Best Backup Software in 2026: For Windows, Mac, Home, and Business
Losing data is one of the most damaging things that can happen — whether you’re a home user losing irreplaceable photos or a business losing years of client records. This guide covers the best backup solutions for Windows and Mac, from simple cloud backup for home users to enterprise-grade disaster recovery.
Mac Backup: Start with Time Machine
Before spending money on third-party backup, Mac users should make sure Time Machine is set up. It’s built into macOS, free, and backs up your entire Mac automatically to an external drive or NAS. It’s not a cloud backup solution, but as a local backup it’s excellent and shouldn’t be skipped.
Setup: System Settings → General → Time Machine → Add Backup Disk
Use Time Machine as your local backup and add one of the cloud options below for offsite protection.
Best Backup for Home Users
1. Backblaze Personal Backup — Best Home Cloud Backup (Windows & Mac)
The simplest, most affordable cloud backup available. Install it and it backs up your entire computer continuously in the background — unlimited storage for a flat monthly fee. The Mac version is excellent — lightweight, unobtrusive, and works well alongside Time Machine for a complete local + cloud backup strategy.
Windows: ✅ Mac: ✅ Native Mac app, works alongside Time Machine Pricing: ~£7/month or £70/year (unlimited storage)
Try Backblaze Personal Backup →2. IDrive — Best Multi-Device Home Backup (Windows & Mac)
IDrive backs up multiple devices — PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Android phones — to a single account with generous storage. Good option for households with a mix of Apple and Windows devices to protect.
Windows: ✅ Mac: ✅ Mac app available, iOS backup included Pricing: From ~£52/year (5TB, multiple devices)
3. Acronis True Image — Best for Full System Recovery (Windows & Mac)
Creates full disk images — meaning if your Mac or PC fails completely, you can restore everything exactly as it was. More powerful than simple file backup. The Mac version supports Apple Silicon and works well for full system recovery scenarios.
Windows: ✅ Mac: ✅ Apple Silicon native, full image backup Pricing: From ~£35/year (1 device)
Try Acronis True Image →4. Carbon Copy Cloner — Best Mac-Only Local Backup
Carbon Copy Cloner is a Mac-exclusive backup tool that creates bootable clones of your Mac’s drive — meaning if your internal drive fails, you can boot directly from the backup and keep working immediately. Excellent complement to Time Machine and cloud backup. Mac-only.
Windows: ❌ Mac only Mac: ✅ Excellent, Apple Silicon native, bootable clones Pricing: ~£35 one-time purchase
5. Time Machine — Best Free Mac Backup
Built into macOS. Free, automatic, and backs up every hour to an external drive or NAS. Not cloud backup, but excellent for local protection. Use alongside Backblaze for a complete solution.
Windows: ❌ Mac only Mac: ✅ Built in, free Pricing: Free
Best Backup for Small Businesses
1. Acronis Cyber Protect — Best All-Round Business Backup (Windows & Mac)
The strongest all-round choice for businesses running a mix of Windows and Mac. Covers physical machines, virtual machines, and Microsoft 365 from one console, with built-in ransomware detection. The Mac agent is well-maintained and works on Apple Silicon.
Windows: ✅ Full feature set Mac: ✅ Apple Silicon native, managed via same console as Windows Pricing: From ~£65/device/year
Try Acronis Cyber Protect →2. Veeam Backup Essentials — Best for VM Environments
The gold standard for businesses running VMware or Hyper-V virtual machines. Less relevant for Mac-heavy environments (Macs don’t typically run Hyper-V) but excellent for Windows server infrastructure.
Windows/VMs: ✅ Best in class Mac: Limited (via agent) Pricing: From ~£340/year (2 CPU sockets)
View Veeam Essentials →3. Backblaze Business Backup — Best Value Business Cloud Backup (Windows & Mac)
Unlimited cloud backup per device at a flat rate. The Mac version works reliably for protecting staff MacBooks — a great fit for creative agencies where MacBooks are the primary device. No server backup or bare metal recovery, but excellent for workstation data protection.
Windows: ✅ Mac: ✅ Great for MacBook fleets Pricing: ~£7/device/month
Try Backblaze Business Backup →4. Synology Active Backup — Best for Businesses with a NAS (Windows & Mac)
If your business already has a Synology NAS, Active Backup for Business is free (included with the NAS) and backs up Windows PCs, Macs, virtual machines, and Microsoft 365 to your local NAS. No per-device subscription fees — just the cost of the NAS hardware and storage.
Windows: ✅ Mac: ✅ Mac agent available Pricing: Free with Synology NAS
Quick Comparison
| Product | Windows | Mac | Price From | Cloud | Bare Metal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backblaze Personal | ✅ | ✅ | £7/month | ✅ | ❌ |
| IDrive | ✅ | ✅ | £52/year | ✅ | ❌ |
| Acronis True Image | ✅ | ✅ | £35/year | ✅ | ✅ |
| Carbon Copy Cloner | ❌ | ✅ | £35 one-off | ❌ | ✅ |
| Time Machine | ❌ | ✅ | Free | ❌ | ✅ |
| Acronis Cyber Protect | ✅ | ✅ | £65/device/yr | ✅ | ✅ |
| Veeam Essentials | ✅ | Limited | £340/year | Via partner | ✅ |
| Backblaze Business | ✅ | ✅ | £7/device/month | ✅ | ❌ |
| Synology Active Backup | ✅ | ✅ | Free (NAS req.) | ❌ | ✅ |
Recommended Strategy by Situation
Home Mac user: Time Machine (local) + Backblaze Personal (cloud) = complete protection for ~£7/month
Home Windows user: Backblaze Personal (cloud) + external drive backup = complete protection for ~£7/month
Small business (mixed Windows/Mac): Acronis Cyber Protect per device + Backblaze Business for workstations
Mac-heavy creative business: Backblaze Business for MacBooks + Acronis or Synology for servers + Time Machine locally
Our Top Picks
- Best home backup (Mac or Windows): Backblaze Personal
- Best Mac-only home tool: Carbon Copy Cloner (bootable clone) + Time Machine
- Best business backup: Acronis Cyber Protect
- Best for Mac fleets: Backblaze Business Backup
- Best free Mac option: Time Machine
Try Backblaze Personal → Try Acronis Cyber Protect →
Last updated: May 2026. Pricing and features subject to change — always check vendor sites for current information.