Best Mac Time Machine Drive

For those who chose a MacBook over an ordinary laptop must be short for some storage space, right? Well, upgrading storage space through apple is as costly as purchasing a new laptop. In this case, an external hard drive is less expensive and beneficial for storage requirements.

• Best Time Machine Drives For Mac
• Apple Mac Time Machine

You can switch your external hard drive from a Mac to a pc which makes data transfer for two different OS easier. Furthermore, external hard disks are less likely to get corrupted and are portable in nature.

Macbooks generally have SSDs which are capable of loading a program quickly but more likely to low on storage.

Furthermore, SSDs are quite costly and upgrading an SSD on a Macbook is definitely costlier than you could even imagine. An external hard drive is best for storing data such as photos, videos, movies, rendered projects and more.

Contents

• 1 Best External Hard Drives for MacBook in 2021
  • 1.3 3. Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)
  • 1.4 4. Western Digital My Book (8 TB)
  • 1.5 5. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt
  • 1.6 6. G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)
  • 1.7 7. Adata SD700 External SSD
  • 1.8 8. LaCie Rugged USB-C
  • 1.9 9. Samsung X5 (1TB)
  • 1.10 10. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive
• 2 What things to consider while buying External Hard Drive For Mac?
• 3 External Hard Drive Vs SSD: Which one is good for MacBook Pro?

For 'time machine backup drives for mac'. Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB External Hard Drive Portable HDD – Red USB 3.0 for PC Laptop and Mac, 1 year Mylio Create, 2 Months Adobe CC Photography, (STHN2000403) Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB External Hard Drive Portable. Apple used to make routers, and one of their best was the AirPort Time Capsule. You can still find Time Capsules for sale, and if you can source one, we highly recommend it. Not only are they excellent routers, the AirPort Time Capsule works perfectly with Time Machine. Types of disks you can use with Time Machine on Mac. You can use Time Machine with an AirPort Time Capsule, with a network-attached storage (NAS) device that supports Time Machine over SMB, or with an external storage device connected directly to your Mac (such as a USB or Thunderbolt drive). Samsung Portable SSD T5. Starting off Samsung Portable SSD T5 which is an outstanding storage.

Best External Hard Drives for MacBook in 2021

Although choosing an external hard drive is a complicated process but we have made a list of 10 best external hard drives for Mac that you should consider before your final decision.

1. Samsung Portable SSD T5

Starting off Samsung Portable SSD T5 which is an outstanding storage device, it can reach up to a speed of 550 MB per second for data transfer which is amazing. You can directly plug it into a USB-C port or USB-A port.

It contains no moving parts therefore chances of getting damaged due to mishandling are less. Even though SSD is costlier than a hard drive, the speed it offers is commendable. You will notice a significant boost in the overall performance while doing stuff that requires you to load large files and programs.

Overall, the SSD is fantastic but only if you can spare a few more bucks than your actual budget. You can get the SSD ranging from 250 GB to 2 TB from Amazon with some additional discounts.

2. Western Digital My Passport 4TB external hard drive

Western Digital My Passport 4TB external hard drive is the newest generation of external hard disks and is available in capacities from 1 TB to up to 4 TB. It offers cloud storage and 256-AES encryption alongside WD's software for backups.

The data transfer speeds won't disappoint you and the drive offers speed similar to what an SSD provides. If you are looking for a drive with good data transfer rate and maximum storage, consider Western Digital My Passport 4TB as a choice.

3. Seagate Backup Plus Slim (2 TB)

If you are looking for a reliable, portable, and affordable hard disk, Seagate backup plus slim is the thing you should have a look at. It supports Windows and Mac both and perfect for storing your essential data right away.

With the Seagate dashboard backup system, you can schedule backups and never lose your important files anymore. Backup automation can be set for daily, monthly, weekly or your desired time-frequency.

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Alongside, Seagate also provides a two-month membership for adobe creative cloud photography plan and a one-year subscription to Mylio create to manage your photo library.

• Affordable price
• Metal body
• Supports USB 3.0
• Comes with an automation backup software

• Doesn't support USB 3.0 cables

4. Western Digital My Book (8 TB)

This Hard disk is probably for creators and organizations that require a lot of storage for various purposes. Faster data transmission rate will let you transfer data in the meantime, all thanks to USB 3.0 support.

It also offers 256 AES encryption for securing your data and makes sure your personal data is secured in the storage device. Even though it meets the requirements of a regular user, the only thing where Western Digital My Book (8 TB) lacks is portability.

Therefore, if you are looking for a hard disk for work purposes and if portability is not an issue, Western Digital My Book (8 TB) is definitely the right choice.

• High storage
• Data encryption
• Compatible with the time machine

• Requires power source to work
• Not portable

5. Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt

Buffalo MiniStation thunderbolt offers data transmission at a speed of twice of what USB 3.0 offers. You can enjoy this feature if your device has a thunderbolt port. Another good thing about Buffalo MiniStation thunderbolt is its price. It is affordable and portable.

• Also Check: 10 Best Cooling Pads For MacBook Pro Reviewed

However, it is a hard drive, not a solid-state, therefore, the data transmission will definitely be high but the overall performance of your pc will remain unchanged. Lastly, if you don't have a thunderbolt port in your pc, you can use the traditional USB 3.0 port.

• USB 3.0 port
• Affordable
• Formatted for Mac

• Not a Solid State drive

6. G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB)

With the new products, Apple is on its way to completely shift to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports but there are still some people who are using old hardware and for them, G-Technology G-DRIVE USB 3.0 (4TB) is going to work like a charm.

The body of the HDD is made up of metal which makes it durable and strong against accidents such as dropping off the drive on the floor or whatnot. It runs at a speed of 7200 RPM and can transfer data at a rate of 195 MB/s which is efficient for transferring music, videos and software.

• Metallic body for durability
• High data transmission rate
• USB 3.0

• Should be reformatted for Windows OS

7. Adata SD700 External SSD

Adata SD700 is an affordable External SSD which is IP68 rated which certainly makes it a water-resistant storage device. The overall performance of this SSD is commendable and as per our research, Adata SD700 External SSD is the only SSD with an IP68 rating.

You can expect faster transfer rates and better booting speed if you are planning to install an OS on the SSD. Don't worry about the storage space as it is available in 1 TB capacity also. The maximum read and write speed is up to 440 MB/S, all thanks to the USB 3.1 Gen 1 interface.

• Lightweight and portable
• Shock resistant
• Supports Android, Mac, and Windows
• 3 years of Warranty

• Mac users must format it to FAT32 to use this product

8. LaCie Rugged USB-C

Lacie rugged USB-C hard disk can be distinguished easily because of its unique rubber casing that makes sure your hard drive doesn't get damaged when it drops from up to 1.3 m height. It can withstand rain, dust and can even survive 1-ton pressure. This is certainly the best choice for content creators.

Alongside hard disk, you will also get access to a one-month subscription to Adobe creative cloud all apps plan. The company also provides 3 years of warranty for the device and will also help you to restore the data if lost.

Also Check:

In terms of speed, Lacie rugged USB-C hard disk is not very fast as it provides only 120 MB/s which is comparatively lesser than the HDDs mentioned in this listicle. However, there are various variants available for this hard disk on Amazon.

• Durability
• Affordable
• Resistant to water

• Lesser data transmission speed

9. Samsung X5 (1TB)

Samsung never disappoints with its amazing hardware capabilities. With Samsung X5, you can transfer data at a rate of 2,300 MB/s which is the fastest speed an SSD can provide you. The build quality is super amazing as it is made up of metal, making it stronger than storage disks that are made up of plastic bodies.

The shock-resistant capability can save up your drive from a fall of 2 meters. Alongside this, it comes with Thunderbolt 3 technology that is ideal for faster data transfer of up to 40 GB per second which is unbelievable. You can take full advantage of this SSD on your MacBook or Macbook pro without having to format anything.

