Quick picks
- Best overall: Acronis True Image — image backups, cloning, cloud storage, and ransomware protection in one app.
- Best for disk imaging: Macrium Reflect — dependable image backups and rescue media, now paid-only.
- Best cloud backup: Backblaze Personal Backup — continuous, unlimited offsite backup for one computer.
- Best free image backup: AOMEI Backupper Standard — system, disk, and file backups at no cost.
- Best free for advanced users: Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows FREE — business-grade image backups.
- Best built-in option: File History and Windows Backup — basic file protection already in Windows.
How we chose
- Backup types: full system images for disaster recovery and file-level backups for everyday mistakes.
- Restore reliability, including bootable rescue media and the ability to browse and verify backups.
- Automation: scheduling, incremental or differential backups, and retention rules that clean up old versions.
- Destinations: external drives, network shares, and cloud storage for an offsite copy.
- Ease of use for non-technical users versus control for power users.
- Pricing model, including free editions, subscriptions, one-time licences, and what happens if a plan lapses.
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1. All-in-one local and cloud backup
Acronis True Image
Acronis True Image, sold for a time as Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office, combines full-image and file backups, disk cloning, and optional cloud backup to Acronis data centers in one app for Windows and Mac. You can back up an entire PC to an external drive, keep an offsite copy in the cloud on higher plans, and create bootable rescue media for full restores. Its subscription plans also add security features such as anti-ransomware protection. The result is broad coverage from a single tool, though it runs more background services than simpler backup apps.
Pros
- Image, file, and cloud backup in one app
- Disk cloning and bootable rescue media
- Windows and Mac support
- Built-in anti-ransomware protection
Cons
- Heavier than single-purpose backup tools
- Cloud storage and some features require higher subscription tiers
- Many features most people will never use
Pricing: Sold as annual subscriptions in several tiers, with cloud storage on higher tiers; a one-time licence without cloud features has also been offered, so check current options.
Visit Acronis2. Reliable full-disk imaging
Macrium Reflect
Macrium Reflect has long been a favorite for image-based backups on Windows. It creates full, incremental, and differential images of whole disks or partitions, clones drives, and builds rescue media that you can also add to the Windows boot menu for quick restores. You can mount images to browse files, boot a backup as a virtual machine with viBoot, and protect backup files from tampering with Image Guardian. The big change is licensing: the popular free edition was discontinued and is no longer available to download, so new users need a paid plan after the trial.
Pros
- Fast, dependable image backups and cloning
- Rescue media plus a boot-menu recovery option
- Incremental and differential backup schemes
- Mount images to restore individual files
Cons
- Free edition discontinued
- Annual plans; a lapsed plan drops to restore-only mode
- Windows only and focused on local and network backups
Pricing: Paid Home licences on annual plans after a free trial; according to Macrium's licensing policy, the software keeps working in restore-only mode if a plan lapses.
Visit Macrium3. Offsite cloud backup that runs itself
Backblaze Personal Backup
Backblaze Personal Backup continuously uploads your files to the cloud with no storage cap for one computer, including external drives that are connected regularly. Setup is minimal: it selects your user files automatically and skips system folders and applications. Version history is kept for 30 days by default, with longer retention options available. For large restores, you can download a ZIP file or have your files shipped on a USB drive. It is a file backup, not a system image, so pair it with a local image tool for fast full-PC recovery.
Pros
- Unlimited backup for one computer
- Almost no setup or maintenance
- Optional private encryption key
- Restore by download or shipped USB drive
Cons
- File backup only, not a system image
- Does not back up network drives or NAS devices
- Large restores over the internet take time
Pricing: Per-computer subscription with monthly and longer billing terms and a free trial; the longest version-history option costs extra.
Try Backblaze4. Free image and file backups
AOMEI Backupper
AOMEI Backupper Standard is one of the most capable free backup tools for Windows. It handles system, disk, partition, and file backups, supports scheduled incremental backups, syncs folders, and builds bootable rescue media. It can also clone data disks at no cost. Upgrading to Professional adds differential backups, system cloning for moving Windows to a new SSD, real-time and two-way sync, and a recovery option in the Windows boot menu. The interface is tidy and task-based, which makes it approachable for first-time users.
