy they can boot.
Datto SIRIS and ALTO appliances take image based backups on site and replicate them to the Datto Cloud. When a file server fails, the firm can virtualize the backup locally on the appliance or in the cloud, which keeps shared project files available while hardware is repaired. Screenshot verification boots a backup as a virtual machine and checks that it reaches the login screen, which gives a basic health check.
Pros:
- Image based backup with local and cloud virtualization.
- Screenshot verification of bootable recovery points.
- Offsite replication to the Datto Cloud for site level loss.
Cons:
- What screenshot verification proves, and how the product is sold: Vendor documentation states that screenshot verification confirms boot, and does not test non-boot volumes.
- A boot screen does not prove that project shares, permissions, or linked libraries work.
- Datto is also sold mainly through managed service providers, so a firm may need a provider contract, and appliance size, retention, and cloud terms will set the final price, which is not published on the vendor documentation page.
Price: Quote only. No dollar price is shown on the vendor documentation page, from the Datto virtualizations page, checked 2 Nov 2026.
Who should skip it: firms that want direct published pricing, or that mainly need laptop backup, should compare CrashPlan or Backblaze first.
Best for: firms that want an on site appliance plus a cloud copy they can boot.
How we choose
How we choose
We checked vendor pages on 2 Nov 2026. We kept tools that back up workstations, servers, or both, and that publish pricing or clear plan limits. We compared large file handling, versioning, workstation and server cover, offsite copies, and price clarity. We apply no numeric product scores. Our criteria follow our scoring method. We checked the vendor pages. A tool lost ground when its storage cap was small for CAD files, when server cover needed a separate plan, or when its price was hidden. See the backup-recovery hub, Best Disaster Recovery Software for Small SaaS Companies in 2026 and Best Google Workspace Backup Software for Small Business in 2026.
Questions to ask before you buy
Which tool handles large CAD and BIM files best?
CrashPlan handles large active workstation files best in this guide, because its endpoint plan lists unlimited storage and unlimited versioning. Backblaze is close for a single Mac or PC, with unlimited data per computer. IDrive Business can work for a small library, but its 250 GB entry tier will fill fast with BIM models and revisions. For shared libraries, use a server plan or a replicated file share, not only endpoint backup. Test a restore of a full project folder, with all linked files, before you rely on any tool for a deadline.
How much version history does a firm need?
Keep history through the project phase, and longer where a contract or client requires it. CrashPlan lists unlimited versioning on its endpoint plan, which removes one cap to check. For other tools, read the plan page for the stated retention term, and for any paid extension. Also check what happens to deleted files, and to old versions after a device is removed or a user leaves.
Should a firm back up workstations, servers, or both?
Back up both where work lives in both places. Workstations hold active drawings, local edits, and unsaved changes that have not yet reached the server. Servers and NAS devices hold shared libraries, templates, standards, and project archives. A workstation only plan leaves shared data exposed. A server only plan leaves a day of local edits exposed. Map each project folder to a backup job, name the owner for each job, and review failed jobs each week.
How does a firm keep a safe offsite copy?
Keep at least one copy off site, away from the main office, on cloud storage or at a second site. Acronis, Veeam, IDrive, and Datto all offer cloud or replicated copies, but the retention, storage, and restore terms differ by plan. Test an offsite restore once per quarter, even for one project folder.
Buyers guide
- List every project folder, and map it to a workstation, server, or NAS backup job.
- Test a full project restore, including linked references, before a deadline.
- Confirm version history length, deleted file handling, and any paid extension.
- Confirm server and NAS cover, or buy a separate server plan.
- Confirm offsite copy terms, retention, and mailed drive restore cost.
- Review failed jobs weekly, and record the owner for each job.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best backup software for an architecture firm?
CrashPlan is the best pick for most architecture firms in this guide, because its endpoint plan offers unlimited cloud storage and unlimited versioning per user. Large CAD and BIM files change often, and a pooled storage cap can block a restore at the worst time. Server and NAS data still need a separate plan, so check that scope before purchase.
How should an architecture firm back up large CAD and BIM files?
Back up the working file, the linked references, and the project folder together, not only the main drawing. Keep version history so a bad save or a broken link can be rolled back. Test a full folder restore, including linked files, before a deadline. A backup that restores one file but misses its links does not restore the project.
Should a firm back up workstations, servers, or both?
Back up both where work lives in both places. Workstations hold active drawings and local changes. Servers and NAS devices hold shared libraries, templates, and project archives. A workstation only plan leaves shared data exposed. A server only plan leaves a day of local edits exposed. Map each project folder to its backup job, and check the map each quarter.
How long should version history be kept for project files?
Keep history through the project phase, and longer where a client or contract requires it. A short history can lose the version issued for construction or review. Check the vendor plan page for the stated retention term and any paid extension. Where history is unlimited, confirm what happens to deleted files and old versions after a device is removed.
Which backup tool is cheapest for an architecture firm?
CrashPlan has the lowest endpoint price in this guide, at 88 dollars per user per year billed annually, checked on 2 Nov 2026. Acronis is 85.00 dollars per year per workstation, per device, not per user, so totals differ by device count. IDrive Business starts at 99.50 dollars per year for 250 GB, too small for CAD work.
Sources
- CrashPlan pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
- Acronis Cyber Protect purchasing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
- Backblaze business backup, checked 2 Nov 2026.
- IDrive Business pricing, checked 2 Nov 2026.
- Veeam Data Platform licensing reference, checked 2 Nov 2026.
- Datto virtualizations, checked 2 Nov 2026.