Best and demandable backup software for windows will be described in this article. Despite the fact that digital storage technologies have advanced greatly in recent years, the concern of losing crucial data remains genuine and compelling. Backing up data to a secure location is a good idea, whether it’s to protect against a hard drive failure, a faulty PC, or an online infection like the WannaCry ransomware. There is a wide range of backup software for Windows PCs available to help you protect your data. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of the 12 best backup software for Windows that you can use in 2020 on your computer.
Top 12 Best Backup Software for Windows in 2022
Top 12 Best Backup Software for Windows are explained here.
We’ve compiled a list of the best backup software for Windows users that caters to various backup needs. We tried to include the factor of ease of use because we understand that backing up or restoring data isn’t the most enjoyable chore. You can navigate to the appropriate programme by clicking on the buttons below. Our explainer below will also teach you how to choose backup software.
- What Should You Look for in Backup Software?
The answer to the question of which backup software is preferable for you is dependent on your needs. Cloud storage choices are a better choice if you need a backup solution for keeping documents and crucial files. And if you want to back up your PC completely, not just once but on a regular basis, you should invest in a full-featured backup programme.
Look for options such as differential backup, which allows you to back up only the modified files rather than the entire drive. Make sure you have a periodic backup, encryption for increased security, and the ability to easily restore data, among other things. It’s much preferable if the backup software supports the PE environment in case the PC fails unexpectedly. So, these are the most important aspects to consider while selecting backup software.
- What Kind of Testing Do We Do?
We tested these programmes on our Windows 10 PC and found that they all function properly. Furthermore, we have previously used some of the software to transfer data from one PC to another, and it has proven to be fairly trustworthy. In addition, the programmes listed below are genuine and can be used without difficulty.
1.Acronis True Image 2020
Acronis True Image is one of the most adaptable alternatives on the market, and it deserves to be at the top. It lets users to create entire images of disc drives, as well as schedule backups and perform incremental or differential backups. You can construct recovery DVDs using specific choices in addition to the extensive options for backing up the entire PC, selected drives, or just a few folders and files.
Acronis True Picture has fully embraced the cloud, allowing you to back up images to the cloud so that you may view them from numerous devices or utilise the same image on multiple devices.
Acronis has launched support for Office 365, allowing users to backup and restore their emails using True Image 2020, as well as a cryptomining blocker, which can detect and weed out malware that attempts to mine cryptocurrency using your system’s resources.
With Acronis True Image’s Parallels Access capability, you may remotely control and modify your system from a mobile device or another Windows machine. There’s also a function that allows you to undo a certain backup technique if you don’t like it, as well as a specialised cleaner that helps you delete unneeded or duplicate backups.
Finally, you’ll gain access to an encrypted vault where you can keep all of your backups safe. If you need a comprehensive backup solution, Acronis True Image is well worth the money.
Acronis True Image 2020 also comes with a Cyber Protection function. The ‘Acronis Survival Kit’ produces a backup media of all the critical items on your system, including the boot media, system partition, and all your backups, so you can fully recover your entire system in the event of a catastrophic failure.
If you prefer to back up your system with USB-based storage (such as an external hard drive), you can configure Acronis True Image to begin backing up your system as soon as the backup media is connected — this is similar to how Time Machine works on a Mac and is a reliable and simple way to ensure regular backups without having to manually start backups every time.
Acronis True Image 2020 also includes a ransomware detection tool that employs artificial intelligence to detect and protect your computer from malware. Acronis claims that its technology has prevented over 200,000 ransomware assaults, and True Image extends that security to all your NAS drives and network share data.
Characteristics:
- Full PC image backup and recovery • Scheduled automatic backup • Local and cloud backup • Strong AES 256 encryption
Pricing: Free for the first 30 days, then $49.99 each year after that.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, & XP are all compatible.
2.Macrium Reflect
Macrium Reflect is, without a doubt, one of the best backup programmes available for Windows at the moment. It offers such a long number of features that you can become overwhelmed. Yes, the software is a little difficult to use and is geared at specialists, but regular users may use it to create a comprehensive backup of their Windows PC.
You can make a full backup image, clone a disc, schedule backups, and much more with Macrium Reflect. Macrium Reflect comes in both free and premium editions, however the free version includes all of the main functions, including differential backup, unlike many other free apps that do not have periodic backups.
In case you didn’t know, most backup tools support three different backup methods: full, differential, and incremental backup. It will just duplicate everything on your PC, including the operating backup. It’s a time-consuming procedure that consumes a lot of disc space. If you’re switching computers, you can use this backup approach.
