Budget-Friendly Backup Solutions for Your Phone and PC in Pakistan

By Hassan Ahmed ⏐ 3 weeks ago

Life without our digital gadgets is practically meaningless, and these devices without proper data safety are meaningless. Especially in today’s day and age when cyberattacks are on an all-time high, data security and backup has become more than just luxury.

Our phones are more prone to data loss, given that our precious life moments, photos, videos, work documents, bank details, and even health data is on one compact device that is always on us but can fail us in unpredictable ways. However, thanks to OTT and cloud technology, we can now have a virtual backup anywhere we can go. Or so we think.

In Pakistan, backing up phone and PC data is more challenging than it is in the West, predominantly because of the infrastructure and energy crises. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable and reliable methods available to secure your data without overspending.

In the following guide, we are covering all the major data backup options available to Pakistanis without breaking their banks. Read till the end to find out all the options you can avail, and which work best for all and exclusive cases.

Data Backups Benefits & Advantages

Even if you are not in Pakistan, you can still avail the advantages of doing a proper data storage. In many cases, it requires hiring or getting a third-party solution, which is often expensive.

However, no amount of money is even remotely close to the privilege of privacy. Here is how you can avail the benefits of regular backups from anywhere in the world:

Prevention of Data Loss: Hardware failures, hacking, and unintended deletions are just a few of the several reasons why data loss could happen at any moment. A good backup system lowers these risks to almost nothing.
Peace of Mind: Knowing that your data is kept in a safe place (virtual or physical) will help you to relax and enable you to focus on your life, work and spare time.
Cost Savings: Professional data recovery services are way more costly as compared to the cost of backup creation and maintenance.
Quick Recovery: One advantage of backup systems is the quick file restoration capability, saving time and energy on your part.

Affordable Backup Options in Pakistan

Securing your smartphone data doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are some cost-effective methods tailored for users in Pakistan:

A. Cloud Storage Solutions for Phone and PCs

Google Drive/Google One Storage

Google Drive has no introduction; it is a widely used app for storing, sharing, and modifying files or documents. The good thing about Google Drive is that it is available for both phone and PC, so it makes backing up data easier – making it our prime choice for Pakistani users.

Automatic Backups: Enable backups for photos, videos, and app data directly from your phone’s settings.
Anytime Access: Retrieve your files from any device with an internet connection.
Upgrade Flexibility: Affordable paid tiers are available if you require additional space.

Google One, which handles the cloud storage for Google Accounts which include Google Drive, only gives 15GB of free storage, and you have to subsequently purchase more storage as you tier up.

Microsoft OneDrive / Microsoft 365

Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud storage tool allowing you to view photos and documents from any device by first saving them online. OneDrive is part of Microsoft 365, a subscription-based tool including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint among other productivity tools.

Seamless Integration: Back up key files and documents effortlessly.
User-Friendly Interface: Simple to set up and manage through your device’s settings.

In Pakistan, Microsoft offers several subscription options:

Microsoft 365 Basic: Costs Rs549.00 a month and includes 100 GB of cloud storage, secure email, and a variety of other features.
Microsoft 365 Personal: For Rs 22,999.00 per year, you get 1 TB of cloud storage and access to premium Office programs.
Microsoft 365 Family: Up to six users, 1 TB of storage per person, and premium apps for Rs 28,999.00 per year.

Dropbox

Download the Dropbox desktop version for your PC or the mobile app for your smartphone to ensure flawless backups. Any files you put in a dedicated Dropbox folder created by the desktop program automatically sync to the cloud.

There are three versions you can use with Dropbox data backup:

Dropbox Basic is free with 2GB storage
Dropbox Plus: $9.99 per month, nearly PKR 3,000 per month, or ~$119.88 per year, or PKR 36,000 per year.
Dropbox Professional: $16.58 per month, around PKR 5,000 per month, or roughly PKR 59,400 per year.

B. USB Cable and Dedicated Software Solutions

Samsung phones are quite popular in a country like Pakistan, where affording flagship Apple and Google products is costly. It is also why many people can be seen using older Samsung devices as well.

For such users, there are two unconventional data backup systems:

Samsung Smart Switch
Samsung Kies (for older phones)

Samsung Smart Switch

It is designed for newer Samsung models and supports a variety of data types, including contacts, images, messages, and apps, making it an excellent choice for customers who wish to easily move their data while switching devices.

Smart changeover lets you create a secure backup of your entire device by connecting your Samsung phone to your PC by USB cable or Wi-Fi. This ensures that your critical information is saved before a factory reset, device changeover, or to protect against data loss. It offers:

Comprehensive Data Transfer: Connect your Samsung phone to your PC via USB for complete data backup.
Easy Restoration: Quickly restore your data when upgrading or resetting your device.

Samsung Kies

For consumers of older Samsung products, Samsung Kies is a reliable choice. Kies effectively preserves the backup of music, photos, and other vital data even if its features may not be as advanced as those of Smart Switch.

Both Samsung Smart Switch and Samsung Kies may be downloaded for free from the official Samsung website or local service centers in Pakistan, therefore enabling consumers to safeguard their data without paying further fees.

It is also ideal for backing up contacts for older Samsung devices.

C. Local Backup Options for Phones and PCs

For Phones:

External Hard Drives/USB Flash Drives

Connect your phone to a computer via USB and copy files to the external storage. All modern phones offer direct file transfer to a computer using a USB cable or Bluetooth connectivity or a dedicated PC-to-phone file sharing connection.

Software Solutions

Acronis True Image is one of the many software options in Pakistan that offers backup solutions for Android devices, allowing you to back up data via Wi-Fi to a PC or Mac.

The entry-level Essentials of Acronis True Image version costs $49.99 per year (roughly PKR 15,000) and includes backups and restores to local and network devices, plus ransomware protection. You can use it with one computer. For $57.99 per year (approximately PKR 17,400), you can get an Advanced subscription that gives a single PC 50GB of cloud storage.

For a comprehensive backup of your system, consider utilizing software such as:

Clonezilla: An open-source tool that provides advanced backup capabilities at zero cost.
EaseUS Todo Backup: A free or low-cost option that offers robust system and file backups.
Free Version: EaseUS Todo Backup is available for free with basic features.
Paid Version: EaseUS Todo Backup Home is priced at around $29.99 per year, which is roughly PKR 9,000.
Macrium Reflect: Known for its reliability and efficiency, perfect for full system imaging.
Free Edition: Macrium Reflect offers a fully featured free edition suitable for personal use.
Paid Version: The Home edition of Macrium Reflect is priced at approximately $69.99 per year, about PKR 21,000.

For PCs:

External Hard Drives

High Capacity: Drives of 1TB or more offer affordable, reliable storage.
Portability: External drives provide a physical copy of your data that remains accessible even without an internet connection.

USB Flash Drives

Budget-Friendly: Ideal for backing up critical files without significant expense.
Quick Backup: Simple and portable, flash drives are perfect for transferring data on the go.

Cloud Backup (with local storage)

Some cloud backup services (IDirve, Duplicati) allow you to store a local copy of your data on a hard drive.

Conclusion: Secure Your Digital Life Without Overspending

Especially in a country like Pakistan, where problems such as inconsistent internet and power outages are common, safeguarding your phone and computer data is really vital. Combining low-cost local backup alternatives and free cloud storage with dependable backup software is the best way to create a safety net that protects your priceless data always.

After reading our data backup guide, you can optimally select one or a mix of backup strategies, streamline the process, and routinely test your backups for future safeguarding. These strategies we have listed here help you consistently guard your digital environment without draining money. Control your digital security now to invest in your peace of mind.