Time Machine icon

Time Machine

Time Machine is a backup software application developed by Apple for macOS. It allows users to create hourly, daily, and weekly full-system backups onto a secondary internal or external hard disk.
Time Machine alternatives ➤

What is Time Machine?

Time Machine is a backup software application included with macOS, developed by Apple Inc. It provides hourly, daily, and weekly full-system backups onto a secondary internal or external storage device, such as an external hard drive or network-attached storage.

Time Machine creates incremental backups, meaning it only backs up files that have changed since the previous backup, saving storage space and making the backup process faster. It allows users to restore their entire Mac to a previous state in case of data loss or catastrophe. Users can browse through different snapshots of their system taken at various points in time.

One of the key benefits of Time Machine is its simplicity and ease of use. Once set up, the backups happen automatically in the background without user intervention. It works seamlessly with storage devices formatted with HFS+ or APFS file systems. Time Machine also integrates with various Apple apps like Photos and Mail to provide granular restore of individual items.

Some limitations include lack of support for bootable full-system backups or cloning entire volumes. It also does not allow users to back up to network folders without going through workarounds. Overall though, Time Machine is an essential recovery tool for Apple users with its unique time-based browsing of historical system snapshots.

Official Links

Official Website
support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

The Best Time Machine Alternatives

Top Apps like Time Machine

Macrium Reflect, Norton Ghost, Duplicati, Reboot Restore Rx, UrBackup, EaseUS ToDo BackUp, Carbon Copy Cloner, TimeShift, Systemback, Déjà Dup, ChronoSync, Duplicity, DriveImage XML, Back In Time, ToolWiz Time Machine, System Restore Manager, Rsnapshot, Backup Maker, HDclone, Rollback Rx, Windows File History, FarStone RestoreIT, Restic, Proxmox Backup Server, GS RichCopy 360, Back4Sure, Restore Point Creator, Time Machine for Linux, Duplicacy, rdiff-backup, KLS Backup, Drive SnapShot, Mail Backup X, Genie Timeline, SnapRunner, Parachute, Comodo Time Machine, Cronopete, ShadowProtect, Uranium Backup, HDClone Free Edition, Zinstall Backup, FlyBack, FSArchiver, AX64 Time Machine, Data Deposit Box, Nero BackItUp, BuddyBackup, Rebel Backup, SSuite File Backup Master, Mevvo, Acebackup, Norton Online Backup, Dmailer Backup, MKSBackup, Get Backup, snaprd, FileFort Backup Software, BackupVault, myDataSync, Cyphertite, Time Drive, Folder Snapshot Utility, Steadier State, snapper-io, Altarsoft Safe Backup, QRecall, iGoUSB, ShadowImage, Backazon, ZetaWatch, SquirrelSave, Baccus, CascadePoint, Ferro Backup System, Backaroo, Snebu, Backup Scheduler: Time Editor, SysFreezer, Z-DBackup, Oops! Backup are some alternatives to Time Machine.
Sugggest an alternative ❐

Macrium Reflect

Macrium Reflect is a disk imaging and cloning utility for Windows designed for backup and disaster recovery. It creates full system images that can be restored at a later time to recover a corrupted or failing system. Images can also be used to migrate an existing Windows installation to new...

Norton Ghost

Norton Ghost is a disk imaging and cloning utility that creates an exact copy of a computer's hard drive. It can be used to back up the contents of a hard drive for recovery and restoration purposes in case of data loss or hard drive failure. Norton Ghost creates file-based...

Duplicati

Duplicati is a free, open source backup software that securely stores encrypted, incremental, compressed backups on cloud storage services and remote file servers. It supports standard protocols like FTP, SSH, WebDAV and various backends like Microsoft OneDrive, Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, Tahoe-LAFS and many others.Some key features of...

Reboot Restore Rx

Reboot Restore Rx is a system restore and recovery software for Windows. It allows users to easily create restore points of their system, similar to Windows System Restore but with more flexibility and control. Some key features of Reboot Restore Rx:Create full system snapshots to rollback to in case...

