The hard disk and partition imaging softwaretake a snapshot of your hard disk so that you can restore your systemat a later time to the exact same state the system was when you imaged the disk or partition. This is useful forsystem recovery in case of a hard disk disaster. The term 'image' is used because such software often copy the stateof the hard disk sector by sector to your image. Hence if your hard disk was (say) defragmented with certain softwareoccupying certain sectors when you backed up, it will be returned to that same state when you restore your backup.The image utilities often do not allow fine control what you backup - you can specify the partitions or hard disks toback up, but you usually will not be able to specify which folders to exclude or include. They are useful for backingup your system drive or partition, that is, the drive that you placed your operating system on. Hard disk imaging softwareare sometimes also used to clone a hard disk to another (useful for the times you change or upgrade your hard disk).
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- IPhone Backup Extractor. This software is named as “iPhone Backup Extractor“, which is compatible with all the iDevices and available on both Mac/PC operation systems. With it, you can easily get your iTunes backup information and extract data from iTunes backup on a computer.
On the other hand, the hard disk, folderand files backup software listed here allow a finer control over what youback up. You can selectively backup and restore (say) your documents and email while omitting other files and directories.Some of the utilities allow you to schedule your backups, so that you can be sure that your important data arebacked up periodically (for example, daily, weekly, monthly, etc). Depending on the utility, it may or may notsupport the backup of your system drive (the drive you booted from).
Acronis True Image 2015 for PC 1.1 download free - Backup, recovery, and data migration for PC - free. software downloads - best software, shareware, demo and trialware.
Note that commercial backup and imaging software, likeTerabyte Drive Image Backup and Restore Suite(which works on Windows, Linux, and DOS), are not listed here, other than being mentioned in this introduction.
In addition, file synchronization utilities are listed separately on theFree File Synchronization Softwarepage.
Related Pages
Skip to:[ Imaging and Cloning Tools ][ General Backup Tools ][ File Synchronization Tools ]
Free Hard Disk / Partition Imaging and Cloning Software
ODIN can make an image (ie, backup) of your entire hard disk or just a specific partition. You can use it to backup only the portions of your hard disk that is used, thus saving time and space, or to back up the entire disk/partition,including the unused blocks. The program supports both NTFS and the FAT family (eg, FAT32) of file systems. It allowsyou to split your backup files into smaller chunks so that you canburn it onto a DVD or CD. Both32 bit and 64 bit versions are available. The program requires no installation, and can be run from a USB flash driveif desired. It is licensed under the GNU General Public License (ie, it's open source).
This software is able to image your currently running system (using a facility known as Microsoft Volume Shadow copy Service) to another local hard disk,to the Network, a USB or Firewire drive, and DVD. It has a built-in scheduler, so that you can schedule it to back up your system at a convenient timeby itself, has 32 bit and 64 bit versions, comes with a Linux-based bootable rescue CD as well as the ability to generatea bootable Windows-based rescue CD.
Clone Maxx copies the contents of one hard disk to another. It is run from a bootable diskette, and is useful when you want to transfereverything from one hard disk to another as you might want to do when you buy a new hard drive to replace an existing one. It supportsDMA transfer, which speeds up the rate at which your data is transferred. It works independently of the existing file system or thenumber of partitions the drive has. Note: at the time this was written, you can get the program by clickingthe 'CLONE-MAXX' button just under 'DOWNLOAD HERE' in the rightmost column. (If you click the link after the words'The full version of ... clone-maxx can be obtained at no cost from its sponsor... (etc)', you'll just end up on a pagethat will eventually lead you back to this page.)
PING, or PING Is Not Ghost (formerly PartImage is Not Ghost), is a Linux/UNIX utility to make an image of yourpartitions in a file. It is able to image only used portions of the partitions saving time and space. The imagesare compressed. The utility supports the ext2fs, ext3fs, ReiserFS, FAT16, FAT32, HPFS, JFS, XFS, UFS, HFS, andNTFS file systems. This is a live ISO that you canburn onto a CD so thatyou can use it on any computer regardless of the operating system that is running.
Dubaron DiskImage backs up and restores partitions, hard disks, USB keys, floppy drives and even optical media (like CDROMs and DVDs).The image it makes may be compressed. This program is open source. Supported platforms: Windows 2000 and XP.
nfgdump (NTFS-FAT-Generic dump) is a Windows and Linux tool that dumps (images) and restores NTFS, compressed NTFS, FAT16, FAT32and any generic partition. Dump files (that is, the backup image) can be compressed, encrypted or split. The page file can also beomitted from the dump file / backup image. The software is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). It runs underWindows 2000, XP and Linux. This is a command line program.

