Leaker Majin Bu has noticed something in looking at screen protectors for the iPhone 17 line.
The screen protector for the alleged iPhone 17 Air has its camera cutout shifted from the right side of the Face ID sensors to the left side. The obvious implication is that the usual front sensor layout—an oval cutout for TrueDepth sensors on the left and a round cutout for the front camera on the right—will be reversed in the iPhone 17 Air. The camera will be on the left with the TrueDepth sensors on the right. Screen protectors for the other models show the camera in the usual position.
It’s unclear why Apple is shifting the camera on only this phone, though it likely has something to do with internal engineering. In order to make a phone so thin, Apple will need to shift some components. Of course, the two cutouts on the front of modern iPhones are joined into a single “pill” shape by the Dynamic Island, and that should be nearly, if not exactly, the same size on all iPhone 17 models. A small shift to the camera position, still hidden in an identical Dynamic Island, won’t have any impact on users.
Over the years, the iPhone front camera has regularly shifted position. On the iPhones 4 and 5, the first iphone with a selfie camera, it was on the left, then moved to the center for the iPhone 6, 7, and 8. When Apple introduced Face ID and screen notch with the iPhone X, the camera was positioned on the left side, where it has remained since.
The change may speak to some new internal design considerations intended to help make the iPhone 17 Air thinner, however. That means we could see the same arrangement on future iPhones.
Wireless AirPods are fun and all, but they can be easy to lose if you’re not careful, and can run out of juice right in the middle of a run. These Apple EarPods, however, are affordable, always attached to your phone, and never run out of battery. You can get a pair for $16 right now, the cheapest they’ve ever been, an impressive 16 percent discount.
These old-school earbuds come with a USB-C port so you can connect them to all the most recent iPhone models, as well as pretty much any other device with a USB-C port, including laptops, tablets, and even Android devices. The EarPods have a sleek design that’s in line with pretty much all other Apple devices and only come in white. They have a round cable, so you’re going to have to be careful about those dreadful tangles.
The volume controls are built into the cable, so you can adjust the volume, control media playback, and even answer or end calls without pulling out your phone. There’s an integrated microphone that captures your voice and will even pick up your Siri summons when you need the smart assistant. So snap up a pair of EarPods for $16 (or more) while they’re still on sale.
Ditch the AirPods and get some $16 EarPods insteadApple has planted its own flag in the streaming wars with Apple TV+, its in-house streaming service that focuses almost entirely on original programming rather than an extensive library of existing TV shows or movies.
This guide will list all the Apple TV+ content you can watch today, divided into episodic shows or series and movies. There’s also a ton of new content in the works for Apple’s $9.99-a-month service. If you want to know what’s on the way, check out our list of upcoming Apple TV+ shows and movies.
Updated June 27, 2025: Smoke, starring Taron Egerton, is now streaming.
Smoke
Released: June 27, 2025
The Buccaneers (season 2)
Released: June 18, 2025
Not a Box
Released: June 13, 2025
Echo Valley
Released: June 13, 2025
Stick
Released: June 4, 2025
Bono: Stories of Surrender
Released: May 30, 2025
Lulu is a Rhinoceros
Released: May 30, 2025
If you want to start watching Apple TV Plus here’s how.
You can subscribe to Apple TV+ on Apple’s website here, or via the Apple TV app on your device. It costs $9.99/£8.99 a month, which you can cancel at any time (Read: How to cancel and Apple subscription). You can also opt for a one-year subscription for $99/£89, which essentially gives you two months free each year.
Apple also offers various trials so that you can try out Apple TV+ before you subscribe. Take a look at our article explaining all the ways you can watch Apple TV for free, and the best Apple TV+ deals you can get.
Students can get Apple TV+ for free with an already subsidized Apple Music subscription.
There’s far too much content on Apple TV+ to sift through it all yourself. If you’re looking for something to watch and don’t know where to start, here are a few of the Macworld staff’s favorite shows, series, and movies.
These are all the episodic series you can currently watch on Apple TV+, including both recurring and limited series. This list is in alphabetical order.
