As part of the ongoing story, so much of our data is irreplaceable in the showcase of a disaster unless we have a backup. The best Windows backup doesn’t include just file backup, but disk imaging along with full image restore, as well as disaster recovery. We all know how important it is to back up your Windows PC or laptop.
According to the latest update, our picks for best Windows backup programs are selected with the full scope of data backup and recovery in mind, to keep the tears to a minimum if and when your primary local data repository is compromised.
The report highlights that best overall Windows backup for most PC users.
As part of the ongoing story, best comprehensive backup and malware protection.
As part of the ongoing story, best free backup and disaster recovery for Windows.
In a fresh development, sadly, while other operating systems make backup easy, Microsoft saddles users with a patchwork system of utilities and holdover imaging tools from Windows 7.
The report highlights that none are suitable for quick and easy disaster recovery — even the online backup that is available when you use Windows with a Microsoft cloud account. Some of these work quite well (Restore Points, File History), some don’t (System Repair Disc, Recovery Drive).
As part of the ongoing story, thankfully, there are a number of highly capable and far more reliable third-party backup options for Windows that cover the panoply of backup, restore, migration, and disaster recovery.
In a fresh development, our reviewers have been testing PC devices, programs, and services for decades. Our backup evaluations are thorough and rigorous, testing the promises and limitations of every product — from performance to the practicalities of regular use. Why you should trust PCWorld for backup programs reviews and buying advice: It’s in our name — PCWorld.
The report highlights that backup programs powered by AI – EaseUS Todo Backup.
In a fresh development, with AI smart backup, automate your backup tasks on schedule, run to make copies, do realtime protections, and restore everything instantly. No extra effort is required. Also, get 250GB cloud storage for free.Now 25% OFF Exclusive Code: PCWORLD25Free Download. EaseUS Todo Backup covers everything you need for backups.
According to the latest update, with a still-affordable perpetual license, it also costs less than some of the now subscription-only competition such as Acronis True Image and Macrium Reflect X. EaseUS Todo Backup 2025 (home) has matured into an outstandingly versatile and comprehensive backup solution.
Industry observers note that the paid tier of EaseUS is the best all-round home-PC choice for anyone who wants comprehensive backup and recovery with a straightforward “buy once, use forever” license.
As part of the ongoing story, imaging, disaster recovery, plain or compressed file/folder backup, sync, real-time (actually continuous) backup, and nearly every bell and whistle in the backup space are accounted for by Todo Backup.
The report highlights that in addition to its comprehensive and reliable set of functions, Todo Backup greets you with a pleasingly-rendered, animated interface and a supremely logical layout.
The report highlights that that said, if you want to use EaseUS’s cloud storage (third-party isn’t supported directly), you do need to opt for a yearly plan. Fortunately, it’s decently affordable: programs plus 1TB of cloud storage for $60/yr. That it doesn’t force you into a subscription model is also a plus.
According to the latest update, read our full.
In a fresh development, easeus ToDo Backup 2025 review.
The report highlights that true Image is a great option for anyone who wants seasoned and reliable file and image backup as well as full-fledged protection from malware (including ransomware).
Industry observers note that true Image is for users who are amenable to a subscription-only plan, the benefits of which are the iterative and ongoing patch potential as well as the inclusion of cloud storage.
Industry observers note that in meantime the program’s moniker morphed for a while to Cyber Protect Home Office (which is actually more descriptive), but is now back again to the more recognizable True Image. Acronis established itself as a trustworthy stalwart in backup programs years ago.
In a fresh development, while True Image doesn’t offer support for third-party cloud storage, only its own, the program does allow you to back up to and from network locations. Throughout the changes, the program remained super-reliable, and gradually evolved into a versatile, flexible, backup and malware protection solution.
As part of the ongoing story, as I noted in my review, “If you’re looking for a comprehensive, set-it-and-forget-it data-safety solution, I know of nothing better — or comparable for that matter.” This does however, result in a rather heavy system footprint with multiple background processes running.
