Apple Backup Drive Review

• Backup Hard Drive For Mac
• Imac Backup Drive

If anything happens to your Mac, you can boot directly from the backup clone and carry on working without having first to replace your hard drive and restore your data. As a best practice, you should keep both a file backup and a clone of your Mac. The best external hard drives for Mac are not only useful for storing data but are an excellent way to transport files from one location to another. When you take into account price, ease of use, and portability, the Seagate Backup Plus Slim is the most reliable hard drive you can carry around with you at all times.

Decide which method is best for you

This article can help you decide which backup method is best for you. In case you ever need an alternative backup, you can make a backup in iCloud and another using your computer.

iCloud

• Stores backups in iCloud
• Offers up to 2TB of storage (your first 5GB are free)
• Always encrypts your backups
• Lets you create and use backups from anywhere with Wi-Fi

Computer

• Stores backups on your Mac or PC
• Storage depends on your Mac or PC's available space
• Offers encrypted backups (off by default)
• Lets you create and use backups from your Mac or PC

Learn how to make a backup or restore your device from a backup.

iCloud backups

With a Wi-Fi network connection, you can make a backup of your device using iCloud. You don't need to plug your device into a computer or even be at home to back up with iCloud.

iCloud backups include nearly all data and settings stored on your device. iCloud backups don't include:

• Data that's already stored in iCloud, like Contacts, Calendars, Notes, iCloud Photos, iMessages, Voice Memos, text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages, and Health data
• Data stored in other cloud services, like Gmail and Exchange mail
• Apple Mail data
• Apple Pay information and settings
• Face ID or Touch ID settings
• iCloud Music Library and App Store content (If it's still available in the iTunes, App, or Apple Books store, you can tap to re-download your already purchased content.)

Learn how to make an iCloud backup or how to manage iCloud storage and delete backups that you no longer need.

When you use Messages in iCloud, Health data on iOS 12 or later, or Voice Memos, your content is automatically stored in iCloud. If you turn on iCloud Photos, your content is also automatically stored in iCloud.

Backups from your computer

A computer backup of your device, which is not the same as a sync, includes almost all of your device's data and settings. A backup from a computer doesn't include:

• Content from the iTunes and App Stores, or PDFs downloaded directly to Apple Books
• Content synced from Finder or iTunes, like imported MP3s or CDs, videos, books, and photos
• Data already stored in iCloud, like iCloud Photos, iMessages, and text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages
• Face ID or Touch ID settings
• Apple Pay information and settings
• Apple Mail data
• Activity, Health, and Keychain data (to back up this content, you'll need to use Encrypted Backup in iTunes.)

Learn how to make a backups from your computer, how to find them on your Mac or PC, and how to delete backups that you no longer need.

Can I use my device's backup for another kind of device, like an iPhone backup for an iPad?

You can restore a device from a backup of another kind of device, like using an iPad backup for an iPhone, but certain types of content won't transfer. This content includes photos, Messages and attachments in Messages, Voice Memos, and apps that aren't compatible with the device that you're setting up. For example, apps compatible only with iPad won't transfer to your iPhone.

If your devices use iCloud and Messages in iCloud, your iMessages and text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages are automatically stored in iCloud.

Learn more

• Make a backup of your device or restore from a backup.
• Manage your iOS and iPadOS backups.
• Encrypt backups using your computer.
• Back up your Apple Watch.

Being a Mac user, we agree that it offers the most secure and seamless user experience. However, we must not forget it's a machine end of the day. Some odd day, it might collapse or compromise the space of your data. Eventually, erasing everything in it and making you lose all of it if you didn't opt for backup software for your Mac. In our today's writeup, we'd be talking about – best backup softwares for Mac? Need to do a Backup? Which one's better, backup or cloning? And How often should you backup your data on Mac? Let's begin.

What is Data Backup, and Why It's Important?