• High data transmission rate
• Supports thunderbolt 3
• Shock-resistant up to 2 meters

• Heats up really quick
• Comparatively expensive than the other disks

10. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive

In terms of flexibility, Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC external hard drive is really good as it supports both Mac and windows out of the box. The disk doesn't get damaged due to dust and water which is again a positive point.

It encrypts the user data at 256 bit AES security which additionally makes everything on the drive, secure. Overall, it is a great drive for Mac owners as well as windows owners too.

• Secure for handling user data
• Protects from water and dust

• Low-speed data transfer

What things to consider while buying External Hard Drive For Mac?

So those were some of the best external hard disk drive solutions for Mac. However, you must be confused about which external HDD to choose. But not to worry, let me just point some of the key factors that you need to consider while buying an external hard drive:

1. Storage

One of the first and the most important thing that you need to consider is the storage space of your external HDD. As you already know that Macbook does not come with a huge space. Hence, you better choose something which offers you enough space to store all your files.

For many users, 1 TB of space should be good enough. But if you need to store a huge number of files and save them for a longer period of time, then getting 2TB of HDD would be an ideal choice.

Apart from 1TB and 2TB of storage options, you can also consider getting huge storage options like 4TB. But for a day to day work, 4TB of HDD does not help much. Also, they are quite expensive.

2. Transfer speed

After the storing capacity, transfer speed is the second most important thing that you have to consider. You don't want to get an external hard disk drive for Mac, which takes too long to copy files. Instead, you need something that can get the job done as quickly as possible.

So the first thing that you must do is avoid USB 2.0 powered external HDD. As they are outdated and not fast enough. Instead, you should get an external HDD with USB 3.0, 3.1 Gen 1 or USB 3.2 Gen 1. All of these are capable of offering an exceptional transfer speed. On the other hand, I would like to recoomend you to buy the best external SSD for Mac that offers good transfer speed.

3. Compatibility

The next thing you need to check its compatibility. External HDD formatted for Windows 10 may have connectivity issues with Mac OS and vise versa. So since you are using a Mac powered machine, I would recommend you to get an external HDD with Mac OS compatibility.

Although there is no need to focus on the compatibility part way too much. Since you can always format your external HDD using a Windows Computer with exFat Format. So you can easily use the HDD with your Macbook. But yes, if you get a pre compatible external hard disk drive then it saves you from extra work and headaches that you have to face.

4. Security

If you are someone who takes security really seriously, then you must look for security features. Most of the manufacturers do ship security software and backup software. So you can easily encrypt your drive or take a backup of it. Even, if you don't consider the encryption feature, the backup feature is something that you must and should consider.

Even to make sure your HDD stays safe, they use strong casing from physical damage. So you can consider getting such external hard disk drives that save you from every side.

External Hard Drive Vs SSD: Which one is good for MacBook Pro?

Whenever it comes to a primary storage solution for computers, HDD and SSD's are the only solutions we have. However, in the last couple of years, the usage of HDD has dropped drastically, and people are not moving to SSD's for better performance.

But there are quite a lot of users who are still unaware of the difference between a hard disk drive and a solid state drive or SSD.

However, not to worry, let me just draw a quick difference between both and help you to understand better.

1. Storage Capacity

HDD's are a great option if you want something for storage. HDD's are available in a wide range of storage capacities from 500GB to 12 TB. Even, for enterprise uses, you will find a large capacity of HDDs.

SSDs are also available with large capacities. However, when it comes to the costs of an SSD and an HDD, SSDs are quite expensive. Hence, if your main goal is to store a huge amount of data, HDD is an ideal choice.

2. Speed

Whenever it comes to speed, SSDs are a better option. Since a hard disk drive uses a round plate with a layer of magnetic material. And the data is stored on this magnetic layer only. So the disk spins and the magnetic head is used for reading and writing data.

Also, the speed that the disk spins is measured in RPM. And on average, an HDD has about 5,400 RPM, and it will have a read/write speeds of around 100 MB/s.