| Title | Premiere | Seasons / Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything | May 21, 2021 | 8 episodes |
| Acapulco | October 8, 2021 | 3 seasons, 30 episodes |
| Amazing Stories | March 6, 2020 | 1 season, 5 episodes |
| Amber Brown | July 29, 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Bad Monkey | August 14, 2024 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Bad Sisters | August 19, 2022 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| BE@RBRICK | March 21, 2025 | 1 season, 13 episodes |
| Becoming You | November 13, 2020 | 1 season, 6 episodes |
| Before | October 25, 2024 | 10 episodes |
| Best Foot Forward | July 22, 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Big Beasts | April 21, 2023 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Black Bird | July 8, 2022 | 6 episodes |
| Boom! Boom! The World vs Boris Becker | April 7, 2023 | 2 episodes |
| Calls | March 19, 2021 | 1 season, 9 episodes |
| Camp Snoopy | June 14, 2024 | 10 episodes |
| Carême | April 30, 2025 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Carpool Karaoke | August 8, 2017 | 5 seasons, 75 episodes |
| Central Park | May 29, 2020 | 3 seasons, 39 episodes |
| Circuit Breakers | November 11, 2022 | 1 season, 7 episodes |
| City on Fire | May 12, 2023 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Constellation | February 21, 2024 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Cowboy Cartel | August 2, 2024 | 4 episodes |
| Criminal Record | January 10, 2024 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Curses! | October 27, 2023 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Dark Matter | May 8, 2024 | 1 season, 9 episodes |
| Dear Edward | February 3, 2023 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Dear… | June 5, 2020 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Defending Jacob | April 24, 2020 | 8 episodes |
| Dickinson | November 1, 2019 | 3 seasons, 30 episodes |
| Disclaimer | October 11, 2024 | 7 episodes |
| Dope Thief | March 14, 2025 | 8 episodes |
| Doug Unplugs | November 13, 2020 | 2 seasons, 26 episodes |
| Dr. Brain | November 3, 2021 | 1 season, 6 episodes |
| Drops of God | April 21, 2023 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Duck & Goose | July 8, 2022 | 2 seasons, 17 episodes |
| Earth at Night in Color | December 4, 2020 | 2 seasons, 12 episodes |
| Earthsounds | February 23, 2024 | 1 season, 12 episodes |
| Echo 3 | November 23, 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| El Deafo | January 7, 2022 | 3 episodes |
| Eva the Owlet | March 31, 2023 | 2 seasons, 17 episodes |
| Extrapolations | March 17, 2023 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Five Days at Memorial | August 12, 2022 | 8 episodes |
| For All Mankind | November 1, 2019 | 4 seasons, 40 episodes |
| Foundation | September 24, 2021 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock | January 21, 2022 | 2 seasons, 27 episodes |
| Fraggle Rock: Rock On! | April 21, 2020 | 1 season, 6 episodes |
| Frog and Toad | April 28, 2023 | 2 seasons, 18 episodes |
| Get Rolling with Otis | October 8, 2021 | 2 seasons, 18 episodes |
| Ghostwriter | November 1, 2019 | 3 seasons, 39 episodes |
| Government Cheese | April 16, 2025 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Greatness Code | July 10, 2020 | 2 seasons, 13 episodes |
| Gutsy | September 9, 2022 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Harriet the Spy | November 19, 2021 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Hello Tomorrow! | February 17, 2023 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show | November 5, 2021 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes |
| Helpsters | November 1, 2019 | 3 seasons, 40 episodes |
| Helpsters Help You | April 24, 2020 | 6 episodes |
| High Desert | May 17, 2023 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Hijack | June 28, 2023 | 7 episodes |
| Hollywood Con Queen | May 8, 2024 | 3 episodes |
| Home | April 17, 2020 | 2 season, 19 episodes |
| Home Before Dark | April 3, 2020 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Interrupting Chicken | November 18, 2022 | 2 seasons, 17 episodes |
| Invasion | October 22, 2021 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Jane | April 14, 2023 | 3 seasons, 20 episodes |
| John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial | December 6, 2023 | 3 episodes |
| K-Pop Idols | August 30, 2024 | 6 episodes |
| La Maison | September 20, 2024 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Lady in the Lake | July 19, 2024 | 7 episodes |
| Land of Women | June 26, 2024 | 1 season, 6 episodes |
| Lessons in Chemistry | October 13, 2023 | 8 episodes |
| Liaison | February 24, 2023 | 1 season, 6 episodes |
| Life by Ella | September 2, 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Lincoln’s Dilemma | February 18, 2022 | 4 episodes |
| Lisey’s Story | June 4, 2021 | 8 episodes |
| Little America | January 17, 2020 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes |
| Little Voice | July 10, 2020 | 1 season, 9 episodes |
| Long Way Up | September 18, 2020 | 11 episodes |
| Long Way Home | May 9, 2025 | 10 episodes |
| Loot | June 24, 2022 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Losing Alice | January 22, 2021 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Love You to Death | February 7, 2025 | 1 season, 7 episodes |
| Lovely Little Farm | June 10, 2022 | 2 seasons, 14 episodes |
| Make or Break | April 29, 2022 | 2 seasons, 15 episodes |
| Manhunt | March 15, 2024 | 7 episodes |
| Masters of the Air | January 26, 2024 | 9 episodes |
| Me | July 12, 2024 | 1 seasons, 10 episodes |
| Messi Meets America | October 11, 2023 | 6 episodes |
| Messi’s World Cup: Rise of a Legend | February 21, 2024 | 4 episodes |
| Midnight Family | September 25, 2024 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Monarch: Legacy of Monsters | November 17, 2023 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Monster Factory | March 17, 2023 | 6 episodes |
| Mr. Corman | August 6, 2021 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Murderbot | May 16, 2025 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| My Kind of Country | March 24, 2023 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Mythic Quest | February 7, 2020 | 4 seasons, 40 episodes |
