Softwr

Software · head to head

StorageCraft ShadowProtect vs Apple Time Machine

StorageCraft ShadowProtect logo

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

Software

Fast and reliable image-based backup

From
$15/month
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: StorageCraft ShadowProtect host-based backup requires Windows Server 2016 or above on the Hyper-V host, and desktop, client and Pro editions are not supported; 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: StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup, Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which StorageCraft ShadowProtect and Apple Time Machine actually diverge.

Attributes where StorageCraft ShadowProtect and Apple Time Machine differ
AttributeStorageCraft ShadowProtectApple Time Machine
Starting price$15/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Linux, WebMac
Founded20031976

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 StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Image-based backup
  • VirtualBoot
  • Bare metal recovery
  • Hardware-independent restore
  • Incremental imaging
  • ShadowStream replication
  • 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.

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Image based backup and bare metal recovery of Windows and Linux serversnot Apple Time Machine
  • MSPs protecting client Hyper-V hosts and workloads from one consolenot Apple Time Machine

Apple Time Machine

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

Where each one falls short

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

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Host-based backup requires Windows Server 2016 or above on the Hyper-V host, and desktop, client and Pro editions are not supported
  • Host-based and agent-based backup are mutually exclusive installation modes in ShadowProtect 8.0; one machine cannot run both
  • Switching from agent-based to host-based requires a clean reinstall rather than an in-place upgrade
  • Host-based backups are not compatible with VirtualBoot
  • Granular file and folder recovery is not available for host-based backups; the whole backup must be restored to a .vhd or .vhdx first
  • Host-based backup jobs do not report status to ShadowControl
  • Advanced Verification in ImageManager 8.1 is not supported for host-based backups
  • All host-based backups go into a single folder by default, so separating them per VM means creating a separate backup job for each
  • Host-based licence keys are generated only through the Arcserve MSP portal

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

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

$15/month
  • ShadowProtect SPX$15/month
    • Image-based backup
    • VirtualBoot
    • Bare metal recovery

Apple Time Machine

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

Which should you pick?

Choose StorageCraft ShadowProtect if

  • You need image-based backup.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want virtualboot.
StorageCraft ShadowProtect 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 StorageCraft ShadowProtect or Apple Time Machine better?
Neither clearly leads. StorageCraft ShadowProtect starts at $15/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, StorageCraft ShadowProtect or Apple Time Machine?
Apple Time Machine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $15/month for StorageCraft ShadowProtect and Free for Apple Time Machine.
Does StorageCraft ShadowProtect or Apple Time Machine run on more platforms?
StorageCraft ShadowProtect 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. StorageCraft ShadowProtect starts at $15/month.
What is StorageCraft ShadowProtect best used for?
StorageCraft ShadowProtect is most often used for image based backup and bare metal recovery of windows and linux servers, msps protecting client hyper-v hosts and workloads from one console. Of those, image based backup and bare metal recovery of windows and linux servers and msps protecting client hyper-v hosts and workloads from one console are not what Apple Time Machine is typically brought in for.
What can StorageCraft ShadowProtect do that Apple Time Machine cannot?
StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup, VirtualBoot, Bare metal recovery, Hardware-independent restore. Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on StorageCraft ShadowProtect

More on Apple Time Machine

Keep looking

Other head to heads