We dive into The 10 Best Cloud Backup Software for Mac in this article.
In this age of digital advancement, you could lose your important files without notice. As you may already know, there are several ways in which you can lose valuable information on your Mac.
Theft, power surges, drive failures, and even HFS+ errors pose a big threat to your crucial files. That is why you should have a sound backup system for Mac.
The most robust way to prevent data loss is to use the best cloud backup for Mac. Sure, you may want to stick to Apple’s native cloud storage and backup solution like iCloud or a backup utility like Time Machine, but those are not the only options.
Also, they may not be the best choice in some circumstances, especially when you have complex storage and data backup needs. Actually, there isn’t one cloud backup solution that is perfect for everyone.
That is why we have selected the top 10 cloud backup software for Mac. So, keep reading to find out the details about each program and, hopefully, find the best cloud backup for Mac.
But first, you should ask yourself whether it is important to backup your Mac.
Should You Backup Your Mac?
As mentioned above, all sorts of things could cause serious data loss. It is therefore important to protect the files on your Mac.
If you are still not convinced, here are a couple of scenarios that show how things could go wrong:
- You could make changes to your critical documents only to decide later that you preferred the earlier version.
- You could format the wrong drive or even delete the wrong document.
- Your hard drive or computer could die unexpectedly.
- Some important files could become corrupt due to failures or weaknesses in the system.
- You could drop your computer accidentally and consequently lose files due to damage to the hard drive.
- Your Mac could be a victim of a virus attack, resulting in the loss of important files.
- Your property could burn down and, in the process, cause damage to your computer. Files, smoke, and sprinklers are not good for computers.
- Some nefarious individual could steal your Mac, which might make it difficult to recover the files that were stored on the device.
While we don’t wish for those things to happen to you, no one is immune. So, it is better to prepare early by setting up the best cloud backup for Mac.
The Best Cloud Backup Software for Mac
As you try to find the best cloud backup for Mac, you can take advantage of Mac’s native backup solution, Time Machine. Sometimes people fail to backup their computers because it can be a little bit technical.
Thankfully, Apple built-in a backup utility to help average Mac users backup their files with ease. The good thing about Time Machine is that it works in the background 24-7 and is easy to set up.
However, it offers limited storage and can be redundant. With that said, let’s not look at the best cloud backup software for Mac.
Below, you will find detailed information about the best cloud backup for Mac. Whether you are looking for a solution to backup a single Mac or several devices, there is something for everyone.
1. iDrive
iDrive is a comprehensive backup solution that you can use to back up your Mac and even mobile devices. It has a nice feature set and offers fast upload speeds.
This backup solution keeps copies of your old files forever. Its only shortcoming is that it doesn’t have unlimited backup storage. You can only backup your devices up to 10TB.
But this is more than enough for the average user.
2. Backblaze
Backblaze is also one of the best cloud backups for Macs because of its simplicity and affordability. Everything is automatic, meaning that you can just set up Backblaze and forget it.
Another outstanding feature of this backup solution is that it offers a generous restore-by-mail feature. Backblaze even allows you to locate stolen or lost computers via the WiFi network it connects to.
Despite all these good features, Backblaze doesn’t support multiple-computer backup. But since it is cheap, you can just opt to buy several Backblaze subscriptions for all your Macs and take advantage of unlimited storage.
3. Acronis Cyber Protect
Formerly Acronis True Image, Acronis Cyber Protect is one of the most powerful online backup systems. The good thing is that it comes with built-in ransomware protection and antivirus software.
Besides the normal file backup, this option can even backup your social media data. It also offers file syncing and sharing options.
However, Acronis can be a little frustrating, especially when it comes to its pricing. It is expensive, with a complicated pricing model.
4. CrashPlan
This is one of the best cloud backup services for small businesses. It offers fast upload and download speeds. And the best thing is that it can support unlimited storage.
On top of this, CrashPlan offers several security and backup scheduling options.
5. Carbonite
If you just need a simple cloud backup solution with excellent customer service, then Carbonite is what you may need.
This backup program backups files in the background with minimal intervention on your part. And you can use it to back up all your images, documents, music, and files with ease.
The good thing is that you can link it with your OneDrive, Google Drive, or DropBox.
6. Zoolz BigMIND
This cloud backup program stores your files in a logical manner. It achieves that using smart filters and artificial intelligence, ensuring that you can locate data on your computer with ease.
To meet your diverse needs, BigMIND offers four different packages, covering from three computers to up to 15 Macs with backups for social media, mobile,and hybrid backups.
7. SpiderOak
SpiderOak is the best cloud backup for Macs because of its strong focus on security. This solution also allows you to backup unlimited devices.
On top of this, most people love it because of its syncing and sharing features. Its only drawback is that it has a steep learning curve. Its pricing can also be on the higher side.
8. Backup Everything
This offers the best cross-platform backup solution. This means that you will not only use it to backup your Mac but also your PC and Linux devices.
It also has the right standing with top cloud service providers and offers free setup and support services. Other salient features include regulatory compliance, ransomware recovery, AES 256-bit encryption, and automatic backups.
Its major downside is its limited storage capacity.
9. CloudBerry Backup
CloudBerry is an unusual backup solution because it offers no storage. But at least it offers flexible subscriptions to several storage providers.
This backup solution offers an alternative arrangement for those who prefer one-time payments and are already familiar with cloud solutions. We included it on this list because of its straightforwardness.
10. ChronoSync
This is a versatile backup application with many capabilities. ChronoSync can backup your files and folders, synchronize files between your devices, and create a bootable clone of your hard drive.
Another good thing about this backup software is that you can schedule backups at regular intervals or just when you connect your computer to a specific hard drive.
Helpful Tips to Improve Your Mac Backups
If you have already found your best cloud backup for Mac, apply these additional tips to improve your backup arrangement:
1. Back Up Your Mac Regularly
The frequency of your backup should be determined by the number of files you are comfortable losing or how much you hate redoing your work.
So, you could set up an hourly backup, a daily backup, or even a weekly backup. But it is best practice to back them up daily. It could be more frequent if you are handling critical files.
2. Understand the Different Types of Backup
Different backup programs work differently. You can use one of these strategies to secure a second copy of your data.
It can be time-consuming to backup your files regularly. Especially if you are copying all the files on your device.
A local backup allows you to make incremental backups. That is copying only the files to which you have made changes after the initial backup.
A cloud backup works in a similar way as a local backup, but your files are kept online. So, if your computer gets stolen or destroyed, you can recover your data with ease.
While you may need to pay an ongoing storage fee, and sometimes your initial backup may take time to complete, it is worthwhile.
A disk image, or bootable clone, creates a copy of your hard drive. So it means that it may store your operating system and applications.
If you can’t access the hard disk for any reason, you can just boot directly from the backup disk.
3. Syncing Your Files is Not Equal to a True Backup
Cloud storage systems allow you to access your files from multiple devices, such as laptops, Macs, tablets, and smartphones.
This makes you feel more secure; don’t confuse it for a true backup. For instance, if you delete a file on your smartphone, it will also be deleted on your other devices.
4. Offsite Backup is Essential
Offsite backup systems, such as cloud backup, offer more convenient and disaster-proof recovery options. If natural disasters strike, you won’t have to worry about data kept on your premises.
5. A Comprehensive Backup Strategy Involves More Than One Backup Type
While the best cloud backup for Mac is sufficient to keep your files safe, you can complement it with other backup methods.
For instance, you can keep a local backup for your Mac, a clone of your drive, and, of course, an offsite backup.
Which is the Best Cloud Backup Software You Should Choose?
Most Mac users just need secure backup solutions with decent features. But the challenge is that most of them often encounter storage limitations.
This is where cloud backup comes in. The best cloud backup for Mac offers a range of features, including ransomware protection, unlimited storage, and image detection services.
The good thing is that some of the above solutions offer just that. But if you don’t have time to test each of them, you may want to choose either iDrive or Acronis because of their customizable features.
If you are looking for unlimited storage, then Carbonite, Backblaze, and CrashPlan are better options.
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