However, when it comes to SSD's, there are no moving parts. As a result, it offers you a much faster data transfer rate. On average, it offers you around 550 MB/s and 520 MB/s of data transfer rate.

3. Reliability & Durability

There are quite a lot of factors that determine the lifespan of drivers. However, you should know that an SSD can sustain a limited number of write cycles compared to HDD which has no read/write limits.

But you should know that SSD has a write cycle limit between 3000 and 10,000 which is a high number. So it would not be a problem for you.

Also, SSD's are lesser affected by any sort of damages compared to HDD. Since there are no moving parts in SSD, they tend to survive more. While HDD's might stop working if it encounters any physical damage.

3. Cost

Finally, let's talk about pricing. Well, if you look at the cost of both HDD and SSD, you would happily pick up an HDD. Why? Because SSD's are expensive. When you choose an HDD, you will get a large amount of capacity for a lesser price. But on the other hand, if you choose an SSD, it would cost you 3-5x of an HDD price.

Best Time Machine Drives For Mac

In the end, the conclusion is HDD's are a better option when it comes to storing data. Of course, SSD's are faster and more reliable. But they do come with a high price. But on the other hand, if you take care of your HDD in a good manner, it will offer you great performance for years.

Wrapping it up:

So, these were the 10 best external hard drives for Macbook Air and Pro. Every disk mentioned in this article has its own pros and cons, we have tried our best to list out the good and bad in every product. For Mac users, external SSD can be really helpful for storing content and transferring it to a different place.

Avi player for mac 10 5 8. Utility • April 20, 2020

Data storage is very important and with a simple computer problem, you can lose all your data. This is why it is important to back up every piece of data that you are sure you need in the future.

The Time Machine was designed to help you back data on your Mac and has always come pre installed since 2006. While it is a great way to back up your data, many people consider it as old-fashioned and unreliable.

Fortunately, we have so many alternatives today and we would like to share our top eight with you.

Comparing the Time Machine to other Mac backup software

The reason for the comparison is to show you what the alternatives can do that the Time Machine can't. Of course, you don't have to take out the Time Machine completely, you can use an alternative as a complement.

The Time Machine automatically backs up files on your computer but it has several flaws and weak points. Examples of such weak points are its inability to work offsite, clone a hard drive, or create bootable backup.

Hence, we have put together this list to help you choose the best alternatives to the Time Machine.

Quick Jump to…

Carbon Copy Cloner vs Time Machine

The question here is, what can the Carbon Copy Cloner do that the Time Machine can't?

We have already established the fact that the Time Machine is efficient even though it has certain weak points. One such weak point is the inability to create a bootable backup. Carbon Copy Cloner, when compared to the Time Machine on this basis, is a better option.

What exactly does this mean? It means that if you are unlucky to encounter an issue while working on your system, you don't lose your data. All you need to do is boot into the backup created by the Carbon Copy Cloner and continue your work. When you are less busy, you can spare some minutes to look into what caused the issue of your computer drive.

It is recommended to use an external hard drive alone with the Carbon Copy Cloner. The reason for this is that it gives you the opportunity to boot directly from the external HDD during emergencies. Note that the performance of the bootable backup is directly proportional to the speed of the external HDD.

We should also warn you at this point to avoid using an SD card or thumb drive for backup. The reason is simple and crystal clear, they don't have enough storage capacity to function as backup devices.

Benefits of the Carbon Copy Cloner

• Support team assistance.
• Perfect for instant use.
• Schedule backups.
• Possesses more features than the Time Machine.
• Guide for easy setup is available.
• Works seamlessly with a good external hard drive.

Pricing: The Carbon Copy Cloner costs $39.99 inclusive of all applicable taxes.

SuperDuper vs Time Machine

Just like the Carbon Copy Cloner, the SuperDuper has a major advantage over the Time Machine. Wondering what it is? The advantage is that it allows you to create a bootable backup, which the Time Machine is incapable of.