Industry observers note that i recommend bumping up from the Essentials plan to the Advanced plan, which includes 250GB of storage (with the purchase link in this article, it’s only $24.99 per year, down from $72.99). Alas, for better (the comany’s) or worse (yours), True Image is now subscription-only.
According to the latest update, read our full.
Industry observers note that acronis True Image review.
As part of the ongoing story, the only cost to a startlingly capable suite is a couple of ads and nags. Anyone who wants friendly, easy to use backup and reliable disaster recovery in one package should take a look at Easeus Todo Backup Free.
According to the latest update, cloud storage and deeper advanced functions require you to step up to the paid tier. To clarify the distinction between our paid and free picks, the free version of Easeus Todo Backup includes imaging, file/folder backup, scheduling, and boot media.
Industry observers note that but there are extras you might not expect from a freebie such as backup from network locations, and what EaseUS calls real-time backup (it’s actually continuous — close enough). That’s unique for a freebie. Easeus Todo Backup Free covers all the backup basics: File/folder backup (compressed and plain), one-way sync, system/drive/partition imaging, and all with scheduling.
Industry observers note that that alone should recommend it to most users. But the fact that it just works (there are a couple of odd, non-fatal peccadilloes in the file sync), and comes with reliable disaster recovery and boot media seals the deal. Todo Backup 2025 also sports the easiest, most attractive (in our estimation) interface on the market.
According to the latest update, see the entry above. There’s a professional version that adds numerous advanced functions, as well as EaseUS’s own cloud storage.
According to the latest update, home, small, and other businesses who are looking for backup programs more powerful than the norm, that also scales nicely in networked ecosystems will do well with this solid, capability-laden, and very fast backup program.
Industry observers note that besides Arcserve’s support for SMB / mixed Windows-Linux environment, it’s heavy on functions that are overkill for most home users, but great for the more robust needs of business users.
As part of the ongoing story, it is also an excellent choice for Linux users or those in mixed Windows/Linux environments as it’s available for both operating systems. Arcserve ShadowProtect SPX is loaded with pro- and enterprise-level functions including support for third-party virtual hard drives (VHDs, etc.).
In a fresh development, note that the publisher no longer targets the average user, but I found that it works exceptionally well even on a single computer. ShadowProtect SPX is a bit pricey, but it’s extremely reliable backup programs with foolproof continuous data protection.
According to the latest update, read our full.
The report highlights that arcserve ShadowProtect SPX Desktop review.
According to the latest update, for cloud-first backup, see our roundup of the best online backup services. Admittedly, the distinction between the two categories is blurring as they each expand their capability sets. Note that in this article we focus on local-programs based solutions, although many also include a cloud component.
As part of the ongoing story, this is largely to gauge reliability and devices compatibility. We check speed, but such is highly reliant upon the connections and media involved. Our reviewers run each program through the various types of backups and restores it’s capable of — including those requiring boot media.
Industry observers note that if we notice anything is particularly fast or slow, we’ll tell you about it, but creating a functional backup is paramount.
Industry observers note that to learn more details, see our article on how PCWorld tests backup programs.
As part of the ongoing story, he’s been using and testing HDDs, SATA SSDs, and NVMe SSDs for PCWorld for well over two decades. To paraphrase a well-known commercial, you might say he’s seen a thing or two. Having started computing by flipping switches, Jon Jacobi has witnessed storage morph from punch cards and tape to solid state.
Industry observers note that whatever backup programs you use, keep in mind the following key aspects of the best solutions: file backup for documents/photos, image backup for whole-PC rollback, boot media for dead-drive recovery, versioning for accidental overwrite protection, and know which are critical to your backup plan. If you recently purchased an external HDD or SSD from a major vendor such as Seagate or WD, check to see if there are backup utilities or a backup programs license included.
According to the latest update, some programs even automatically select the appropriate files or folders. File backup can include operating system files if you wish but is still not suitable for disaster recovery. If you want to back up your essential data (operating systems and programs can be reinstalled, though it’s mildly time- and effort-consuming), a program that backs up only your important files is essential.