| Not a Box | June 13, 2025 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Now and Then | May 20, 2022 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Omnivore | July 19, 2024 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| One-of-a-Kind Marcie | August 18, 2023 | 39 min. |
| Onside: Major League Soccer | February 21, 2025 | 8 episodes |
| Oprah Talks COVID-19 | March 21, 2020 | 1 season, 13 episodes |
| Oprah’s Book Club | November 1, 2019 | 1 season, 14 episodes |
| Pachinko | March 25, 2022 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes |
| Palm Royale | March 20, 2024 | 10 episodes |
| Physical | June 18, 2021 | 3 seasons, 30 episodes |
| Pinecone & Pony | April 8, 2022 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes |
| Platonic | May 24, 2023 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Prehistoric Planet | May 23, 2022 | 2 season, 10 episodes |
| Presumed Innocent | June 12, 2024 | 8 episodes |
| Pretzel and the Puppies | February 11, 2022 | 2 seasons, 18 episodes |
| Prime Target | January 22, 2025 | 8 episodes |
| Puppy Place | October 15, 2021 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes |
| Real Madrid: Until the End | March 10, 2023 | 3 episodes |
| Roar | April 15, 2022 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Sago Mini Friends | September 16, 2022 | 3 seasons, 24 episodes |
| Schmigadoon! | July 16, 2021 | 2 seasons, 12 episodes |
| See | November 1, 2019 | 3 seasons, 24 episodes |
| Servant | November 28, 2019 | 4 seasons, 40 episodes |
| Severance | February 18, 2022 | 2 seasons, 19 episodes |
| Shantaram | October 14, 2022 | 1 season, 12 episodes |
| Shape Island | January 20, 2023 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Shining Girls | April 29, 2022 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Shrinking | January 27, 2023 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Side Quest | March 26, 2025 | 4 epsiodes |
| Silo | May 5, 2023 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Slow Horses | April 1, 2022 | 4 seasons, 24 episodes |
| Slumberkins | November 4, 2022 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Smoke | June 27, 2025 | 9 episodes |
| Snoopy in Space | November 1, 2019 | 2 seasons, 24 episodes |
| Stick | June 4, 2025 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Still Up | September 22, 2023 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Stillwater | December 4, 2020 | 3 seasons, 30 episodes |
| Strange Planet | August 9, 2023 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| STEVE! (martin): A documentary in two pieces | March 29, 2024 | 2 episodes |
| Sugar | April 5, 2024 | 8 episodes |
| Sunny | July 10, 2024 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Super League: The War for Football | January 13, 2023 | 4 episodes |
| Surface | July 29, 2022 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes |
| Surfside Girls | August 19, 2022 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Suspicion | February 4, 2022 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Swagger | October 29, 2021 | 2 season2, 18 episodes |
| Ted Lasso | August 14, 2020 | 3 seasons, 34 episodes |
| Tehran | September 25, 2020 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes |
| The Afterparty | January 28, 2022 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes |
| The Big Cigar | May 17, 2024 | 6 episodes |
| The Big Conn | May 6, 2022 | 4 episodes |
| The Big Door Prize | March 29, 2023 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| The Buccaneers | November 8, 2023 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes |
| The Changeling | September 8, 2023 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin | March 1, 2024 | 1 season, 6 episodes |
| The Crowded Room | June 9, 2023 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| The Dynasty | February 16 2024 | 10 episodes |
| The Enfield Poltergeist | October 27, 2023 | 4 episodes |
| The Essex Serpent | May 13, 2022 | 6 episodes |
| The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey | March 11, 2022 | 6 episodes |
| The Last Thing He Told Me | April 14, 2023 | 7 episodes |
| The Line | November 19, 2021 | 4 episodes[a] |
| The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball | April 22, 2022 | 1 season, 5 episodes |
| The Me You Can’t See | May 21, 2021 | 1 season, 6 episodes |
| The Morning Show | November 1, 2019 | 3 seasons, 30 episodes |
| The Mosquito Coast | April 30, 2021 | 2 seasons, 17 episodes |
| The New Look | February 14, 2024 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| The Oprah Conversation | July 30, 2020 | 1 season, 15 episodes |
| The Problem with Jon Stewart | September 30, 2021 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| The Reluctant Traveler | February 24, 2023 | 2 seasons, 13 episodes |
| The Shrink Next Door | November 12, 2021 | 8 episodes |
| The Snoopy Show | February 5, 2021 | 2 seasons, 26 episodes |
| The Studio | March 26, 2025 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| The Super Models | September 20, 2023 | 4 episodes |
| They Call Me Magic | April 22, 2022 | 1 season, 4 episodes |
| Time Bandits | July 24, 2024 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| Tiny World | October 2, 2020 | 2 seasons, 12 episodes |
| Truth Be Told | December 6, 2019 | 3 seasons, 28 episodes |
| Trying | May 1, 2020 | 4 seasons, 32 episodes |
| Visible: Out on Television | February 14, 2020 | 5 episodes |
| Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn | August 25, 2023 | 4 episodes |
| Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson | July 30, 2021 | 1 season, 6 episodes |
| WeCrashed | March 18, 2022 | 8 episodes |
| Where’s Wanda? | October 2, 2024 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Wolfboy and the Everything Factory | September 24, 2021 | 2 seasons, 20 episodes |
| Women in Blue | July 31, 2024 | 1 season, 10 episodes |
| WondLa | June 28, 2024 | 2 seasons, 14 episodes |
| Wonder Pets: In the City | December 13, 2024 | 1 season, 13 episodes |
| Yo Gabba Gabbaland | August 9, 2024 | 1 season, 20 episodes |
| You Would Do It Too | October 30, 2024 | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Your Friends and Neighbors | April 11, 2025 | 1 season, 9 episodes |
Apple TV+ is home to a fair number of original movies, too. Some of the movies saw a limited theatrical release, all are listed here in alphabetical order.
