how do you backup to OneDrive?
I
don't have the OneDrive sync app installed. It is very much cloud storage with synchronisation - not backup.
I use Arq with OneDrive as a storage location. This uses MS's API to connect directly to OneDrive servers.
But, I find that OneDrive is not a good storage location for Arq. In particular it can be slow and does sometimes have errors. I believe this to be because MS is not very friendly to non-MS software using OneDrive.
Storage comparison:
Arq (and others like Duplicacy) can connect to various cloud storages. I only use OneDrive because it is included with MS365. I have found GoogleDrive to be much better (reliable and faster). I also tried B2 and Wasabi - good and reliable but their network performance is not good when you live in another continent (Australia).
Application comparison:
Arq compared with all-in-one packages (Application and storage) like Backblaze, iDrive, Carbonite, Crashplan, etc.):
Arq is considerably better than any of them in terms of fidelity of restored file attributes (creation dates, finder tags, extended attributes, etc.). Some years ago I questioned Backblaze Support about this - the response indicated that ignoring all file attributes except for the data in files is a virtue. I didn't agree, so never seriously considered Backblaze backup.
Backblaze is very much an install, let it run and don't worry about it - until you need to restore. Any configuration is difficult. A good thing if you find the concept of backup somewhat incomprehensible - any backup is better than none. Arq does require configuration, but is great once you get to understand it.
Arq gives you control over how long old versions of files are retained. I find that comforting. Arq is like Time Machine in that it keeps snapshot of your file system for as long as you specify or have space on the storage.
iDrive (and Carbonite?) have a reputation for throttling performance as your backup size grows. Neither, in my view, are well suited to Macs. This is in general true of any product which is focused on the Windows market.
I did use Crashplan, but it went through a phase of ignoring home use - that was when I change to Arq. From snippets on the web, I understand they are again more interested in home use.
The big negative of Arq: Key person dependency. It is very much a one-person product (single developer and some email support staff). This is a risk to future development of the product but not, I consider, to the current product or to the backups I already have. Arq also went through a bad phase with versions 5 and 6 - it almost destroyed the product. Version 7 seems very solid.
