Cada Mac comes with Time Machine, a backup solution that makes it easy to create a snapshot of your computer on an external drive. Despite this, We suggest that you seriously consider an additional backup or two.
Today we will look at some alternatives to Time Machine to create backups that will ensure that you do not lose your data.
Why not use Time Machine?
Time Machine is a great backup tool that works with virtually any networked Mac or external drive. Can be used in conjunction with other backup solutions (like the ones mentioned below) to make sure you have more than one backup in case something bad happens. You can even use a Time Machine drive for storage and backup.
Apple's backup answer is easy to use, but it has a customization cost. You can choose to skip certain system files and folders, but that's all. Every time you plug in your drive, the backup will run unless you stop it, intelligently indexing and backing up the drive to ensure files are not duplicated to save space.
Time Machine is a local backup solution. Your Time Machine drive is probably not far from your Mac most of the time. If something goes wrong with your Mac, Time Machine enables you to restore lost data. But, what if something happens to your mac? and your Time Machine drive, like a flood, a robbery or a fire in a house?
This is where the backup rule comes into play. 3-2-1. You must have three copies of your data, two of which are local (on different devices), with an offsite copy. In the case of your Mac, Two local copies already exist in your home or office (one on your Mac, another on your Time Machine drive). A third backup can be added using online storage, for true off-site security.
Also worth considering are cloning tools, that can help you get up and running in record time if you suddenly need to restore a Mac. Although Time Machine creates files only from your data and applications, cloning software can back up the entire disk so that it can be copied in its entirety in case the worst happens.
Alternatives to the time machine
Some backup tools try to do it all, while others have very specific use case scenarios. You need to find something that works for you and use it religiously to make sure data is never lost.
Easy to start backups: SuperDuper! (Freemium)
SuperDuper! is a free and easy way to create a full backup of your Mac hard drive that is fully bootable. You can download SuperDuper! for free and use its main functions permanently. This enables you to copy the contents of your Mac to an external drive, which can then be copied back to your Mac if something goes wrong.
Upgrade to SuperDuper!! for a little more than $ 30, you will get some more useful features like Smart Update, which indexes files and copies only the changes (like Time Machine), as well as programming and scripting functions. If you plan to use SuperDuper! to make regular backups of your Mac, the upgrade is worth it.
SuperDuper! supports Yosemite to Big Sur, with an Apple Silicon build in beta testing (As of this writing in July 2021). If you suspect something is quickly wrong with your Mac, SuperDuper! could be a lifesaver.
Sync files between devices: ChronoSync ($ 49,99)
ChronoSync does a lot of things, including taking off-site file backups and bootable clones of your hard drive. You can use it like Time Machine with local drives and network locations, and has powerful scheduling tools that can stealthily start backups in the background.
But the main draw of ChronoSync is its ability to keep data in sync between two or more devices.. As an example, Let's say you have a Mac at home and a laptop to use at the office.. Con ChronoSync, you can keep the same set of files synced between those two devices.
This is ideal if you are working on a project in more than one location, as is often the case with creatives, video editors and designers. Online backups can be made to Amazon S3, Backblaze B2 and web servers via SFTP. If you don't need offsite backups, consider the cheapest ChronoSync Express ($ 24,99) instead.
time machine on steroids: Clonador Carbon Copy ($ 39,99)
Carbon Copy Cloner is a jack-of-all-trades backup tool that comes as a more powerful version of Time Machine. Backups are recorded as snapshots on a calendar (just like time machine) and can take place on local drives or networked Macs. Indexing ensures that backups are done quickly so files are not unnecessarily copied more than once.
The true strength of Carbon Copy Cloner lies in how customizable it is. You can select exactly what to back up, when to back it up and even employ clever tricks like watched folders to make sure important files are always covered.
If you find Time Machine useful but limiting, try the free trial of 30 Carbon Copy Cloner days.
Bring your own storage: Duplicates (For free, Open Source)
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Premium external backups: backblaze, I lead, carbonite
If you don't have online storage available to you yet, or prefer not to bother with managing your own backups, there are premium online backup services. Most of these offer the same basic service for a fixed monthly or annual fee..
backblaze is one of the most competitively priced online solutions to $ 6 by computer, per month. No data limits, no limits on file size and an option to recover your data faster via a mailed hard drive.
I lead it works a little differently, since it pays around $ 70 per year per 5 TB of storage that can be used on an unlimited number of computers. This includes snapshots and file versioning (so you can access old versions of files), along with an option to back up your data and recover it using a drive in the post.
carbonite is another alternative, from $ 4,99 for the most basic plan (billed annually). There is unlimited storage space with remote access provided for any device, including through mobile applications. If you spend a little more, you can also get a backup of the external hard drive.
These are just three of the many services of this type, and each offers something slightly different in terms of pricing. Be sure to shop around if you're looking for a backup provider online, especially if you are concerned about speed. How far apart the servers are can have a big impact on backup speed.
Never leave home without a backup
As a last resort, no matter what backup software or online provider you use, as long as your data is backed up. Time Machine is perfect for most people, but solutions like ChronoSync and SuperDuper! add another level of security.
Check out our in-depth look at the best online backup providers.
