R-Drive Image 7 – Best Windows backup overall
Pros
- Super-reliable, fast disk and partition imaging
- File and folder backup
- Partition manager
- Lean-and-mean Linux and WinPE boot media
- Supports Microsoft’s nearly ubiquitous VHD format
Cons
- Would like to see multiple destinations per job
Price When Reviewed: $44.95
Best Prices Today:
R-Drive Image has always been a favorite of ours—a low-resource-consuming product that was ultra-reliable in creating backup images of partitions and disks. But it didn’t have as much polish as Acronis’s backup program (below) and wasn’t as feature-rich. That has changed with this latest version, which now has a more modern, user-friendly interface and more versatility in the types of backups you can perform.
The latest 7.1 version adds WinPE boot-disc support and VHD compatibility to an already impressive arsenal of features. VHD compatibility, in particular, is a great new feature as R-Drive no longer entirely relies on its own proprietary images, but now allows users the option to keep backups in VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) format—which addresses one of the only previous complaints we had about the service.
Read our full R-Drive Image 7 review
Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office – Best Windows backup runner-up
Pros
- Excellent imaging and file backup capabilities
- Actively protects against ransomware
- Cloud storage included
Cons
- Heavy installation footprint
- All-or-nothing install doesn’t let you choose modules
Price When Reviewed: $49.99
Best Prices Today:$29.99 at PCWorld Software Store
There’s a reason Acronis is renowned in the world of backup software. Cyber Protect Home Office (previously named Acronis True Image) is capable, flexible, and rock-solid reliable. Indeed, it’s easily the most comprehensive data safety package on the planet.
Besides offering unparalleled backup functionality that’s both robust and easy to navigate, it integrates security apps as well, which protect against malware, malicious websites, and other threats using real-time monitoring.
Read our full Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office review