| Title | Release Date |
|---|---|
| 9/11: Inside the President’s War Room | September 1, 2021 |
| Argylle | April 12, 2024 |
| Beastie Boys Story | April 24, 2020 |
| Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry | February 26, 2021 |
| Blitz | November 22, 2024 |
| Blush | October 1, 2021 |
| Bono: Stories of Surrender | May 30, 2025 |
| Boys State | August 14, 2020 |
| Bread and Roses | November 22, 2024 |
| Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You | October 23, 2020 |
| Causeway | November 4, 2022 |
| Cha Cha Real Smooth | June 17, 2022 |
| Cherry | March 12, 2021 |
| CODA | August 13, 2021 |
| Come from Away | September 10, 2021 |
| Dads | June 19, 2020 |
| Deaf President Now! | May 16, 2025 |
| Echo Valley | June 13, 2025 |
| Emancipation | December 9, 2022 |
| Fancy Dance | June 28, 2024 |
| Fathom | June 25, 2021 |
| Finch | November 5, 2021 |
| Fingernails | November 3, 2023 |
| Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds | November 13, 2020 |
| Flora and Son | September 29, 2023 |
| Fly Me to the Moon | December 6, 2024 |
| Fountain of Youth | May 23, 2025 |
| Ghosted | April 21, 2023 |
| Girls State | April 5, 2024 |
| Greyhound | July 10, 2020 |
| Hala | December 6, 2019 |
| Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas | November 22, 2023 |
| Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth | April 17, 2020 |
| Killers of the Flower Moon | January 12, 2024 |
| Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues | October 28, 2022 |
| Luck | August 5, 2022 |
| Lulu is a Rhinoceros | May 30, 2025 |
| Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special | December 4, 2020 |
| Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues | December 3, 2021 |
| Napoleon | March 1, 2024 |
| Napoleon: Director’s Cut | August 29, 2024 |
| Number One on the Call Sheet | March 28, 2025 |
| On the Rocks | October 23, 2020 |
| Palmer | January 29, 2021 |
| Raymond & Ray | October 21, 2022 |
| Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me | November 4, 2022 |
| Sharper | February 17, 2023 |
| Sidney | September 23, 2022 |
| Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne | December 10, 2021 |
| Snoopy Presents: It’s The Small Things, Charlie Brown | April 15, 2022 |
| Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School | August 12, 2022 |
| Snoopy Presents: To Mom (and Dad), With Love | May 6, 2022 |
| Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin | February 16, 2024 |
| Spirited | November 18, 2022 |
| Stephen Curry: Underrated | July 21, 2023 |
| Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie | May 12, 2023 |
| Swan Song | December 17, 2021 |
| Tetris | March 31, 2023 |
| The Banker | March 20, 2020 |
| The Beanie Bubble | July 28, 2023 |
| The Bloody Hundredth | March 15, 2024 |
| The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse | December 25, 2022 |
| The Elephant Queen | November 1, 2019 |
| The Family Plan | December 15, 2023 |
| The Gorge | February 14, 2025 |
| The Greatest Beer Run Ever | September 30, 2022 |
| The Instigators | August 9, 2024 |
| The Last of the Sea Women | October 11, 2024 |
| The Pigeon Tunnel | October 20, 2023 |
| The Sky Is Everywhere | February 11, 2022 |
| The Tragedy of Macbeth | January 14, 2022 |
| The Velvet Underground | October 15, 2021 |
| The Velveteen Rabbit | November 22, 2023 |
| The Year Earth Changed | April 16, 2021 |
| Twas the Fight Before Christmas | November 26, 2021 |
| Who Are You, Charlie Brown? | June 25, 2021 |
| Wolfs | September 27, 2024 |
| Wolfwalkers | December 11, 2020 |
We all know the importance of backing up our Macs, but what is the best Mac backup software to use for the job? To many of us, backing up a Mac means using Time Machine, the free backup app included with macOS. Time Machine can make incremental backups of everything on a Mac and can be used clone an old Mac to a new Mac. Also popular is iCloud, which although not a way to back up your Mac, can be used to sync photos, music, files and more so you can access them on all your Apple devices.
However, while Time Machine and iCloud are great resources, they aren’t perfect, and relying on them alone to keep your data safe is a mistake that could have disastrous consequences.
In this article, we look at the best Mac backup software to use with your Mac. We also have an article where we look at cloud backup for Macs including Backblaze, Carbonite, IDrive and other options that offer the ability to combine local backups with backup to the cloud.
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Of the apps and services we look at here, Time Machine from Apple is by far the simplest option. It’s also completely free and available to everyone with a Mac, so you might be wondering why you would want to consider another backup option for your Mac? Time Machine is good, but it is limited compared to some of the options out there. Aside from Time Machine our top choice right now is ChronoSync, which is easy to use, quick, reliable and reasonably priced.
Read on to find out how options such as Get Backup Pro, ChronoSync, Carbon Copy Cloner, and SuperDuper might meet your needs.
Pros
Cons
Apple’s Time Machine, built into every Mac, offers reliable, incremental local backups with a full restore function. The application is tailored to cooperate cleanly with Migration Assistant, supports encryption, and reminds you to back up every so often. Keep in mind that it requires a connected external drive, so pairing it with a cloud service gives you the best of both worlds.
We are starting with Apple’s Time Machine software because it is included with every Mac. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the best option for you.
Time Machine is a reliable tool for local backups of Macs, providing a full-sized initial backup of every file on the Mac and incremental backups throughout the day as long as the Mac is attached to a designated Time Machine external drive. That drive can be disconnected and used as an external drive for other computers or paired with multiple Macs for backups.
The first backup takes the longest while every file on the Mac is rolled into the Time Machine backup, but it gets quicker from there. Time Machine’s Restore function allows users to open and scroll through past backups to locate and restore files, which is useful if something was accidentally deleted or you made changes to a file and need to go back to an earlier version.
When paired with Apple’s Migration Assistant, porting data and user profiles from an old Mac to a new one is simple. When importing a Time Machine backup to a new Mac, Time Machine inherits previous backups as well.
For security, users can designate a password to encrypt their Time Machine backups and there are reminders about the number of days since the last backup that encourage you to keep it plugged in.
However, Time Machine is more geared towards external hard drives, which can be lost, damaged, or stolen, and it relies on said drive being connected to your Mac (you could use a NAS drive). It is best to have both a local and secure off-site copy of your data, and the online backup market has grown over the past few years with services like iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, and Box.
Despite its limitations, Time Machine is an excellent solution for local backups of Macs. While it requires an external hard drive connected to the Mac for consistent functionality, it offers excellent protection built into the operating system.
