VERIFIED JUNE 2026 · CLOUD BACKUP
Does Backblaze Work Abroad?
Checked from abroad
- Loads & works without a VPN
- US cards accepted — and non-US cards too
- Sold worldwide — no US address to sign up
- Pick a US or EU data region
Install, sign in — it just runs from anywhere
What we verified
| Creating an account from abroad | Sign up from any supported country — no US residency requirement |
| Paying with a US card | US credit cards billed monthly or yearly as normal from overseas |
| Paying with a non-US card | International credit cards are accepted by Backblaze billing |
| Access without a VPN | App and web console connect directly — a VPN is optional, not required |
| Choosing a data region | Pick US East, US West, EU Central (Amsterdam) or CA East at signup |
| The catch | Uploads are slower the farther you are from the chosen data center |
Where we checked
What you should know before signing up from abroad
Backblaze explicitly supports international customers and is sold in nearly every country, with exclusions only for a handful of sanctioned nations. For an American in Thailand, the Philippines or Costa Rica there's no US address or phone requirement — you download the app, sign in, and it backs up your machine continuously. Both US-issued and non-US cards are accepted.
No VPN is needed. The desktop client and the web console work over an ordinary local connection — Backblaze's own guidance says backing up over a VPN causes no problems but is never required.
The honest drawback is speed, not access: Backblaze's data centers are in North America (with an EU option), so the first full upload of a large drive is slower from Asia or the Southern Hemisphere. After that initial sync, only changed files upload.
Quick answers
Can I sign up for Backblaze while living in Thailand or the Philippines?
Yes. Backblaze serves customers in nearly every country; only a few sanctioned nations are excluded, and no US address or phone is needed.
Will my backup be painfully slow overseas?
The first full upload is slower due to distance to the servers, but enabling multi-threading helps, and after the initial sync only changed files upload.
Do I need a VPN to use Backblaze abroad?
No. The app and web login work directly. A VPN is optional and can sometimes aid stability, but it isn't required.
We may earn a commission if you sign up through our link — it costs you nothing and funds the verification work. We only list services we tested ourselves. Full disclosure.
The Abroad Stack
A monthly check of US services that still work overseas. One email, no noise.