Unlimited storage: truly no cap or psychological trap?
Here’s why an all-you-can-eat style space might just be something you can live without
As a 90s kid, I still remember the excitement of seeing my dad bring home a 1TB hard drive back in middle school. But since I don’t know when, hard drives have become so much larger and cheaper. There seems to be an insatiable demand for more space, as if the bigger, the better. This mentality is also reflected in the cloud sphere, with some providers now boasting unlimited storage plans.
The instinct of human mind
Oftentimes, we’re drawn to such plans due to the fear of data loss. We’re keen to back everything up to the cloud, hoping to hold on to all our digital assets. But is it really worth it to pay for unlimited space? If the question seems too hard to answer, let me put it this way: do you have unlimited data to back up?
The quest to push boundaries has been an ancient one throughout human history. But in the case of cloud backup, unlimited space can be overkill. Let’s take gamers as an example. Even if you’re heavily invested in large-size AAA games, chances are you only need a few hundred GB to several TB, not to mention low-usage casual users. In other words, unlimited storage could just be a psychological trick that exploits our need for assurance and convenience.
The limits of unlimited space
Additionally, a lot of “unlimited” plans aren’t truly without any restrictions. In the current market, cloud backup services generally operate on these pricing models: 1) pay-per-use of storage volume, 2) per-device licensing plus storage fees, and 3) no-cap storage with license fees only. If you think the last type of pricing sounds too good to be true, that’s because it often is.
Despite the promise of unlimited space, such plans can be notoriously untransparent. Users may find themselves caught off guard by bills of hidden costs, such as retention and restoration fees. Besides, not all providers state their retention policies clearly. So there’s always a possibility that your backed-up data will be removed after, say, 30 days without you realizing it.
Once a specific level of storage has been used, some vendors start reducing the upload and download speeds. In addition, select file types can also be excluded from automatic backup. Carbonite, for example, doesn’t upload certain files and folders to the cloud by default. So yes, it’s still possible to back up your data, but the catch is, you’ll have to do it slowly and manually.
The benefits of C2 Backup
With these dilemmas in mind, C2 Backup aims to provide a transparent, flexible solution that puts customers front and center. Our service follows a pay-per-use pricing model, so users have the autonomy to decide what they really want and need to back up.
Compared to unlimited storage, we understand that what might be more important is the ability to back up your data from multiple devices. Since the majority of us juggle with 2 or more screens daily, C2 Backup supports an unlimited number of devices as backup sources — giving you centralized control over all your data.
Many vendors of uncapped storage offerings have a strict retention policy. Therefore, users often have to pay for extensions or manually keep track of their data history. In response to this conundrum, we make sure that C2 Backup hides no retention deadline and always keeps the latest version of your data. Our mission is to empower users to manage their digital assets on their terms, not according to our policies.
Try what suits your needs
C2 Backup is now available in 2 different versions: for Individuals and for Businesses. Each comes with a unique set of features and pricing plans to make sure that everyone can find something that best fits their use cases. Whether you’re seeking to back things up from personal devices or an enterprise productivity suite like Microsoft 365, we’ve got you covered. Visit us today to learn more about how to try 30 days for free.
