EaseUS Todo Backup Free is an award-winning and easy-to-use free data backup software for Windows 11/10 users to back up photos, music, videos, documents. COMODO Backup has tons of great features for a free backup program. It can back up Windows registry files, files and folders, email accounts, particular. AomeiTech is a data backup & restore software. It provides a disk partition manager that helps you with protecting data safe and.
 
 

9 Best Windows Backup Software for [Free and Paid]

Backups can be compressed to save space, and there’s optional encryption to keep your data secure. Cobian Backup loses when it comes time to restore data — there’s no simple wizard to automate the process, so you’re left on your own having to copy files back into place, decrypting and decompressing first if necessary. Still, for backing up your most valuable data, this is one of the most comprehensive tools out there. Read our full Cobian Backup review. A couple of other software applications worth considering are cloud backup software include the cloud backup solutions listed below.

Although you install the application on your PC or other devices, your files are backed up in the cloud. This means not only do you have an easy way to recover those files if your PC or hardware fails, but you can also ensure that your backup is continuous, as well as accessible from any device through synchronization.

Microsoft OneDrive opens in new tab is the backup and sync storage option bundled with Microsoft Office There is a free version that allows up to 10GB of storage and there are paid options to upgrade, but this can prove expensive over the long term if you want to backup and sync a sizable hard drive.

Even still, it’s useful to keep the most essential files safe. What makes OneDrive potentially ideal is if you also have a subscription to Office opens in new tab , as that entitles you to a huge 1TB of cloud storage.

Dropbox opens in new tab is another cloud server that allows you to save important documents online, again being free to use with the same limitations as above. But as before, the ability to save a smaller number of essential files, such as for work, study, creative projects, and similar, can be invaluable.

We’ve also compiled a list of the best online photo storage services. An image is an exact copy of an entire drive or partition, including all installed programs and system files. If you need to reinstall Windows, you can boot from the image file and avoid having to reinstall all your programs and reconfigure your Windows settings.

Note that you can’t use an image to restore your system on a different PC. Images are very large and take a long time to create, so you won’t want to make one every day. For everyday backups, you’ll only want to copy the most important data on your PC — your documents, photos and music, for example. There are several types of regular backup:.

Each differential backup will be larger than the last, but to restore your system you’ll only need the full backup and the latest differential one. Backup to Dropbox and the like is a nice feature to have. Real time: Real-time backup means that files are backed up whenever they change, usually upon creation or save.

Instead, scheduling should be used. Use continuous backup for rapidly changing data sets where transfer rates are too slow, or computing power is too precious for real-time backup. Ideally, you should schedule backups of your data as often as possible. This is especially true if you are working on an important project or have data that you absolutely cannot afford to lose. It is a good idea to automate the backup process and have the Windows software back up your data every hour or so.

Windows backup software, meanwhile, provides continuous versioning and backup of all the file history on your device. It will continuously and automatically backup every specified file on a device. Windows backup software also offers additional data security measures such as file encryption. Furthermore, these backup services allow you to create a bootable optical disc or USB thumb drive for recovery after a system crash.

There are cloud backup services distinct from those mentioned above that offer much, though not all, of the benefits of a Windows backup program, such as continuous backups and versioning for multiple devices.

You can learn more about them in our roundup of best cloud backup services. You CAN replace the motherboard, etc. You CANNOT run the same copy of Windows on two machines at once legally and it will not activate if the other machine is still running. The one exception to this is a Windows 7 Family Pack, which entitles users to simultaneously have the OS running on three different PCs, but that does not extend to W10 upgrades.

Only Windows Enterprise supports using the same product key to activate multiple times, and Enterprise licenses are only sold to companies under the MS Premier or other support agreements. I would advise cloning the SSD for that eg Samsung but also other parties have software for that.

Clonezilla is my favourite, especially if you have multiple partitions, or if the windows backup utility gives you grief. First is bootable media You do need to be able to boot to a USB stick or another internal or external drive if disaster hits. Note 1: creating a Windows To Go drive is a viable option. Note 2: backups created after booting to a 2nd OS, whether on removable media or if you dual boot etc. One potential problem with external hard drives is heat — without active cooling they can exceed the drive’s max temp, possibly compromising data or the drive itself.

Storing those archives in more than one place is insurance against media failure. The free version of Macrium Reflect is far superior to the Windows backup tool. When I moved my Windows drive to a new ssd, Windows backup failed to restore but the image I created with Macrium worked first time. I’d 2nd that FWIW. The only downside I’ve found is that Macrium is more expensive than alternatives if you want more advanced features.

If you get a Samsung SSD, their free migration tool is surprisingly quick and easy too. Whole process was easy and took less than an hour. It’s like a totally different machine now. Yeah Macrium Reflect is a good one. I believe this feature is deprecated and will be removed in a future version of Windows Maybe the fall update? Anyone have an idea why this might happen? I have seen it on multiple different laptops I have tried to backup to my home server. I have used Macrium to clone a new hard drive and replace and it has always worked very well, even on Surface Pro’s that seem to be a bit quirky.

Doesn’t work on SSD’s. Getting a non NTFS error. Oh well. Windows backup hasn’t worked for a couple of years on my machine. I use Aomei backupper instead. WD drive owners can get a copy of Acronis True Image for free. You only need to own one WD drive it checks on boot , even an external one, and you qualify to use it on all your drives even non-WD ones.