If you want to set up a regular backup system for your PC to an external hard drive, however, you should use Differential or Incremental backup. A Full image backup is performed on Differential backup, after which it stores all changes since the initial Full image backup. This method takes less time to back up your data and is similarly simple to recover; nevertheless, you should conduct a full image backup after a week or two to keep the differential backup size minimal.
When it comes to incremental backup, it initially creates a full backup, but only stores the changes that have transpired since the last incremental backup. As a result, the incremental backup is very minimal, and the backup process is nearly instantaneous. Furthermore, you will not need to perform a Full backup on a regular basis, saving even more time.
However, because you will have to restore incremental backups of each cycle, the restoration procedure will take too long. To put it plainly, Macrium Reflect offers all three choices, but the free edition includes Full and Differential backups, which is an excellent start. Read our full post on how to create a backup on Windows using Macrium Reflect to learn more about the setup process.
Characteristics:
- Full PC cloning • Recommended for pros • Backups on a schedule
- Differential backup is supported • The majority of functionality are available for free
Pricing: Basic versions are free, while premium versions start at $69.95.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8,Vista, & XP are all compatible.
3. EaseUS Todo Backup
EaseUS Todo Backup is a comprehensive backup software for Windows that allows you to back up your files, folders, or entire drives to a secure physical or network-based location, as well as post these backups to popular cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. Aside from that, you can make disc images of drives or partitions for a smooth recovery.
The backup software also has the ability to plan incremental, differential, or complete backups of drives, as well as the ability to add new data to existing copies. You can still restore an older backup file despite the new increments. Also check Driver Easy Alternatives
Aside from the capabilities listed above, EaseUS Todo Backup also allows users to adjust the compression settings of a given backup, copy security settings and password protection when backing up a drive, wipe discs, and slice backups into smaller portions.
Also included is the ability to backup Android devices, which comes in in if you need to flash a new ROM or factory reset your Android device. Finally, you can make bootable WinPE recovery discs to help you recover your computer if it fails to boot.
- Cloud backup • Options for building clones of particular drives and the entire system • Password protection • Scheduled backups are also available.
Pricing: A free version with restricted functionality is available, as well as a Home edition for $29 per year.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, & XP are all compatible.
4.O&O DiskImage
O&O DiskImage is a comprehensive set of features and tools for backing up entire drives or specific files and folders. To show you many of the various backup options, the interface uses easy-to-understand text and some simple pictures.
O&O DiskImage includes direct options for creating disk-based or file-based backups, as well as the ability to pick or deselect particular regions of a local drive, such as the System, OS, and Recovery sectors, depending on your needs.
O&O DiskImage also has “One-click imaging,” which allows you to take backups of all connected physical drives with the default options selected with a single click. You can, however, tailor the settings to your specific requirements. You may back up files as well as discs, and you can even encrypt the backup files.
You also have the option of taking just incremental or differential backups to reduce space on the backup storage media, as well as splitting bigger files into smaller ones so that they can be stored on numerous flash drives (or god forbid, CDs).
O&O Disk Image also allows you to recover your backups on a computer with different hardware from the one you backed up on, which is useful if you’ve just upgraded your system or purchased a new PC. Disk Image also includes a new Disk Image to Go tool that builds a new boot media on your backup drive automatically.
In addition to these useful features, you can create your own Settings profiles so that you don’t have to change the parameters every time you start a new backup. If your hard drive crashes or becomes corrupted, you can use O&O DiskImage to build Windows PE-based recovery discs.
The software also lets you use virtual and network-based storage drives, as well as mount previous backup pictures as local discs so you can view them in Windows Explorer, which we think is useful if you simply want a quick peek at the backed up data.
Although the backup software is complex, it should not be daunting for novices, and as you gain experience, you will be able to use additional settings.
- Simple to use • Extensive feature set • Support for virtual and network discs • One-click backup option
Price: $49.95 per PC or $69.95 for five PCs with a 30-day free trial and a lifetime licence.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, & Mac 5 are all compatible.
5.Paragon Backup & Recovery
In the guise of virtual drives, Paragon Backup & Recovery allows you to back up specific partitions or complete hard discs. These backups can be used to restore either Windows workstations or virtual machines in the event of failure or data loss.
You may use Paragon Backup & Recovery to backup individual files or folders to the recovery media in addition to backing up your whole Windows computer’s storage as well as chosen volumes. Not only that, but the backup software will also allow you to compress and split backup data into smaller chunks so that they may be transferred to a portable storage device.