This is a Windows version of the well-known (and versatile) Unix 'dd' utility. It runs on Windows XP and is released underthe GNU General Public License. Like 'dd', the program simply makes a raw (uncompressed) copy of your hard disk.This is a command line program.
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DriveImage XML is a hard disk imaging utility that allows you to backup a PC's hard disk or partition from within Windows.It can image a partition that is currently in use (such as the system drive), compress the image while backing up, restorean image to another partition/drive and clone a drive. Note that although it is able to image the system drive whileyou're working in it, it cannot restore the image to the system drive if it is currently in use.
g4u is a bootable CDROM, or if you prefer, floppy, that allows you to clone an image of a PC's hard disk for deployment on other PCsusing FTP. The bootable floppy and CDROM supports both the cloning and restoration process. g4u supports any operating system onany filesystem. All you need are two floppy disks or one CD-R/RW, an FTP server and a DHCP server. The bootable disk uses a NetBSD system.
Partition Saving is an MSDOS hard disk imaging utility. Place it on an MSDOS boot disk and use it to image yourWindows, MSDOS and Linux partitions. It supports the imaging of NTFS, FAT32, FAT16, FAT12, ext2 (and possibly other)partitions. It can do a sector-by-sector copy or (for the partition-types listed here) copy only the occupied sectorsthereby saving space and time in your backups. It is able to automatically split the backup file into smaller filesof a size you specify (useful if you plan to burn the backup to a CDR(W) or DVD+/-R(W) later). The backup file maybe compressed with a compression level you select. Updated: starting from version 3.50, Partition Saving now worksin Windows and can be placed on a BartPERescue CD.
PartImage, or Partition Image, is a Linux/UNIX utility to make an image of your partitions in a file. It is able to image onlyused portions of the partitions saving time and space. The images are compressed. The utility supports the ext2fs, ext3fs,ReiserFS, FAT16, FAT32, HPFS, JFS, XFS, UFS, HFS, and NTFS file systems. Note that if you are not using Linux,and want to use Parition Image on a PC, look at the other entries onthis page for PING.
SystemRescueCD is a bootable system rescue CD-ROM for PCs containing utilities that allow you to manage and edit yourhard disk partitions (GNU Parted and QTParted), image your hard disk partitions (Partimage), a partition table backup andrestore utility (Sfdisk), various file system tools that allow you to format, resize and edit existing partitions on yourhard disk. It does not depend on the operating system you have installed on your hard disk — the CDROM is self-containedand is designed to serve as a rescue disk. There is also a version for the blind (it incorporates a speech reader).
Ultimate Boot CD is a bootable CDROM for PCs that contain a variety of software for diagnosing and fixingproblems on your computer, managing your hard disk partitions, imaging or cloning your hard disk partitions (itincludes Partition Saving, see elsewhere on this page),resetting your (forgotten) password on NT, Win2k, or XP, scanning your hard disks for viruses (it includes somefree antivirus utilities), etc.
If you are moving your system from an old hard disk to a Seagate disk, you can download this free software from Seagate make a clone of yourexisting hard disk on your new Seagate hard disk. The version, at the time this was written, also allows you to make a backup image of your hard diskand restore it. Besides running from your Windows system, you can also create a bootable rescue CD from which you can image, clone and restore yourhard disk.
HDClone allows you to copy the contents of an IDE hard disk onto a larger capacity hard disk (SCSI drives are not supported).It is useful when you upgrade or change your hard disk and don't want to reinstall your system again. It creates abootable floppy disk and allows you to clone your disk when you boot from it. It cannot copy to another disk of thesame size, nor does it support the Ultra-DMA of modern computers (it uses the old and slower PIO modes).
Best Mac Backup App
Free Hard Disk Backup and Restore Utilities
Areca Backup is an open source backup program that lets you back up a set of files and directories (folders). It can also perform post-backup actions,like send you an email backup report, run custom scripts (batch files), etc. Your backups can be a zip file, a standard directory containing your a copyof your original files or delta backups (where only modified portions of your files are stored), etc. The software also supports encryption(AES128 and AES256), compression (zip and zip64), incremental, differential and full backups, the ability to recover archives from a specific date,the use of source file filters (to back up according to extension, subdirectory, size, date, status, etc), file version tracking, a commandline interface as well as a graphical user interface, etc. Windows and Linux versions are available.

