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Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head

MSP360 Backup vs Apple Time Machine

MSP360 Backup logo

MSP360 Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Cross-platform backup for MSPs and IT teams

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: MSP360 Backup pricing can be expensive when scaling up to large deployments; 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: MSP360 Backup covers Cross-platform support, Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which MSP360 Backup and Apple Time Machine actually diverge.

Attributes where MSP360 Backup and Apple Time Machine differ
AttributeMSP360 BackupApple Time Machine
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxMac
Founded20081976

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 MSP360 Backup

  • Cross-platform support
  • Any cloud storage
  • Image-based backup
  • SQL backup
  • Centralized management
  • Ransomware protection
  • 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.

MSP360 Backup

  • 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 MSP360 Backup
  • Restoring a Mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup historynot MSP360 Backup

Where each one falls short

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

MSP360 Backup

  • Pricing can be expensive when scaling up to large deployments

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

MSP360 Backup

Free
  • Desktop$4/month
    • Cross-platform backup
    • Any cloud storage
    • Centralized console

Apple Time Machine

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

Which should you pick?

Choose MSP360 Backup if

  • You need cross-platform support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want any cloud storage.
MSP360 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 MSP360 Backup or Apple Time Machine better?
Neither clearly leads. MSP360 Backup starts at Free and Apple Time Machine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MSP360 Backup or Apple Time Machine?
MSP360 Backup starts at Free and Apple Time Machine at Free.
Does MSP360 Backup or Apple Time Machine run on more platforms?
MSP360 Backup runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Apple Time Machine runs on Mac.
Can I use MSP360 Backup for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is MSP360 Backup best used for?
MSP360 Backup 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 MSP360 Backup do that Apple Time Machine cannot?
MSP360 Backup covers Cross-platform support, Any cloud storage, Image-based backup, SQL backup. Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup. Both handle Mac support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

MSP360 Backup: What cloud storage providers does MSP360 Backup support?

MSP360 Backup integrates with leading cloud storage providers including AWS S3, Backblaze B2, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Wasabi, and on-premises storage solutions, providing flexibility in storage destination selection.

Source
MSP360 Backup: What platforms does MSP360 Backup support?

MSP360 Backup is cross-platform software supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, allowing organizations to protect diverse IT infrastructure.

Source
MSP360 Backup: Does MSP360 Backup offer encryption?

Yes, MSP360 Backup includes encryption features for data protection, role-based permissions, and ransomware protection capabilities to ensure data security during backup and recovery.

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