The best Windows backup software 2022: Free or paid options

We need backup software for our PCs because our storage drives won’t last forever. Windows backup software that protects our data is the best.

It would be nice if Microsoft itself provided Windows users with something like Apple’s Time Machine: an effective, set-it-and-forget-it, total system recovery and backup solution that requires little interaction or thought on the user’s part. 

Instead, Microsoft offers a mix of restore points and recovery discs, file back up, and even System Backup (Windows 7), which was probably put aside for its propensity not to choke on hardware that is different. Online backup services are another option, but desktop clients tend to offer far more flexibility. For our top picks, read on. For more information on what to look out for in a Windows backup software, read the rest of this article.

See PCWorld’s roundup of best external drives for recommendations on reliable storage options—an important component in a comprehensive backup strategy

Windows users are blessed to have many excellent backup options. This is the case with our recent review on EaseUS ToDo Backup 2022. This program is a favorite of ours. It has a simple and attractive design, a full range of image and file backup capabilities, and even an extremely useful free version. Yet due to stiff competition in the field, it wasn’t quite able to nudge its way into the top picks.

Last updated 11/30/2022 Perfect Backup is our new pick for the best free option. For more information, see the review below.

1. R-Drive Image 7 – Best overall

Pros

• Fast, reliable partition and disk imaging
• Backup of a new file or folder
• New partition manager
• Media for lean-and-mean boots

Cons

• Consumer version uses proprietary image formats

R-Drive Image has always been a favorite of ours—a low-resource-consuming product that was ultra-reliable in creating backup images of partitions and disks. But it didn’t have as much polish as Acronis’s backup program (below) and wasn’t as feature-rich. The latest version has a modern interface and offers more options for backup types.

Please read our complete guide
Review R-Drive Image 7

2. Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office – Best overall runner-up

Pros

• Excellent image and file backup capabilities
• Protects against ransomware
• Cloud storage included

Cons

• Installation footprint for heavy installations
• All-or-nothing install doesn’t let you choose modules

There’s a reason Acronis is renowned in the world of backup software. Cyber Protect Home Office (previously known as Acronis True Image), is flexible, reliable, and capable. Indeed, it’s easily the most comprehensive data safety package on the planet.

Besides offering unparalleled backup functionality that’s both robust and easy to navigate, it integrates security apps as well, which protect against malware, malicious websites, and other threats using real-time monitoring. 

Please read our full article
Review Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office

3. Retrospect Solo – Best for added ransomware protection

Pros

• Once you have learned how to use it, it is easy to use
• A rich feature set
• Performance excellence
• Protection against ransomware has been upgraded

Cons

• A steep learning curve

The latest version (18.5) of this stalwart Windows backup program is every bit as feature-packed as we’d expect. It even adds an interesting pre-backup file scanning to root out anomalies before overwriting your previous backup—a nod to the emergence of ransomware as a concern. It’s got a bit of a learning curve, but once familiar, Retrospect Solo delivers the goods.

Please read our complete guide
Review Retrospect Solo

4. Perfect Backup – Best free option

Pros

• Familiar interface with an easy to use interface
• Windows File History offers a friendlier data selection
• Supports local media, network locations, online services, and backs them up
• Logging, notifications and FTP support are just a few of the many options available.

Cons

• No image backups
• For scheduled backups, must be loaded

Perfect Backup provides you with excellent backup options at no cost, and there’s no better price than free. Perfect Backup is both more stable and easier to use than many of the premium options for Window’s backup software. Although it does not offer image backups for disaster recovery, this is to be expected from a free service. Fortunately, it allows just about every other type of backup you’d need, such as backing up to local media, the company’s online service, and other network locations. Users who are looking for a simple and inexpensive way to store their important data securely need not look further.

Please read our complete guide
Review Perfect Backup

5. Windows File History backup – Best free option runner-up

Pros

• Versioning ensures excellent data protection
• It’s easy to browse backed up files in a timeline.
• Windows Integrated
• Backups user-created libraries

Cons

• Easy “Add folder” function removed from Windows 11

Windows File History backup was one of the most user-friendly and cost-effective programs we tested. It’s unfortunate that the latest version removed the “add folder” function from File History, but otherwise it continues to improve upon an already solid backup program. It offers many of these features and functions, as well as those of third-party paid backup applications, all for no cost. And you can’t argue with free. It would’ve taken the top spot for free options if not for the fact that Perfect Backup has easier-to-use data selection tools.

Please read our complete guide
Review Windows File History backup

6. Arcserve ShadowProtect SPX – Best for SMBs

Pros

• Continuous data protection that is reliable and fast
• It’s super easy to restore virtual or real hard drives
• A handy timeline overview
• Excellent disaster recovery

Cons

• Login dialog is a bit daunting
• Only image-based backup
• End users pay a high price

Arcserve ShadowProtectSPX offers more than just file and directory backups for your company. It includes a complete feature-set that allows for quick and easy data recovery. Additionally, it supports third-party virtual drives. It is an excellent choice for Windows users, as well as Linux users or those working in mixed Windows/Linux environments. ShadowProtect is not cheap, but it is a highly reliable backup program with unbreakable continuous data protection.

