Do I need an online subscription for storage space if I only have one device?

lisafernandesphd

I know everything saves locally and that the online subscription allows met to use Zotero storage (past the 300 MB max quota). I only have a single laptop where I use Zotero, so I'm trying to determine if there is a benefit to the subscription.

I am regularly EXPORTING my library as a backup to my university's cloud server in case I need to restore to my computer. I believe the export function contains the attachments as well as notes, annotations etc - but please confirm?

I do not think the export is the same as storying the data directory for sync purposes, but please confirm? (I worry because near the bottom of this page: https://www.zotero.org/support/sync it says "Storing the Zotero data directory directly in a cloud storage folder is extremely likely to corrupt your Zotero database and should not be done." )

Related is my current use case: If I highlight a PDF and my sync is turned on past my quota limit, the highlighting doesn't save, which is, I assume, because it is no longer syncing online. However, if I turn off my sync, would my highlighting be saved locally and open from there, thereafter?

Thank you!

dstillman

I am regularly EXPORTING my library as a backup to my university's cloud server

Exporting is not backing up. You should stop doing that and instead make proper backups of your data directory (but really, as it says there, you should be backing up your entire computer onto an external disk or cloud service, not trying to remember specific folders to back up).

If I highlight a PDF and my sync is turned on past my quota limit, the highlighting doesn't save, which is, I assume, because it is no longer syncing online.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. As you say, Zotero saves everything locally. Being at your storage quota doesn't in any way prevent your highlights from saving to your local database, and I'm not sure why you think it does.

To answer your general question, a storage subscription lets you sync all files between devices, it lets you host files in any group libraries you own, and it ensures that all your files are stored online. While Zotero syncing isn't technically a replacement for a proper backup, it can function as one, and people frequently are able to restore their full Zotero libraries thanks to a storage subscription after a computer crash/theft/etc. If you really don't have any other devices where you use Zotero (including iOS or Android), you don't need to host files in any group libraries, and you're diligent about making proper (i.e., hourly/daily) backups, you might not find it necessary.