Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head
Micro Focus Data Protector vs Apple Time Machine
Micro Focus Data Protector
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Enterprise backup for multi-platform environments
- From
- $75/month
- Rated
- -
Apple Time Machine
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Built-in backup for every Mac
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Apple Time Machine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Micro Focus Data Protector micro Focus Data Protector was rebranded to OpenText Data Protector following the OpenText acquisition of Micro Focus; the vendor's own product pages carry no published pricing at either name (Internet Archive capture, 10 January 2022, and live site check); 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: Micro Focus Data Protector covers Zero downtime backup, Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Micro Focus Data Protector and Apple Time Machine actually diverge.
| Attribute | Micro Focus Data Protector | Apple Time Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $75/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, Web | Mac |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Backup & Disaster Recovery), founded (1976).
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 Micro Focus Data Protector
- Zero downtime backup
- Instant recovery
- Application integration
- Synthetic full backup
- Granular recovery
- Centralized management
- VMware
- Hyper-V
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.
Micro Focus Data Protector
- Data protectionnot Apple Time Machine
- Disaster recoverynot Apple Time Machine
- Business continuitynot Apple Time Machine
- Ransomware protectionnot Apple Time Machine
- Compliancenot Apple Time Machine
Apple Time Machine
- Automatic versioned local backups of a Mac to an external drivenot Micro Focus Data Protector
- Restoring a Mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup historynot Micro Focus Data Protector
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Micro Focus Data Protector
- Micro Focus Data Protector was rebranded to OpenText Data Protector following the OpenText acquisition of Micro Focus; the vendor's own product pages carry no published pricing at either name (Internet Archive capture, 10 January 2022, and live site check)
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
Micro Focus Data Protector
$75/month- Data Protector$75/month
- Zero downtime backup
- Instant recovery
- Multi-platform
Apple Time Machine
Free- Built-inFree
- Automatic backup
- Visual restore
- Network backup
Which should you pick?
Choose Micro Focus Data Protector if
- You need zero downtime backup.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
- You also want instant recovery.
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 Micro Focus Data Protector or Apple Time Machine better?
- Neither clearly leads. Micro Focus Data Protector starts at $75/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, Micro Focus Data Protector or Apple Time Machine?
- Apple Time Machine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $75/month for Micro Focus Data Protector and Free for Apple Time Machine.
- Does Micro Focus Data Protector or Apple Time Machine run on more platforms?
- Micro Focus Data Protector runs on Windows, Linux, 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. Micro Focus Data Protector starts at $75/month.
- What is Micro Focus Data Protector best used for?
- Micro Focus Data Protector is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Apple Time Machine is typically brought in for.
- What can Micro Focus Data Protector do that Apple Time Machine cannot?
- Micro Focus Data Protector covers Zero downtime backup, Instant recovery, Application integration, Synthetic full backup. Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup.