Read on for our top picks. It has some downsides too. Scroll to the bottom of this article to see links to all our backup software reviews. Read our full review. In all our years of using it, R-Drive has proven to be a reliable workhorse that leaves us feeling confident our data is in good hands. Among the free programs we tested, Backupper Standard wins primarily because it has the most features, including imaging, file backup, disk cloning, and plain file syncing, plus multiple scheduling options see our full review.
This was the case with Backupper 4, and the latest version has only added more options, making it a surprisingly well-rounded free offering. We hit a few performance snags with less-conventional system setups, but for the average user, it should perform as expected. Additionally, if you intend to back up to a newly purchased external hard drive, check out the software that ships with it. Seagate, WD, and others provide backup utilities that are adequate for the average user.
Some programs automatically select the appropriate files if you use the Windows library folders Documents, Photos, Videos, etc. Boot media: Should your system crash completely, you need an alternate way to boot and run the recovery software. While there is a free tier, the single paid Home tier offers more features for those really concerned with managing their backups on a regular basis.
The Home edition is available for a one-time fee, or alternatively you can subscribe on a yearly basis, or a charge every two years. The Business options for a single Workstation has additional options for servers and technicians which offer an even more rich range of features.
With the Create Backup Job wizard, guidance is provided to what will be backed up, and where the data will be stored. This software covers all the usual backup processes, and can easily create complex routines, including automated backup. A standout feature is the WinPE recovery media, which in the worst case scenario comes to the rescue for when your PC refuses to even boot. Via a bootable USB stick, users can rescue files, fix boot problems, and even perform a restoration to get up and running again in a jiffy.
A home plan is charged for a single home user license. For business users you will need to contact Paragon for a quote. For modest users this will suffice, but it falls short when it comes to the interface, support for platforms other than Windows and Linux, and more advanced tasks. However, it does at least include any upgrades to the program, and also supports backup to cloud providers including OneDrive and Dropbox.
The standout feature of NovaBackup PC is the security offered, as the software runs locally to send the data to a local media drive, and does not connect to the internet. Also, the backup can be performed with AES bit encryption for extra security. Home users are charged for an annual subscription for a single PC, which offers protection against data loss, ransomware, and hardware failure. There is a trial available for Windows XP and higher, although not for other platforms. This software is focused on traditional drive backup to a media drive, and the developer offers separate solutions for other situations including Android backup and cloud backup needs, keeping Genie Backup Manager from being a more comprehensive application.
The app sits in the Windows system tray as an icon, quietly going about its business. Notable features include the option to have the backup run at full speed via Turbo Mode, or to run in Smart Mode which intelligently adjusts itself based on the available system resources.
There are a few other options worth considering, not least free backup software which is still useful but will tend to have fewer options and configurations you can customize for what you need, plus of course there's always the option to use cloud backup software.
Here we'll look more closely at some of those options:. Simply download the Google Backup and Sync app to your computer, install and run, and this will create a folder in your Windows file explorer from to which you can save your most important documents.
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Full Bio. Macrium Reflect 7 Free Edition. A solid free version, with a vast array of upgrade options. Acronis True Image. Would you like security software with your backups? EaseUs Todo Backup. The free edition comes with incessant upsell offers. Surprisingly sophisticated and free for home use. NTI Backup Now. Pro and EZ options available.
ZDNet Recommends. Macrium Reflect 7 Free Edition A solid free version, with a vast array of upgrade options The free version of Macrium Reflect 7 is surprisingly robust, offering solid imaging and cloning capabilities that are licensed for use in home and business environments. View now at Macrium. Acronis True Image Would you like security software with your backups? View now at Acronis. EaseUs Todo Backup The free edition comes with incessant upsell offers EaseUS Todo Backup comes in three editions, including a free offering that covers most of the backup bases.
View now at EaseUS. View now at Paragon Software. View now at NTI Corp.
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