Carbon Copy Cloner and Time Machine are two backup utilities for the Mac. They both have their own unique features, but they also share some differences. But how exactly do they differ?
There are several key differences between Carbon Copy Cloner VS. Time Machine.
- First, Carbon Copy Cloner can clone your entire hard drive, while Time Machine can only back up specific files and folders.
- Also, Carbon Copy Cloner can be used to create bootable backups, while Time Machine cannot.
- Finally, Carbon Copy Cloner offers more options for scheduling backups and controlling how much space is used for backups, while Time Machine is more limited in this regard.
Continue reading to learn everything about CCC & Time Machine!
Main Difference Between Carbon Copy Cloner & Time Machine
| Feature | Carbon Copy Cloner | Time Machine |
| What Is It? | A Bootable Backup & Cloning System For Mac | It Is Mainly A Backup Utility Program |
| What Does It Do? | Makes A Bootable Clone | Backs Up Files |
| How Often Does It Run? | Every Time You Connect | Once Per Hour |
| How Long Does It Take? | Depends On The Size Of Hard Drive | Depends On The Size Of the Hard Drive |
| What Does It Back Up? | Everything On Your Hard | Files That Is On The Drive |
| Can You Choose What To Back Up? | Yes | No |
| Can You Exclude Certain Files? | Yes | No |
| Is It Bootable? | Yes | No |
| Does It Require An Additional Drive? | No | Yes |
What is Carbon Copy Cloner?
Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) is a utility that makes exact copies of your files and folders, creating what is known as a “clone.” Carbon Copy Cloner is a powerful and easy-to-use utility that can create exact clones of your files and folders. Once you have created a clone, you can use it as a bootable backup volume that contains an exact copy of everything on your primary hard drive.
What is Time Machine?
Time Machine is a built-in backup utility for Mac that allows you to create incremental backups of your files and folders. You can use Time Machine to restore your files and folders to their original state, or you can use it to restore individual items selectively.
Detailed Comparison Between Carbon Copy Cloner VS. Time Machine
There are several key factors to consider when comparing Carbon Copy Cloner and Time Machine. Both have their pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the backup solution that best fits your needs.
Here are some key factors to consider when choosing between Carbon Copy Cloner and Time Machine:
- Performance
- Compatibility
- Speed
- Accessibility
- Security
- Price
- Pros
- Cons
- Similarities
1. Performance
| Carbon Copy Cloner | Time Machine |
| Carbon Copy Cloner is a backup utility that can clone your hard drive, making an exact copy of everything on it. | Time Machine is a backup utility that comes with macOS. |
| It can also create bootable backups, so you can use your backup to start your computer if your main drive fails. | It can create incremental backups, so it only backs up files that have changed since the last backup. |
| Carbon Copy Cloner is designed to be used regularly, so it can be set to run automatically. | Time Machine can also create local backups so that you can back up your files to an external hard drive or networked drive. |
When it comes to performance, Carbon Copy Cloner is the clear winner. It’s designed to be used more frequently, so it’s more efficient at backing up your files. Time Machine is designed for less frequent use, so it’s not as efficient.
2. Compatibility
Carbon Copy Cloner can clone your entire hard drive, including the operating system, files, and applications. This makes it ideal for creating a bootable backup in case your main drive fails. Time Machine can only backup files and folders, so it can’t be used to create a bootable backup.
Carbon Copy Cloner lets you choose which files and folders to back up, so you can exclude items that you don’t need to save. Time Machine automatically backs up everything on your hard drive, so you can’t exclude files or folders.
Carbon Copy Cloner can be used to back up to an external hard drive, network drive, or even a remote computer. Time Machine can only backup to an external hard drive connected to your Mac.
3. Speed
A few key differences between Carbon Copy Cloner and Time Machine affect speed.
- First, CCC will copy changed files incrementally while Time Machine will copy all files anew each time it runs. This can make a big difference if you have a lot of data or if your data changes frequently.
- Additionally, CCC can perform compression and encryption on the fly while it copies, which can help to speed up the process.
- Finally, CCC can use multiple connected drives simultaneously, while Time Machine is limited to a single drive.
4. Accessibility
There are several key differences between Carbon Copy Cloner and Time Machine that impact their accessibility:
| Time Machine | Carbon Copy Cloner |
| Time Machine requires an external drive for backups | Carbon Copy Cloner can backup to any destination, including external drives, network-attached storage or even another Mac |
| Time Machine offers incremental backups, meaning that only changed files are backed up since the last backup | Carbon Copy Cloner offers both incremental and full backups |
| Time Machine backups are stored in a proprietary format | Carbon Copy Cloner backups can be accessed directly |
| Time Machine offers limited control over what is backed up and when backups occur | Carbon Copy Cloner offers complete control over what is backed up and when |
5. Security
Carbon Copy Cloner creates an exact copy of your hard drive, including all files, settings, and applications. If your hard drive is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can simply restore it from the clone and be back up and running in no time.
Time Machine, on the other hand, creates incremental backups of your hard drive, meaning that it only backs up files that have changed since the last backup. If your hard drive is lost, stolen, or damaged, you will only lose the data that has changed since your last backup – not your entire hard drive.
So, which is more secure? Carbon Copy Cloner or Time Machine?
If you need to be able to restore your entire hard drive in the event of loss, theft, or damage, then Carbon Copy Cloner is the better option. However, if you only need to restore specific files or data, then Time Machine is the better option.