Pros
Cons
ChronoSync for macOS delivers powerful, customizable backups without overwhelming the user. You can choose from tasks like folder syncs, bootable clones, or cloud backups to Google or Amazon. Rule-based automations and scheduling offer pro-level control, while its clean interface, solid support, and a nice trial version make it a smart alternative to Time Machine with additional bells and whistles if you want them.
ChronoSync for macOS, from Econ Technologies, can give those who want it tighter control over their backup options in a format that doesn’t overwhelm. The software is based on several core modules including Home Folder Backup, Data Volume, Synchronize Two Folders, Multiple Folder Backup, Bootable Backup, Backup to a Disk Image, and Folder Backup.
Simply select your desired function from the ChronoSync Organizer/home screen. For example, select the task you want to create, specify your settings (e.g. folders you want to copy over, file types to copy, a schedule, etc.), and hit “Synchronize”.
Synchronizations can also be set up to simulate functions. For the truly die-hard and geeky, rule-based copies and tasks can be set up.
You can readily back up to NAS and file servers, the program supporting Apple’s HFS+ and APFS file formats as well as others. ChronoSync also supports backing up to Google Cloud and Amazon storage.
For users looking to make bootable clones, this is just as easy as what SuperDuper!or Carbon Copy Cloner have become known for. Choose a source volume, choose a target volume, hit “Synchronize,” let the process run. ChronoSync can create two types of bootable clones: standard and mirrored. The former creates a bootable system on the destination volume, leaving other files on the volume intact. Mirror replaces the entire contents of the destination volume with files from the source.
A readily-accessible manual offers quick access to a guidebook that comes in handy and there’s easy access to the company’s ticketing system should you require tech support.
Where price and offerings are concerned, ChronoSync offers something valid for your money. There is also a entry-level ChronoSync Express package that is part of the SetApp bundle (reviewed here: SetApp review). The company also offers a 15-day trial without requiring a credit or debit card.
Read our full ChronoSync review
Pros
Cons
Bombich Software’s Carbon Copy Cloner remains a go-to Mac backup utility, offering deep customization, NAS support, scripting, and a smart SafetyNet feature. While Apple’s current restrictions complicate bootable backups (which may change with the introduction of macOS 26 Tahoe), CCC excels at scheduled tasks and pairs well with Time Machine. Add great support and a 30-day trial, and it’s absolutely worth a test run.
Bombich Software’s Carbon Copy Cloner has been a popular utility for cloning data on Macs since it launched in 2002. It supports HFS+ and APFS drive formats, local volumes, and NAS-enabled networks. However, it cannot back up Windows file formats, optical media, web-based platforms, or Apple’s Time Machine platforms.
Carbon Copy Cloner has a comprehensive user interface, and customizable filters and grants access to configuration options like disk encryption, task notes, and bandwidth configuration for NAS backups. Other tools, such as scheduling, can be performed without issue. The task manager allows users to save and configure multiple backup tasks. A scripting feature allows custom scripts to be loaded and activated as needed.
The SafetyNet feature allows for drive formatting or stopping processes before overwriting data on a volume. However, there are some weak points, including Apple’s lack of openness and the need for bootable external volumes. Creating a bootable external volume in Carbon Copy Cloner is currently a hit-or-miss proposition, with attempts at creating a bootable external volume failing due to Apple’s protocols. Other utilities face the same issues.
Carbon Copy Cloner pairs well with utilities like Time Machine, Apple’s Migration Assistant, and SuperDuper!. The company’s customer support is friendly and speedy, and the software offers quick access to help guides. A supportive community and frequent developer updates are another bonus. If Carbon Copy Cloner is not in your arsenal of handy utilities, you should download it and give it a try. There’s a full-featured 30-day trial.
Read our full Carbon Copy Cloner review
Pros
Cons
SuperDuper! is a reliable, scriptable Mac cloning tool that’s easy to use and great for local backups. It supports APFS and HFS+, offers Smart Backup and scheduling, and runs well with custom scripts. It does not support network backup (yet), but it’s a solid, affordable alternative with a free version and stellar support behind it, making it an excellent value.
SuperDuper! (version 3.8 at the time of this review) is a popular Mac cloning and restoration app that is easy to install. It supports APFS and HFS+ file formats and can be customized to fit individual needs. In addition to cloning, the app supports scheduling and allows users to specify files to be copied over, including Unix-specific elements like user folders, shared users, shared users and applications, and backup files.
SuperDuper! easily restores data from one volume to another, which is simpler than using Apple’s restoration options in macOS’s Disk Utility. The user interface displays the number of files copied, copy speed, data evaluated, time elapsed, and amount of data moved from the source volume to the target volume. Users can edit provided scripts or write their own, choose between methods such as Total Backup and Smart Backup, and set up events like permission repairs before a copy begins, scripts to execute after a copy has completed, and for the Mac to eject the target volume, shut down, go to sleep, or quit SuperDuper! once the copy is done.
However, SuperDuper! has room for improvement. For example, it can’t back up to network volumes and it doesn’t support FAT, exFAT, or NTFS for Windows and Linux volumes. We hope that the network backup comes with a further update.
We like the fact that SuperDuper! retails for a one-time payment rather than on a subscription plan You can use it for free, but you need to pay to unlock scheduling, smart updates, and some other features.
Over the years, Shirt Pocket has consistently provided solid updates, pinned down bugs, supported new protocols introduced by Apple, and communicated well through its tech support and marketing. Overall, SuperDuper! is a reliable local cloning and restoration app for the Mac that can be readily customized and scripted, and is excellent value.
