Backblaze vs Malwarebytes
A side-by-side comparison of two security tools for small businesses.
Bottom line
For most small businesses, Backblaze edges out Malwarebytes on overall SMB fit (9/10 vs 8/10), especially for Backblaze is a strong fit for small businesses where most critical data lives on employee…. That said, weigh pricing and the feature breakdown below against your needs.
At a glance
| Attribute | Backblaze | Malwarebytes |
|---|---|---|
| SMB score | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Category | Security | Security |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Starting price | From $8/seat/mo | From $4/seat/mo |
| Best for | Backblaze is a strong fit for small businesses where most critical data lives on employee laptops and desktops rather than on servers. Professional services firms—accountants, consultants, photographers, video editors, and small law offices—benefit most because their work product is tied directly to individual machines. Retail shops and small agencies with two to twenty-five computers get immediate value from the per-seat flat pricing, which scales predictably. It works especially well for businesses that have zero dedicated IT staff and need a solution that an owner or office manager can deploy and forget. Remote and hybrid teams also benefit since the backup happens wherever the laptop is connected to the internet. | Malwarebytes fits SMBs that need dependable, low-maintenance endpoint protection without a dedicated IT staff. It's a strong match for professional services firms—accountants, lawyers, consultants—where a single ransomware incident could expose client data. Retail and e-commerce operations protecting point-of-sale systems benefit from its cross-platform reach. Remote-first teams with a mix of personal and company-owned devices across Windows and Mac get consistent coverage through one management console. Freelancers and solo operators who want serious protection without enterprise pricing or complexity are also well served. It works equally well as a replacement for aging antivirus software or as a second-opinion scanner layered alongside an existing solution. |
Backblaze
Flat-rate, unlimited cloud backup for every business Mac and PC at $99 per computer per year—no file-size caps, no surprises.
Picture this: a two-person accounting firm wraps up tax season, and the next morning one employee's laptop hard drive fails completely. No recent backup means weeks of client files, spreadsheets, and correspondence are simply gone. That single incident can cost more in recovery a…
Key features
- Continuous automatic backup runs silently without manual intervention or scheduling
- Unlimited data per computer—no file size or file type restrictions apply
- Flat annual pricing per computer simplifies IT budget forecasting for small teams
- Web-based restore lets any authorized user retrieve files from a browser
- External drive backup covers USB and Thunderbolt drives connected at backup time
- Business Groups dashboard gives owners centralized visibility across multiple computers
- Optional physical restore via mailed USB drive speeds large file recoveries
- Version history retains deleted or changed files for up to one year by default
Limitations
Backblaze backs up computers, not servers—Windows Server editions and NAS devices are not supported under the standard personal or business computer plans (Backblaze B2 cloud storage is a separate product for those use cases). The initial backup of a large hard drive can take several days to several weeks depending on upload speed and data volume, which is a real gap in protection during onboarding. Files on external drives must be connected at the time of backup or they'll be flagged as missing and eventually removed from the backup set. It is not a sync tool, so it cannot replace Dropbox or Google Drive for real-time file sharing. Verify current retention limits and add-on costs on the vendor site before assuming defaults meet your needs.
Malwarebytes
Stops ransomware, phishing, and malicious websites before they reach your team—across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.
Picture this: a five-person accounting firm gets an email that looks like it came from the IRS. One click on the attachment and, without endpoint protection, a ransomware strain could encrypt every client file on the server. Malwarebytes is the layer that intercepts that moment—s…
Key features
- Real-time malware, ransomware, and exploit blocking across all major operating systems
- Browser Guard extension blocks ads, trackers, and scam sites in major browsers
- Cloud-based management console lets owners monitor all devices from one dashboard
- Scheduled and on-demand scans with automatic threat quarantine and removal
- Anti-phishing protection flags malicious links before credentials are entered
- Play Mode suppresses notifications during focused work or presentations
- Supports simultaneous protection across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices
Limitations
Malwarebytes' entry-level personal plans cover only one to five devices and lack the centralized console available on business tiers, which can frustrate owners who want visibility across a growing team. Advanced features like endpoint detection and response (EDR), DNS filtering, and patch management may require higher-tier plans—verify current plan structure and pricing on the vendor site, as tiers change periodically. Some users report that aggressive real-time scanning can occasionally flag legitimate software (false positives), requiring manual whitelisting. Businesses that need deep SIEM integration, compliance reporting, or a security operations workflow may find even the higher tiers insufficient without pairing Malwarebytes with additional tools.
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Backblaze or Malwarebytes better for small businesses?
- For most small businesses, Backblaze edges out Malwarebytes on overall SMB fit (9/10 vs 8/10), especially for Backblaze is a strong fit for small businesses where most critical data lives on employee…. That said, weigh pricing and the feature breakdown below against your needs.
- How does pricing compare between Backblaze and Malwarebytes?
- Backblaze offers paid plans from about $8/mo. Malwarebytes offers a free tier or trial with paid plans from about $4/mo. Always confirm current plans on each vendor's website before you commit.
- Which is cheaper, Backblaze or Malwarebytes?
- Malwarebytes has the lower advertised entry price ($4/mo), but the best value depends on the plan tier and seats your business actually needs.
- When should I choose Backblaze over Malwarebytes?
- Backblaze is a strong fit for Backblaze is a strong fit for small businesses where most critical data lives on employee laptops and desktops rather than on servers.…. Lean toward Malwarebytes if you need Malwarebytes fits SMBs that need dependable, low-maintenance endpoint protection without a dedicated IT staff. It's a strong match for….
Read the full profiles: Backblaze · Malwarebytes · All Security tools