Carbon Copy Cloner

Carbon Copy Cloner is backup software for macOS computers, with an iOS companion app for mobile backup. It supports computer and mobile backup, with mixed backup scope and restore modes, and includes ransomware protection. Bombich, the maker, was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Carbon Copy Cloner is paid software with a 30-day trial and no free plan. For commercial use, the Corporate & Institutional License costs $49.99 a month, with volume pricing listed on the vendor’s corporate store. The Pro License costs $125 a month and is for technicians doing commercial work; it allows temporary use on an unlimited number of client computers. The listed platforms are macOS and iOS, with iOS serving as a companion mobile app.

Carbon Copy Cloner covers Mac computer backup and mobile backup through its iOS companion app. The license options separate home use from commercial and technician use, with listed monthly prices for the latter two.

Carbon Copy Cloner may suit Mac users looking for computer backup, as well as people needing mobile backup through its iOS companion app. The listed licenses distinguish household use from commercial and technician use.

Overview

Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) is Mac backup software, with an iOS companion app for mobile backup. It suits Mac households that want one license to cover every computer at home, while businesses and technicians have separate commercial options. Its broad backup and restore scope and ransomware protection are useful strengths, but the lack of a free plan makes the 30-day trial the practical way to assess it before paying.

Key features

CCC covers computer backup on macOS and mobile backup through its iOS companion app; it does not cover server backup. Its mixed backup scope and restore modes suggest flexibility across backup and recovery needs, though the specific methods and workflows are not described. Ransomware protection is a notable part of the package for people concerned about backup resilience, but the feature’s mechanics are not defined.

The 30-day trial gives prospective users a limited window to decide whether CCC fits their backup needs. With no free plan, it is not a continuing no-cost option after that period.

Pricing

CCC is paid software with three license options that divide chiefly by use case. The Personal & Household License covers non-commercial home use and includes all computers in the household. Its price is not published, so households will need to confirm the cost before deciding whether that broad seat coverage fits their budget.

The Corporate & Institutional License costs $49.99 a month for commercial use. Volume pricing is available through the vendor’s corporate store, making this the relevant starting point for organizations, though the monthly rate may be less attractive for small teams seeking a one-time license.

The Pro License costs $125 a month and is intended for technicians using CCC commercially. It allows temporary use on an unlimited number of client computers, a strong fit for service work that spans many machines rather than a fixed employee fleet. Its higher monthly price makes less sense for a single household or business that only needs backup on its own computers.

There is no free tier, and the trial lasts 30 days. The commercial plans are priced monthly; no renewal or cancellation terms are provided.

Platforms

CCC supports macOS for computer backup and iOS through a companion mobile app. That makes it relevant to users managing both Mac and iPhone backup needs, but it is not a Windows or Linux option.

Who it's for

CCC is best suited to Mac-owning households that want all computers at home covered under one non-commercial license, or to organizations and technicians with commercial backup needs. A technician who moves between client machines has a particularly clear reason to consider the Pro License’s unlimited temporary client-computer use.

It is a poor fit for Windows or Linux users, people seeking server backup, and anyone who needs a permanent free plan. The separation between home and commercial licensing also means a business should not treat the household option as a low-cost substitute.

Pros and cons

Pros

• One household license covers all computers in the home, avoiding a per-computer restriction for non-commercial use.
• Mac computer backup and iOS companion-app mobile backup address two device categories within the same product family.
• The Pro License permits temporary use on an unlimited number of client computers, which suits technicians handling varied client machines.
• Ransomware protection is included among its capabilities.

Cons

• No free plan means ongoing use requires a paid license after the 30-day trial.
• The personal license price is not published, so home users cannot compare its cost directly without checking with the vendor.
• The Corporate & Institutional and Pro options are monthly subscriptions at $49.99 a month and $125 a month respectively.
• There is no server backup, and support is limited to macOS and iOS rather than Windows or Linux.

Alternatives

For broader disk-cloning choices, browse the Disk Cloning Software directory; for backup products across categories, see Backup software.

AOMEI Backupper is a Windows alternative with a perpetually free Standard plan and a paid Professional Yearly option at $39.95 a year, making it a better fit for Windows users who want a free starting tier.

doClone is a free GNU/Linux disk and partition imaging and restoration option for readers focused on Linux imaging rather than Mac and iOS backup.

HDClone offers a free edition for private use, capped at 4 TB and up to 70 MB/s, plus a paid Basic Edition; it is worth considering when those limits suit a private-use cloning task.

Lazesoft Recovery Suite combines data recovery, Windows recovery, password recovery, and disk image and clone functions in a non-commercial home edition, so it may suit home users prioritizing that recovery mix.

OpenSuperClone is a free Linux utility under GPLv2; its Virtual Disk Mode requires a kernel module.

Clonezilla is free and open source under GPL version 2, and supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted platforms.

Lazesoft Disk Image & Clone has a free Home Edition for personal, non-commercial use on up to three PCs in one household, making it an option for Windows homes with that seat limit.

OSFClone is a free self-booting disk-imaging utility for Linux and Windows; USB installation requires a drive of at least 2 GB.

Verdict

Choose Carbon Copy Cloner if you need backup for Macs, want household coverage across all computers, or are a technician who can use its unlimited temporary client-computer allowance. Its combination of Mac and iOS backup plus ransomware protection is compelling within that scope. Look elsewhere if you need Windows or Linux support, server backup, or a free ongoing plan; commercial users should also weigh the recurring monthly cost against their needs.