ZipCloud Reviews

As a rule, ZipCloud will automatically backup your data daily to ensure that your backups are as up-to-date as possible. You can choose to let ZipCloud run its backup software on a time that suits you best, and select whether you prefer it to only take backups weekly or monthly. Hourly backups are possible, this option does require you to immediately upgrade to a paid account. You can also use the advanced scheduling feature or the manual backup option. If you wish ZipCloud to pause the backup between certain hours, such as when you are at work, you can use the automatic backup pausing feature also available in the settings.

ZipCloud will back up and sync any type of file, as long as it is no larger than the 5MB allowance for trial accounts, or up to 1GB for paid accounts. However, you will only be able to render video or audio files on mobile devices using the software installed on them. The ZipCloud mobile app does not incorporate media players, and documents will thus also only open if you have compatible document readers or editors. By default, the software will skip a number of file types to back up, most of which are file types for cached data that don’t need backing up anyway. It is however possible to edit this list of excluded file extensions to include or delete types as you wish.

Syncing & sharing

Your sync folder is available as soon as you open your account and lets you sync as many devices and computers as you like, as long as they are compatible with the ZipCloud software. Sharing is made easy with the use of the sync folder on any of the available apps and desktop clients. A simple right-click on the file of your choice enables you to share your files publicly or privately and to collaborate on files. Your chosen collaborators will need to open a ZipCloud account to have access to this shared file – luckily there is the option for them to use a free trial account as well.

ZipCloud uses the highly reliable Google Cloud Storage servers, which come with a 99.99% file safety guarantee. Data is copied and stored using Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), with 256-bit SSL on multiple servers in state-of-the-art data centers in undisclosed locations across the globe. Replication to multiple such data centers is synonymous with having multiple layers of redundancy. The fact that they are scattered across the globe makes this data replication system geo-redundant as well. All of these data centers are under 24-hour surveillance throughout the year and the facilities are maintained using HVAC, ultra-redundant power and networking systems. As a ZipCloud user, you can take advantage of ZipCloud’s multipart upload capability to offer resumable upload, which keeps files safe in case of a power outage or lost internet connection and allows you to carry on with your upload when the issue is resolved. ZipCloud aims to keep the customer’s data safe and demands the same of its resellers and all partners it works with, as the company’s detailed privacy policy points out.

ZipCloud’s desktop client is available for use with Windows 7, 8, XP and Vista operated PC’s, as well as Macs running on Mac OSX 10.5 or newer and Linux PCs. The online interface of the backup service is of course still there should you want to access the service on a device or operating system the company doesn’t have a desktop client for.

The ZipCloud mobile app is compatible with iPad, iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Kindle Fire and Windows Phone and Surface devices. To download this free app, visit the iTunes App Store, GooglePlay, BlackBerry App World, Amazon Appstore for Android and Windows Phone Store, respectively. Use the app’s Draw a Doodle feature to create and upload a doodle drawing, create a simple text file using the incorporated notepad, take a photo, upload one from your device or record and share a voice memo any time you like and from anywhere across the globe.

All stored data can be accessed via the desktop client, the web browser app or remotely via any of the mobile apps mentioned above. All ZipCloud accounts enable you to backup data across any number of computers and devices.

Creating an account with ZipCloud is as simple as entering your name, e-mail address and password on the website’s homepage. A download of the desktop client installer is triggered automatically, and the ZipCloud setup wizard takes care of everything for you. Advanced users can select the type of files they would like to backup to this Cloud service. Unfortunately, the setup wizard does not come with file previews, so you should know the location and name of the files you want to backup before you start this process.

Backups are automatically triggered when the desktop client is installed, based on your settings and preferences. From then on, you can change the source, bandwidth, schedule backups and more. Data is synced across devices and computers using a sync folder automatically generated when you install your desktop app, making files available for browsing, sharing and collaboration.

There are three types of ZipCloud plans: Zip Personal, Zip Business and Zip Partners. These plans come with pre-set features, but you have the option to add extra storage space, user accounts and licenses, making all plans fully customizable. There is a free 14-day trial available that provides you with 50MB of storage space or 50 files, whichever comes first.

As a potential ZipCloud user who needs basic backup services for personal use, you can sign up for the Zip Personal plan that comes with unlimited storage space, automatic sync based on personalized scheduling, set it-and-forget it installation, sync for multiple computers, and water-tight encryption. There are different payment plans for personal account holders depending on space requirements, but if you commit to a 2-year contract, the monthly bill is a fraction of the total stand-alone monthly charge. The Home Plan comes with 75GB of storage and costs $4.49 per month, the Premium Plan provides 250GB storage space and costs $4.95 per month, and the Unlimited Plan with unlimited storage costs $6.95 per month. Otherwise, the standard Home plan charges $6.95 per month, the Premium plan comes raises your monthly bill to $7.95, and the Unlimited plan goes up to $9.95 per month.

The Zip Business plan provides unlimited user accounts, 100% automated backups, an admin control panel, a 30-day money back guarantee, free NAS and external drive backup, a shared sync folder for team collaboration, round-the-clock tech support, and an upgraded file size limit of 5GB. The standard 100GB plan offers 5 computer licenses in return for $35.94 per month, while the plan with 500GB storage space and 20 computer licenses starts at $71.94 per month. Both plans are customizable and prices differ according to the number of additional licenses and space requirements. A 500GB plan with 20 licenses for instance, is worth $49.95 per month, whereas a plan with 5TB and 150 licenses can set you back $656.2 per month.

Zip partners

Signing up for a reseller account entitles you to 100% automated backup, remote access, syncing between multiple devices and computer, and encrypted online storage for as little as $19.14 per month. You can add users instantly, manage your user profiles using a control panel, sell any of ZipCloud’s plans, customize your plans, co-brand or re-brand ZipCloud’s product and set your own prices. There are three options for Reseller account holders: the 500GB, the 1TB and the 2TB plans, priced at $19.14, $35.94 and $71.94 per month. All three plans include round-the-clock customer support and the option to add as many users as required for $0.49 per user, per month. In terms of additional storage space, the 2TB plan charges an extra $0.04 per additional GB, while the 1TB and 500GB account holders can expect to pay $0.05 and $0.06 for every new GB added to the plan.

There are several discounts which apply biannually, annually, semiannually and monthly to personal account holders, and resellers can also take advantage of generous discounts for annual, semiannual and periodical payment plans, but the rates have not been updated in the FAQ section and they are not stated clearly on the website. It would be best to contact ZipCloud should you wish to benefit from these discounts.

ZipCloud is a cloud backup service provider with everything you need to keep your valuable data out of harm’s ways: unlimited storage, automatic and customizable backup across most operating systems and devices, user-friendly interface for web, desktop and device apps, and data centers as foolproof as Fort Knox. What’s more, free trials and demos, video tutorials, round-the-clock customer support, discounts and bonuses are available for each and every user, regardless of payment plan. Had ZipCloud offered phone support and larger sync files, its data plans would have been rounded off perfectly, but even so the competitive prices and the simplicity of this software package undeniably entitles us to say that ZipCloud is head and shoulders above many of its current rivals.