That way, you can easily choose between the best free and paid solutions on the market. The best free Windows backup software comes with the most user-friendly interface out there. The software can backup your entire system, whole drives or partitions, and individual files and folders. Full review. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is an efficient tool that can backup your entire drive on the cloud. Furthermore, you can create backups on your local drive or on an external disk.

IDrive is a handy Windows backup software that has been on the market for the last 25 years. One of its best selling points is that it lets you backup as many computers as you want. BackBlaze is an excellent cheap Windows backup software that comes with some handy features. Rather than providing its own cloud storage, MSP lets you keep your files and folders on 65 different destinations.

This makes it an ideal option in case you want more control over how and where you back up data. Aomei Backupper Professional can backup your entire system, hard disks, partitions, and individual files or folders. It can backup your entire computer, individual disks and volumes, or specific files or folders. Although FBackup is a free Windows backup software, it covers all the essentials and offers some advanced features as well. Established in , EaseUS is a top name in the data backup and recovery niche, and many tout its free software to be the best in the business.

Signing up for the free version hardly takes seconds — but installing it might take a couple of minutes, as the installer file is quite bulky about MB. EaseUS Todo has the most user-friendly interface among all the free backup software I reviewed. Everything is neatly laid out, which makes navigation smooth and easy.

EaseUS Todo can backup your entire system, whole drives or partitions, and individual files and folders. It allows you to restore files up to two weeks in the past — and even lets you back up your files to the cloud.

The tool lets you select a backup schedule and backup type full, differential, or incremental according to your requirements. Differential and incremental backups are smaller than full backups — and hence faster to make — but take more time to restore.

EaseUS Todo can compress your data to save disk space. If you want, you can also password protect your data. One of the most notable features of this free system backup software is Pre-OS. It allows you to run the software before Windows starts without having to use a flash drive or a disc to run it. Nor will you be able to schedule event-based backups. However, these features — while useful — are not something that most users will miss much.

I made several backups to check how EaseUS Todo impacts computer performance and am happy to report that the program runs peacefully in the background, without affecting other processes. EaseUS Todo has got all the important bases covered and much to offer. It provides all the regular features and some more, like smart backups and pre-OS software. Its performance is up to the mark and email support satisfactory.

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is an old player in the backup game. It started as a disk imaging program — but now is the best all-in-one backup suite and comes loaded with several advanced features, like ransomware protection. It tells you what the software can do and how to use it. The user interface is clean and intuitive, featuring seven large tabs in the left panel that cover all the primary features and settings.

The best thing about Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is that it backs up your entire drive on the cloud but not an external or a locally networked drive.

It is also a complete Windows backup solution in the true sense, letting you make backups on the local drive, an external disk, and on the cloud. It also offers more backup-scheduling options than most other tools, including a unique option called Upon Event. You can use it to create backups at special instances, like when you connect an external hard drive.

Another feature unique to Acronis is ransomware protection, which monitors your data for unusual file modifications. Unlike Backblaze, this data backup software also offers Facebook and Instagram backups so that you never lose that content.

With Acronis, you can even remotely manage and modify your system using a mobile device. Cool, eh? It has also got you covered if you want the added protection of a private encryption key. In case a problem occurs, you can quickly roll back to your previous state. The only downside is that the basic one-year plan offers GB free cloud storage, which may not be enough in the long run if you have an extensive collection of videos and photos.

Registered users enjoy access to hour technical support via phone. Its performance was equally impressive during restoration, downloading 1 GB of video and photo files in nine minutes. If you like it, you can purchase any of these three plans:. Based in California, IDrive has been in the backup business since While its cloud backup plan for personal users is not the cheapest or most featured, it hits high marks across all important categories — pricing, advanced backup features, and performance.

I was able to install the software in a jiffy, and the user interface is simple yet effective. There are six buttons in the left pane, which between themselves cover all the primary functions and features. IDrive has you covered. It lets you backup as many computers as you like, including external or locally networked drives.

However, you may want to go a little easy on it because the space offered is limited 2 TB in the Personal plan. Like most cloud backup programs, IDrive backs up only user files — not system or application files. IDrive offers a courier service, IDrive Express, which lets you request a physical hard drive to perform an initial backup.

Once you return the drive, the company will upload your files to its cloud servers. You can create one such backup a year for free. Additionally, IDrive allows you to use this service once a year for free to restore large amounts of files from an existing backup.

Simply attach an external drive and click the Disk Image Backup button. Unlike most file backup software, it supports endless versioning, keeping up to 10 older versions of deleted or updated files forever. However, unlike Acronis and Backblaze, IDrive makes continuous backups.

But the good part is that it does offer some advanced features, like File Syncing. You can sync selected files across different computers with a single click. Another useful but somewhat limited feature is File Sharing, which allows you to share files with other IDrive users. Like Backblaze and Acronis, IDrive encrypts data at the client site but also supports a private encryption key.

You can choose to use the default encryption or add private encryption when you set up your IDrive account. IDrive is not only suitable for personal users — but also tailor-made for small businesses. IDrive is compatible with Windows 10, 8. Among Windows servers, it supports Windows Server , , IDrive uploaded data faster than other cloud backup solutions for Windows I tested. It took 1 hr and 28 mins to complete my initial upload of 16 GB files. However, its download speed is nothing to rave about.

IDrive offers a free basic plan — but it can work as an online-syncing solution at best since you get only 5 GB space. It is reasonably-priced, puts in a good performance, offers technical support via phone, and provides some advanced features like file syncing. Backblaze is one of the top names in the cloud backup niche. While there are many who offer better sets of features, few make backups as convenient and cost-effective as Backblaze.