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Paragon Backup & Recovery vs Apple Time Machine

Paragon Backup & Recovery logo

Paragon Backup & Recovery

Software

Professional-grade backup for Windows

From
$50/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Apple Time Machine logo

Apple Time Machine

Software

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: Paragon Backup & Recovery the free Community Edition is licensed for non-commercial use only; 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: Paragon Backup & Recovery covers Full disk backup, Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Paragon Backup & Recovery and Apple Time Machine differ
AttributeParagon Backup & RecoveryApple Time Machine
Starting price$50/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindowsMac
Founded19941976

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 Paragon Backup & Recovery

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

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.

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

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

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

Paragon Backup & Recovery

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

Apple Time Machine

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Paragon Backup & Recovery if

  • You need full disk backup.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want file-level backup.
Paragon Backup & Recovery 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 Paragon Backup & Recovery or Apple Time Machine better?
Neither clearly leads. Paragon Backup & Recovery starts at $50/year and Apple Time Machine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paragon Backup & Recovery or Apple Time Machine?
Apple Time Machine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $50/year for Paragon Backup & Recovery and Free for Apple Time Machine.
Does Paragon Backup & Recovery or Apple Time Machine run on more platforms?
Paragon Backup & Recovery runs on Windows. 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. Paragon Backup & Recovery starts at $50/year.
What is Paragon Backup & Recovery best used for?
Paragon Backup & Recovery is most often used for full disk and partition backup on windows, bare metal recovery from an image, scheduled incremental backups for a home machine, migrating an installation to a new drive on the paid editions. Of those, full disk and partition backup on windows and bare metal recovery from an image are not what Apple Time Machine is typically brought in for.
What can Paragon Backup & Recovery do that Apple Time Machine cannot?
Paragon Backup & Recovery covers Full disk backup, File-level backup, Incremental/differential, Recovery media. Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup.
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