Backing up your Mac is essential to protect your important files, photos, and documents from accidental deletion, hardware failure, or cyber threats. While Apple’s Time Machine and iCloud offer built-in solutions, they have limitations.
Using third-party backup software provides better control, cloud storage options, scheduling flexibility, and disk cloning features. Here’s a look at the best Mac backup software for 2025 and how they can help keep your data safe.
1. Apple Time Machine (Free & Built-in Solution)
Time Machine is a built-in macOS backup tool that automatically saves your files and system data to an external drive. It provides incremental backups, allowing you to restore files from different points in time. While it’s reliable and easy to use, it doesn’t support cloud backups, and its scheduling options are limited.
Pros
✔ Reliable, easy to set up, and works in the background.
✔ Provides encryption-based security for backup data.
✔ Easy migration of Time Machine backups to new Macs.
Cons
❌ Only supports local backups, no cloud storage.
❌ Limited scheduling options.
❌ The restore interface can be confusing for some users.
📌 Best For: Basic local backups to an external hard drive.
2. EaseUS Todo Backup (Best Alternative to Time Machine)
EaseUS Todo Backup is an excellent alternative to Time Machine, offering automated scheduling, disk cloning, and file synchronization. It ensures proactive data protection by compressing backups to save disk space and encrypting them for privacy. This software is faster and more efficient than Time Machine, making it a great choice for Mac users looking for a reliable backup tool.
Pros
✔ Automated backup scheduling.
✔ Supports disk cloning and file synchronization.
✔ Compressed backups save disk space.
Cons
❌ Paid version required for advanced features.
📌 Best For: Users looking for a simple, automated backup solution.
💰 Price: 25% OFF with MACWORLD25 discount code.
3. ChronoSync (Best for Cloud & Local Backups)
ChronoSync is a powerful backup tool that allows you to back up data to Google Drive, Amazon S3, and external hard drives. It also offers advanced scheduling and synchronization features, making it ideal for users who need flexible backup options. However, its complex interface may not be beginner-friendly.
Pros
✔ Supports backup to cloud services like Google Cloud & Amazon S3.
✔ Advanced scheduling & synchronization options.
✔ Includes bootable backup creation.
Cons
❌ Complex for beginners.
📌 Best For: Advanced users needing cloud & local backups with synchronization features.
💰 Price: $49.99 (One-time purchase).
4. Carbon Copy Cloner (Best for Disk Cloning & Bootable Backups)
Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) is known for creating bootable backups, allowing you to restore your Mac instantly in case of a system failure. It also features task scheduling and scripting, making it highly customizable. However, it doesn’t support cloud backups, and its $49.99 price might be expensive for some users.
Pros
✔ Excellent performance and bootable backups.
✔ Great scheduling and automation features.
✔ Frequent updates and good customer support.
Cons
❌ No cloud backup support.
❌ Bootable backups are unreliable on M-series Macs.
📌 Best For: Users who need bootable clones of their Mac for instant recovery.
💰 Price: $49.99 (One-time purchase).
5. SuperDuper! (Simple & Affordable Disk Cloning Software)
SuperDuper! is a user-friendly tool that specializes in disk cloning and system restoration. It’s easy to install and use, making it perfect for beginners. Unlike Carbon Copy Cloner, it lacks cloud backup support and network volume backup, but its one-time purchase price of $27.95 makes it a cost-effective option.
Pros
✔ Easy installation and simple user interface.
✔ Reliable for creating bootable clones.
✔ Good customization and scripting options.
Cons
❌ No cloud backup or network volume support.
❌ Lacks FAT, exFAT, or NTFS support.
📌 Best For: Users who want a simple and affordable cloning solution.
💰 Price: $27.95 (One-time purchase).
6. IDrive (Best Budget-Friendly Cloud Backup Option)
IDrive offers both local and cloud backups, making it a versatile choice for Mac users. It provides 10GB of free cloud storage, and its 100GB plan costs only $2.95/year, making it one of the most affordable backup solutions. However, its interface can be complicated, especially for new users.
Pros
✔ Supports cloud & local backups.
✔ Free 10GB storage for new users.
✔ Budget-friendly cloud backup plans.
Cons
❌ Interface is not very intuitive.
📌 Best For: Users looking for an affordable cloud backup solution.
💰 Price: Free 10GB or 100GB for $2.95/year.
7. Backblaze (Best for Unlimited Cloud Backup)
Backblaze provides unlimited cloud backup for just $9 per month. It runs automatic backups in the background, ensuring your files are always protected. Unlike Time Machine, it stores your data offsite, making it safe from physical damage. However, it lacks individual file restoration from past backups.
Pros
✔ Unlimited cloud storage.
✔ Simple, automatic backup system.
✔ Secure data encryption.
Cons
❌ No option to restore individual files from past backups.
📌 Best For: Users who need simple, automatic cloud backup without worrying about storage limits.
💰 Price: $9/month or $99/year.
8. Acronis True Image (Best for Backup & Cybersecurity Protection)
Acronis True Image combines backup features with built-in anti-malware protection, making it a two-in-one solution. It supports cloud and local backups and provides fast copy speeds. While its security features are useful, its $49.99/year subscription might be costly for users looking for a basic backup solution.
Pros
✔ Cloud & local backup support.
✔ Built-in anti-malware protection.
✔ Fast backup speeds.
Cons
❌ Expensive compared to other options.
❌ Cloud-based dashboard interface can be slow.
📌 Best For: Users looking for backup + cybersecurity protection in one tool.
💰 Price: $49.99/year.
Comparison Table: Best Mac Backup Software
| Backup Software | Best For | Cloud Backup | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Machine | Basic local backups | No | Free |
| EaseUS Todo Backup | Automated backups & cloning | No | 25% OFF |
| ChronoSync | Cloud & local backups | Yes | $49.99 |
| Carbon Copy Cloner | Bootable backups | No | $49.99 |
| SuperDuper! | Simple disk cloning | No | $27.95 |
| IDrive | Cloud & local backups | Yes | $2.95/year (100GB) |
| Backblaze | Unlimited cloud backup | Yes | $9/month |
| Acronis True Image | Backup + cybersecurity | Yes | $49.99/year |
Regardless of which tool you choose, regular backups are essential to protect your files from unexpected data loss. Start backing up today and keep your data safe!
