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Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head

Datto Backup vs Apple Time Machine

D

Datto Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Business continuity without compromise

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Apple Time Machine logo

Apple Time Machine

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Built-in backup for every Mac

From
Free
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: Datto Backup no pricing figures are shown on the product page; buyers must request a demo or contact sales, with a separate FLEXspend for Datto Backup consumption option referenced but not priced, per datto.com, August 2026; 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

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Datto Backup and Apple Time Machine actually diverge.

Attributes where Datto Backup and Apple Time Machine differ
AttributeDatto BackupApple Time Machine
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebMac
CategoryUnknownBackup & Disaster Recovery
FoundedUnknown1976

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Datto Backup

Nothing recorded that Apple Time Machine does not also cover.

Only in Apple Time Machine

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

What people use each for

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

Datto Backup

No use cases recorded yet. See the Datto Backup review.

Apple Time Machine

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

Where each one falls short

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

Datto Backup

  • No pricing figures are shown on the product page; buyers must request a demo or contact sales, with a separate FLEXspend for Datto Backup consumption option referenced but not priced, per datto.com, August 2026

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

Datto Backup

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Datto Backup review.

Apple Time Machine

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Datto Backup if

Nothing in the data separates Datto Backup from Apple Time Machine on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Datto Backup review

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

Questions people ask

Is Datto Backup or Apple Time Machine better?
Neither clearly leads. Datto Backup starts at On request and Apple Time Machine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Datto Backup or Apple Time Machine?
Apple Time Machine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Datto Backup and Free for Apple Time Machine.
Does Datto Backup or Apple Time Machine run on more platforms?
Datto Backup runs on Web. 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. Datto Backup starts at On request.
What can Datto Backup do that Apple Time Machine cannot?
Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup.
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Related pages

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