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Time Machine

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Automatically back up and restore your Mac files

ProductivityFile ManagementAutomation
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Reviews onG2
2 reviews tracked·4 press mentions

The 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?

Editorial review
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.
how we evaluateSourcesupport.apple.com ↗

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)

Time Machine holds an aggregate rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 2 reviews across G2, last checked March 18, 2026.

G22 reviews
4.8/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Automatic backupsIncremental snapshotsEasy restorationVersioned filesEncrypted backupsmacOS integrated

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Aug 23, 2026

Free

  • Built into macOS
  • Automatic hourly backups
  • File versioning
  • Easy restore
  • Requires external storage
Calculate your costView full pricing

Is Time Machine worth the price?

100/100

Time Machine's pricing is exceptionally generous as it is a free, built-in utility with macOS.

There are no direct costs associated with the software itself, making it an outstanding value. It's best for all macOS users who want a reliable, no-cost backup solution.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

Requires purchase of external storage

No cloud backup option

No cross-platform support

How Time Machine Compares to Competitors

Compared to paid backup solutions like Carbon Copy Cloner ($40) or SuperDuper! (free for basic, $27.95 for registered), Time Machine offers a superior value proposition by being completely free. While competitors offer more advanced cloning or bootable backup features, Time Machine's core functionality is unmatched at its price point.

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Best Time Machine Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

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NextcloudFreemium

Open source content collaboration platform for secure, self-hosted data control and remote teamwork.

4.5
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pCloudFreemium

Secure cloud storage with lifetime plans and advanced encryption.

4.3
Duplicati logo
DuplicatiFree

Secure, encrypted backups to cloud storage and remote servers

3.9
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Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

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Time Machine FAQ

How does Time Machine help with file management?

Time Machine automatically protects Mac files with hourly snapshots, allowing users to browse through historical versions of files and folders. This enables easy recovery of accidentally deleted items or restoration of entire systems, simplifying file management by maintaining a comprehensive version history.

What kind of user benefits most from Time Machine?

Time Machine is ideal for Mac users who need an automatic and continuous backup solution without additional cost. It is particularly beneficial for those who want seamless integration with their operating system and easy file recovery capabilities.

How is Time Machine priced?

Time Machine is free to use as it is Apple's built-in backup solution included with macOS. There are no paid plans required to access its features.

What are the storage requirements for Time Machine?

Time Machine requires an external drive or a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device to store backups. It also consumes storage space on the backup device due to its continuous hourly snapshots and version history.

Can Time Machine back up files to cloud services?

Time Machine has limited cloud backup options, primarily focusing on local backups to external drives or NAS devices. Its core functionality is designed for on-premise data protection rather than extensive cloud integration.

How does Time Machine compare to Duplicati?

Time Machine is Apple's built-in, Mac-only backup solution that offers automatic continuous backups and easy file recovery. In contrast, Duplicati is a cross-platform backup client that supports various cloud storage services, offering more flexibility in terms of backup destinations.

Source: support.apple.com

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