Are there any good free cloning programs out there?

[dmk1974]

In addition to TimeMachine backups, I want to be able to clone a USB connected drive to another drive on my network. I have seen Carbon Copy Cloner, SuperDuper, and Stellar out there, but they all range from $28 to $40. Anything recommended that is more economical (or FREE)? Thanks!

 

[Bruno09]

Hi,

Carbon Copy Cloner 3.4.7 is free and will do what you need.

(works fine on Mavericks).

 

[Apple fanboy]

As above. I use the free version of CCC and it does exactly as you need. I use it in addition to my Time machine back ups, and as a bonus it's a bootable drive if my HD fails (unlike TM back ups).

 

[dmk1974]

Thanks, so it has to be 3.4.7 though? Also, will that version allow for daily backup scheduling or just manual?

I am on Mavericks.

 

[Bruno09]

will that version allow for daily backup scheduling

Yes, no problem.

 

[Gochugogi]

Carbon Copy Cloner is an extremely well crafted app and it's worthwhile to support the program designer with his small fee. It's certainly saved my bacon several times and a clone makes installing new hard drives a snap. I'd hate to see the guy quit updating his app due to a lack of cash flow.

 

[Felasco]

I believe SuperDuper has a free version which covers most essential clone functions.

 

[dmk1974]

Carbon Copy Cloner is an extremely well crafted app and it's worthwhile to support the program designer with his small fee. It's certainly saved my bacon several times and a clone makes installing new hard drives a snap. I'd hate to see the guy quit updating his app due to a lack of cash flow.

For what the program does, I'd pay $10 and maybe $15 for it. But to me, $40 is way over-priced. Maybe more people would pay for it instead of finding free workarounds if the programmer lowered the cost.

 

[GGJstudios]

I believe SuperDuper has a free version which covers most essential clone functions.

SuperDuper doesn't clone the OS X Recovery partition, which CCC does.

 

[dmk1974]

SuperDuper doesn't clone the OS X Recovery partition, which CCC does.

Does SuperDuper clone over a network to a drive connected to a router? I may have missed that option.

 

[GGJstudios]

Does SuperDuper clone over a network to a drive connected to a router? I may have missed that option.

I don't recall off-hand, as I use CCC for all cloning and backups.

 

[Felasco]

SuperDuper doesn't clone the OS X Recovery partition, which CCC does.

Ok, thanks for this. I guess I need to read up on the OS X Recovery partition. Feel free to educate me if you wish.

 

[GGJstudios]

Ok, thanks for this. I guess I need to read up on the OS X Recovery partition. Feel free to educate me if you wish.

OS X: About OS X Recovery

 

[Quackers]

I use Clonezilla Live for cloning OSX, recovery HD, Windows and Linux, both individually and as a total disk image.
It's a free program but it can be a little daunting to use at first.
It does work well though, in my experience.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Carbon Copy Clone was my best euro 34 spent EVER for back-up software, since using OS X! Using 3.5.5-b5 (1406) for Mavericks.

For more info: CCC feature page

GL & Cheers

 

[maflynn]

I'm partial to CCC myself, I still use the older free version and it works well for my needs.