Read our full SuperDuper! review
Pros
Cons
IDrive blends local and cloud backups with drag-and-drop ease, automatic folder selection, and solid restore options like Snapshots and Rewind. The application encrypts your data, offers a generous free tier, and supports multiple devices, although the UI’s clunky in spots and the pricing feels steep if you’re only backing up one Mac as opposed to several.
lDrive is a backup utility that handles both local and web/cloud-based backups (similar to Backblaze and Carbonite). It allows you to continually backup your entire drive to the cloud, while also letting you drag and drop files to the cloud to access remotely. lDrive also allows you to back up external hard drives.
lDrive’s user interface is very straightforward. Your Desktop, Documents, Music and Pictures folders are automatically selected for backup, along with the contents of ~/Library/Mail.
Features like Rewind and Snapshots allow you to restore from earlier versions of files or snapshots of the complete data set.
To add other folders, click ‘Change’ at the bottom of the window – that’s not exactly intuitive. You can add videos to the backup, but locating them in lDrive’s interface can be complicated.
Both scheduling and restoring are straightforward, however. As is choosing a local drive as the destination for a backup in place of lDrive’s servers.
All data is encrypted, with the option to set your own private encryption key.
You have the choice of restoring by having data physically shipped to you. This is free for the first restore each year, but if you are based outside the US you’ll have to pay for shipping.
The subscription-based tier system offers a free Basic account with 10GB of online disk space for free with no credit or debit card required. That 10GB free tier allows for local backups and is pretty generous, but the real steal is the IDrive Mini plan, which, for less than 3 bucks a year, gives you access to 100GB of storage.
lDrive’s free tier and the ability to spread your data allocation in the paid tiers across multiple computers makes it attractive. Overall, though, it’s expensive for a single machine.
Read our full IDrive review
Pros
Get Backup Pro keeps things clean and capable, complete with easy setup, strong customization, and seamless backup, cloning, and restore options. It runs smoothly under macOS Sequoia, offers flexible licensing, and even comes bundled with SetApp. This is a solid, affordable Time Machine alternative for casual users who want more control without the clutter.
Get Backup Pro by BeLight Software is easy to download, install into the Applications folder, and run (although we did encounter a few problems assigning full disk access).
The user interface keeps things simple, scheduling full backups, cloning, and incremental backups worked like a charm, and a slate of customization options allows for specific files and folders to be chosen and app data to be added to the backup/clone process.
The impressive level of customization makes it easy to set tasks up, while an excellent restoration system installed data where it needed to be without fail. Get Backup Pro to be very capable, running flawlessly under macOS Sequoia.
The software is priced well and is also available through MacPaw’s SetApp subscription service. The option of a 30-day demo gives you time to play around with it, and the licensing is flexible.
Get Backup Pro presents a nice array of options beyond what Apple’s free Time Machine utility offer and is excellent for the casual user and the home market.
Read our full Get Backup Pro review
Pros
Cons
Mac Backup Guru delivers synchronized cloning, smart incremental backups, and user-controlled snapshots, which offer more precision than Time Machine. Its minimal interface hides strong customization and iCloud integration, and while it lacks space-use alerts, its $9 price tag makes it a sleeper hit for users who want control without overcomplication. This is a solid and streamlined contender, and what it lacks in flash and marketing, it makes up for with reliable functionality worth looking into.
Mac Backup Guru offers what’s expected from a backup utility in terms of core backup and archival functionalities and works to take it a step further.
It offers both a synchronized clone backup, which can create standard copies of folders and drives as well as incremental backups that track changes and back up the changes (like Time Machine does).
The application’s easily customizable settings offer tight control over aspects such as setting the source and destination volumes, and you can pick and choose specific volumes and folders to include and exclude. The scheduler feature works like a charm.
Apple’s Time Machine will create snapshots of your hard drive at different times throughout the day, but there’s way to control when these are created or when they’re deleted. Mac Backup Guru offers this feature. Additionally, the number of recent snapshots can be designated as well before older snapshots are deleted.
There’s also backup/cloning feature that taps into iCloud-related tools and makes a copy of all your iCloud-based files to help complete the cloned volume.
Still, there’s room for improvement. For example, the app doesn’t confirm how much space it’ll need for a copy, leaving you rolling the dice as to whether you have enough space on the destination drive for the full copy.
Mac Backup Guru is an easy-to-use backup tool that keeps options and settings to a minimum while offering several useful features. It’s also good value – at the time of writing it was on offer for less than $9/£7.51, a significant discount on its usual $29/£24.15 price.
Pros
Backblaze offers seamless, set-it-and-forget-it online backups for Mac, storing your files offsite with optional encryption and two-factor authentication. It’s fast, Mac-like, and supports external drives. With multiple restore options (web, USB, or hard drive) and a “Locate Your Computer” feature, it’s a top pick for one-Mac users who value simplicity with functionality and is worth your attention.
Backblaze is an online, offsite backup service that allows you to back up your Mac to its servers automatically or according to a schedule you set.
Backblaze backs up the contents of your Documents, Pictures, Movies and Music folders, but excludes your Applications folder. Backblaze also excludes some file types from being backed up, such as .dmg disk images – that restriction can be switched off, however.
Backups are kept for 30 days, so you can restore from any that ran during that time. As you would expect, backups are incremental so only files that have changed since it last ran are copied. Data is encrypted and you can optionally add a six-digit passcode to provide an additional layer of security.
When it comes to restoring your data, you have three options: you can restore via Backblaze’s web interface or you can have files sent to you on a USB stick or hard drive for an additional fee. And there’s a 100% refund if you return the USB stick or hard drive within 30 days, though you’ll have to pay shipping and taxes.
You can view individual files and choose which ones to download. And you can view and share backed up files on an iPhone or iPad with the Backblaze mobile app.
