The Best Disk Image Software 2024
The Best 5 Backup and Disk Imaging Software 2024 Comparison Review
- Excellent backup speed
- Good compression rate
- Instant restore and compatibility with a wide range of platforms
- Slight RTO lag
- Above average price
The best selling Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office (formerly Acronis True Image) is a forerunner in the race for perfect business data protection and its latest version comes armed with a host of improved features like built-in ransomware protection. Backup options have been made more versatile with a larger platform support than its predecessors. The product works on six hypervisor platforms which lets it convert backup to virtual machines automatically. It installs in no time and retains much of its ancestor’s easy interface albeit with a few useful tweaks here and there. It supports a wide range of backup destinations such as local or shared network, secure FTP server and even tape devices.
Restore takes only a minute with the Acronis Instant Restore although it takes longer than RTO of 15 seconds claimed by Acronis.
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- Easy UI
- Decent backup and restore performance
- Lacks cloud integration
- Slow RTO
Genie TimeLine Home is an excellent choice for backup and restore of your complete system, selected folders or even selected files. Online backup option, preconfigured backup sets, email notifications and disaster recovery are among some of the many features it packs. Although backup and restore speed is average, the interface is one of the easiest to navigate in the market.
The interface has two modes – easy and regular. Even the regular mode is very easy to use. The Professional version comes with more advanced features than the home. Though incremental backup scheme is available, Genie lacks differential backup scheme (though incremental backups available) and cloud integration.
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- Easy backup and restore
- Easy interface
- Decent compression rate and advanced features
- Average backup/recovery speed
- CPU usage
Paragon Hard Disk Manager Advanced has always appealed to advanced users with its appealing list of features. However, the latest version is a complete overhaul of its previous version and comes with an interface amateurs can navigate easily. It retains most of the advanced features like incremental and differential backup schemes, rescue media builder and full system imaging among many others.
The file size is just 150 MB and is compatible with all running versions of Windows and both 32 and 64 bit systems. The partition manager lets you create, convert or format partitions easily and swiftly. The backup takes just about five steps while the restore process takes even less.
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- Advanced features
- Fast disk imaging backup
- Multiple restore option
- Good compression rate
- Highly expensive
- Difficult interface
- Slow speed
The StorageCraft app was created mainly keeping in mind IT professionals as is evident from its feature laden interface. Though the interface offers a lot of control to the user, most of it is redundant for any novice or casual user. Some features are disk imaging, disk partition and virtual machine compatibility. However the app does lack some key features like cloud integration and online backup options and multiple encryption feature. It supports Windows 10 and comes for a hefty price of around $90.
One of the most impressive features of this app is its very high average compression rate as compared to its nearest competitors. A decent performance and advanced control over the backup process more than makes up for its average speed.
- Simple UI
- Decent backup and efficient performance
- No file restore
- Lack of encryption and lack of compression
The last product on our list is the O&O Disk Image that backs up entire system, selected folders and files all at the click of a button. Incremental and differential backup as well as easy system restore even onto different hardware are all some advanced features packed into its simple yet efficient interface. It can monitor and warn of security threats and create VHD directly but is only compatible with Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. Command Lines offer new and advanced controls while Plug-and-Play automatically backs up and syncs selected files.
With all its impressive features, the O&O does lack encryption options as well as compression and cannot restore files, which is a big letdown.
