Showcase · Home backups & storage
Own your home backups
This page answers one question: do you want to rent cloud storage forever, or buy your own backup box once?
Get your head out of the clouds
Small monthly plans feel cheap until they run for years. A mini PC or external drive costs more up front, but it keeps your family photos and files on your shelf.
| Model | Initial Cost | After 1 Year | After 2 Years | After 5 Years | After 10 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud photo + file subscriptions | $0 | $36-$240 | $72-$480 | $180-$1,200 | $360-$2,400 |
| Home backup box (small PC or drive) | $150-$500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
The Bottom Line: recurring cloud rent can quietly pass the one-time hardware cost, while your own box keeps backups local and under your control.
Numbers are rough comparison ranges. Final cost depends on storage size, redundancy, and whether you want us to set up remote access and backup automation.