The Locate your Computer service tracks your Mac’s location to help you find it if it’s stolen – similar to Find My. If a lost Mac is still running backups your Mac can tell you its current IP address and show you recently backed-up data.
Backblaze’s user interface comprises a menu bar item and a System Preferences pane. However, that pane is more like a fully fledged application, with options to exclude files, add folders and disks to the backup, and throttle bandwidth. It’s simple and very Mac-like.
If you only need to back up one Mac, and particularly if you want to back up external disks, Backblaze’s simplicity and price give it the edge over Carbonite and IDrive.
With Backblaze your data is stored in secure data centres and two-factor authentication adds an extra level of security.
Read our full Backblaze review
Pros
Cons
Acronis True Image for Mac combines backup and antivirus features in one sleek package. Its modules handle cloning, archiving, and bootable backups with ease. Cloud storage, ransomware protection, and strong malware detection sweeten the deal, and while Some bugs and clunky UI elements persist, it’s powerful, flexible, and starts at a reasonable price.
Acronis True Image for Mac works as a customizable backup utility as well as an antiviral/anti-malware app. It starts at $49.99/£42.99 per year for the Essentials version that includes one computer with local backup and anti-ransomware. You can pay more for cloud based backups, which is why we also include it in our round up of cloud-based Mac backup apps.
You’ll find Backup, Protection, Disk Cloning, and Archive modules. The Backup module allows you to designate source and destination volumes as well as choose which files are backed up and to where. It’s easy to create exclusion lists as to which files can by bypassed when it comes to backing up, and the scheduling feature worked well.
The Backup module also leads to True Image’s Acronis Survival Kit, which allows for a bootable backup drive to be created that your Mac can boot and install a new operating system from.
The Disk Cloning module works well, and makes quick copies of volumes as needed. The Archive module allows you to offload local data to Acronis’ cloud structure, which is handy for freeing up local space.
The Protection module offered a good degree of antiviral protection, catching no less than 23 potential threats from a sample archive off the bat.
Unfortunately, during our testing there were bugs that couldn’t be avoided and user interface elements that were either inconvenient or needed a complete overall.
Read our full Acronis True Image review
Macworld’s backup software reviewer, Chris Barylick is an Apple-Certified Macintosh Technician with experience working with clients who have lost data and decades of experience tinkering with Macs. Like the rest of the Macworld team, he has been using Mac hardware, software, and services for decades. Macworld’s review process is thorough and we have evaluated all aspects of the products included here. We discuss our testing process in more detail below.
Here at Macworld we conduct comprehensive software reviews and, on occasion, a particular application emerges as an undisputed standout. However, in certain cases, multiple contenders may emerge. The optimal choice often hinges on a specific set of requirements. For instance, one option may be the most suitable for those with a limited budget, while another may be preferable for an individual who wants more control over the software. Consequently, we provide specific recommendations for each application so you can find the one that meets your needs. The applications that we deem most worthy are included in our group tests. If an application is not featured here, it may be due to its lower rating compared to those included in this roundup.
We judge the best Mac backup software on a variety of criteria including reliability, ease of use and the features it supports. Our tests involve running each program through the various types of backups it’s capable of, restoring backup data to make sure that it can be recovered without corruption, and simulating disaster recovery scenarios. We aim to ensure that the software delivers on its promises and that it is easy to use. We run through what we recommend you look for in a backup app in more detail below. We award scores between 0 and 5, including half stars and the best apps are then considered for our Best Backup software for Mac list.
We’ve selected the best Mac backup software in this group test based on the criteria mentioned above. If you are evaluating the best option for you we recommend that you consider the following:
Value for money: Is the app subscription only or can you purchase a perpetual licence? In many cases buying the software outright may appeal because you won’t be charged each year. One advantage of a subscription model tends to be that the developer will keep your version of the app up to date, so there is less risk that the app won’t be supported in the future. Some apps will have multiple features, which is great if you need them all, but another app with fewer features may cost less and give you what you need.
Backup options: Think about what you want to backup because there is more than one type of backup. A system backup will back up everything – the operating system, all your applications, and all your settings. This means that if your Mac fails (or you buy a new one) you can recover your Mac exactly the way it was onto a new model. This method is time consuming the first time the backup is made, but later backups are incremental, with only only backups being things that have changed.
Alternatively a data only back up will allow you to keep a copy of files and data that can be restored at a later date. This method is quick, but if your Mac fails you will need to reinstall the operating system and your apps and your unique set up will be lost.
Another option, though it’s not a backup as such, is syncing. You can sync your data on your Mac to the cloud and then access it on other devices you own. The main problem with this is that if you alter a file that is synced to the cloud those changes are made centrally, so you can’t easily recover an older version. So if you delete what’s in the cloud you will lose it for ever (although luckily there is an option to recover your deleted data for 30-day, at least on iCloud).
Backup device:Another issue is what you will be backing up to. A SSD will be quick, but an hard drive will offer you more space for less money. Your choice of backup software should consider how much data you are backing up and what you are backing up to. Another consideration is what will happen when you run out of space for your backup. Look at the space management options of the backup app. Will older backups be deleted.
Scheduling options: Of all the features offered by backup apps this is probably the most important. Look to see how often you can set your backups to happen, are they real time, continuous, hourly, daily, weekly? If your Mac is only backing up what changes then a real time backup can actually be less noticeable because you Mac only backs up a small amount of data at a time.
Security: Also important is the security of your data, especially if you are carrying a hard drive around with you. Look for both encryption and/or password protection options.