A first glance at the SuperDuper and you are not likely to trust it as it comes with a retro design. Remember the OS X 10.3 background? Yes, with the brushed metal color, that's it!

However, taking a leap beyond this veil to its capabilities, the SuperDuper is an amazing app. It can work on its own as well as act as a complement to the Time Machine.

You can actually create your bootable backup using the same drive dedicated to the Time Machine. This must be good news as you don't need to spend extra to buy an external HDD. You can also duplicate your backup on another drive, whichever method you choose.

The beauty of the SuperDuper is you can create the backup on a disk partition or even an image file. When you activate the Smart Update feature, SuperDuper automatically checks for updates and copies them to the backup drive.

One of the major advantages of SuperDuper is that it is very quick and very easy to use. The explanations of each process are presented in plain English plus are it is not as expensive as the Carbon Copy Cloner or Backblaze.

Benefits of the SuperDuper

• Very quick and efficient.
• It does not need an external HDD.
• Very affordable.
• Easy to use and understand.
• Presents you with more features than the Time Machine.
• Retro design.

Pricing: The SuperDuper costs $27.95.

ChronoSync vs Time Machine

There is so much to love about ChronoSync by Econ Technologies. Comparing it to the Time Machine shows us its immense benefits at a glance. Just like the first two described above, the ChronoSync allows you to create bootable drives. That's not all!

It is a versatile app which comes with several amazing features. One such feature is the fact that it allows you to synchronize files across computers or devices. This makes it easy to access files from remote locations, who wouldn't love that?

What's more? Restoring lost files is quite stressful using the Time Machine but with the ChronoSync, it's a piece of cake.

Simply search for the file with the Finder feature, copy it, and paste it in the desired location. Better still, you can simply sync the files to your existing hard drive, it's that simple.

It is possible to schedule backups to begin at a specific time regularly or each time a specific drive is connected. The app will only backup files that have experienced changes since the last backup took place.

One more thing, this app allows you to copy multiple files at the same time which quickens the process.

Benefits of the ChronoSync

• Creates bootable drives easily.
• Synchronizes computers and devices.
• Finding lost files is very easy and copying them is even easier.
• Very versatile app.
• Copies multiple files at the same time.
• A free trial is available.
• Perfect for remote use.

Pricing: The ChronoSync Express costs $24.99, or included in a Setapp subscription. For more power and flexibility, ChronoSync is available for only $49.99 (USD).

Get Backup Pro (v3) vs Time Machine

Without any iota of doubt, Get Backup Pro is the cheapest or rather most affordable on this list. Don't mistake its affordability for inferiority as it is laden with several features and an amazing range of backup options.

Why is it seen as an alternative to the Time Machine? First of all, the fact that you have access to several backup types is simply amazing.

The different backup types include compressed and incremental file backups, folder synchronization, and bootable cloned backups.Looking at these, it is clear that this app helps to fix some of the major flaws of the Time Machine. For example, you can create bootable backups on other devices and clone your hard drive. All of these are impossible with the Time Machine.

What better way to describe the Get Backup Pro than saying it is the app that gives you almost everything? You can schedule syncs and backups and it supports network and external drives, including CDs and DVDs. It comes with several backup templates that help you import data from your photos, iTunes, mail, documents, and contacts.

Security has always been a challenge with backing up data but this app fixes this issue. It makes it possible for you to encrypt all backups so that you are assured of additional security.

Using this app is very easy and quick. But what is more amazing is that you can restore files to computers that don't have the app.

Benefits of the Get Backup Pro

• Easy to use.
• More features than the Time Machine.
• Easy to restore files to remote computers without the app.
• Security encryption for all backups.
• Supports network and external drives.
• Backup templates are available.

Pricing: The Get Backup Pro (v6) costs $19.99, or included in a Setapp subscription.

Mac Backup Guru vs Time Machine

Just like the Get Backup Pro, the Mac Backup Guru comes with multiple options for back types. This is one of the major reasons why it is seen as a worthy alternative to the Time Machine.