In a fresh development, imaging also ensures that you don’t omit anything important as can happen with file backup. Images are byte-for-byte snapshots of your entire hard drive (normally not including empty sectors) or partitions, and can be used to restore the operating system, drivers, programs in one swift, fell swoop.
According to the latest update, any backup program worth its salt should be able to create a bootable optical disc or USB thumb drive. Some will also create a restore partition on your hard drive, which can be used if the issue isn’t a failed drive. Should your system crash completely, you need alternate means to boot your system and restore data using your backup programs.
The report highlights that note that we’ve run into multiple issues with Microsoft’s own Recovery Drive and System repair disc — don’t rely on those.
The report highlights that any backup program you purchase should let you schedule backups and run them in the background. Some even will backup files as they change (real time) or at very short intervals (continuous). If you’re going to back up effectively, you need to do so on a regular basis.
The report highlights that you can generally define how many versions to keep, but if you choose to cull older files, this is till not true backup which again, is an immutable copy of your data, drives, or system. Versioning is simply retaining older version of files (or backups) rather than overwriting them during the backup/sync process.
As part of the ongoing story, if you’re worried about optical media’s reliability, M-Disc claims its discs are reliable for a thousand years, backed up by Department of Defense testing. Every backup program supports hard drives, but as obsolete as they may seem, DVDs and Blu-Ray discs are great archive media.
As part of the ongoing story, online storage services are a great way to meet that need. Some backup programs will let you back up to Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Amazon S3 and compatible, etc. However Cloud Managers can serve as a workaround with backup programs that don’t. The downside to cloud storage is relatively slow performance. Keep a local backup for faster restores. An offsite copy of your data is a hedge against physical disasters such as theft, flood, fire, and power surges.
As part of the ongoing story, if you use network storage, it can also be handy to back them up to you local system. Backing up to other computers or NAS boxes on your network or in remote locations (say your parent’s or children’s house) is another way of safeguarding your data via a physically remote copy.
According to the latest update, network support is not universal, and some backup programs allow you to back up to, but not from network shares. Just be careful in the way you expose your computers on the Internet. FTP/SFTP 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.
Industry observers note that it’s handy for keeping an immediately available backup of rapidly changing data sets. For less volatile data sets, scheduled backups will do just fine. Real-time backup means that files are backed up whenever they change, usually upon creation or save.
The report highlights that use continuous backup for rapidly changing data sets where transfer rates are too slow, or computing power too precious for real-time backup. Continuous simply means backing up on a tight schedule, generally every few minutes, rather than in real time, daily, weekly, or monthly.
As part of the ongoing story, however, if you’re backing up multiple machines, backing up to multiple destinations, or dealing with very large data sets, speed will be a consideration. That said, backup speed is highly dependent upon the devices and transport technology in use. Most backups proceed in the background or during dead time, so performance isn’t a huge issue in the consumer space.
In a fresh development, further reading: Check out PCWorld’s roundup of best external drives for recommendations on reliable storage options — an important component in a comprehensive backup strategy.
In a fresh development, it has everything PCWorld expects to see in a top product: A polished interface, intuitive functionality, a comprehensive approach to backing up data including imaging, file backup, sync, and disaster recovery. And most important, it’s reliable! Todo Backup also offers the option of a perpetual license or a subscription model, the latter of which can be augmented with affordable cloud storage. The best Windows backup programs is Easeus Todo Backup 2025.
Industry observers note that it matches its paid counterpart in basics such as imaging, file backup, sync, and, most especially — disaster recovery. It also functions the same eminently user-friendly interface. As with most backup freeware, you will be nagged to upgrade, and Easeus’s optional cloud storage, which is surprisingly affordable, is only available at the subscription tier. It turns out that PCWorld’s favorite for-pay backup programs, Easeus Todo Backup 2025, also offers a surprisingly robust free version.
According to the latest update, most programs let you throttle the backup process if you do notice a slowdown. Backup programs typically runs in the background or during dead time, so given even moderately modern devices, you shouldn’t notice any decrease in performance.
