Software · head to head
Comet Backup vs Apple Time Machine
Comet Backup
Software
White-label backup software for service providers
- From
- $49/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Apple Time Machine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Comet Backup endpoint costs starting at $2 per endpoint per month on top of base plan; 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
- They diverge on capability: Comet Backup covers White-label branding, Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Comet Backup and Apple Time Machine actually diverge.
| Attribute | Comet Backup | Apple Time Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $49/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Mac |
| Founded | 2017 | 1976 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Comet Backup
- White-label branding
- Bring your own storage
- End-to-end encryption
- Chunking deduplication
- Delta compression
- Multi-tenant
- AWS S3
- Azure
Only in Apple Time Machine
- Automatic backup
- Hourly snapshots
- Visual restore interface
- Network backup
- Encryption
- System restore
- macOS
- AirPort Time Capsule
Both cover
- Mac support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Comet Backup
- MSP backup and disaster recovery solutionsnot Apple Time Machine
- Cloud-to-cloud backup automationnot Apple Time Machine
- Ransomware protection with immutable storagenot Apple Time Machine
Apple Time Machine
- Automatic versioned local backups of a Mac to an external drivenot Comet Backup
- Restoring a Mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup historynot Comet Backup
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Comet Backup
- Endpoint costs starting at $2 per endpoint per month on top of base plan
- Storage costs vary based on destination, adding to overall expenses
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Comet Backup
$49/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Comet Backup review.
Apple Time Machine
Free- Built-inFree
- Automatic backup
- Visual restore
- Network backup
Which should you pick?
Choose Comet Backup if
- You need white-label branding.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- You also want bring your own storage.
Choose Apple Time Machine if
- You need automatic backup.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want hourly snapshots.
Questions people ask
- Is Comet Backup or Apple Time Machine better?
- Neither clearly leads. Comet Backup starts at $49/month and Apple Time Machine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Comet Backup or Apple Time Machine?
- Apple Time Machine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $49/month for Comet Backup and Free for Apple Time Machine.
- Does Comet Backup or Apple Time Machine run on more platforms?
- Comet Backup runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Apple Time Machine runs on Mac.
- Can I use Apple Time Machine for free?
- Yes. Apple Time Machine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Comet Backup starts at $49/month.
- What is Comet Backup best used for?
- Comet Backup is most often used for msp backup and disaster recovery solutions, cloud-to-cloud backup automation, ransomware protection with immutable storage. Of those, msp backup and disaster recovery solutions and cloud-to-cloud backup automation are not what Apple Time Machine is typically brought in for.
- What can Comet Backup do that Apple Time Machine cannot?
- Comet Backup covers White-label branding, Bring your own storage, End-to-end encryption, Chunking deduplication. Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup. Both handle Mac support.