MyPCBackup Home/Pro 75GB review

MyPCBackup provides online backup, storage and sharing, along with optional synchronisation, mobile access, seven days’ version retention and unlimited retention of deleted files. When you log in to the website for the first time, you’re prompted to download the desktop client. Irritatingly, a video presentation starts telling you how to install the program shortly after you start downloading, but it’s easily muted. The installer suggests you back up your pictures, documents and desktop folders, but it also gives you the option of selecting folders to back up and provides you with a file browser to help you navigate the contents of your hard disk. You can back up directories from your hard disk and external storage, such as USB disks, but not mapped network shares.

MyPCBackup has a wealth of extra bolt-on features, but many of them are surprisingly pricey. The company’s running a 20 per cent off offer until the end of 2012, but the premium features still seem expensive, even at this discounted rate, particularly compared to similar services that are included for free by other backup providers.

We only tested a standard account, so had no access to these special features, but that didn’t seem to affect the performance of our backups. Other bolt-ons include extra synchronisation space, priority support, unlimited version retention, the option of scheduling hourly rather than daily backups and licences for additional PCs at £40 each. MyPCBackup doesn’t even provide a facility to transfer your existing licence from one computer to another without contacting their support team to have them do it for you.

MyPCBackup has a comprehensive range of settings that let you optimise your backup. Most users will want to increase the file size limit from the default 2MB to something a little more flexible. You can set a maximum size of 5GB, which is sufficient for all but the largest video clips. You may want to modify the service’s file type blacklist, too, which prevents you backing up a massive range of multimedia files, including MP3 audio files, AVI videos and EXE files by default.

MyPCBackup is available in various versions. The free version provides 5GB of free backup and synchronisation space, and paid-for accounts are available in 75GB, 250GB and Unlimited versions, the latter being priced at £10 per month. Unfortunately, the service as a whole is let down by a consuming system of upgrades and feature restrictions. We prefer Memset SquirrelSave (2012), which gives you unlimited storage space and lets you back up multiple PCs. If you need online access to your files, Pro Softnet’s IDrive costs less and has a much clearer pricing structure.