Carbon Copy Cloner
Mac backup app that makes bootable clones, snapshots and scheduled backups
- #2 of 10 in best backup software
- Paid
- macOS
Ranked 2 of 10 in best backup software
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.
Best for Mac users who want bootable clones of their system disk
About Carbon Copy Cloner
Carbon Copy Cloner copies a Mac's disk to another drive so the copy can boot the machine. It also backs up selected folders, takes snapshots and schedules automated backups. Restores can recover a single file, copy a folder or recover a whole Mac, and the site says CCC can back up cloud-only files that macOS has offloaded.
The site lists encryption, backup monitoring and verification among its features. Carbon Copy Cloner is a paid app with a 30-day trial and a household license option. It runs on macOS only. The vendor positions it as a fuller alternative to Time Machine, and people who want a bootable clone of their Mac will find it useful for that purpose.
Key features
- Bootable Mac backups
- Scheduled backups and snapshots
- Backups of cloud-only files
- Encryption and backup verification
- Household license
Strengths
- Bootable clones of a Mac
- Snapshots and scheduled backups
Limits
- Runs on macOS only
- Paid after a 30-day trial
Where Carbon Copy Cloner ranks
How Carbon Copy Cloner compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 Arq Backup | 91.5 | Paid | macOSWindows |
| #2Carbon Copy Cloner | 90.0 | Paid | macOS |
#3 Kopia | 88.0 | Free and open source | WindowsmacOSLinuxCommand line |
#4 restic | 86.5 | Free and open source | LinuxmacOSWindowsCommand line |
#5 Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows | 85.0 | Free | Windows |
The full comparison table for best backup software has all 10 products.
Alternatives to Carbon Copy Cloner
All 9 alternatives- Arq BackupAlso runs on Windows.
- KopiaHas a free option; is open source; also runs on Windows, Linux.
- resticHas a free option; is open source; also runs on Linux, Windows.
- Veeam Agent for Microsoft WindowsHas a free option; also runs on Windows.
BackblazeAlso runs on Windows.
Time MachineHas a free option.
Questions about Carbon Copy Cloner
- Is Carbon Copy Cloner free?
- Carbon Copy Cloner is a paid product (paid). Paid license with a 30-day trial; household license option.
- Is Carbon Copy Cloner open source?
- No. Carbon Copy Cloner is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Carbon Copy Cloner support?
- Carbon Copy Cloner is available on: macOS.
- What is Carbon Copy Cloner best for?
- Mac users who want bootable clones of their system disk. In our ranking of backup software it is number 2 of 10 with a score of 90.0.
- What are the best alternatives to Carbon Copy Cloner?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Arq Backup, Kopia, restic, Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows.
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