UrBackup

UrBackup is an open-source, client/server backup software that allows easy backups and restores. It supports incremental file and image backups to save storage space and bandwidth.Some key features of UrBackup:Works on Windows, Linux, and macOSClient-side encryption for secure backupsIncremental file backups to save bandwidth and storageFull and...

EaseUS ToDo BackUp

EaseUS ToDo Backup is a comprehensive data protection and disaster recovery solution for Windows users. It provides an intuitive interface for backing up files, partitions, and entire systems to local, network or cloud storage.Key features include:File backup - Back up specific files and folders to protect important documents...

Carbon Copy Cloner

Carbon Copy Cloner is a robust and easy-to-use backup and disk cloning utility for macOS. It was originally designed for making bootable backups of a Mac's startup drive, but has since expanded its capabilities to offer full support for scheduled and incremental backups as well.Some key features of Carbon...

TimeShift

TimeShift is an open source system restore utility for Linux operating systems. It works by taking incremental snapshots of the file system contents and storing them as backup versions. This allows users to restore their system to a previous working state in case there is ever data loss or system...

Systemback

Systemback is an open-source system restore and backup application designed for Linux operating systems. It provides an easy way for users to create complete system backups that can be used to restore their system to a previous state.Some key features of Systemback include:Intuitive graphical user interface for ease...

Déjà Dup

Déjà Dup is a backup software included by default in GNOME desktop environments. It provides an easy way for users to backup their personal files and folders.Some key features of Déjà Dup include:User-friendly graphical interface to setup and restore backupsSupport for both local and cloud (e...

ChronoSync

ChronoSync is a comprehensive file synchronization and backup software designed specifically for the macOS operating system. It enables users to efficiently sync, backup, and transfer files between folders, volumes, external drives, and cloud services.Some key features and capabilities of ChronoSync include:Intuitive interface for setting up syncs, scheduling background...

Duplicity

Duplicity is an open source backup application designed for encrypted, incremental backup. Some key features of Duplicity include:Supports a variety of backends for storage including local, remote, cloud servers, etc.Incremental backups for efficiency - only changed data is backed up after the initial backupStrong encryption using GnuPG ensures...

DriveImage XML

DriveImage XML is a disk imaging and backup software application for Windows. It provides the ability to create full, incremental, and differential images of hard drives and partitions for the purposes of backup and restoration.Key features include:Creating complete backups of drives or partitions that can be stored locally...

Back In Time

Back In Time is an easy to use backup software designed for Linux operating systems. It allows users to take snapshots of their file system and save them locally or to remote disks, facilitating smooth restores of previous versions when needed.Some key features of Back In Time include:Flexible...

ToolWiz Time Machine

ToolWiz Time Machine is a powerful yet easy-to-use system restore and backup utility for Windows. It enables users to create periodic system restore points that allow reverting the system to a previous working state in case of system problems or instability.Key features include:Creating manual and automated system restore...

System Restore Manager

System Restore Manager is a software program designed to help Windows users easily create, manage, and restore system restore points. System restore points allow you to roll back your computer's state to an earlier time if issues occur due to software installations, updates, or other system changes.Some key features...

Rsnapshot

Rsnapshot is an open-source backup utility for Linux operating systems that provides incremental backup functionality using rsync. It is designed to make it easy to maintain a backup of a remote system by only transferring the changes that have occurred since the last backup.Some key features of Rsnapshot include...

Backup Maker

Backup Maker is a free, easy-to-use backup software for Windows. It allows users to back up their files and folders to various destinations including external hard drives, network drives, CD/DVDs, and cloud storage services.Some key features of Backup Maker include:Intuitive interface - The software has a clean...

HDclone

HDclone is a hard disk drive cloning and backup utility for Windows. It allows users to quickly clone or make exact copies of hard drives or partitions, and save them as disk images. Some key features of HDclone include:Cloning hard drives or partitions bit-for-bit to another driveSupport for cloning...

Rollback Rx

Rollback Rx is a system restore and recovery software designed for Windows computers. It allows users to easily revert their system to an earlier point in time in case of software or system issues.The key feature of Rollback Rx is its ability to take periodic snapshots of the Windows...