An ideal strategy consists of at least two separate backup schedules, one backing up your Mac to a hard drive onsite, and one backing up to a drive that’s stored offsite or in the cloud. At the very least, if you use Time Machine to back up to an external hard drive or network device, you should also have another tool running regular backups to a different drive just in case one fails.
You can do this with Time Machine, which is the simplest and cheapest solution. The only associated cost is purchasing an external drive, but a 1TB hard drive can be purchased for less than $30/£40 these days, so that isn’t prohibitive.
Here’s how to backup with Time Machine:
As we mention above, you shouldn’t rely on only Time Machine, a better solution might be one that is not kept at the same location as your Mac, given that if there was a fire or flood, both Mac and backup could be destroyed.
We explain How to back up your Mac with Time Machine and also How to back up a Mac using various other methods in separate articles.
Time Machine keeps a back up of everything on your Mac. It creates hourly, daily, and weekly backups, but only backs up the changes made since the last backup. It also stores multiple versions of documents, so you can go back to older versions and restore them.
Other Mac backup software works in a similar way, creating copies of your data at regular intervals, which can be stored either on-site or off-site.
You may be wondering if you can back your Mac up to iCloud? The answer is no, not exactly, but you can create a folder in iCloud and copy files to that.
For more information read: Time Machine vs iCloud: Do you need to use both and can one back up to the other?
As a rule you need about twice the storage available in your Mac. So, if your Mac has 1TB of storage you need about 2TB in an external drive.
Intel powered Macs running Power Nap can backup in sleep mode. On modern Macs you need to go to System Settings > Battery (laptop) or Energy (desktop) > Options and set it to wake for network access. If your Mac is set to wake for network access then it will ‘wake up’ from Sleep mode to run Time Machine backups.
Looking for a SSD or Hard drive to back up your Mac? See our best SSDs for Mac and best Hard drives for Mac and Best NAS drives for Mac.
The expandable storage options provided by the DS925+ make it a great option for small businesses and home offices that need a fast, reliable network drive. However, Synology’s apps and documentation could be a lot simpler and more straightforward for first-time users.
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Synology makes a wide range of high-end NAS systems for corporate and business users, but it’s also one of the few manufacturers that still caters to smaller businesses and people who work at home. Its latest release is the DiskStation DS925+, which provides an expandable storage system with plenty of scope to grow in the future.
At first glance, the DS925+ looks almost identical to its predecessor – called the DS923+ – with a sombre black design that provides four drive bays for hard drive or SSD storage. There are also two M.2 slots on the base of the drive that can be used to install SSD modules for a high-speed cache to boost performance. However, the older DS923+ is still sold online by a number of dealers, so make sure you buy the new DS925+ model when ordering online.
The upgraded DS925+ includes a faster quad-core AMD Ryzen V1500B processor running at 2.2GHz, along with two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports for a high-speed network connection. Synology claims that this makes it significantly faster than its predecessor, offering a maximum write speed of up to 565MB/s and read speed of 522MB/s – although, of course, this will very much depend on how your network is configured and the type of drives that you install.
Like many of Synology’s NAS drives, the DS925+ is sold ‘unpopulated’ – as just an empty chassis, with no drives included. The unpopulated drive costs £575.00/$640.00, so you’ll need to budget for additional hard drives or SSDs on top of that basic price. You also need to ensure that you select 2.5-inch SSD or 3.5-inch hard drives that have been approved as ‘compatible’ by Synology. These can be bought direct from Synology itself, or through some of its online dealers. However, you can’t buy the DS925+ itself from Synology, so you’ll need to shop around online for the best deal.
The maximum size of hard drive compatible with the DS925+ is 20TB, so its four bays provide a maximum of 80TB of storage (with a number of RAID options also supported). However, there’s an expansion module also available, called the DX525, which can be connected to the DS925+ if you want to further upgrade your storage. This costs £467.00/$449.00, and provides five additional drive bays, giving you a maximum of 180TB of storage, so the DS925+ will be able to keep up as your business grows in the future. There are also USB-A (3.2) ports on the front and back panels, which allow you to connect individual external drives if required.
But while the hardware design is neat and efficient, Synology’s software doesn’t make it easy for new users to get started. There’s a label with a QR code included in the box, but this simply takes you to some very long, complicated Help files on Synology’s website, which could easily confuse anyone that’s using a NAS drive for the first time.
There is an app, called DS Finder, that is available for iOS and Android, and this app was able to see the DS925+ when it was connected to our office network. Unfortunately, the app simply told us to use a web browser to download and install the main operating system software, called DiskStation Manager (DSM), that is needed to control the drive.
Unfortunately, the web browser option didn’t work either, and simply displayed a message telling us to download a separate desktop app for Macs or PCs, called Synology Assistant. That didn’t work at first either, although it did at least provide some tips for adjusting the encryption settings on the drive. That worked in the end, and once we’d installed the DSM software we were able to switch back to the DS Finder app on our iPad to complete the set-up process for the drive. And, as well as a local network connection, the app also includes an option called QuickConnect that provides a remote connection to the DS925+, so that you can use it as a kind of ‘private cloud’ for accessing your files when you’re away from the office.
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Unfortunately, the DS Finder app also tells you to install a number of additional apps in order to manage your files, photos and other features, so Synology really needs to rethink its documentation and its confusing selection of apps and utilities to make them a bit more user-friendly for small businesses and home workers who may not have a trained team of IT staff available to set everything up for them.
The compact design of the DS925+ makes it a good option for any small business or office, and its expansion options ensure that it can provide additional storage in the future. However, the software side of things is rather untidy, so the DS925+ will be best suited for people who already have a little experience of networking and setting up a NAS drive.
Check out the other NAS drives we have reviewed in our round up of the Best NAS drives for Mac.
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