6. Price
Carbon Copy Cloner is a paid backup solution. It costs $39.99 for a single-user license and $69.99 for a family pack (which includes 5 licenses). On the other hand, Time Machine is a free backup solution that comes with every Mac.
So, which backup solution is more expensive? If you’re only looking at the initial cost, then Time Machine is more expensive. However, if you factor in the cost of external storage (which you’ll need for Time Machine), then Carbon Copy Cloner is the more expensive option.
7. Pros
| Carbon Copy Cloner | Time Machine |
| Easily create bootable backups of your entire system | Time Machine is a simple and effective way to back up your Mac.
|
| Schedule automatic backups | Time Machine can be used to restore your Mac to a previous state. |
| Incremental backups mean only new or changed files are copied, saving time and disk space | Time Machine can be used to restore individual files and folders |
| Clone to an external hard drive, network volume, or even a bootable duplicate of your system | Time Machine can be used to restore individual files and folders |
| Cloning is non-destructive, so you can always revert to your original hard drive if necessary | Time Machine is complimentary with AppleCare |
8. Cons
| Carbon Copy Cloner | Time Machine |
| Cannot clone a Windows machine | Time Machine requires an external storage device to back up your data |
| The free version only offers smart updates | Time Machine can be slow, especially if you have a lot of data to back up |
| There is no trial period, so you have to pay for the full version to see if it meets your needs | If you accidentally delete a file or folder that you meant to keep, Time Machine may not be able to recover it |
9. Similarities Between Carbon Copy Cloner VS. Time Machine.
- Both Carbon Copy Cloner and Time Machine are backup applications for the Mac operating system.
- Time Machine is the built-in backup application for Macs, while Carbon Copy Cloner is a third-party application.
- Both applications allow users to create backups of their entire system, including the operating system, applications, and user data.
- Time Machine can create incremental backups. Carbon Copy Cloner can also create incremental backups, but it can also create full backups.
- Time Machine backups are stored in a special folder on the destination drive. Carbon Copy Cloner backups can be stored in any folder on the destination drive.
Finally, which is better, Between Carbon Copy Cloner & Time Machine?
This is a difficult question, as it depends on individual needs and preferences. If you are simply looking for a way to create backups of your files, Carbon Copy Cloner may be the better option.
However, suppose you need a complete backup solution that includes incremental backups and the ability to restore your system to a previous state. In that case, Time Machine may be a better choice. Ultimately, it is important to choose the backup solution that best meets your needs.
Does Carbon Copy Cloner work with Time Machine?
Carbon Copy Cloner can work with Time Machine to provide a complete backup solution. You can use CCC to clone your entire system to an external drive and then use Time Machine to back up your data incrementally. This way, you will have a complete backup of your system and regular data backups.
More Questions & Answers
Does Carbon Copy Cloner Copy Everything?
Yes, Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) can copy everything on a source drive, including the operating system, applications, settings, and data files, if configured to do so.
This comprehensive cloning process creates an exact replica of the source drive, making it an effective tool for creating bootable backups, migrating data to a new drive, or duplicating drives for multiple systems.
Is There An Alternative To Time Machine On A Mac?
When you use ChronoSync, you can create clones of your hard disk that can boot. It’s similar to As Time Machine in that it can back up both local and remote disks and folders and can be set to run automatically at certain intervals.
Is It Better To Clone Or Image A Hard Drive?
Clone backups are great for quick recoveries, while image backups provide greater flexibility. You may store several pictures using incremental backup snapshots without significantly increasing storage requirements.
Does Cloning A Drive Make It Bootable?
Yes, cloning a drive typically makes it bootable, provided that the cloning process is done correctly and the source drive is already bootable. Cloning a drive involves creating an exact copy of the original drive, including the operating system, applications, settings, and data files. This replication ensures that the cloned drive maintains the same bootable properties as the source drive.
What Replaced The Apple Time Machine?
Since no other company has ever produced a product like the Time Capsule, there is currently no suitable substitute. A Synology or Asus router with a USB port that supports Time Machine backups to an associated USB hard drive is the most comparable product to Apple’s Time Capsule.
Should I Clone A Failing Hard Drive?
The data on the failing hard disk must be cloned to another location immediately. If your hard disk fails, you may clone it to another hard drive, solid-state drive, or external storage device to avoid losing any of your data. However, most cloning methods cannot read damaged sectors and clone them to a disk.
Is Time Machine The Best Mac Backup?
Time Machine is a popular and reliable backup solution built into macOS, providing a user-friendly and straightforward way to back up your Mac’s data. While it is an excellent choice for many users, whether it’s the “best” Mac backup depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Here are some reasons why Time Machine might be considered the best option for some users:
- Ease of use: Time Machine is integrated into macOS, making it simple and convenient to use. With minimal setup, it automatically backs up your Mac’s data to an external drive or network-attached storage (NAS) device.
- Versioning and recovery: Time Machine maintains multiple versions of files, allowing you to restore previous versions or recover deleted files. This feature is helpful for recovering from accidental data loss or corruption.
- System restoration: Time Machine backups can be used to restore your entire system in case of a major issue or when migrating to a new Mac.
How Do I Use Carbon Copy Cloner On Mac?
You can use the Carbon Copy Cloner on your Mac. Here’s how you can use the Carbon Copy Cleaner:
- Connect the drive you will use for the backup to your computer.
- Open Carbon Copy Cloner and select the source (the drive you want to backup) and the destination (the drive you are using for the backup).
- Choose the frequency of the backup and any other desired settings, then click “clone.”
- Your backup will now start and will continue until it is finished.
