Everyone should use an online backup service to avoid permanent data loss. As opposed to local backup software, online backup services don't require you to purchase an external drive or keep it connected to your computer at all times, so it's easy to get going. Like many of its competitors, Norton Online Backup can upload encrypted copies of your files and folders to its cloud servers, where you can access or restore them at any time. It is the quickest backup service we tested, but it lacks basic privacy options and robust file syncing capabilities. Additionally, Norton puts nearly all of its tools and settings in the cloud, which severely limits its utility.
Pricing Tiers
You can try out the full version of Norton Online Backup for free without having to enter credit card info. If you decide you like the service, you need to shell out $49.99 per year for its base account with 25GB of online storage. Norton Online Backup works across five computers, but that's a steep cost for a paltry 25GB. Backblaze gives you unlimited storage for the same price, and Editors' Choice IDrive ($15.90 For First Year at IDrive) offers 2TB of storage for $69.50 per year. Purchasing additional storage is costly: Norton charges an extra $59.99 just to double the total storage to 50GB.
Note that Norton also offers a similar, but separate, backup component as part of Symantec Norton Security Premium service. That bundle also includes 25GB of backup space across all devices, in addition to the anti-malware and security tools.
Getting Started
Signing up is a snap and requires only a valid email address, password, and phone number. We signed up for the free trial account for testing. The installation page for downloading Norton's hidden desktop component pops up online after you attempt to add a computer. The software supports Windows XP through Windows 10, and macOs 10.6 and later. Downloading and installing the Norton desktop software is a mercifully brief experience.
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Once installed, Norton launches the service's web interface in your default browser and begins calculating your first backup size. We like that Norton encrypts files both in transit and at rest on their servers. Norton manages encryption keys for users, meaning that they can offer services like password restore. However, this comes at the cost of potentially allowing Norton to access your files—as in the case of a court-issued subpoena. Security wonks who want total control over their files' encryption keys should look to either SpiderOak ONE or SOS Online Backup.
When you install Norton Online Backup on a Windows machine, it adds an icon to the notification area with handy menu choices. Likewise, the Mac version adds an icon to the menu bar. But selecting most menu options whisks you away to the Norton Online Backup website, which is the hub of your Norton experience. The only exceptions are the Add to backup and Check for Update options.
Web Interface
Outside of the notification area icon, Norton Online Backup doesn't have a desktop presence, so you need to manage everything online. The web interface has a clean, sparse design and uses Norton's trademark white and yellow colors. From the main section, you can see the current backup status or remotely start a backup on any of the computers you've enrolled in Norton. You can also add or remove any of these devices from your account on this screen. The account and billing settings are accessible via a drop-down menu in the upper left corner, and below that, there's a simple remaining storage bar. It's mostly reliable to use, but often it didn't register an input when we clicked on an action in testing, and occasionally it failed to load the File Actions module completely.
You need to click on the large Settings button to customize your backup, though this option isn't available while a computer is processing an upload. The settings break down into four parts, the first of which shows a summary of the last completed backup and the details of any upcoming tasks. The What section lets you add files from a variety of file categories, such as music, pictures, financial records, and Office documents. You can also add individual files and folders from your computer, but this requires you to right-click on the system tray icon to pull up a file selector on Windows. We like that we can select whole file trees by selecting the parent folder on either platform.
The Include File Extensions and Advanced Rules sections are confusing. We appreciate that Norton includes them, but it's unclear exactly how to format either one. There's no explanation or example immediately available, and you have to launch into its archaic online help portal for these details.
Next is the When tab. By default, Norton backs up your computers automatically, which apparently means once a day, whenever an internet connection is available. You can also opt for daily, weekly, monthly, or on-demand only backups. Alternatively, you can hit the Back Up Now button from the main interface to start the process. Norton doesn't have a continuous backup option, which watches files for any changes and backs them up immediately, but it does support file versioning for backed-up files. Annoyingly, scheduling a backup doesn't let you select a precise time, but rather a block of six hours in the morning or at night. This brings back bad memories of scheduling a time window with a cable or power company to perform repairs.
The last section, called Other, lets you set the backup speed, opt out of notifications, and toggle automatic updates. You can rename your computer and change its icon to either an Apple-labeled or generic laptop or desktop, from anywhere in the settings interface.
Performance
For testing performance, we timed the how long it took Norton Online Backup to process and upload two 100MB folders of mixed content types and sizes. We used PCMag's superfast 100Mbps (upload speed) corporate internet connection so that bandwidth wouldn't be the limiting speed factor.
Norton Online Backup is the quickest backup service we tested with a time of 0:49 (minutes:seconds), which even beats Acronis True Image's rapid time of 0:51. It's also more than twice as quick as IDrive. Speed could be a determining factor in your service decision since faster upload rates can considerably reduce the total amount of time it takes to transfer large batches of data. Here's how the whole group of online backup providers fared:
File Actions
Norton Online Backup doesn't show you the content of your backup until you select a task from the File Actions menu. Even then, you have to navigate through the whole file structure to see specific items.
Once you choose a folder on the left-hand side of the screen, the right panel populates with its content, whether that be additional nested folders or individual files. You can't dig further down into a folder on the right side, nor can you view and play media files. Overall, it looks disjointed and is difficult to navigate.
You can choose between restoring, downloading, emailing, and purging files from the File Actions menu. We particularly like the purge option, since it immediately deletes files from your online storage, which makes it easier to manage what you have stored online.
The Restore Files option lets you restore everything all at once or choose individual files and folders. Just select the checkmark next to specific items, and then hit the restore button. We like that Norton allows users to restore data from other enrolled computers, including ones on different operating systems. Once restored, we were surprised to find them placed within nested folders mimicking the original file structure. This is the best way to get your files back since you can't download entire folders by just clicking on them. The search bar works fine, even when searching for file extensions, but this requires you to know exactly what you're looking for, which isn't ideal.
If you've backed up a file and want to share with someone else, Norton can create a download page you can send via email. You only need to specify the number of days to make the download available, the recipient's email address, and an optional password. Then, you select the file from the browser or search function. Norton Online Backup cannot currently sync files between computers, as MozyHome and SpiderOak ONE do.
No Mobile Apps
Norton doesn't offer mobile apps on any platform to support its online backup solution. That's a bit odd, considering that Norton Security and Antivirus for Android, an Editors' Choice for antivirus apps, at least syncs contacts across devices. IDrive lets you not only browse files in your backup, but also view images, listen to music, and watch videos. Both SOS Online and IDrive also automatically back up your mobile device and keep that data protected.
Norton Needs Work
Norton Online Backup has a sparse, though functional, web interface that lets you control your backups from anywhere. But the lack of a desktop presence is annoying and some basic tasks are not reliable. The lack of mobile apps also makes this service feel like it's operating in a previous era. Despite some improvements from the last time we reviewed it, Norton Online Backup still has a long way to go. Look instead to PCMag's online backup Editors' Choices, IDrive, SOS Online Backup, and Acronis True Image.
If you are more interested in backing up your files to local storage, visit our roundups of local backup services and external hard drives to see your best options.
Norton Online Backup can quickly back up your data across multiple computers, but it's pricey and lacks industry-standard features.
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