Best Way to Backup Computer: 6 Options Compared

How we're ranking these

If you're looking for the best way to backup computer files without a headache, this list is written for you. We ranked each option on three things: how easy it is to set up, how much ongoing effort it demands, and how likely a tired, non-technical person is to actually keep using it after the first week.

A few notes before we start:

• This list covers general backup types by category. It is not a head-to-head lab test of every brand on the market.
• One entry below is ThePhotoStick, which we review honestly alongside the other options. It is not singled out as the best choice for everyone.
• Details on the non-ThePhotoStick options are kept general, because this page does not have verified offer text for those products.

Backing up your files is one of those chores everyone knows they should do and most people put off. The best method is the one you'll actually use. With that in mind, here are six options, ranked roughly by how little they ask of you.

Best for zero setup: a plug-and-go backup stick

This is where ThePhotoStick for Computers fits in. It's a USB stick that the maker says automatically finds, backs up, and organizes your photos and videos in one click.

The setup, per the maker, is about as simple as it gets: plug it in, hit "Go," and let the backup finish. The maker says it works on both Windows and Mac with no software install needed. Depending on the size option you choose, it holds up to 60,000 photos and videos. It also removes duplicate files automatically, so you're not saving five copies of the same birthday photo.

A few things stand out:

• No software to learn or configure.
• No monthly subscription. Files are stored on the physical stick rather than the cloud.
• One-time setup that doesn't require you to reorganize your folders first.

This is a good fit for someone who wants a single click and doesn't want another recurring bill. The maker offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, per the offer page, so there's a window to try it and see if it works for your files.

The main limitation is that it's focused on photos and videos. If you want a full-system backup of every document and application, a stick like this isn't the whole answer.

Best for automatic off-site backup: cloud storage services

General cloud backup services store your files on remote servers and often sync automatically across your devices. Once set up, they mostly run in the background without you thinking about them.

The big advantage is protection against physical disasters. If your computer is lost, stolen, or damaged in a fire, your files live somewhere else entirely. That's something no single device sitting in your house can offer.

The tradeoffs:

• Usually a recurring subscription fee, often billed monthly or yearly.
• Depends on your internet upload speed. A large photo library can take a long time to upload the first time.
• You're trusting a company with your files, and you need an account and password to manage.

Cloud backup is a strong option if you're comfortable with subscriptions and want files accessible from anywhere. Just note that details vary a lot between services, so check the specifics of any plan before committing.

Best budget option: a basic external hard drive

A plain external hard drive is typically the cheapest way to get a large amount of local backup storage. You can often get far more storage per dollar than any other option on this list.

The catch is that it puts the work on you. You either copy files over manually or set up backup software yourself. There's no built-in duplicate removal or automatic file-finding of the kind a purpose-built stick describes. If you drag your whole Pictures folder over twice, you'll have it twice.

This option works well for people who are comfortable managing folders and files and don't mind a manual routine. If you're the type who will actually remember to plug it in every month and copy things over, it's hard to beat on price. If you know you'll forget, this is probably not the method for you.

Best for large photo and video libraries: a NAS (network storage) device

A home network storage device, or NAS, can hold far more than a USB stick and can back up multiple computers on the same network. For a household with several laptops, phones, and years of accumulated photos and videos, it's the category with the most room to grow.

The downsides are cost and complexity:

• Setup is more involved than any other option on this list.
• It usually costs more upfront than a stick or a single external drive.
• It typically requires some comfort with networking concepts to get running smoothly.

A NAS is better suited to households or small offices with heavy storage needs and at least one person willing to manage it. We're keeping details generic here, since this page doesn't have verified specs for any particular NAS brand. If your photo library is in the hundreds of gigabytes and growing, this category is worth researching further.

Best belt-and-suspenders approach: combine two methods

Many people don't pick just one method. They use two together — for example, a physical stick plus a cloud account — so that one failure doesn't mean total loss. If the house floods, the cloud copy survives. If the subscription lapses, the physical copy is still in a drawer.

ThePhotoStick's one-click process, per the maker, makes it an easy local half of a two-method approach. You run it once, keep the stick somewhere safe, and let a cloud service handle the off-site side.

The tradeoff is remembering to keep both up to date. Two systems means two habits. That's a real cost, and it's fine to skip it if one method covers your needs.

For anyone with irreplaceable family photos, though, doubling up is worth considering. No backup method can promise your files are never lost, but two independent copies make it much less likely.

Where ThePhotoStick fits overall

ThePhotoStick for Computers is a reasonable pick if you want simple, one-click local backup without learning new software or paying a monthly cloud fee. The maker states that over 1,500,000 people have used it across 100+ countries, and the setup really is described as plug, click, done.

It's not automatically the single best option for everyone. If you have a very large library, need multi-device syncing, or want off-site protection against fire or theft, a cloud service or NAS may serve you better. And if you're comfortable managing files yourself, a basic external drive costs less per gigabyte.

What ThePhotoStick does well is remove the excuses. There's nothing to install, nothing to configure, and nothing to remember on a monthly billing cycle. For a lot of people, that's the difference between a backup plan and good intentions.

The 30-day guarantee, per the maker, makes it low risk to try alongside whatever else you're already doing. If it doesn't fit your files or your workflow, you're not stuck with it.

Bottom line: the best way to backup computer files is the method that matches how much effort you're willing to put in and how many files you have. If that's one click and a drawer, ThePhotoStick is worth a look. If it's a whole-house system, start higher up this list. Whatever you choose, choose something — the files you can't replace are the ones that don't get a second chance.