Windows File History

Windows File History is a built-in backup feature introduced in Windows 8 and included in all later versions of Windows. It allows users to automatically backup their personal files to an external hard drive or shared network folder.File History takes incremental backups of files in libraries, desktop, contacts, favorites, and...

FarStone RestoreIT

FarStone RestoreIt is a comprehensive backup and recovery solution for Windows PCs. With its intuitive interface and reliable engine, RestoreIt makes it easy to protect your system, files, and applications.Key features include:Full system backup - Back up entire disks or selected partitions to ensure a complete system recovery...

Restic

Restic is an open-source backup program that focuses on security and efficiency. It supports incremental backups, encryption, and deduplication to save storage space and bandwidth. Some key features of Restic include:Encryption - All data is encrypted with AES-256 before uploading it to the backup destination. The encryption keys are...

Proxmox Backup Server

Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) is an enterprise-grade backup and disaster recovery solution built on Linux. It is optimized for virtual machines and containers, making it a great fit for Proxmox VE and other Linux-based virtualization platforms.Key features of Proxmox Backup Server include:Efficient incremental backups with built-in deduplication, compression...

GS RichCopy 360

GS RichCopy 360 is a advanced file copy and file synchronization utility for Windows. It provides a graphical user interface as well as a command-line interface to perform data migrations, server consolidations, and system backups.Key features of GS RichCopy 360 include:Fast parallel multi-threaded copying to accelerate large file transfersResume capability...

Back4Sure

Back4Sure is an easy-to-use backup software designed specifically for Windows computers. It provides users with a reliable way to prevent accidental data loss by scheduling automatic, incremental backups of important files and folders.Key features include:Intuitive interface for quickly setting up backup jobs to local drives, external USB...

Restore Point Creator

Restore Point Creator is a free, lightweight utility program for Windows that gives users an easy way to create restore points. Restore points allow you to roll back your Windows operating system to a previous state if something goes wrong or if you want to revert changes.With Restore Point...

Time Machine for Linux

Time Machine for Linux is a backup application designed to provide Linux users with functionality similar to the Time Machine feature in Mac OS. Like Time Machine, it enables users to easily perform incremental backups of their data to an external hard drive or NAS.Some key features of Time...

Duplicacy

Duplicacy is an open-source command-line backup tool designed for efficient incremental backups. It supports a variety of storage backends including major cloud providers like Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Microsoft OneDrive, and Dropbox.Some key features of Duplicacy include:Strong encryption using AES-256 to secure backup dataData compression and deduplication...

Rdiff-backup

rdiff-backup is an open source backup software used to create incremental backups. It works by calculating the difference between the source directory and the directory from the previous backup. Only changes are transferred and stored, instead of full file copies, which saves storage space on the backup destination.Some key...

KLS Backup

KLS Backup is a user-friendly backup software designed for Windows computers and servers. It provides an intuitive interface to easily configure and schedule automatic backups of your important files to external hard drives, network locations or popular cloud storage services.Key features of KLS Backup include:Full and incremental backup...

Drive SnapShot

Drive SnapShot is a powerful yet easy-to-use backup solution designed specifically for Google Drive. It enables users to back up their important Google Drive files and folders either locally to their computer or to another cloud storage provider like Dropbox or OneDrive.Some key features of Drive SnapShot include:Scheduled...

Mail Backup X

Mail Backup X is a user-friendly software solution designed specifically for backing up email data from a variety of popular email services and providers. With an intuitive interface and step-by-step wizards, Mail Backup X makes it easy to schedule automatic or manual backups of email messages, contacts, calendars, tasks, and...

Genie Timeline

Genie Timeline is a user-friendly and customizable backup software for Windows. It makes it easy for users of all levels to set up reliable backups that protect important personal data against loss due to hardware failures, viruses, accidental deletions, software problems, natural disasters, and other threats.Some key features of...

SnapRunner

SnapRunner is an open-source test automation platform designed for testing web and mobile applications. It provides an intuitive interface to set up and run automated tests without needing to write code.Some key capabilities and benefits of SnapRunner include:Cross-browser testing - Tests can be run across different browsers and...

Parachute

Parachute is a cloud-based project management and tracking software application designed specifically for agile development teams. It provides a suite of tools to help plan, organize, track, and monitor both long-term projects and short-term tasks with a focus on real-time transparency and seamless collaboration.Key features of Parachute include customizable...