According to the latest update, news bulletin — they aren’t. Yes, by default, Backup and Restore (Windows 7) saves everything on your system disk (all the partitions, including hidden ones) in what’s known as an image file that would be suitable for disaster recovery if Windows Recovery Drive and Rescue disk were reliable.
The report highlights that hence, we only recommend this program for creating highly compatible VHD/VHDX images of your data drives and partitions which can be mounted as virtual drives and browsed using nothing but Windows Explorer.
The report highlights that they create a local virtual drive that you can drag files to, and which is eventually synced to the cloud as time allows. They also provide a Web portal where you can manage your files remotely. Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive are what’s known as cloud storage, or online storage.
As part of the ongoing story, true backups should be immutable snapshots that may be added to but not changed. Some services offer versioning (keeping older files, and adding fresh ones), which creates a close approximation to backup. However, by default these services sync changes in the data across all devices.
Industry observers note that this is generally done with local client programs that offers just basic functions like file backup and sync. You can learn more about these in our roundup of best cloud backup services. Cloud backup services (distinct from those mentioned above) offer many, though not all, of the benefits of Windows backup programs.
As part of the ongoing story, if you are working on an important project or have work that you absolutely cannot afford to lose, you should consider real time (as data changes) or continuous (very short intervals). Hourly, daily, or longer intervals will be fine for the average user. All file backups should be augmented by weekly or monthly system backups. Ideally, as often as your data changes.
Industry observers note that there were of course services such as Mozy that had their own backup clients, but that’s covered in our online backup roundup. Here we’re talking just plain backup programs. Until a few years ago, most Windows backup programs was restricted to making local backups — i.e., to another drive, external or internal, connected to your system.
In a fresh development, the situation is improving rapidly, and many backup programs vendors are adding online storage services as destinations for their backups.
In a fresh development, if your favorite backup program doesn’t support cloud storage directly, a cloud storage manager that integrates online storage services into File Explorer can make online backup possible with just about any backup app.
As part of the ongoing story, a differential backup is all the data that’s changed since your last full backup. An incremental backup is all the data that’s changed since any your original full and/or the last differential/incremental backup. Differential and incremental backups require a initial full backup to be restored. A full backup is a backup of all your data, regardless of how fresh or old it is.
According to the latest update, differential backups can grow to be quite large if you don’t perform full backups very often. Differential backups require more time to create than incremental backups, but are quicker to restore since you only need the most recent iteration.
According to the latest update, incremental backups take less time to produce and are smaller, but take longer to restore as all of them created since the last full backup must be restored in the order in which they were created.
According to the latest update, it’s basically fool-proof in terms of accidentally overlooking important data. An image is low-level backup of all the sectors (including “empty” sectors if you wish) contained by a disk or partition, regardless of their pertinence to your files.
Industry observers note that this includes several that are hidden, i.e., not enumerated as drive letters by the operating system. A system backup might also include other drives, but must contain the OS drive. A system backup is an disk image backup of all the partitions on your system drive.
The report highlights that most often this is data, but may include all the files on a drive. A file backup is a high-level backup of data read via the operating system’s file system.
According to the latest update, once the family pictures or your work-in-progress are trashed with no backup, there’s no way back other than an expensive recovery service, and even that’s not guaranteed if the physical media is unreadable. In truth, it’s only your essential personal data that must absolutely, positively, 100% be backed up.
As part of the ongoing story, it returns your system to exactly where you were at the time of the backup: OS, program, updates, upgrades, settings, data are all back in a relative blink of the eye. On the other hand, a system backup is exceedingly handy for getting you back up to speed with minimal hassle.
The report highlights that while reinstalling operating systems, drivers, and programs, as well as adjusting settings require more effort, you can then recover your data if that’s all you backed up. See the first paragraph. But it’s not essential.
The report highlights that he writes reviews on TVs, SSDs, dash cams, remote access programs, Bluetooth speakers, and sundry other consumer-tech devices and programs. Jon Jacobi is a musician, former x86/6800 programmer, and long-time computer enthusiast.