Pros
- Strong feature set in the free Standard edition
- Scheduled incremental backups
- Bootable rescue media
- Approachable, task-based interface
Cons
- System cloning and differential backups require Professional
- Some menu options lead to paid-only features
Pricing: Standard edition is free; Professional and higher editions are paid, so check the current licence terms and whether future upgrades are included.
Visit AOMEI5. Simple guided backups
EaseUS Todo Backup
EaseUS Todo Backup takes a friendly, wizard-style approach to file, disk, partition, and system backups on Windows. The free edition covers the essentials: full, incremental, and differential backups, scheduling, encrypted backup files, bootable recovery media, and destinations including external drives, network locations, and EaseUS's own cloud storage. The paid Home edition adds disk and system cloning, restoring a system to different hardware, and Outlook email backup. It suits people who want an image backup without learning backup terminology.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly wizards
- Free edition includes incremental and differential backups
- Bootable recovery media in the free edition
Cons
- Upgrade prompts in the free edition
- Cloning and several advanced tools require a paid plan
Pricing: Free edition for basic backups; the paid Home edition is sold as a subscription, with lifetime options also offered, so compare terms before buying.
Visit EaseUS Todo Backup6. Technical users who want business-grade backup free
Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows FREE
Veeam is best known for enterprise backup, and its free Windows agent brings that engine to individual PCs. It can back up the entire computer, specific volumes, or individual files and folders to an external drive, a network share, or a Veeam backup repository, with incremental backups after the first full run. You can create bootable recovery media for bare-metal restores and restore individual files from any backup. The interface is plain and assumes some comfort with backup concepts, and it has no cloning or consumer extras, but it is free with no time limit.
Pros
- Free with no time limit
- Entire-computer, volume, and file-level backups
- Bootable recovery media and file-level restores
Cons
- Interface aimed at IT staff
- No disk cloning
- Fewer features than Veeam's paid editions
Pricing: Free edition for individual computers; paid Workstation and Server editions add features and support for business use.
Get Veeam Agent FREE7. Basic file protection at no cost
File History and Windows Backup
Windows already includes basic backup tools. File History, found in Control Panel > System and Security > File History, copies versions of your libraries, desktop, and other user folders to an external drive or network location on a schedule and restores them through a simple timeline. The Windows Backup app syncs selected folders to OneDrive and saves settings and your app list for moving to a new PC. Neither creates a modern full system image, and the free OneDrive allowance is small, so they work best alongside a dedicated image backup.
Pros
- Free and already installed
- File History keeps multiple versions of files
- Windows Backup simplifies moving to a new PC
Cons
- No modern full system image
- Limited control over what is included
- The free OneDrive allowance fills quickly
Pricing: Free with Windows; backing up more than the free OneDrive allowance requires a paid Microsoft storage plan.
See how to restore filesBuying guide
Image backup vs file backup
A file backup copies selected folders, such as Documents, Pictures, and Desktop, and lets you restore individual files or earlier versions. It is ideal for everyday mistakes like deleting or overwriting a document. An image backup copies an entire disk or partition, including Windows, installed apps, settings, and the hidden boot and recovery partitions. If your drive dies or ransomware wrecks the system, you can restore the image to a new drive and be back where you were, instead of reinstalling Windows and every app. Most good image tools also let you browse an image and pull out single files. The strongest setup uses both: a regular image of the system drive plus frequent file backups, ideally including one copy stored offsite or in the cloud.
The 3-2-1 rule in practice
The 3-2-1 rule is the simplest way to make backups survive real disasters. Keep three copies of important data: the original plus two backups. Store them on two different types of media or devices, such as your PC's internal drive and an external drive or NAS, so one hardware failure cannot take out everything. Keep one copy offsite, either in a cloud backup service or on a drive stored somewhere else, so fire, theft, or ransomware that reaches every connected drive does not destroy all copies. For most households, that means an image backup tool writing to an external drive, plus a cloud backup service like Backblaze or a versioned cloud folder. Sync services alone do not count, because deletions and damaged files sync too.
