Top Free Alternatives to Windows Backup and Restore

Windows Backup and Restore is a good thing, and I also have tried these free backup software in Windows 10, but almost all of them should work on older Windows computers. In addition, all of the following programs are free backup solutions, and their free versions should be good enough for most people, but I’ve also talked about their premium features.

However, if you still don’t back up all of your important files from your computer, then it’s a good time to find good free backup software so you’ll be well prepared when your hard drive or solid state drive finally decides give up on you. Backing up data is also a salvation in case you fall victim to ransomware, what is a better way to protect yourself from cyber criminals than storing all archived data, so even if something goes wrong, your data will still be safe. You may want to check out some good alternatives to Windows Backup and Restore.

The best free alternatives to Windows Back and Restore

1. MiniTool ShadowMaker Free

MiniTool ShadowMaker Free is one of the most functional backup tools in Windows, and once you’ve used it for some time, it’s easy to understand why. While file backups, as expected, are available in three different versions (full, differential and incremental), the imaging has the option of creating a boot disk, which should be very useful in the worst case. The software enables users to schedule and perform custom backups in any time, by default it performs a full backup every week, and differential backups every half hour in case of detection of any changes in the system. To increase security, the software can encrypt full system images that can be compressed at a fairly high level to take up less disk space.

MiniTool ShadowMaker’s another interesting feature is the Image Reserve option, which allows users to delete old system images to save disk space. The software also has paid versions, which starts at $29.

2. GoodSync

GoodSync provides both backup services and file synchronization. Configuration is easy and requires only installing the software, selecting target files and folders, and then configuring the automation function for backup and synchronization. And that’s all.

The simplicity of use hides the fact that it is a powerful solution that comes in several different forms. One of them is GoodSync File Server, which allows you to back up specific files and folders and synchronize them with a private cloud, with various rules and automation options to ensure easy management of all data. The second is GoodSync ServerOS, which provides backup and synchronization of Windows Server. 

3. Backup and Recovery

Paragon Backup and Recovery has many of the same functions of the its kind, but it has a nice little trick. The program allows you to save backup images in many different file formats , including Microsoft PC image file and VMWare image file. Like most of the other options on this list, you can compress images and also split them into smaller parts to save disk space and even exclude some file types from backup.

4. Genie Timeline for free

Genie Timeline Free has easily one of the most user-friendly interfaces among all the programs listed here (first, we’ll get to that later) on the list. It can back up files and folders to a network drive from a local computer, but you can also choose a backup to a local drive if you want. Like Receipt, it allows you to exclude file types that you do not want to create, as well as manually edit individual files and folders from the backup list. The only interesting aspect that makes the program stand out from the competition is the iOS application that allows you to monitor the ongoing backup on your iPhone or iPad.

Although the free version of Genie Timeline has some innovative features, it skips some of the standard features that you would expect from a free backup program around 2019. You can’t schedule backups according to your preferences, an absolutely essential feature that most other free ones have tools, but this one does not work. You also don’t have encryption in the free version of Genie Timeline. If you need any of these features, you’ll have to pay for the home version, which starts at $39, $95, or the Pro version, which starts at $59, 95.

5. HDClone

HDClone Free Edition is a hard disk imaging program well known to many users. Using the application, we’ll be able to make an exact backup of the entire storage space or individual disk partitions. This is not the end of the possibilities offered by the free version of HDClone Free Edition. The tool has also been equipped with the ability to clone the system partition, so that we will be able to migrate the work environment currently used by us to a new HDD or SSD.

In conclusion

More detailed product information and detailed instructions on how to use the software can be found on the websites of the software manufacturers. I will choose the MiniTool ShadowMaker Free over all others, if only because it is the only free tool that will help you transfer your operating system to another hard drive or solid state drive. Decide which of these programs is the best, will go directly to you.

If you have any other good free backup software that not included in the list, please feel free to share.