Comodo Time Machine

Comodo Time Machine is a free system restore and backup software application for Windows. It provides users with an easy way to protect their systems by taking incremental snapshots of the state of their computer. These snapshots can then be used to revert their system back to a previous state...

Cronopete

Cronopete is an open-source backup software application designed specifically for macOS. It enables users to easily perform incremental backups of their files and folders to external hard drives, network storage locations, or online backup services.Some key features of Cronopete include:Space-efficient incremental backups using hard links which don't duplicate...

ShadowProtect

ShadowProtect is a backup and disaster recovery software solution developed by StorageCraft. It provides both file-level and image-level backups to help protect critical servers, desktops, and laptops. Some key features of ShadowProtect include:Image-based backup allows full system recovery in case of hardware failure, data corruption, malware, or ransomware attacks...

Uranium Backup

Uranium Backup is a free, open source backup software for Windows. It provides users with an easy way to set up regular backups of important files and folders on their computer.With Uranium Backup, you can schedule backups to run automatically to various destinations including:Local hard drives or partitionsExternal...

HDClone Free Edition

HDClone Free Edition is a free hard drive cloning and backup utility for Windows. It provides an easy way to duplicate hard drives and partitions to other drives or image files. Some key features include:Cloning hard drives and partitions to new larger or smaller drivesBacking up drives and partitions...

Zinstall Backup

Zinstall Backup is a comprehensive whole-computer backup software designed to create full system images of Windows computers. With Zinstall Backup, users can back up an entire computer system including the operating system, installed software applications and programs, system settings, drivers, files, folders, and more.Some key features of Zinstall Backup...

FlyBack

FlyBack is an open-source backup and restore application for Linux operating systems. It provides an intuitive graphical user interface that makes it easy to configure and execute backups. Some key features of FlyBack include:Support for backing up files and folders locally or to cloud storage services like Google Drive...

FSArchiver

FSArchiver is an open-source system tool designed for saving the contents of file systems to archives, and restoring file systems from those archives. It functions at the disk level rather than the file level, creating an image backup of an entire file system that can be easily restored.Some key...

AX64 Time Machine

AX64 Time Machine is a user-friendly backup and recovery software application designed for Windows. It makes it easy to schedule regular backups of your important files to external drives, network storage locations, or the cloud.Some key features of AX64 Time Machine include:Intuitive dashboard shows backup status, disk space...

Data Deposit Box

Data Deposit Box is a business-oriented cloud backup and file sync & share platform. Key features include:Secure online storage and backup for business dataAutomated cloud backups to ensure data protectionFile sync across devices to access data anywhereFile sharing and collaboration tools for teamsFull at-rest and in-transit data encryptionCustomizable backup schedules...

Nero BackItUp

Nero BackItUp is a software program developed by Nero and designed for backing up and restoring files on a Windows PC. It provides users with a way to easily protect their documents, photos, music, videos, and other important files.Some key features of Nero BackItUp include:Scheduling automatic backups to...

BuddyBackup

BuddyBackup is an online backup software service that provides individuals and small businesses with an easy and affordable way to securely back up their important files and folders. It works by installing a small client application on your Windows or Mac computer that connects to BuddyBackup's secure cloud-based storage platform...

Rebel Backup

Rebel Backup is a user-friendly and reliable backup solution for home users and small businesses. It works on both Windows and macOS platforms and supports backing up files and folders to local hard drives, network drives, and popular cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox.Some key features of Rebel...

SSuite File Backup Master

SSuite File Backup Master is a easy-to-use file backup and synchronization software for Windows. It enables users to automatically back up files and folders to various destinations including external hard drives, network storages, FTP servers, and cloud services.Key features include:Intuitive interface for setting up scheduled, incremental and full...

Mevvo

Mevvo is a cloud-based video conferencing and online collaboration platform used by teams to conduct meetings, webinars, presentations, and team collaboration sessions virtually. It allows up to 50 participants to join a HD video meeting with features like screen sharing, recording, chat, calendar integrations, and more.Some key features of Mevvo...

