# Backblaze vs Backblaze B2 Explorer

The clearest difference is monetization model: Backblaze at free against Backblaze B2 Explorer's paid. Backblaze also leads on review sentiment (35% vs 20%) and ratings volume (27 vs 3). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 2.8 for Backblaze against 2.7 for Backblaze B2 Explorer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backblaze has 27 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 35% of Backblaze's written reviews are positive against 20% of Backblaze B2 Explorer's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backblaze | Backblaze B2 Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.8 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backblaze/id628638330/reviews)** | [2.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backblaze-b2-explorer/id1447255895/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **27** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **34.6% of reviews** | 20.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 13 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 27.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Backblaze](https://appshunter.io/developer/628638334) | [Jose Leal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441468562) |

## What reviewers say

### Backblaze

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backblaze/id628638330)

Access and manage your cloud-backed-up files directly from your iOS device. Download, preview, and share files securely, with support for Face ID login. Keep your important data readily available wherever you go.

**Highlights:** Access backed-up files, Manage cloud storage, Face ID login, Search and download files, Image thumbnail previews, Share files

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and easy access
- 💡 Remote downloading
- 👍 Secure backup access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes, bugs, and reliability issues
- 👎 Clunky, slow, and unintuitive UI
- 🔒 Authentication and login problems
- 📤 Limited file download capabilities

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or login
- Inconsistent performance and connectivity
- Unreliable file downloads and restoration

**Requested features**

- Thumbnails and previews for media files
- Ability to manage backups and buckets
- Improved search and sorting options
- Sync and upload capabilities from mobile


### Backblaze B2 Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backblaze-b2-explorer/id1447255895)

Browse and manage your Backblaze B2 cloud storage. Stream compatible media files directly from the cloud and access S3 compatible buckets. Share files and preview them with Apple-certified security.

**Highlights:** Browse Backblaze B2 cloud storage, Stream compatible media files, Access S3 compatible buckets, Share and preview files, Apple certified security

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Backblaze free?

Backblaze is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Backblaze B2 Explorer free?

Backblaze B2 Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Backblaze or Backblaze B2 Explorer?

Backblaze is rated higher. Backblaze averages 2.8 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Backblaze B2 Explorer averages 2.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Backblaze or Backblaze B2 Explorer have ads?

Neither Backblaze nor Backblaze B2 Explorer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Backblaze or Backblaze B2 Explorer?

Backblaze ships an update every 2 months, and Backblaze B2 Explorer every 2 months. Most recently, Backblaze was updated on October 7, 2026 and Backblaze B2 Explorer on October 13, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*