Bacula is able to backup, verify your backups and restore (recover from backups) across a network of computers. The site says that the programis an 'enterprise-ready, network-based backup program' meaning that it is designed so that an administrator can easily manage the backups ofmultiple computers on a corporate network. (Note though that it can also be used on a single computer system.) Besides being able to back up to ahard disk, it can also backup to a tape drive (a list of supported tape drives is given on their site).This tool works on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and other Unix-type systems (including FreeBSD), although precompiled versions (that is, ready-to-runpackages) appear to be available only for Windows and Linux. (If you have the know-how, you can of course download the source code and compilethem into executables for your system yourself.) As implied by my earlier sentences, this program is open source.
BackupPC allows you to back up your Windows, Linux and Mac OS X PCs, desktops and laptops to a server's disk. It either usesSMB, tar over SSH/RSH/NFS or rsync.The program is written in Perl and is open source.
The Amanda Community Edition is an open source backup and recovery software for Linux. Administrators can set up a backup server to back upmulitiple host computers to a single tape drive, tape changer or hard disk via the network.
[Update: that the program does not appear to have been updated since 2012, andthe site says that it is now owned by a different person.]Cobian Backup is a backup and restore utility that can backup your files and directories to anotherdirectory or drive on the same computer or to another computer on your network. It also supportsFTP backup. You can compress and encrypt your backups. Standalone decompression anddecryption utilities are also available so that if you wish, you can recover your fileswithout having to use the backup program. Included with the backup program is a scheduler, so thatyou can schedule your backups to occur, say, every night when you are not using the computer. Theprogram also supports remote backups. This is a Windows program.
Freebyte Backup is a Windows program that supports the backing up files and directories to a backupdirectory. It also handles incremental backups, where only files not already in the backup set issaved, scheduled backups and profiles. This program does not appear to have been updated since 2012.
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By Vernon Roderick, Last updated: August 3, 2020
A lot of people constantly experience data loss. Considering how common this issue is, it’s only natural for you to stumble upon this problem as well.
However, you don’t have to be like everybody else. Instead of lying around waiting for disaster to strike, you can prepare yourself for it. What better way to prepare for data loss to create backups.
Below is a list of six free backup software for Mac that will help you come up with a plan on how you can counter data loss. Before that, there are some things you need to know first.
Part 1: Three Types of Free Backup Software for Mac
Although there are a lot of people that want to find the best free backup software for Mac, they are not knowledgeable of what backup software really is. There are generally three types of backup software. Here’s a look at their basic information:
- Cloud Storage. The one that can be considered the farthest from being a backup is cloud storage. As the name implies, it allows you to store your files on the cloud, and then get them out from another device. Simply put, you are storing files to secure them from data loss.
- Local Backup. A local backup, on the other hand, allows you to create a backup within the device that will be using that backup. That backup cannot be taken anywhere else.
- Bootable Backup. This is very similar to local backups. The only difference is that you can take this backup anywhere. It doesn’t necessarily have to be on the device where it came from.
Each of these types has its own strengths and weaknesses. In terms of security, cloud storage will be your best choice, since there is little to no chance of this from getting lost. A local backup has a higher risk of getting lost since it can only be stored on the device it came from. However, it is much easier to use when restoring files.
On the other hand, bootable backup has a lower risk but is more susceptible to encountering issues. Without further ado, let’s head to our first free backup software for Mac.
Part 2: Free Backup Software for Mac
#1 FoneDog Android Data Backup & Restore
The first entry is FoneDog Android Data Backup & Restore. As one might expect, it belongs to the bootable backup type. This is because it doesn’t create a local backup, though it can be used by all devices.
Android Data Backup & Restore is a product by the FoneDog group which specializes in creating backups from Android device.
Pros
Perhaps the greatest strength of the tool is its simplicity. The tool brings many benefits to its users. Here’s a look at the things that I liked the most:
- You will be guided throughout the backup and restore process.
- It is compatible with most devices including Mac, Windows PC, and more.
- You have full control over the contents of the backup and when and where you create it.
Cons
Perhaps it may already be too obvious, but the most inconvenient characteristic of this tool is the fact that it is exclusive to Android. As such, you can only create backups from Android devices.
iOS Data Backup and RestoreOne click to backup the whole iOS device to your computer.Allow to preview and restore any item from the backup to a device.Export what you want from the backup to your computer.No data loss on devices during the restore.iPhone Restore Won't Overwrite Your Data
#2 Time Machine
Time Machine is a built-in backup function of macOS Leopard or later. It’s very easy to use since there are guides about it across the internet. The steps are also very simple.
However, the main reason why it is one of the best free backup software for Mac is the fact that it was developed by Apple itself.
