Automatically back up and restore your Mac files
Visit WebsiteFreeVisit Website
Reviews onG2
2 reviews tracked·4 press mentionsThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Apple's built-in backup solution
Biggest con
Mac-only feature
TL;DR - Time Machine
- macOS built-in backup solution
- Automatic hourly, daily, and weekly backups
- Easy file recovery and full system restore
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
What is Time Machine?
Time Machine is Apple's built-in backup solution that automatically protects Mac files with hourly snapshots. Users can browse through historical versions of files and folders, recovering accidentally deleted items or restoring entire systems. The seamless integration makes backup something Mac users don't have to think about.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Apple's built-in backup solution
- Automatic continuous backups
- Easy file recovery
- Version history browsing
- Free with macOS
Cons
- Mac-only feature
- Requires external drive or NAS
- Storage space consumption
- Slow initial backup
- Limited cloud backup options
Ratings Across the Web
4.8(2 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Automatic backupsIncremental snapshotsEasy restorationVersioned filesEncrypted backupsmacOS integrated
Pricing Plans
Free
Free
- Built into macOS
- Automatic hourly backups
- File versioning
- Easy restore
- Requires external storage
Reviews
Be the first to review Time Machine
Your take helps the next buyer. Verified LinkedIn reviewers get a badge.
Write a reviewBest Time Machine Alternatives
Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.
Still deciding?
Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.
Explore More
Time Machine FAQ
What is Time Machine?
Time Machine is Apple built-in backup solution for macOS that automatically creates incremental backups of your entire Mac, allowing you to restore individual files or your complete system to any previous state.
How does Time Machine work?
Time Machine automatically backs up your Mac hourly for the past 24 hours, daily for the past month, and weekly for older backups. It uses incremental backups, only saving changes since the last backup to save space.
What do I need to use Time Machine?
You need an external storage device like a USB drive, Thunderbolt drive, network-attached storage (NAS), or Apple Time Capsule. The drive should ideally be 2-3 times the size of your Mac storage.
Is Time Machine free?
Yes, Time Machine is included free with every Mac as part of macOS. You only need to provide your own backup storage device to start using it.
Source: support.apple.com