Safety Shootout: Top Backup Utilities Side By Side.

Hard drives hold everything; so much that we don’t throw away files anymore. But sooner or later your hard drive will die. What’s your backup plan?

Many backup utilities exist for Mac OS X. What’s on your Mac? How do you backup? CD? DVD? A second hard drive? Here’s my Top 10 Backup Utility List.

#10 - Apple’s Backup
The price is hard to beat if you’re a .Mac user. Backup works, though very, VERY slowly. It’ll backup to a CD, a DVD (if you have a SuperDrive), another disk, or to your .Mac account (now with more hard drive space). My success with Backup has been spotty; some crashes, some time outs, sometimes it just doesn’t do anything. Free from Apple.

#9 - Dantz Retrospect
Good if you have money to spend and time to figure out how to use it. Retrospect has been around awhile; back to the Mac OS 9 days. I found configuration daunting, interface klunky. Still, backing up across a network is handy. Reviews have not been all that kind. $90 from Dantz. Yes, $90.

#8 - Carbon Copy Cloner
This little application changed how I backup. It was the first dependable Mac OS X backup utility. All it did is about all it does; clone your hard drive to another drive. It works well. The price is right, too. Free from Mike Bombich.

#7 - SynchronizePro!
I’ve used SyncPro for years. There’s no better Swiss Army Knife of backups available, but the interface is pure OS 9 and confusing without the manual. It’s great at backing up files while you watch (a watched pot never boils), but I’ve had trouble with it on automatic pilot. $100 from Qdea Software.

#6 - You Synchronize
Lots of options here, but a bit pricey at $50. More of a synchronize application than a backup utility. Uses a database to compare files. Very slow to setup and use the first time. $50 from YouSoftware.

#5 - Lacie SilverKeeper
I like simplicity and this one is. Priced in the freeware range, too. Don’t look for many options, still, it’ll make for a good backup to another hard disk. Free from Lacie.

#4 - Xupport
I’ve used this one since early versions. It’s also a Swiss Army Knife application with many uses besides backup; cache cleaning, network tuning, etc. The backup utility works well and clones hard drives easily. $20 from Laurent Miller

#3 - Backup Simplicity
From the SynchonizePro! folks. It clones your hard drive to another hard drive. Simple. Other than a scheduling feature which I value, this is about as intuitive as it gets. $30 from Qdea Software.

#2 - DejaVu
This is the only backup utility that resides as a System Preference pane. It can be scheduled to run at appropriate times (odd interface on the time scheduling, though), and will backup specific folders and files, AND, clone your system to another hard drive. $25 from Propaganda Productions.

#1 - SuperDuper
It’s just hard to argue with this great little application. There’s a free version that simply clones your hard drive to another drive. That’s excellent backup protection by itself. The paid version adds a boatload of extra features and a learning curve that’s gentle, tastes great, less filling. There’s no better backup utility to handle Apple’s upgrades that trash your system. SuperDuper lets you “backout” of changes to your system. Needs a scheduler. $20 from ShirtPocket.

That’s my Top Ten Backup Utility List. They’re all decent, they’ll all do the job. Some are free, some are expensive, some are easy and some complicated. My hat goes to #1. It’s the best. #2 is excellent and #3 easy and convenient. Your mileage may vary.

What are you using to backup your Mac? Share your experience with other readers. Click the Comments link below. Did I miss your favorite backup utility or backup method? Tell me about it.

The folks at Mac360 have a few domains for sale. If you've ever dreamed of setting up and running your own site about Apple, the Mac, iPods or the iPhone, this is a great way to get started. Click here for the basic details, and click AppleScene, iPhoneKillerTips, or ChatterMac for a more complete list.