We use our Mac regularly to create, transfer, and receive ‘n' number of files. While some of them are personal, some play a significant part in our professional life. By backing up your data, you can stay assured of not having any loss of your moments stored in Mac or your work-related files.

Backup Hard Drive For Mac

What is Cloning, and why it's important?

Unlike backup, cloning creates a copy of the selected drive on the partition made at the target location. Having said this, you'll have access to an exact copy comprising partition layout and split. However, in comparison to backing up, cloning requires larger space considering that it gets created immediately, and encryption or compressing the file isn't feasible.

What is the Difference Between Backup and Cloning?

Backing up to a hard drive lets you create a backup for the entire content of a selected partition into the target source. This is also known to create an Image. Just if you are taking the backup of the entire system, an image file will be created of all the installed programs and settings. You also have the option to encrypt the backed up file for enhanced security.

How Often Should You Backup your Data on Mac?

Did you know, according to a report published, 24% of adult users never back up their data, 42% do it once a year or even less, and 34% do it once a month. It's just 6% of users who back up their data daily. Strange it may sound, but in a world where our MacBook serves an invincible role in storing our data, we sideline the role of having Mac's backup software.

If you are among the 6% of users who do it daily, Kudos to you!! If you are part of the remaining population, it's time you should take data loss seriously.

What is the Best Mac Backup Software?

Keep scrolling to find some of the best free and paid available data backup software for your Mac. Let's begin.

If you are among the 6% of users who do it daily, Kudos to you!! If you are part of the remaining population, it's time you should take data loss seriously.

What is the Best Mac Backup Software?

Keep scrolling to find some of the best free and paid available data backup software for your Mac. Let's begin.

1. Time Machine

This is macOS' built-in back software. Being designed primarily for Mac, it's easy to use and copies everything on your Mac, including applications, accounts, email, messages, documents, photos, music, videos, system files, and preferences.

Setting up Time Machine doesn't require more than a hard drive, which is twice the internal hard drive's storage capacity. Once you connect it with your Mac, you'll notice a box seeking confirmation on using it with Time Machine and whether or not you intend to encrypt the backup disk.
While the backing up process may take hours to finish, here's how you can backup using Time Machine.

• Compatibility: All macOS'
• Price: Free (Built-in with Mac)
• How to install Time Machine: It comes by default with Mac.

2. Super Duper

The software offers intuitive software and is extremely easy to use. You have to select your target and the destination drive and sit back to watch it happen in no time. The software will take a backup of your entire data. Once the initial backup is completed, you'll have the option to select incremental backups. This will copy only the files that were created after your last backup was done. Isn't that interesting?
It also has a feature named Smart Wake, which enables you to take the backup even when your Mac's not awake.

• Compatibility: macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) and later
• Latest Version: 3.3.1 (Updated on 7^th February 2020)
• Price: Free to Try (License costs $27.95 for single Mac)

3. Carbon Copy Cloner

The cloning tool offers you a straightforward interface to execute the process. It gives you the option to create a back of your internal drive at a bit level and create a bootable backup disk or a clone, which is ready to install. In their recent upgrade, they resolved concerns linked with 'Copying of SystemKey' in macOS Catalina and an issue linked with the bootability of Yosemite and EI Captain backups.

• Compatibility: macOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or later.
• Latest Version: 5.1.21.6053 (Updated on 24^th September 2020)
• Price: 30-day Free to Try (License costs $39.99 for all the devices in a premise)

4. Chrono Sync

The software dons an editor rating of 4 stars out of 5 and works seamlessly between different work stations. It helps sync data and takes backup from multiple devices. Though the user agreement may look lengthy to you, once it starts to work, you'd see the effortlessness with which it carries all tasks. With its trial version, the software allows you to backup/transfer data up to 500mb. Further, you'll have to buy its licensed version.

