One of the more common questions that computer users will have is what is the best backup software for their system.  This is an important question because of how much people now rely on their computers.  These devices now play a vital role in helping people for work, in school or with their personal lives.  The number of different files, reports, photos, pictures, etc. that one can have on their computer can be staggering.  The fear of losing some or all of this information in an instant is a very real threat.  Many people have experienced the harmful effects of a hard drive crash or accidental deletion of a key file.  We completely understand these concerns which is why we have set out to review the top backup software programs available on the market today and what customers should be looking for in them.

Best Backup Software Review

Acronis True Image Home

Norton Ghost

NovaBackup Software

The best backup software should provide customers with the ability to complete the two most important parts of computer backups: disk imaging and data file backups.  The first, disk imaging, is needed to protect the operating system (OS) files of your computer.  These are the files needed to start up the system and allow you to use all the other programs that you use.  Disk imaging occurs when a clone of your hard drive is made by the backup software.  This clone can then be used to help restore these files in the event of a hard drive crash.  Many software programs still do not have this option available to them which is why it is important that you make sure any option you choose as this available.

The second computer backup option that you want is the ability to backup data files.  These backups are more prevalent in backup software and basically will create a backup of all your files and save them in a place of your choosing.  This can include a partitioned area on your hard drive, an external flash drive, CDs/DVDs, or an online server.  This service helps safeguard all your specific files like word documents, spreadsheets, pictures, programs, etc.  This service can also be helpful to those who need to go back to a previous revision on a certain document as the better backup software will allow you to keep past backups and choose whichever one you want to restore.  They will also let you pick specific files rather than merely having to choose all of them at once.

Now, the best backup software will have both of these options available to them.  Some software are not very good at doing both tasks, but it is important that you ensure that whichever option you choose has both options and can do them well.  This is one reason why we advise people to avoid free backup software as they tend to not have both backup options available or are not very good at one or the other.  In addition, the affordable cost of paid backup software makes it an easy decision to purchase software that is usually around $40 to $60.

 

Comparison Criteria

When considering the different backup software available, it is important that you make an effort to find the very best backup software.  This will help ensure your computer and its files are better protected and provide you with additional peace of mind.  However, most people are unsure what exactly makes the best backup software and what they should be looking for.  Here, we attempt to do the heavy lifting for you by putting together a list of criteria that you should use when considering any backup software.  Also, we have included a comparison chart showing how the most recognized backup software do with regard to these criteria.

	Category	Acronis	NovaBackup	Norton
#	Overall Rating	#1	#2	#3
1	Disk Imaging & File Backups?	Yes	Yes	Yes
2	Flexibility in backup options?	Yes	Yes	Yes
3	Access to past file editions?	Yes	Yes	Yes
4	Sync with multiple computers?	Yes	No	No
5	Extra helpful features?	Yes	Some	No

 

1. Can the software perform disk imaging and data file backups?

I mentioned above the importance of having software that can perform both disk imaging and data file backups.  This is necessary to help give you full protection in the event of an attack on your operating system or damage done to your individual data files.  By ensuring your software can do both functions, you reduce the need of having to find a second additional software to use and also make it easier to raise any issues with the company in the event you need support.  The best backup software companies will have both these features.

2. Flexibility in backup options (hard drives, flash drives, online server, etc.)?

It is important that you are also able to make backups to a variety of different media.  This is necessary to help you provide additional layers of protection.  It also provides you with added flexibility in adjusting your backup practices which can be important depending on what you have available, personal budget, etc.

3. Access to past file editions in past backups?

Many people find themselves in a position where they wish they had access to a past file edition which they have since written over.  The best backup software will allow you to find past file editions and even allow you to browse to find just the right one.

4. Ability to synchronize files between multiple computers?

More and more people find themselves in homes that have several computers.  This can include some desktop computers, laptops, or even mobile devices.  With this increasingly becoming the norm, it helps a lot of customers out if they are able to synchronize the files between multiple computers.  This helps ensure you are working on the most recent addition and can help give you more flexibility in where you start and finish your work on file.

5. Additional unique features to help with the backup process?

This is a catch all category that highlights any other key features that allow that software company to differentiate its software from the competition.  These features are ones that customers will appreciate as they can help provide greater protection or convenience with the backup process.

	Category	Acronis	NovaBackup	Norton
#	Overall Rating	#1	#2	#3
1	Disk Imaging & File Backups?	Yes	Yes	Yes
2	Flexibility in backup options?	Yes	Yes	Yes
3	Access to past file editions?	Yes	Yes	Yes
4	Sync with multiple computers?	Yes	No	No
5	Extra helpful features?	Yes	Some	No

 

Other factors that will allow the best backup software to stand out will be how easy the system is to use and how much flexibility the user will have in deciding how the runs are done.  Another nice thing that customers should look for is options that will really allow you to set up the software and forget about it knowing that it is performing its runs on a scheduled basis without you having to do anything further.  Fortunately, many of the best backup software perform this option now.

So without further discussion, we will tell you about three of the most popular backup software options on the market today.  We discarded a number of software programs out of hand that did not meet the criteria we have mentioned above.   We have done this in an attempt to help save you time by avoiding having to sort out the good from the bad and instead focus on which of the good will be best for you.  Now, we have independently reviewed each of the three top software programs where you can find out about our own personal review and thoughts and also find key information about each software program.  The three software programs that we reviewed include Acronis True Image Home, Norton Ghost, and NovaBackup Software.  Click on the following links to read more about each respective software program:

Best Backup Software Review

Acronis True Image Home

Norton Ghost

NovaBackup Software