The backup software intelligently checks the selected folders for new files and produces differential backups based on a disc image of the hard drive sectors. There’s also a smarter option that allows users to update data associated with previously backed up files and produce an incremental backup using sector-based logs. Users can also exclude specific file types or folders from the backup with Paragon Backup & Recovery.
You also have the option of creating WinPE-based bootable media, such as recovery discs or DVDs, which will allow you to use the built-in recovery tools in Windows if your PC becomes corrupted. This will also allow you to replace the corrupt disc with an image of the disc that you previously prepared.
- Backup and restore options that can be customised
- Make a complete system image • Make bootable media for your system
Community Edition is free; paid edition is $49.95 and includes lifetime access for one PC.
Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 are all compatible. Microsoft Windows
6.Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows
Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows is a lengthy term for Veeam Endpoint Backup Free, which was first launched a few years ago. Veeam is best recognised for its enterprise solutions, unlike most of the other utilities on this list that are aimed at home users.
However, the firm provides a free version of Veeam Agent for home customers, which is one of the most straightforward backup programmes available. You may setup a task for System and Drive backup in seconds, and it will begin working immediately.
Apart from that, Veeam Agent can be used to protect Windows servers, workstations, and devices in the cloud. It completely supports Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, but not anything older than Windows 7 (SP1) or Windows Server 2008, according to Microsoft (SP1). If you’re looking for a free backup of your VMware or Hyper-V servers, it’s one of the most well-known solutions on the market today. It, on the other hand, has a lot more features.
It can backup and restore VMs in their entirety, including files, directories, and settings. It also allows users to migrate across hosts even if they aren’t using vMotion or Storage vMotion officially. Simply said, Veeam Agent is an excellent solution if you want a basic backup software for your Windows PC or server that is both free and reliable.
- Best for Windows Server backup • Simple and easy to use • Free for general users • Can backup local drives for ordinary users Key Features:
Pricing: The basic version is free; premium version pricing is available upon request.
Windows 10, 8.1, 7, SP1, and Server 2012-2019 are all compatible.
7.AOMEI Backupper
AOMEI Backupper is a good backup software that comes in both free and paid versions. You can make a backup of Windows and all of its settings and restore it whenever you want, and you have complete control over what you backup. Individual files/folders, partitions, and drives can all be backed up. To guarantee that all of your information are completely backed up, you can create a backup schedule along with full backup sync.
The software will not interfere with any operations while creating a backup, so you can continue to use all of your apps and the system without anxiety. You can back up your data on external storage devices or your PC’s hard disc, or you can save it to a NAS (Network-Attached Storage).
Its free edition includes all backup and restore functionality, although it lacks some extras like disc space management, system cloning, Command Line backup, and Backup Image merging. All of these features are available in the professional version, which are not available in the standard version. A Server version is also available, which allows you to backup data from data servers, which is ideal for corporations. Also check Data Recovery
- Free comprehensive backup options • Complete control over backup and restore • Create a whole system clone
Pricing: A free version with restricted functionality is available, as well as a Professional edition for $49.95 for a lifetime licence for two PCs.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, & XP are all compatible.
Backup Services in the Cloud
We’ve listed some of the most useful backup software that you can download and install on your computer above. However, given the rising popularity of online storage, the list would be incomplete without a few handy and feature-rich cloud storage choices. Most of these services provide limited storage for free, with the opportunity to upgrade to more storage for a fee. Aside from eliminating the need to carry physical backup discs, cloud storage also allows you to access your files from any computer or mobile device.
Here are the best cloud storage choices to consider as a replacement for the backup software described above.
8. Google Sync and Backup (Works with Google Drive)
One of the best cloud storage options available is Google Drive. It comes pre-installed with your Google Account, which the majority of people already have, and it works nicely with other Google services.
You can download a desktop programme called Backup and Sync to manage your Google Drive files directly from your desktop, in addition to being able to access your Google Drive files from your browser.
Backup and Sync provide the same features as Google Drive, and you may save 15GB of files – regardless of file type – with the free account. To get extra storage, start by paying $1.99 per month for 100GB of storage, which includes other Google products like Google Docs and Google Photos.
There are additional possibilities as well, with plans ranging from 1TB to 30TB for $299.99 per month. Returning to Google Backup and Sync, it generates a dedicated folder on your computer where you can access all of your data in a folder format. Shortcuts for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides will also be installed by the tool.
- 15 GB of free storage • Simple and intuitive interface • Integration with Google services
Pricing: A free 15 GB plan is available, with premium subscriptions starting at $1.99 per month for 100 GB.
