Desktop

HomeSystem UtilitiesBackupSmartBackup

SmartBackup4.2.1

Name: SmartBackup
Rating: 4 (4 reviews)

04 March 2020

Daily backups with Spotlight integration.

Follow this app Developer website

Overview

SmartBackup is an alternative lightweight backup application for OS X.

Backup multiple source items to a destination folder on an external harddrive, flashdrive or network share, or create a bootable clone of your system.
SmartBackup only copies what has changed after the initial run and is very fast in updating your backup or system clone.
Archive deleted or changed files in an archive folder during the backup and easily browse available versions of a file and restore them with one click.
Use Spotlight Saved Searches to define what you want to backup or what you want to exclude.
Automate your backup using iCal, Automator or launch it in commandline mode and include it in launchd items or scripts.

What's new in SmartBackup

Version 4.2.1:

Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated.

Join over 500,000 subscribers.

Subscribe for our newsletter with best Mac offers from MacUpdate.

40 Reviews of SmartBackup

I'm dropping this review to thank the author of this gorgeous application. SmartBackup is not simply the best backup application around but is supported by a very responsive and courteous developer who solved my issue in a matter of minutes. The program is fast, stable and simple to use and yet powerful enough to meet the needs of the most demanding users. Add to this an invaluable support from a dedicated developer and you come up with the right answer to buy it or not! Fariborz AMIRSHAHI - Verona (Italy)

(3)

This is a very nice little app. I have been looking for a backup software application for what seems like forever, and I think this is it. It has all of the basic functionality that you want with none of the complexity. This program is well designed and extremely intuitive and it's free. Would definitely recommend. P.S. I would be more than happy to make a one-time donation to the developer, just to keep the software up-to-date.

(0)

Beamy

25 June 2019

Version: 4.2

SmartBackup 4.2.1 is available and the website says, that it supports APFS and MacOS 10.14. :)

(0)

Moxiesozo

06 October 2018

Version: 4.1.2

Version 4.2 is out. This app is now FREE. Seems to have impressive features.

(2)

Show comment (1)

I've been using SmartBackup for a while now, and it is by far the fastest and most accurate backup tool I've used yet. I'm not sure why there are people complaining about upgrade prices, as the new version adds quite a few new features. Their loss.

(1)

Uncoy

06 September 2016

Version: 3.4.3

Marketing promotes very dubious benchmark stats about how SmartBackup is 2x faster than SuperDuper! and 3x faster than Carbon Copy Cloner. Highly unlikely as SuperDuper! backups run at about 80% of disk speed.

New version is licensed per machine. The good influence of the Mac App Store isn't enough for Solesignal who want to take us back to the dark ages of software licensing. I can just see per machine licensing for utilities that are tied to hardware (Coolbook or TurboBoostSwitcher for instance: who both offer prices to match the limited license) but for run of the mill backup software. - run for the hills.

If we will all have to deal with per machine painful licensing, it's time to shut down our Macs. The small developers who benefit from the Mac community's willingness to support shareware suffer in the end from predatory moves like this one from Solesignal which poison our marketplace. I highly recommend that noone reward Solesignal for their punitive approach to licensing.

I haven't used CCC in a long time (it was great software when I did use it) as SuperDuper! is so reliable and easy to use that I haven't had to look elsewhere. SuperDuper! has always been sold at a reasonable $25 shareware fee (not bundled as far as I know) with free updates from the beginning and unlimited licensing per user.

For more advanced syncing and backup, there's the incredibly powerful SuperFlexibileFileSynchronizer now known as Syncovery. Also per user licensing.

(1)

Show comment (1)

anonymous-tapir-4715

23 September 2015

Version: 3.4.2

Guess it's not on here, but Arq is perfect backup, & once it's set up, effortless.

(0)

Show comment (1)

Exceptionally fast, amazingly intuitive, thoroughly simple, incredibly well-supported. Should I say more?! Fariborz AMIRSHAHI -Verona (Italy)

(1)

This utility is very effective and versatile, plus it is very fast. I do not remember ever will have paid for the upgrade, just enter your email address in the field and you're registered.

(1)

Drfrank

14 January 2012

Version: 3.2.1

A versatile, modern, 64-bit, Mac OS backup app. I use it to create boot-able clones of my startup disk; SmartBackup does its thing every night without any problems.

