Carbon Copy Cloner

Carbon Copy Cloner provides macOS users with a flexible backup and cloning tool that extends beyond the capabilities of the built‑in Time Machine. It lets you define precise source‑to‑destination mappings, schedule backups on hourly, daily, weekly or monthly intervals, and pause or resume operations at any point. The interface shows the amount of data each task will copy, and you can filter files or folders to include or exclude, mount or unmount disks automatically, and run custom shell scripts before or after a backup.

The software employs a “Smart Copy” engine that detects added or changed files and copies only those, reducing unnecessary data transfer. It is optimized for APFS and solid‑state drives, supporting snapshots for point‑in‑time recovery and the ability to back up cloud‑only files locally. Optional encryption protects backups stored on owned media, and the format is non‑proprietary, allowing straightforward restoration of individual files, folders, entire systems, or migration to new Macs.