Pros
There are several things to like about Time Machine. Here’s a list of the features that you might find to be very helpful:
- You can preview the changes that will be made after a backup is used
- You can sync the software to one of Apple’s product, Apple Time Capsule
- It is specially built for macOS, making it the best backup tool for Mac
Cons

Since it is only a function of Apple, it’s only natural to spot some disadvantages when using the Time Machine feature:
- The creation of backups is automatic and you may not be notified in some cases
- You have no control over when the backups will be created
- Data from old backups will be overwritten by data from new backups
- You need an external drive
Overall, considering how it is a built-in function, there’s no wonder why there are some disadvantages. However, it can still prove to be one of the best free backup software for Macwhen used properly.
#3 iCloud
How do I backup my Mac software? Our very first entry that belongs to the cloud storage category is iCloud. As the name implies, it is a cloud storage service offered by Apple Inc.
While it may be considered cloud storage, it is often used as a backup tool by many experts, which is the reason why it got here in the first place.
Pros
Personally, iCloud is the best free backup software for Macthat belongs to the cloud storage category, and there are many reasons as to why:
- You can instantly migrate from one device to another, as long as you have internet
- There are some features such as Find My iPhone and Find My Friend that can help you with other tasks
- It is a built-in function on most Apple devices including Mac
Cons
The only thing that might bother you when using iCloud is that you are required to have the internet. Without it, you won’t even be able to use this feature.
Nevertheless, as long as you have the requirements, you’ll see why it is one of the best free backup software for Mac.
#4 iDrive
What is the best backup software for Mac?iDrive is similar to iCloud. It is also cloud storage that is available to Mac users. This time, however, it is also available on PC, though that might not be very helpful if you only have Mac.
Either way, it offers free storage space as well as a bigger storage space with a premium subscription. It’s pretty much the same as iCloud, so you can think of it as alternative free backup software for Mac.
Pros
Although it is highly similar to iCloud, there are some features that set it apart from others. The following are some examples of those features:
- The pricing for every gigabyte is cheaper than iCloud
- While the storage space for backups is limited, there is no limit to how many files you can restore
Cons
Of course, since iCloud has some cons, there will also be something that might bother you with iDrive:
- There are tons of ads with the free version
- The only paid plans are yearly
Overall, you can think of iDrive as a cheaper, though not necessarily inferior, version of iCloud which can still be considered a good free backup software for Mac.
#5 SuperDuper
SuperDuper is an application that was specially designed to created backups. It is a product by Shirt Pocket and is an alternative to Time Machine. There are some features that are not in Time Machine, but there are also features that are lacking.
Pros
It may not be as popular as our previous entries, but you’ll find why it is one of the best free backup software for Mac:
- You can choose to create partial or full backups
- You can create bootable clones of your hard drive as well as local backups for individual files
- The paid version is very superior to the free version, making it a bargain
Cons
Of course, it didn’t become very popular for a reason. Below are some of the following drawbacks of using SuperDuper:
- You cannot select files or folders to include on the backup
- The creation of backup as well as the restoration is comparatively slower than its competitors
- Most features are not available unless you pay for it
These are the disadvantages of SuperDuper, but these will be no more as long as you are able to pay for the premium version. Either way, you can use it as free backup software for Mac regardless of your situation.
#6 Get Backup
Our last entry is Get Backup from the BeLight Software group. As you might expect, the app has both a free version as well as a paid version.
It is available from the Mac App Store, so you don’t have to worry about its credibility. After all, an app needs to be legitimate to enter this store. Remember that the app from the official website and the one from the store might have some slight differences.
Pros
This app is your typical free backup software for Mac except for some features that distinguish it from other software:
- You can encrypt the backup data to increase the security
- You can customize the functions of the software, giving you full control over everything you need to do
- The paid version is much less expensive than most of its competitors
Cons
In contrast with the things that make the software great, you’ll find that it’s very bothersome to use Get Backup, especially if you are a beginner, and this is because of the following cons:
- There is no supporting website where you can get info about the software
- There’s no place where you can check the past activities of the tool
- You might miss out on some functions if you get the app from the App Store
Anyway, you can rest assured if you are knowledgeable of this type of tool. You won’t need help from the cloud support. Plus, you’ll know better than to get the app from the Store. In short, it’s a free backup software for Macworth trying out.
Backup Applications Mac
Part 3: Conclusion
There are a lot of unpredictable events on a computer, and one of them is data loss. Unfortunately, there’s no way of avoiding this phenomenon 100% of the time. There will always be a possibility, what you can do is have a contingency.
With these six free backup software for Mac, you should be able to live knowing that you won’t suffer as much as you will when you don’t have these tools.