(0)

This is a well thought out, simple and effective app to do Finder accessible backups. Smartbackup lets you have full control over backup parameters and transparently keeps archived versions of files. It's perfect for managing large backups to multiple volumes. Does the job, and does it at a great price. Thank you developer!

(1)

I'm a happy SmartBackup user since June 2009. We are now in November 2011 and this is still my preferred app to make my backups. I like the way it works : simple interface but advanced features. During these 3 years, I never had any issue and the app is regularly updated. The support helps you you when you have an issue (for me, it was to schedule a task in LaunchDeamons).

(1)

SmartBackup is now my faithful companion for more than two years. I never faced any issues with this reliable tool. It's sleek and fast and offers those features I really need of a backup/restore tool. I use it for regularly backing up of more than 5 TB of data to either internal HD or external attached NAS. For me simply the best.

(0)

SmartBackup is for me "a must have" application. I´ve been using for more than three years. It's fast, safe, reliable and well maintained with a great UI. In fact I have not even tried Time Machine (or other applications) and that my job that I reinstall Mac OS X often. In my case, money is well spent and the application receives the necessary updates and technical support. If your looking for this kind of app, at least must be tested.

(0)

pandora-1

21 July 2011

Version: 3.2.1

What the heck is going on here? So many reviewers venting their spleens. Forums such as this are not the place to question features (or perceived lack of them) or post problem descriptions. This dev, like 99% of indie devs, has a web page and a contact email. I find that I get extremely quick and helpful advice when I contact the dev personally. @freeride: You've gotta have a tough hide around here. I'm sorry you've been treated like this.

(3)

Show comments (2)

Bad update policy. And low on features for the price. I did not update and I cannot see any imrovements.

(1)

Show comments (2)

Well, its 2011 now, where is this feature? I do not wish for Ical to be flooded with Smartbackup entries anymore. I would recommend Super Duper over this, as that dev tries to help his users. My exact post from 2009. I have used Smartbackup for a long time too. The biggest thing that bugs me is the developer keeps promising the option of scheduling built into the application itself. Its been worked on and added as a feature request is the usual response. It's almost been a year now.

(2)

Show comments (5)

Here's the upgrade policy: SmartBackup 2.5 upgrade licenses to 3 An upgrade is only required for SmartBackup licenses purchased before 01.01.2009. If you want to upgrade a site license or a number of single licenses, please contact us. SmartBackup 2.5 Upgrade License (valid to upgrade an existing Single, Family Pack and Business Single license) 10 USD SmartBackup 2.5 OfficePack 10 Upgrade License (valid to upgrade an existing OfficePack 10 License) 90 USD

(1)

WARNING!!! Without any prior notification, v2.5 of smartbackup requires $10 payment for previous paid customers! As a paid customer of v2.3.1, I took the mistake of updating to v2.5 and was not able to use the newer version until I cough up the update fee. There is no option to download previous versions on the developer's site. BE WARNED!

(2)

Show comment (1)

This is definitely one of the best backup tools out there in the cloud. This app is small, intuitive to handle and has all the features needed (except maybe scheduling right in the app). I very much love the 'keep deleted files' and 'move to archive folder' options. By that nothing goes lost and allows one to keep clean backups. These are options most other backup tools (and they cost pretty much more) lack of. I'm using this tool together with a 'WD Share Space' network drive and various external backup drives. I never had any problem or loss of data since using this tool. It's fast and definitely very reliable and trustworthy. Definitely a candidate for the hot picks category within MacUpdate.

(0)

I have used Smartbackup for a long time too. The biggest thing that bugs me is the developer keeps promising the option of scheduling built into the application itself. Its been worked on and added as a feature request is the usual response. It's almost been a year now.

(1)

I want to be very clear here. I have used SmartBackup for a long time, and I loved it. It works great and is reliable to use ... but with a HUGE caveat. DON'T USE IT WITH NETWORKED DRIVES! I have multiple back ups of many of my drives, and one was a "shared" drive between many computers in my home. I use the airport's usb port to "network it." This drive failed last night, so I went to my backups relieved that I had SmartBackup religiously backing the drive up. Unfortunately, the folder was completely empty. NO BACKUPS. It had a very long log of how it was backing it up everyday, but somehow, it was not connecting to the drive. So, it thought there was nothing to backup. I would give this software 4 stars if it were not for this realization of its massive Achilles heel. If it cannot give some kind of warning when it doesn't connect to the networked drive or finds no files or something ... then you are as good as dead when you find no backups when you really need them. I am having to find another solution, today. This is a sad day. Again, this complaint is just about networked drives. If you have none, then I would recommend this software. All my other backups are in perfect shape. [Cererbl]

(3)

Show comments (3)

I've tried smartbackup to clone my drive to an external firewire drive. I could restart from the external drive, but it was impossible to open any application. I'm on a G5 PPC running OSX 10.5.3

(0)

(3)

what an absolutely wonderful program this has become. it's very very good, as well as very very fast, especially when doing smart updates. seriously recommended. also noteworthy is how response the developer is - offer really great service!