Acebackup

Acebackup is a feature-rich yet easy-to-use backup software designed specifically for Windows. It enables users to quickly set up automated backups of important files and folders to various destinations like external hard drives, NAS devices, other PCs on the local network, and popular cloud storage services.Some key features and...

Norton Online Backup

Norton Online Backup is a cloud-based backup solution offered by Symantec. It allows users to automatically back up their files to a secure, encrypted online storage so they can access them from any device - desktop, laptop, tablet or phone.Key features of Norton Online Backup include:Backs up file...

Dmailer Backup

Dmailer Backup is a backup software designed for simplicity and automation. It provides users with an intuitive way to set up scheduled backups of important files and folders to various destinations including external drives, network locations, and cloud services.Some key features of Dmailer Backup include:Easy setup of automatic...

MKSBackup

MKSBackup is a free, open-source backup software for Windows. It provides an easy way to backup and restore your personal files and folders.Key features of MKSBackup include:Intuitive interface for configuring automated backups on a scheduleBackups to local hard drives, network drives, FTP, SSH, WebDAV and popular cloud services...

Get Backup

Get Backup is a user-friendly yet powerful backup software designed specifically for Windows computers. It makes backing up your important files quick and easy.With Get Backup, you can:Back up files and folders to any internal, external or network drive.Schedule automatic backups daily, weekly or monthly.Compress backups...

Snaprd

Snaprd is a free and easy-to-use screenshot and screen recording application for Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS. Some of the key features of Snaprd include:Taking customizable screenshots - You can capture fullscreen, region, window, or scrolling screenshots.Recording screen activity - Record your on-screen actions, camera feed, audio narrations...

FileFort Backup Software

FileFort Backup Software is a comprehensive data protection and disaster recovery solution designed specifically for small and medium sized businesses. It provides customizable backup plans to ensure all critical business data is properly protected and easily recoverable.Key features of FileFort Backup Software include:Backs up files, folders, drives, and...

BackupVault

BackupVault is a user-friendly, secure cloud backup service designed for individuals and businesses who want a reliable way to protect their important files and data. It works by securely sending copies of your files over the internet to BackupVault's cloud servers, allowing you to restore them in case of accidental...

MyDataSync

myDataSync is a user-friendly file synchronization and backup software designed specifically for Windows. It provides an easy way to synchronize files across multiple PCs and external drives, ensuring your files are always up-to-date and backed up.With flexible sync options, myDataSync can do one-way or two-way sync for files and...

Cyphertite

Cyphertite is an open source, encrypted cloud storage platform that emphasizes privacy and security. It enables users to store their files and data securely in the cloud using client-side encryption. This means only the user has the encryption keys - not even Cyphertite administrators can access the unencrypted data.Some...

Time Drive

Time Drive is a comprehensive time tracking and productivity platform designed to help individuals and teams better understand where their time is being spent. With powerful time tracking features, users can automatically track time or manually start timers to capture activity across projects, tasks, and other custom categories.Key features...

Folder Snapshot Utility

Folder Snapshot Utility is a free, open-source program that enables users to take snapshots of folders on their computer to track changes over time. It works by creating a database of file metadata that allows for easy comparison between folder versions.Some key features include:Take unlimited snapshots of any...

Steadier State

Steadier State is a next-generation web application performance monitoring and observability platform optimized for modern software delivery environments. It provides unparalleled visibility into the end-user experience through real user monitoring and synthetic monitoring, coupled with robust application performance management capabilities.Key capabilities and benefits include:Full stack observability - Monitor...

Snapper-io

Snapper is an open-source visual regression testing tool designed for testing web and mobile applications. It works by taking screenshots of your app UI and comparing them against baseline screenshots to detect any unintended changes or regressions.Some key features of Snapper include:Cross-browser screenshot testing - Supports all major...

Altarsoft Safe Backup

Altarsoft Safe Backup is a file and folder backup software designed for Windows operating systems. It provides an easy way to set up scheduled backups of important files and folders to various destinations like external hard drives, network locations, FTP servers, etc.Some key features of Altarsoft Safe Backup include...

