Alternatives
Best Carbon Copy Cloner alternatives in 2026
Carbon Copy Cloner is Mac backup app that makes bootable clones, snapshots and scheduled backups. These 9 alternatives come from the same rankings, ordered by editorial score. Connected products carry a small, disclosed lift.
Ranked alternatives
- 1
Arq Backup
Also runs on Windows. The strongest paid option for Mac and Windows here, with many cloud destinations, multiple file versions and point-in-time recovery. It needs a paid license after a 30-day trial, and additional cloud storage is billed separately.
Best for Mac and Windows users who want versioned backups
macOSWindowsPaid
- 2
Kopia
Has a free option; is open source; also runs on Windows, Linux. The open-source choice with both a desktop app and a command line on Windows, macOS and Linux. Encrypted, deduplicated snapshots go to cloud storage you choose, but setup takes more steps than consumer apps.
Best for Open-source encrypted backups with a desktop app
WindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 3
restic
Has a free option; is open source; also runs on Linux, Windows. A free, open-source command-line tool under BSD-2-Clause that covers Linux, macOS and Windows and many storage back ends. It needs a terminal and scripting, so it suits technical users rather than people who want a point-and-click app.
Best for Scripted backups from the command line on major systems
LinuxmacOSWindowsCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 4
Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows
Has a free option; also runs on Windows. Free Windows backup with file-level and folder-level backups and bootable recovery media. Veeam describes the free edition as free forever, but it is Windows only and does not replace a server-level backup product.
Best for Windows PC owners who want free recovery media
WindowsFree
- 5
Backblaze
Also runs on Windows. Automatic, unlimited backup for a flat $9 a month, with a free trial that needs no credit card. Restores depend on your connection, and the subscription is an ongoing cost that the free tools here avoid.
Best for People who want backup handled for them on a Mac or PC
WindowsmacOSSubscription
- 6
Time Machine
Has a free option. Built into macOS, it backs up only changed files after the first backup and restores single files or a whole Mac. It needs an external disk, and its support page does not describe making a bootable copy.
Best for Mac users who want built-in file history
macOSFree
- 7
BorgBackup
Has a free option; is open source; also runs on Linux. A deduplicating, encrypted command-line backup tool for Linux and macOS under BSD-3-Clause. Its deduplication suits repeated backups of similar data, but its site does not list Windows.
Best for Linux and macOS administrators who script backups
LinuxmacOSCommand lineFree and open sourceOpen source
- 8
Duplicacy
Has a free option; also runs on Windows, Linux. Cross-platform cloud backup with client-side encryption and lock-free deduplication, free for individuals on the command line. Commercial use needs a per-machine licence, and setup takes more work than a consumer app.
Best for Individuals who script encrypted cloud backups
WindowsmacOSLinuxCommand lineFree plan, paid upgrades
- 9
Duplicati
Has a free option; is open source; also runs on Windows, Linux. A free MIT-licensed backup program for Windows, macOS and Linux that sends encrypted backups to many cloud providers. Its paid hosted console is optional, and setting up cloud destinations takes care.
Best for Free encrypted cloud backup on three systems
WindowsmacOSLinuxFree plan, paid upgradesOpen source
Narrow the alternatives
Free alternatives to Carbon Copy Cloner
Open-source alternatives to Carbon Copy Cloner
Carbon Copy Cloner alternatives for Linux
Carbon Copy Cloner alternatives for Windows
Compare Carbon Copy Cloner head to head
- Carbon Copy Clonerversus
Arq Backup - Carbon Copy Clonerversus
Kopia - Carbon Copy Clonerversus
restic - Carbon Copy Clonerversus
Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows - Carbon Copy Clonerversus
Backblaze - Carbon Copy Clonerversus
BorgBackup
Or build your own comparison table with Carbon Copy Cloner and up to three other products.
About Carbon Copy Cloner alternatives
- What is the best alternative to Carbon Copy Cloner?
- On listme.name the highest-scored alternative is Arq Backup, followed by Kopia. The right choice depends on price, platform and whether you need open source.
- Is there a free alternative to Carbon Copy Cloner?
- Yes. Free options include Kopia, restic, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows.
Before you switch
Learning Center
1:16Lock-in and exit costs: check how you leave before you commitLearn what lock-in is, run an export test on real data, compare open formats and local versus hosted storage, and plan an exit with your EU data rights in mind.
1:20How to run a software trial that tells you somethingRun a software trial that answers your question. Set criteria first, use real files, test import, export and sharing, then decide before the end date.Articles that mention Carbon Copy Cloner
All articles- Guides · 4 min readHow to choose a backup strategy: 3-2-1, restores and toolsBuild a backup plan with the 3-2-1 rule, local and cloud copies and restore tests. Compare backup software, from Arq and Kopia to restic and Backblaze.
- Roundups · 5 min readBest open-source alternatives to paid softwareOpen-source apps that can replace paid tools for notes, office work, backups, analytics, chat and remote access, with the hosting trade-offs of each one.