How do we test

We run each program through the various types of backups it’s capable of. This is mostly to verify reliability and hardware compatibility. However, we also time two images: a roughly 115GB system image (two parts) and a roughly 50GB image made from a collection of smaller files and/or folders. We then mount the images and test their integrity via the program’s restore functions. We also test USB boot drives that have been created by the programs.

How to choose a backup program

As with most things—don’t over-buy. Features you don’t need add complexity and may slow down your system. You should also check the software that comes with an external hard drive you have just purchased. Seagate, WD and other companies offer backup utilities that are sufficient for the average user.

Backup: If you want to back up only your data (operating systems and programs can be reinstalled, though it’s mildly time- and effort-consuming), a program that backs up just the files you select is a major time-saver. If you use the Windows library folders (Documents and Photos, Videos, etc.), some programs will automatically select the correct files.).

Image backup/imagingImages are byte for byte snapshots of your entire hard disk (normally without empty sectors or partitions) and can be used to restore the operating system as well as data. Imaging is the most convenient to restore in case of a system crash, and also ensures you don’t miss anything important.

Boot media  If your system crashes completely, you will need an alternative way to boot and run recovery software. Any backup program should be capable of creating a bootable optical disk or USB thumb drive. You can also create a recovery partition on your hard disk. This can be used if the hard drives is still in use.

Scheduling: If you’re going to back up effectively, you need to do it on a regular basis. Backup programs that are worth their salt will allow you to schedule backups.

Versioning: If you’re overwriting previous files, that’s not backup, it’s one-way syncing or mirroring. Any backup program should allow you the ability to save multiple backups. The best software will keep and cull older backups in accordance with the criteria you have established.

Support for the optical eye: Backup programs support hard drives. However, they are not as reliable as DVDs and Blu-Ray discs. If you’re worried about optical media’s reliability, M-Disc claims its discs are reliable for a thousand years, claims that are backed up by Department of Defense testing.

Online A backup copy of your data can be used to protect you from physical disasters like flood, fire, or power surges. Online storage services are a great option to keep an offsite copy. Dropbox backup and similar services are a great feature.

FTP and SMB/AFP Backing up to other computers or NAS boxes on your network or in remote locations (say, your parent’s house) is another way of physically safeguarding your data with an offsite, or at least physically discrete copy. FTP can be used for offsite, while SMB (Windows and most OS’s) and AFP (Apple) are good for other PCs or NAS on your local network.

Real time:Real-time backup refers to the fact that files are backed-up whenever they change, usually after creation or save. It’s also called mirroring and is handy for keeping an immediately available copy of rapidly changing data sets. For less volatile data sets, the payoff doesn’t compensate for the drain on system resources. Scheduling should be used.

Continuous backup: In this case, ‘continuous’ simply means backing up on a tight schedule, generally every 5 to 15 minutes, instead of every day or weekly. Continuous backup is used to protect rapidly changing data sets, where transfer rates are too slow or computing power is too limited for real-time backup.

Performance: Most backups proceed in the background or during dead time, so performance isn’t a huge issue in the consumer space. However, if you’re backing up multiple machines or to multiple destinations, or dealing with very large data sets, speed is a consideration.

FAQ Windows Backup

How often should backups need to be scheduled?

Backups of your data should be scheduled as often as possible. This is especially important if you have sensitive data or are working on a project that requires backups. Automating the backup process is a smart idea. Windows software should back up your data approximately every hour.

What is the difference in Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive backup services?

Services like OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive and Google Drive are cloud-based. Storage services. This means that a user must place their files or data onto the service’s cloud manually. It’s almost like having a physical storage drive in the internet’s virtual cloud.

Windows backup software allows you to backup and version all files on your computer. It will automatically and continuously backup any file on a device. Windows backup software also provides additional data security measures like file encryption. These backup services can also be used to create a bootable USB disc or thumb drive for recovery following a system crash.

There are cloud. BackupServices that are not mentioned above offer many of the same benefits as a Windows backup program such as continuous backups or versioning for multiple devices. Our roundup of these services will provide more information. best cloud backup services.

Is Windows backup software slowing down my computer?

In most situations Windows backup software won’t noticeably slow down your computer. If you are backing-up to more than one device, multiple destinations, or large data sets, your system may slow down while it performs the backup. Otherwise, Windows backup software typically runs in the background or during dead time so you shouldn’t notice a decrease in performance.

Also, it’s a good idea, if the option is available with your software, to run a continuous backup. This will allow the software to backup only files that you modify in real-time and requires less bandwidth and processor resource to maintain.