(2)

The Automator Aktion saved as a programm, does unexpected quit. Also after installing a new system.

(0)

Show comments (2)

After much research and demoing, I bought this over a month ago. This app is really fantastic and makes for very easy and customizable backups. I particularly like the fact that it does not require you to do disk images, restore, etc. You just set a hard drive as the backup device, then drag into the main window the items or folders you want to back up. It keeps those items (and any new items you later add to the list) associated with that particular hard drive, so you can just click and backup. You can add a whole new different list of items you want to back up to a different hard drive, thereby having multiple backup sets. You then choose any hard drive from a popup list, and the items list changes according to the hard drive chosen. Very cool. SmartBackup operates like a true backup by only copying the changed files. It also archives the previous and deleted versions so you never lose anything. Asthetically this app has a beautiful GUI, and I love the darkened "window shade" that drops down when it is working. Nice touch. I do alot of research and demoing before I part with my money. SmartBackup easily beat out every other contender, hands down. I highly recommend it.

(2)

The corrected dmg file (also working on Panther/10.3) is now online. Panther users, please just download once again. Sorry for the inconvienience and thanks for reporting. Happy new year!

(2)

For those who can't open SmartBackup; I emailed developer about the bug and he promptly emailed me a corrected download which works fine. The bug is only in OS 10.3. The corrected version should be up before long, if it isn't already.

(1)

I've been using the previous version, SyncupX for quite a while now, and it never failed - it was actually the only backup utility I ever decided to use at home - after 20 years with computers. Before it I used to do my personal backups manually. :) Only thing I was missing, was that SyncupX didn't backup my /etc folder. Not anymore... This version backups everything! (even my macports folder) One more thing I really liked in this new version is the new Cocoa interface. Beautifully done - in a way which only helps the user to use the application better. Thanks a lot to the developer for the continued work. Definitely worths $20.

(1)

I puchased the family licence for this about 6 months ago and had no problems scheduling it through iChat to be our daily back-up. It is easy to use and does exactly what I wanted in a back-up app. I did research several other apps before buying this one and still feel this was and is the best choice.

(0)

This is one of the best backup solutions I have come across and it is reasonably priced. Give it a spin, you won't be sorry! Great interface, very Mac-like, good features and perfect stability so far for me. However, I'd love to have the ability to add custom backup sets for applications, kind of like Apple Backup features now.

(0)

Syncup makes the false presumption that a backup set is connected to a destination. This means that you cannot change the destination of a backup set. Other things that are missing is making a backup of other users' files, choosing single files to backup instead of directories and backing up files that you cannot get at with Finder. It also means the writer has no experience with backups. The fancy features are nice, but if you haven't got the basics right, that means the program is of very limited use. To me, it's useless. And man, work on your interface, this is ungainly to say the least!

(0)

Show comments (8)

The developer posted syncup, later versions called syncup X, as a free download. I faithfully downloaded and tried out each version, even when the developer decided to withhold further versions except to those who contacted him personally, which I did and received. Suddenly, one day, I got the dialogue that it was beyond the time limit, that I must now pay for it. I felt that I had been duped into trying out betas and finally being forced into going without it or buying it. Does the developer know what "free" means, or is he just conning us Mac users?

(0)

Show comment (1)

The author has corrected his registration problems. SyncupX is by far one of the best backup packages available for use with OSX. It is easy to use, stable and fast! Kudos to the author for excellent and responsive support for his prodict! Truly appreciated! As I have said before: it's well worth the modest shareware fee that the author is requesting!

(0)

Works 100% as advertised. The author has done a good job putting this application together! Easy to use; and now with archiving capabilities. I have used beta versions of syncup and find each release keeps getting better! Well worth the modest registration fee!

(0)