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Comparison · Backup software

Carbon Copy Cloner vs restic: which is better in 2026?

Carbon Copy Clonervsrestic

Carbon Copy Cloner ranks higher in our list of backup software (#2 against #4, score 90.0 against 86.5).

Choose Carbon Copy Cloner if you want

Mac users who want bootable clones of their system disk.

The best Mac-only choice for bootable clones, snapshots and scheduled backups, with restores of single files or a whole Mac. It is a paid app with a 30-day trial and does not run on Windows.

Choose restic if you want

Scripted backups from the command line on major systems.

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.

The main differences

  • Only restic runs on Linux.
  • Only restic runs on Windows.
  • restic is open source; Carbon Copy Cloner is not.
  • restic can be used for free; Carbon Copy Cloner requires payment.

Side by side

Carbon Copy Clonerrestic
Score90.086.5
Rank in list#2 of 7#4 of 7
PricePaidPaid license with a 30-day trial; household license optionFree and open sourceFree and open source under the BSD 2-Clause License
Free to useNoYes
Open sourceNoYes
PlatformsmacOSmacOSLinuxmacOSWindowsCommand lineLinux, macOS, Windows, Command line
Made byBombich SoftwareNot stated
Best forMac users who want bootable clones of their system diskScripted backups from the command line on major systems
Strengths
  • Bootable clones of a Mac
  • Snapshots and scheduled backups
  • Free and open source under BSD-2-Clause
  • Runs on Linux, BSD, macOS and Windows
Limits
  • Runs on macOS only
  • Paid after a 30-day trial
  • Command-line program in this entry
  • Scheduling and setup are left to the user
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Carbon Copy Cloner vs restic

Is Carbon Copy Cloner better than restic?
Carbon Copy Cloner ranks higher in our list of backup software (#2 against #4, score 90.0 against 86.5). Carbon Copy Cloner is best for: mac users who want bootable clones of their system disk. restic is best for: scripted backups from the command line on major systems.
Which is cheaper, Carbon Copy Cloner or restic?
Carbon Copy Cloner: Paid license with a 30-day trial; household license option. restic: Free and open source under the BSD 2-Clause License.
Do Carbon Copy Cloner and restic run on the same platforms?
Carbon Copy Cloner supports macOS. restic supports Linux, macOS, Windows, Command line.