Let's begin with the fact that the Mac Backup Guru fixes the bootable disk challenge faced with the Time Machine. Besides this, it has three distinct backup types which are synchronization, direct cloning, and incremental snapshots.

You can actually create an image of your bootable disk using this app. This means you can either back up specific folders on your hard drive or the whole drive, your choice. What's more?

You can keep your backup continually in sync with all the changes you make as you work. An alternative is that you can keep all incremental backups that didn't overwrite the older backups along with the changes. This way, you can always retrieve older versions of the same work if you so desire.

Benefits of the Mac Backup Guru

• Very affordable.
• It comes with three backup types.
• Allows you to take an image of your bootable disk.
• It gives you the luxury of specifying what files or folders to backup.
• Allows you to revisit previously saved work before changes were made.

Pricing: The Mac Backup Guru costs $29.

Acronis True Image 2020 vs Time Machine

The Acronis True Image 2020 is just like the Mac Backup Pro with a feature that solves the Time Machine's problem. It is the feature that allows you to clone your hard drive's images. You even have access to online backup even though this comes with a more expensive package.

There is no doubt that this app is very efficient but the problem is that it is costly. It is even costlier than the Carbon Copy Cloner but not expensive as the Backblaze. Looking beyond the cost flaws, this is an app everyone that can afford it should own.

It makes backing up files very easy, especially with the fact that you can create bootable disks. You also have the luxury of sharing your backups with remote systems as long as they have the app. The only challenge with this is that it costs a little more to share the app across multiple computer systems.

Back to the advantages, it is possible to access and make use of the app via the intuitive dashboard. It also comes with an amazing feature known as the ‘Restore' feature. This feature makes it possible to recover a whole drive very easily.

In addition to this, you have the option of selecting specific files that you want to backup or recover.

Benefits of the Acronis True Image 2020

• Easy to use.
• It can be used across several computer systems.
• Allows you to make an image of your bootable disk.
• Remote usage.
• Gives you the opportunity to choose files to backup.

Pricing: The Acronis True Image costs $49.99.

Backblaze vs Time Machine

Apple Mac Time Machine

Backblaze is one of the top alternatives to the Time Machine for several reasons. It is actually recognized the world over as having several features that make it stand out.

One such feature is the unlimited storage that comes with the streamlined service. This is an amazing feature which means you don't have to spend extra on expanding your storage.

Like ChronoSync, Backblaze is very easy to set up and use. This backup app also updates itself automatically but if you can't wait, updating it manually is very easy.

If you are a lover of speed, then this app is a plus as it gives you all the speed you need and more.

While there were several weak spots in previous versions, the current version 1.3.5 features several updates that have fixed the limitations. The interface is cleaner with allowance for increased downloads.

One of the standout features is the fact that it presents you with a single-sign-on Google support. It can work either as an alternative to the Time Machine or as a complement instead.

Benefits of Backblaze

• Unlimited backup.
• GDPR compliant.
• Sharing functionality.
• Simple streamlined experience.
• Decent privacy and security.
• Reasonable prices.

Pricing: The Backblaze offers monthly payments of $6 and yearly payments of $60 for personal use.

SmartBackup vs Time Machine

The first thing to note about SmartBackup is that it is a lightweight app. Despite its lightweight, it helps you backup several items to your external hard drive, unlike the Time Machine.

The process is quite fast since you have the luxury of transferring multiple items simultaneously to a specified destination folder. To avoid cumbering your bootable disk with unnecessary data, SmartBackup only backs up changed files leaving the unchanged ones behind.

One of the major advantages of this app is that backup updates are done very swiftly. Another major standout feature is that you have the luxury of cloning your system or bootable disk.

SmartBackup allows you to archive changed or deleted files by placing them in a specified folder when backing up. Much later, you can always check through different versions of the same file and pick out the one you need.

With the Spotlight Saved Search feature, you can define the files you intend to backup and what you think isn't necessary. You can make use of iCal or Automator to preprogram backup operations.