QRecall

QRecall is a powerful spaced repetition and memory retention application. It helps users memorize information more efficiently by using flashcards and optimizing review timing based on memory strength.Key features of QRecall include:Spaced repetition algorithm that determines optimal time between flashcard reviews based on difficultySupport for adding rich content...

IGoUSB

iGoUSB is a software program designed to help users easily transport and access files between different devices. It works by allowing you to store your important computer files, documents, photos, music, videos, and more onto any USB flash drive.Once the files are loaded onto the USB drive via iGoUSB...

ShadowImage

ShadowImage is a disk imaging and backup software designed for creating point-in-time copies of partitions, volumes or entire servers. It utilizes snapshot and block-level incremental backup technology to maximize backup and recovery efficiency.Some key features of ShadowImage include:Full, incremental and differential backups to capture system changes over timeBare-metal...

Backazon

Backazon is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to Amazon's cloud storage services like S3 and Cloud Drive. It allows users to store their files on their own servers rather than Amazon's, providing more control over privacy and security.Some key features of Backazon include:Encrypted storage to protect files from unauthorized...

ZetaWatch

ZetaWatch is an open-source application for monitoring website uptime, performance, and changes. It provides a simple yet powerful way to track the availability and speed of websites, catch performance degradations, get alerts for unexpected website changes, and more.Some key features of ZetaWatch include:Uptime Monitoring - Continuous checking if...

SquirrelSave

SquirrelSave is a free, open-source password manager software used to store, generate, and manage passwords and other sensitive information securely. It utilizes the industry-standard AES-256 bit encryption to protect user data, ensuring it remains confidential and inaccessible without the master password.Some key features of SquirrelSave include:User-friendly interface -...

Baccus

Baccus is an open-source test automation framework for testing web applications. It provides an easy-to-use interface for writing and executing automated test scripts without requiring programming knowledge.Key features of Baccus include:Supports writing tests in simple English-like syntax. No need to learn a scripting language.Cross-browser testing capabilities. Tests...

CascadePoint

CascadePoint is a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) and supply chain management software solution designed specifically for manufacturers and distributors. It aims to help these businesses optimize their operations through process automation and real-time visibility across the organization.Key features of CascadePoint include:Financial management - General ledger, accounts payable...

Ferro Backup System

Ferro Backup System (FBS) is an open-source, cross-platform backup application that provides robust data protection capabilities for both Linux and Windows environments. Developed as a fork of the popular Bacula backup software, FBS aims to improve ease-of-use while retaining industrial-grade functionality.Some key features of Ferro Backup System include:Intuitive...

Backaroo

Backaroo is an easy-to-use backup software solution aimed at individual users and small businesses. It focuses on providing automated daily backups of your most important personal files and folders to ensure they are protected in case of computer crashes, ransomware attacks, accidental deletion, or other data loss events.Some key...

Snebu

Snebu is an open-source note taking and knowledge management application available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. It provides users with a flexible system to capture, organize and connect notes, ideas, to-do lists, documents and more into an interconnected web.Some key features of Snebu include:Intuitive graphical user...

Backup Scheduler: Time Editor

Backup Scheduler: Time Editor is a user-friendly backup software designed to automate the process of backing up files and folders. With an easy-to-use graphical interface, it allows users to set up both recurring and one-time backup jobs without needing to understand complex backup configurations.Some key features include:Intuitive time-based...

SysFreezer

SysFreezer is a system management and system freeze utility software for Windows. It allows administrators and power users to easily freeze, snapshot, and restore their Windows system configuration for backup, software testing, or rollback purposes.Some key features of SysFreezer include:Freezing the system state - This locks down the...

Z-DBackup

Z-DBackup is an open-source, cross-platform backup utility that provides full system and database backups for Linux and Windows operating systems. Its key features include:Disk imaging for full system backups and bare metal restoresFile and folder incremental backups to preserve previous versions and changesMySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite database dumps for...

Oops! Backup

Oops! Backup is a user-friendly and versatile Windows backup software used to protect personal data by regularly creating backups. It enables scheduling automatic backups to various destinations like external hard drives, DVDs, NAS devices, FTP servers, etc. for backup redundancy.Key features of Oops! Backup include full, incremental and differential...