Best of · Software
Best Backup Software for Mac
Time Machine, cloning tools, and cloud backup solve different problems. Here's how the main Mac backup options compare, and which fits which kind of user.
6 min read
Mac app · Haystack Software
Arq
Best for: Encrypted backups to storage you choose (cloud or local).
- Best for
- Encrypted backups to storage you choose (cloud or local)
- Developer
- Haystack Software
- Price
- Price not yet verified · check the vendor for current pricing
- Our testing
- Not yet hands-on tested
Visit Arq
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Watch: Arq in action
Video from the official Arq Backup YouTube channel. It loads from YouTube's privacy-enhanced domain.
Pricing options
Arq 7 license
About $50 one-time
Bring your own storage such as S3, Backblaze B2 or a NAS
Arq Premium
About $60/year
Includes managed cloud storage
These prices are approximate and have not been checked against the vendor. Plans and prices change, so confirm on the official site before buying.
Features
- Client-side encrypted backups
- Back up to many cloud services, NAS or local drives
- Versioned history with efficient deduplication
- Open, documented backup format
- Works across Mac and Windows
Benefits and disadvantages
Benefits
- You control where the data lives
- Strong privacy because the vendor cannot read backups
- Avoids vendor lock-in
- Good value if you already have cloud storage
Disadvantages (cons)
- Setup is more technical than consumer cloud backup
- You pay separately for storage unless on Premium
- Restoring a whole machine is slower than a clone
- Interface can feel utilitarian
Who should use Arq
- Privacy-minded users
- People who already pay for cloud or NAS storage
- Mixed Mac and Windows households
Use cases
Jobs this app is used for. Select one to see every app in the directory for that job.
Reviews & coverage
No rating yet. We only rate apps after documented hands-on testing. There is no full review of this app yet. How we review
Best-of guides
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