26 replies to this topic 1 votes

[Anaron]

An updated "Best Backup Software" poll for 2011. Please use this as a reference when researching backup utilities. As time goes on, the poll can be updated to add further options.

Please choose one app or N/A per category when voting.

Happy Voting!

[Vettetech]

Where is Paragon? I am using Paragon Home and Recovery Free. I have mounted several images and they all are a success.

[ozyborn]

Carbonite for business use...

[notta]

People always mention Acronis when asked about best app for file backup. Acronis is more of an imaging/disaster and recovery product in my opinion. Very expensive and bloated just for backup purposes. I think of apps like Super Flexible File Synchronizer and SyncBack for personal data backup applications.

[farmeunit]

Cobian Backup I use at home and at work. We will be using PHD Virtual as we move to VMs.

[Vettetech]

Acronis was good. But now its bloatware. It adds unnecessary processes and services.

[Wodin]

Arcserve for work, Cobian (it's free, too ) for home

[+Xinok]

I primarily use a program called SaftBackup.

• It handles versions better than any other backup software I've tried.
  
• It stores files in SQLite databases. I prefer this because it reduces the number of files created, and is much faster when you have to backup thousands of tiny files.
  
• Backups can be encrypted and compressed.
  
• Utilizes volume shadow copy for backing up locked / in use files.
  
• It has a built-in file browser for extracting files. It's not great, but it works.
  
• Technically doesn't need to be installed. I extracted the files from the installer, and I can run it from a BartPE CD if needed.

There's one thing I hate about this program: When deleting old versions, it vacuums the databases to free up space which takes forever.

[lcg]

Acronis TrueImage is my favourite.

[Salty Wagyu]

I'm guessing this thread is for backups of Operating Systems rather than file/data backups, which are of the Synctoy, Robocopy, Syncback, Rsync variety? It's two different things.

[dezzo]

I'd vote for SyncBackPro by a company called 2BrightSparks.

It appears to have every conceivable option and setting you could desire.
I found it very complex, and I loved it because I had total control. The help file also explained everything so that I could understand how all the options worked before deciding how or if I'd like to use them.

It also backed up many gigabytes of files very quickly. More quickly than Windows 7 would have copied them, so I was impressed with the speed.
It's also not bloated at all.

I liked it so much that I bought a license very soon after trying it.

[+ManMountain]

Windows Backup and Restore does the job well enough for me

[sbrads]

ManMountain, on 05 February 2011 - 01:21, said:

Windows Backup and Restore does the job well enough for me

It didn't do the job for me....
1. No compressed image so backups are twice the size they need to be.
2. If you use Win7 libraries referring to data on drives other than C:, then the image of C: INCLUDES this data so it can be absolutely HUGE. If I want C: backed up then that's all I want!

I use Acronis True Image 2010 for now until I find something better (interface is a bit naff and illogical). It compresses and can do incremental image backups as well.

[kawasabi]

R-Drive Image works for me.
Never had any problems with it and its small in size and easy to use.

Free alternative is EASEUS Todo Backup Home.

[cork1958]

You mean there's another backup other than Acronis?!

I've never tried the Windows version of it, but I've heard it's pretty good.