Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head
SysCloud vs Apple Time Machine
SysCloud
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Backup and security for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
- From
- $4/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: SysCloud does not backup all Google Workspace data, such as Google Chat information; 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: SysCloud covers Automated backup, Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which SysCloud and Apple Time Machine actually diverge.
| Attribute | SysCloud | Apple Time Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $4/month | Free |
| Pricing model | Unknown | free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Cloud | Mac |
| Founded | 2013 | 1976 |
Identical on both: 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 SysCloud
- Automated backup
- Ransomware protection
- Cross-user restore
- Data migration
- DLP
- Compliance archiving
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft 365
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.
SysCloud
- 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 SysCloud
- Restoring a Mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup historynot SysCloud
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
SysCloud
- Does not backup all Google Workspace data, such as Google Chat information
- Can be slow with live data and large datasets
- Difficult user interface for non-technical users
- Limited backup frequency and capped storage on some plans
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
SysCloud
$4/month- Custom Plans$4/month per user
- Starts at $4 per user per month
- Discounts for yearly plans
- Bulk purchase discounts
Apple Time Machine
Free- Built-inFree
- Automatic backup
- Visual restore
- Network backup
Which should you pick?
Choose SysCloud if
- You need automated backup.
- You work on Web, Cloud.
- You also want ransomware protection.
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 SysCloud or Apple Time Machine better?
- Neither clearly leads. SysCloud starts at $4/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, SysCloud or Apple Time Machine?
- Apple Time Machine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4/month for SysCloud and Free for Apple Time Machine.
- Does SysCloud or Apple Time Machine run on more platforms?
- SysCloud runs on Web, Cloud. 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. SysCloud starts at $4/month.
- What is SysCloud best used for?
- SysCloud 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 SysCloud do that Apple Time Machine cannot?
- SysCloud covers Automated backup, Ransomware protection, Cross-user restore, Data migration. Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
SysCloud: What applications does SysCloud backup?
SysCloud backs up Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Google Classroom, Slack, HubSpot, QuickBooks Online, Salesforce, Box, and Xero with automated daily backups.
SourceSysCloud: Does SysCloud have a free trial?
Yes, SysCloud offers a 30-day free trial to evaluate the platform before committing to a paid plan.
SourceSysCloud: What is SysCloud's uptime guarantee?
SysCloud operates on AWS infrastructure with 99.99% availability, running backups 365 days per year.
SourceSysCloud: How does SysCloud detect ransomware?
SysCloud can identify files encrypted by ransomware and restore a safe version, helping protect against data loss from ransomware attacks.
Source