• Compatibility: OS X 10.12 (Sierra) or higher.
• Latest Version: 4.9.10 (Updated on 10^th June 2020)
• Price: Free to Try (License costs $39.99 for all the devices in a premise)

5. Smart Backup

The lightweight backup application is created to serve devices with macOS X or higher. It uses a custom sync engine to improve performance and enhance features. It gives you entire liberty to select the volumes and folders you want to sync and create a bootable clone of your hard drive. It also comes with built-in automation that lets you schedule backup in just a few clicks.

• Compatibility: OS X 10.10 (Yosemite) or higher.
• Latest Version: 4.2.1 (Updated on 4^th March 2020)
• Price: Free

6. Disk Drill

This one's a powerful tool to scan your Mac or connected devices to find lost files. Though mostly it happens that some files can't be recovered, this tool has successfully reconstructed such lost or deleted files in many cases. It has a preview feature that will share with you the list of recoverable files after scanning.

• Compatibility: OS X 10.8.5 (Mountain Lion) or higher.
• Latest Version: 4.0.123 (Updated on 8^th October 2020)
• Price: Free basic version. $89 for Pro Version that allows recovery.

7. Carbonite Safe

It allows you to backup your Mac to remote servers and fetches files as and when you need them. We need to note that it only backups your files and folders and doesn't include system files and applications. The software protects your files with 128-bit encryption. However, there's no option of adding an access password to your protected files.

• Compatibility: OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or higher.
• Latest Version: 2.4.4
• Price: Free Try. It starts at $71.99 for a single Mac.

8. Acronis True Image 2020

This one's widely used and recognized by Windows users in comparison to those using Mac. However, the truth is that it can be of great help in availing personal backup solutions and taking backup of data in a local disk, an attached network, or its cloud service. However, to leverage the cloud service, you'll have to set up an account, which won't take much time, though.

• Compatibility: OS X EI Captain or higher.
• Latest Version: 2020.25760 (Updated on 29^th April 2020)
• Price: Free Try. It starts at $49.99.

9. Get Backup Pro (V3)

One primary reason for the popularity of this software is the flexibility it offers. It gives you the option to either backup your entire drive or a particular folder. It can create boot-ready clones of Mac's startup drive and sync folders and files to different drives. You can also schedule backups. These will happen in the background without hindering your work-in-progress. Once completed, the software will close automatically.

• Compatibility: OS X Mavericks or higher.
• Latest Version: 3.5.9 (Updated on 1^st October 2020)
• Price: Free Try. It starts at $19.99.

10. Backblaze

The software performs auto backups for you on Mac as per the schedule set. So just in case you forget doing it or have a busy schedule, this can be of great help. However, it keeps the backed up data stored for 30 days and then deletes it by self. Having said this, to be on the safer side, it'll always be a good idea to create a schedule for daily EoD or weekly.

• Compatibility: OS X Mountain Lion or higher.
• Latest Version: 7.0.1.452 (Updated on 14^th August 2020)
• Price: Free Try. $6 per month or $60 per year.

11. IDrive

Imac Backup Drive

The online backup service offers free accessibility up to 5GB capacity. After that, things get pretty expensive. However, there's one thing that you might like about this software. It does not delete your backup, giving you the liberty to roll back to any date from the past. While the data is fully encrypted, the features like Rewind and Snapshot are indeed a charm.

• Compatibility: OS X Mavericks or higher.
• Latest Version: 3.5.9.19 (Updated on 25^th September 2020)
• Price: Free Try. $52.12 for 1^st year and then $74.62/year.

Numerous softwares help you back up your data on Mac. Understanding its vitality, it's crucial to have the best software on board to serve the purpose. Just in case there are any further details you want, please feel free to share it with me in the comment section.

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Mayank is a published author and a tech-blogger with over ten years of writing experience for various domains and industries. At iGeeks, he mostly writes about blogs that solve user-problems and guide them on unleashing the full potential of their Apple Device. He can often be found with his headphones on, typing to the rhythm of some country song.

• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mayank/
• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mayank/
• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mayank/
• https://www.igeeksblog.com/author/mayank/

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