Top 10 Backup Software Apps For Your PC

The Importance of Regular File Backups

Failing to routinely back up your files is a significant risk. Losing valuable work, such as documents and projects, or cherished media like music and movies, can be incredibly frustrating. While preventative measures can be taken, hard drive failures do occur. Having a recent backup in these situations is absolutely essential.

PC users have access to a diverse range of backup software options. Many have been reviewed previously, but a consolidated list has not been readily available. Having all options in one place simplifies the decision-making process, so here are ten free PC backup solutions.

Comodo/Time Machine

Comodo offers a comprehensive suite of free software, including antivirus, firewalls, and backup utilities. Within the backup category, they provide two primary solutions: Comodo Backup, a synchronization-based tool, and Comodo Time Machine, which delivers a full-system backup experience akin to Time Machine on macOS.

The optimal choice between these depends on your needs. If you require a single backup of specific files, Comodo Backup is suitable. However, for a complete system backup, encompassing software and settings, Comodo Time Machine is the better option.

Further details on Comodo Time Machine can be found in Varun's article, "Create Snapshot Backups of Data and Files with Comodo Time Machine," and Comodo Backup is discussed in Aibek's piece, "The Best Free Backup Software for Your PC."

Dropbox

Although not specifically designed as backup software, Dropbox effectively safeguards your current projects. By storing all actively worked-on files within your Dropbox folder, they are automatically synchronized across all your devices and to Dropbox servers. This ensures instant backups of your recent work to multiple locations.

While Dropbox isn't a complete backup solution, it serves as a valuable addition to traditional hard-drive backups. Explore Dropbox at Dropbox or learn more through MakeUseOf.

Clonezilla

For a complete hard drive backup – encompassing everything – Clonezilla is an excellent choice. This live CD creates an exact clone of your hard drive, including the operating system and all installed software. This preserves your computer's configuration and software setup.

It's not an automated process, requiring booting from the CD each time. However, if you've meticulously customized your computer, a reliable fail-safe is invaluable. Read more about Clonezilla in Benjamin's article, "Clonezilla, Free Advanced Hard Drive Cloneing Software."

FreeFileSync

If you need a straightforward way to synchronize two folders, FreeFileSync is highly recommended. This program scans two folders and updates the destination to match the source, efficiently updating external hard drive backups without re-copying entire files. It also displays the amount of data to be transferred beforehand.

While not fully automated, it's a robust solution. Learn more in Jim's article, "How to Keep your Backups Current with FreeFileSync."

FBackup

If you want to backup not only your documents but also the settings and plugins you use for a few specific programs (like Firefox), consider FBackup. This solution allows you to utilize plugins capable of locating the settings of a variety of different programs in addition to backing up your documents.

You can find more information in Varun's article, "Backup Program Data & Personal Settings with FBackup."

Crashplan

Many backup solutions rely on external hard drives, which are vulnerable to physical damage. If a disaster like a fire occurs, both your computer and its backup drive could be lost. Offsite backups provide an additional layer of security. While Dropbox offers limited cloud backup, fully free cloud-based solutions are rare.

Crashplan allows you to utilize a friend's computer as your backup destination, providing a free offsite backup (assuming a trustworthy friend is available). This software is compatible with Mac, Linux, and Windows.

PureSync

PureSync is another synchronization tool, offering a valuable alternative. It can synchronize any two folders, whether local, external, networked, or even cloud-based. Its ease of use and free availability make it worth exploring.

Hinx

Hinx is a backup service that offers automated backups. Unlike many options, Hinx is a Java program, meaning it can run on a wide range of operating systems. However, this can also impact performance.

Explore Hinx further in Aibek's article, "The Best free Backup Software for your PC."

Syncback

This is yet another tool for local synchronization, with the added capability of backing up to an FTP server. Syncback also allows you to exclude specific file types (like MP3s) or folders from the backup process. It can be automated for background backups or used manually.

Mozy

Mozy is a cloud-based backup service that typically requires a subscription, but offers a free trial with 2 gigabytes of storage, expandable by 1 gigabyte for each referred friend. You select the files to be backed up, and the program monitors your storage quota.

Like Dropbox, the free version of Mozy may not be sufficient as a sole backup solution, but it's a useful supplement to a regular full backup. Find more information in our directory.

Bonus: Windows Built-In Backup (Vista and Windows 7)

If you're using Vista or Windows 7, you already have built-in backup software. These operating systems include a native solution. If you prefer not to download additional software, this is a convenient option, though it only supports backups to external or local network drives.

Avoid using the backup utility in Windows XP, as it's based on an outdated standard originally designed for tape backups. Recovering these backups on newer systems is difficult, and practically impossible on Linux or macOS.