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Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head

Apple Time Machine vs Paragon Backup & Recovery

Apple Time Machine logo

Apple Time Machine

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Built-in backup for every Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Paragon Backup & Recovery logo

Paragon Backup & Recovery

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Professional-grade backup for Windows

From
$50/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apple Time Machine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Time Machine apple states the Time Machine backup disk should be used only for Time Machine backups and not for storing other files, unless you split it into a separate APFS volume; Paragon Backup & Recovery the free Community Edition is licensed for non-commercial use only
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Paragon Backup & Recovery covers Full disk backup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Time Machine and Paragon Backup & Recovery actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Time Machine and Paragon Backup & Recovery differ
AttributeApple Time MachineParagon Backup & Recovery
Starting priceFree$50/year
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacWindows
Founded19761994

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Backup & Disaster Recovery).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Time Machine

  • Automatic backup
  • Hourly snapshots
  • Visual restore interface
  • Network backup
  • Encryption
  • System restore
  • macOS
  • AirPort Time Capsule

Only in Paragon Backup & Recovery

  • Full disk backup
  • File-level backup
  • Incremental/differential
  • Recovery media
  • Virtual disk mount
  • UEFI support
  • Windows
  • Network shares

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Time Machine

  • Automatic versioned local backups of a Mac to an external drivenot Paragon Backup & Recovery
  • Restoring a Mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup historynot Paragon Backup & Recovery

Paragon Backup & Recovery

  • Full disk and partition backup on Windowsnot Apple Time Machine
  • Bare metal recovery from an imagenot Apple Time Machine
  • Scheduled incremental backups for a home machinenot Apple Time Machine
  • Migrating an installation to a new drive on the paid editionsnot Apple Time Machine

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Time Machine

  • Apple states the Time Machine backup disk should be used only for Time Machine backups and not for storing other files, unless you split it into a separate APFS volume
  • Apple recommends the Time Machine volume be twice the storage capacity of the Mac being backed up
  • It requires an attached external storage device or network disk; there is no built-in cloud destination
  • It backs up Macs only

Paragon Backup & Recovery

  • The free Community Edition is licensed for non-commercial use only
  • Windows only, and specifically Windows 10 x64 from 1809, Windows 11 x64 and Windows 11 Arm64
  • Volume and OS copying, partition management and email notifications need the Advanced edition
  • Windows Server support requires the Business edition
  • Paid edition prices are not shown on the product page

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Time Machine

Free
  • Built-inFree
    • Automatic backup
    • Visual restore
    • Network backup

Paragon Backup & Recovery

$50/year
  • Community Edition$50/year
    • Full disk backup
    • File-level backup
    • Recovery media

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Time Machine if

  • You need automatic backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want hourly snapshots.
Apple Time Machine review

Choose Paragon Backup & Recovery if

  • You need full disk backup.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want file-level backup.
Paragon Backup & Recovery review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Time Machine or Paragon Backup & Recovery better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Time Machine starts at Free and Paragon Backup & Recovery at $50/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Time Machine or Paragon Backup & Recovery?
Apple Time Machine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Time Machine and $50/year for Paragon Backup & Recovery.
Does Apple Time Machine or Paragon Backup & Recovery run on more platforms?
Apple Time Machine runs on Mac. Paragon Backup & Recovery runs on Windows.
Can I use Apple Time Machine for free?
Yes. Apple Time Machine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paragon Backup & Recovery starts at $50/year.
What is Apple Time Machine best used for?
Apple Time Machine is most often used for automatic versioned local backups of a mac to an external drive, restoring a mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup history. Of those, automatic versioned local backups of a mac to an external drive and restoring a mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup history are not what Paragon Backup & Recovery is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Time Machine do that Paragon Backup & Recovery cannot?
Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup. Paragon Backup & Recovery covers Full disk backup, File-level backup, Incremental/differential, Recovery media.
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