Windows and Mac OS X are both supported.
9.Dropbox
Dropbox is a user-friendly cloud storage solution with a wide range of capabilities and compatibility. You can just drag and drop files into the Dropbox folder on your computer, and they will be uploaded and synced across all of your devices. You get 2 GB of free storage, which can be expanded to 18 GB by recommending others to Dropbox.
It supports a wide number of systems, allowing you to access your data from virtually anywhere. If the free space is insufficient, you may upgrade to 2 TB for $9.99 per month with the option of unlimited storage for an additional $20 per month.
Characteristics:
- Support for multiple platforms and ease of use
Pricing: Free 2GB, with premium plans beginning at $9.99/month for 2TB.
Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS 10 are all supported.
10.Microsoft OneDrive
OneDrive works with Microsoft products in the same way that Google Drive integrates with Google products. It’s included in Windows 8, 8.1, and 10, and you can use it to preserve all of your office online documents.
You will receive 5 GB of free storage space, and its subscription plans are extremely reasonable, with 50 GB of storage costing only $1.99 per month. You may also acquire Office 365 plans for $69.99 per year, which contain the Office 365 online suite.
If you use Windows and have at least one other Windows-based device, you should give Microsoft OneDrive a try.
- Integrates with Microsoft products • Low-cost pricing • 15 GB of free storage
Pricing: 5 GB of free storage and premium storage for $1.99 per month for 100 GB, $3.99 per month for 200 GB, and $6.99 per month for 1 TB.
Web, Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Windows Phone 11 are all supported. Box Box was designed particularly for businesses, and while individual accounts are supported, the capabilities are best suited for commercial use. Their main focus is on privacy and collaboration; you can simply share uploaded files with others (ideally workers), add comments, and decide who has access to data.
11.Box
Your Box account comes with 10 GB of free storage, and you can upgrade to 100 GB for $6 per month. It’s a bit pricy for people, but for businesses, it’s only $17 per month for unlimited storage for up to three users. Box is the way to go if you want to backup your data while still collaborating on it.
- Additional security for collaboration tools • Business-related features offered • Unlimited storage package
Pricing: 10 GB of storage is free, while 100 GB costs $10 per month. Business options start at $5 per user per month for 100GB of storage, and at least three people are required to use the service.
Web, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS 12 compatibility iDrive iDrive is an online storage solution that strikes a good mix between cost-effectiveness, feature-rich client apps, and a user-friendly interface. You may use iDrive with an infinite number of devices with the free plan, which gives you up to 5GB of storage. Also check BleachBit Alternative
You can automatically designate folders that need to be backed up to the cloud and create a schedule for automatic backups using the desktop client.
12.iDrive
You may secure data using private encryption keys with iDrive, which are also available to free users. While the UI isn’t particularly appealing, the settings are well-organized and easy to find. IDrive allows users to backup entire discs in addition to specific files or folders.
Apart from the free plan, users can opt for the iDrive Personal plan, which starts at $52.12 for the first year and includes 2TB of storage.
- Easy to use • Support for an unlimited number of devices • Apps for all main platforms • Data encryption keys
Pricing: Up to 5GB of storage is free, with premium options starting at $52.12 per year.
Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS are all supported.
Most Commonly Asked Questions
Q. What is the best Windows 10 backup software?
My personal favourites are Acronis True Image and Macrium Reflect, which are often regarded as the best backup software for Windows 10. Macrium Reflect, on the other hand, is a better choice if you want a free solution.
Q. How do I back up the software on my computer?
While cloning the PC, most backup tools make a copy of the installed software. However, due to licence and registry difficulties, the installed apps are not seamlessly relocated while restoring the programmes. As a result, I would advise you to make a backup of the software setup image on your PC.
Q. Is Backup Software Included in Windows 10?
File History is a built-in backup feature in Windows 10. Windows Settings -> Update and Security -> Backup tab is where you’ll find it.
For PCs, the Best Backup Software
So, here are some recommendations for the best local and cloud-based backup software and services for protecting your data. Data encryption is also supported by several services, such as O&O AutoBackup, CrashPlan, CloudBerry, and iDrive, for increased data security.
You can use popular cloud storage solutions like Google Drive or Dropbox if you only need basic online storage. If you own a business and want to keep your data backed up and safe in the cloud, you can use CloudBerry.
We tried to cover all potential backup software alternatives for preserving files and taking drive backups to physical drives, while also considering the growing popularity of cloud storage.