Launching is very easy using the command-line mode which also allows you to include the app in scripts or launched items.

Benefits of SmartBackup

• High performance and rapid deployment.
• Lesser risks.
• Very affordable.
• Highly productive.
• Very efficient.
• Designed for comfort and convenience.
• Minimalist design.

Pricing: The SmartBackup is Free.

What do you need from a Mac backup software?

This is a very important question we need to answer else none of these alternatives is worth mentioning. The simple answer to this is to be able to back up your files properly. No one wants that feeling of insecurity or uncertainty about backup especially when you are working on an important project.

There are several features you should look out for before choosing a backup application. We have put together a list of some of these key features you should watch out for. They include:

Backup types

Not all the backup apps come with multiple Mac backup types as you have seen above. Your backup app should be able to provide you multiple backup types.

For example, with local backup, you are able to make copies of folders and files on an external HDD. This way, even when you lose the file on your computer, restoring it is very easy.

Disk images or bootable clones help you duplicate your whole hard drive. This allows you to boot from a backup drive when your hard drive has issues.

Finally, cloud backup functions exactly like local backup, only this time, data is stored online. This gives you insurance regardless of what happens to your physical location.

Syncing files

While syncing files is not considered as a true backup, it is a very helpful feature. It is great when you work using multiple devices like laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Synchronizing your documents across all these devices makes it easy to work remotely.

It also means that if one of your devices is damaged, you can continue on another device and work on your data from any location. The only challenge with this is that when a file is deleted in one location, it is lost on all devices.

Interface

While reviewing the apps, one of the things we paid attention to was the interface which accounts for how easy it is for the user to navigate the app and also if the aesthetics are pleasing to the eyes. Let's face it, backups can be time consuming and you don't want an app that makes it difficult to accomplish.

In the case of SuperDuper, although it is not as colorful as Backblaze, it is still quite easy to navigate. Carbon Copy Cloner is also another app which leverages on its user interface to improve its functionality. At a glance, you can see the features of the app and easily access the preferred solution.

Ease of data restore

The point of a backup is to make it easy to retrieve data in the case of a loss. When selecting a preferred app, a key consideration should be whether it is easy to retrieve data when the time comes. Do you need to carry out 10 steps or two steps?

You can try experimenting first with the trial versions of an app by backing up certain data, deleting it then try to restore.

Backup types

Does the app perform a file backup or disk cloning? Some apps on our list can do both while some only perform one of the actions.

Should I use file backup or cloning?

To help you know which one to use, it is important to distinguish between them by way of definition.

File backup means you create an image file used in backing up your data for easy recovery. Disk cloning, on the other hand, moves all the contents of your drive to an HDD. You should understand this better when you know how each of these processes works. File backup carries all the contents of the partition or disk you are backing up. This includes applications, folders, files, and the OS and you can store everything on a separate storage device.

Disk cloning on the other hand copies all the contents of the disk to a new disk which means both disks have the same content. With this, it is clear that disk cloning is only necessary when you need to move to a larger disk drive.

File backup or imaging will ensure that you get back to work faster in all circumstances. This is because it is very similar to creating a zip file, only this time, it is without the zip extension. Basically, file backup compresses the files and stores them away. The only challenge is that if your original drive fails, you need a new drive before you can restore your data.

Looking beyond this, we will always recommend file backup because it provides you more versatility. It is a more economical backup option and it allows you to save different versions of the same files or disk.

Don't lose your data, backup now

It can be quite cumbersome finding the perfect backup app to serve as an alternative to the Time Machine. We have shown you eight apps in this post as well as criteria to help you choose. Based on all the criteria provided, it is evident that the best alternative app is the Carbon Copy Cloner app.

It has an extremely useful archiving ability and it is very flexible too. Carbon Copy Cloner solves several challenges that are seen as the failures of the Time Machine.

The importance of backing up your Mac data cannot be overemphasized and choosing the right app is even more important.