Top 5 Best Backup Software for Mac (Free & Paid)

As our digital lives become increasingly complex, data protection is a top priority for both Mac and Windows users. While searching for backup software often yields results for Windows tools, Mac users may overlook the many great backup software options available for their platform, with iCloud sync being a common solution. However, there are numerous reliable and effective backup software solutions for Mac, both free and paid, that can provide peace of mind and protect against data loss.

The Necessities of Mac Backup Software

When selecting Mac backup software, there are key features to consider. A good backup software for Mac should be able to protect your data by creating automatic backups, be able to recover files in case of data loss, and have a user-friendly interface to ensure ease of use. Additionally, it should be able to back up your data to multiple locations, such as an external hard drive, cloud storage, or another Mac, and have the ability to schedule backups at specific times or intervals. Furthermore, it should be able to back up specific files or folders, and have features such as versioning and encryption to ensure your data is secure.

• The best backup software for Mac should be easy to set up and use, with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate, allowing for quick learning and minimizing time spent on figuring out the software.
• Mac backup software should allow you to create comprehensive backups of your system files, applications, settings, and user data.
• Incremental backups are created by Mac backup software, which only saves new or changed data, saving time and storage space.
• Scheduled backups occur automatically at a set time, allowing for convenient and timely data preservation.
• A good Mac backup tool should allow you to create multiple versions of your backups, enabling you to restore an older version if needed.
• To ensure effective backup management, it's crucial to provide users with the ability to manage the amount of storage space used by their backups, including compressing data and deleting old backups.

Reviews of Top 5 Best Backup Software for Mac

Backup software is essential for safeguarding your data against unforeseen circumstances. If you're unsure which one is the best backup software for Mac, we've compared and reviewed the top 5 options to help you make an informed decision. These popular Mac backup software solutions offer a range of features and benefits, and our review will guide you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

• 1. Time Machine
• 2. Carbon Copy Cloner (Paid)
• 3. Get Backup Pro (Paid)
• 4. ChronoSync (Paid)
• 5. Qiling Backup for Mac (Paid)

1. Time Machine (Free)

Time Machine is a built-Time Machine, a built-in backup feature on Macs, allows users to create incremental backups of their data and save them to an external hard drive, which must be prepared in advance. This simple and effective solution is suitable for basic users, but lacks advanced features, making it less ideal for power users. One notable limitation is that Time Machine only supports backing up personal files, excluding system files and other data.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Incremental backups
• Scheduled backups
• Versioning

Cons:

• No compression or space management features
• The software can only save backups to an external hard drive, not to the cloud, limiting users' options for storing their backups.

2. Carbon Copy Cloner (Paid)

Carbon Copy Cloner, or CCC, has been a leading Mac backup software since 2002, with over 20 years of experience. Unlike Time Machine, CCC offers a wide range of backup options, including backing up to an external drive or another Mac. Its flexibility allows users to back up individual folders, entire external hard drives, or anything in between, making it a powerful tool for Mac users.

The upgrade of CCC to version 6 has significantly improved its backup speed, with the official website describing the increase as "astonishing".

Pros:

• Supports backing up old versions of files (Snapshot)
• Abundant backup options that fulfill users' demands
• The Review function allows users to preview the backup process before it actually begins, giving them a chance to review and adjust their settings as needed.
• Offers 30-day free trial

Cons:

• Only paid version
• When users want to restore a backup, the time it takes increases as the number of incremental backups grows, making the process slower and more complex.

3. Get Backup Pro (Paid)

Get Backup Pro 3 is a comprehensive Mac backup solution that offers a wide range of features, including backing up documents, music, videos, applications, and system files. Users can choose to back up their data to an external drive or cloud storage services like iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. The software also supports creating bootable backups and incremental backups, and allows users to encrypt their backups with password protection, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access their data.

Pros:

• Supports backing up to external drives and cloud storage services
• Encrypt backups with password protection
• Create bootable backups
• Incremental backups
• Task Scheduler

Cons:

Does not have cyber security feature

4. ChronoSync (Paid)

ChronoSync is a powerful sync and backup tool that supports saving data to both external hard drives and cloud services. It outperforms competitors in synchronization, syncing Mac files and folders to cloud, other Mac computers, or iPhone/iPad. Additionally, it allows for incremental backups, saving time and space when backing up large amounts of data. However, its advanced features, such as syncing multiple folders at once and scheduling tasks, come at a higher price, making it one of the most expensive backup solutions.

Pros:

• The software allows for backing up data to external drives, another Mac, or cloud storage services, providing users with flexibility and options for safeguarding their information.
• Create incremental backups
• Sync multiple folders at the same time
• Schedule tasks

Cons:

• Expensive

5. Qiling Backup for Mac (Paid)

Qiling Backup for Mac is a backup solution that offers all the necessary features to create backups of your data. It provides basic data backup, backup encryption, and file sync, as well as an innovative archived backup function that allows you to archive files to a hard drive, network volume, CD/DVD or external device that can be auto-mounted. This feature enables you to restore archives on any computer without affecting the original data.

Pros:

• Supports automatic scheduled backup in stealth mode
• Compress backup to save storage space
• Sync Mac files/folders to other Mac or mounted drives

Cons:

• No free trial

To try out Qiling Backup for Mac, download it from the button below and follow the guide to create a backup.

• Free Download
• Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

Step 1. Launchand run Qiling Backup for Mac.
To create a backup project, click on the first "Backup" tab or the "+" button in the bottom-left corner, then name the backup project and click "OK".

Step 2. Set up the backup destination, select the frequency of automatic backups, and click OK.

Step 3. Add files and folders to the backup project.
Click File+ to select specific files and folders to back up, then click the blue Start button to initiate the backup process, which will copy your chosen data to another drive or external storage device.

FAQs

1. What is the best backup software for a Mac?

In this article, we recommend five best Mac backup software:

1. Time Machine is a totally free and built-in backup utility on macOS that only backs up personal data, making it a convenient and reliable option for users.
2. Carbon Copy Cloner is a paid software that costs $39.99 for a Mac, with a 30-day free trial, and is known for being a well-experienced Mac backup solution.
3. Get Backup Pro is a paid software that offers a range of features, including backup, cloning, archiving, and syncing, all in one app, available for $19.99 on Mac.
4. ChronoSync, a paid software, outperforms other competitors in syncing, costing $49.99 for Mac users.
5. Qiling Backup for Mac is a paid software that provides comprehensive backup capabilities for $29.95 per Mac, offering a well-performed solution for users.

2. Does Mac have backup software?

On macOS, Time Machine is a built-in backup utility that automatically backs up personal data when a prepared backup disk is connected to the Mac, requiring no manual intervention.

3. How do I backup my entire Mac to an external hard drive?

Step by Step: How to Back up Mac Files/System to an External Hard Drive

1. Choose a third-party backup tool and launch it on your Mac.
2. Connect a backup disk to your Mac, then select it as the backup destination in the Backup preferences. This allows Time Machine to automatically back up your data to the external drive.
3. To back up your computer, first select the content you want to save, including both files and system data.
4. To confirm your settings, click on the "Backup" tab and make sure that the "Backup all files" option is selected. Then, click on the "Options" button and ensure that the backup location is set to a external drive or cloud storage service.

The Bottom Line

Choosing the best backup software for Mac can be a challenge, but knowing the top 5 options can make the decision easier. Unlike Windows backup software, most of the top Mac backup tools are paid versions, although some offer a free trial period. However, if budget is a concern, Time Machine is a reliable alternative that can protect your data without breaking the bank. By selecting the best backup tool for your needs, you can ensure your data is safe and secure.

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