Incremental, differential, and retention
After the first full backup, most tools save only what has changed. Incremental backups store changes since the last backup of any kind, which is fast and space-efficient, but restoring needs the full backup plus every increment in the chain. Differential backups store changes since the last full backup, so they grow larger over time but restore from just two pieces. Either is fine for home use. What matters more is retention: decide how many versions to keep and let the software delete old ones automatically so the backup drive does not fill up and silently stop working. Keeping a few weeks of daily versions, plus some older monthly copies, covers most situations, including discovering weeks later that a file was damaged.
Test your restore before you need it
A backup you have never restored is a hope, not a plan. As soon as you set up an image backup tool, create its bootable rescue media on a USB stick and confirm your PC can start from it; that USB is how you restore when Windows itself will not boot. Label it and keep it with your backup drive. Then test a restore: browse an image or file backup, pull out a few files, and open them. Many tools can also verify backups after they run, which catches corrupted files early. Repeat a quick test every few months and after major changes such as moving to a new PC. If you use cloud backup, try restoring a folder so you know how the process works before an emergency.
Ransomware and why a separate copy matters
Ransomware encrypts files on your PC and on any drive or network share it can reach, including backup drives that stay plugged in. That is why at least one backup should be either disconnected when not in use or versioned in a way the PC cannot overwrite, such as a cloud backup service that keeps older versions of files. Some backup tools also add their own protection: Acronis True Image includes anti-ransomware features, and Macrium Reflect's Image Guardian helps protect backup files from tampering. These help, but the fundamentals matter more. Unplug your external backup drive after each backup, or rotate two drives and keep one elsewhere, and make sure your cloud backup keeps versions for long enough to go back before an infection.
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FAQ
Is Windows File History enough backup?
File History is a good start for protecting documents and photos, because it keeps multiple versions on an external drive. It does not create a full system image, so if your drive fails you will need to reinstall Windows and your apps before restoring files. Pair it with an image backup tool and an offsite copy to follow the 3-2-1 rule.
Do I still need backup software if I use OneDrive?
OneDrive is sync with a recycle bin and version history, not a full backup. If you delete or damage a file on your PC, that change syncs to the cloud, and deleted items only stay in the recycle bin for a limited time. It also does not protect Windows, apps, or folders outside the ones you sync. It works well as one layer, but keep a separate backup too.
Can I still use Macrium Reflect Free?
Macrium discontinued Reflect Free. It is no longer available to download and stopped receiving updates, including security patches, at the start of 2024. If you already have it installed, it keeps working, but it will not get fixes or support for newer Windows releases. For a long-term setup, move to a supported free tool like AOMEI Backupper Standard or Veeam Agent FREE, or a paid Macrium plan.
Is disk cloning the same as backup?
A clone copies a drive to another drive so it is ready to use immediately, which is ideal when upgrading to a new SSD. A backup image is a compressed file that can hold multiple versions over time and can be restored to any compatible drive. Clones are usually overwritten each time, so they do not protect you from a file you deleted or damaged last week. Use images for ongoing backup.
How often should I back up my PC?
Back up as often as you can tolerate losing work. For most home users, a daily automatic file or incremental image backup plus continuous cloud backup is a good balance. A weekly full system image is often enough for the system drive, since Windows and apps change less often than your documents. Whatever schedule you choose, automate it, because manual backups tend to stop happening.
Is cloud backup safe?
Reputable cloud backup services encrypt your data in transit and at rest, and some, including Backblaze, let you set a private encryption key so only you can decrypt your files. The main risks are a weak account password or a lost encryption key. Use a strong, unique password with two-factor authentication, and store any private key somewhere safe, since losing it can make your backup unrecoverable.
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