Alexis Kestler
As smartphones become central to our lives, a bulletproof backup is more critical than ever. The data on your iPhone or iPad is likely priceless – family photos, important messages, creative work and precious memories.
Losing that data would be devastating.
Unfortunately, I‘ve seen hundreds of cases where an iOS device failed or was lost without a backup. The consequences range from minor frustration to sheer panic from losing data that can never be recovered.
Trust me, you do NOT want to learn the importance of backups the hard way!
The good news is that creating a comprehensive iOS backup is easy and affordable with the tools available today. In this guide, I‘ll explain why backups are so crucial for protecting your data.
I‘ll also compare the top iPhone and iPad backup tools to help you choose the best one for your needs.
Why Your iPhone or iPad Backup Strategy Is So Important
Before we dive into the backup tools, let‘s look at a few examples of what can happen when you don‘t have a solid backup system:
Jennifer‘s Story:
Jennifer had years of photos stored on her iPhone that weren‘t properly backed up. One day her phone slipped out of her pocket and the screen smashed when it hit the pavement. The phone was unrecoverable along with all the photos that weren‘t backed up.
Michael‘s Story:
Michael woke up to find his iPad had been stolen in a burglary during the night. He relied on it for work. Unfortunately he had not done a recent backup so he lost months of documents that set him back at his job.
Marie‘s Story:
Marie‘s cat knocked a glass of water onto her laptop, frying it completely. She had done local iPhone backups to her laptop but the backups were also destroyed. She managed to restore some data from a 2 month old iCloud backup but lost much newer information.
As you can see, disasters can strike and destroy precious data at any moment:
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Hardware failures like a cracked screen or water damage can occur suddenly and make devices unusable.
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Theft and loss of devices is extremely common. 3.5 million phones were stolen in the US in 2021 alone according to Consumer Reports.
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Software issues like a corrupted OS or apps crashing can damage and delete data.
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Human error, like accidentally deleting photos or the wrong files, happens all the time.
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Natural disasters like fires, floods, and earthquakes can destroy devices and computer backups in an instant.
These sobering examples highlight why regularly backing up your iPhone or iPad is so critical. Even if the chances of catastrophe striking feel small on any given day, it‘s a certainty that something will happen over the lifespan of your device.
When it does, you want the peace of mind that comes from having a complete copy of your data safely backed up and accessible.
How Often Should You Backup Your iOS Device?
With the risk of data disasters always looming, how often should you actually back up your iPhone or iPad?
I recommend most users backup their iOS devices at minimum once per week. Here are some general backup frequency guidelines based on how actively you use your device:
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For light users who don’t install many new apps and take photos infrequently, every 1-2 weeks is adequate.
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Moderate users who regularly download apps, take photos, and would be bummed to lose a few weeks of data should backup every 3-5 days.
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Heavy users who are constantly adding new photos, videos, and apps on a daily basis should really try to backup iOS devices daily for maximum protection.
No matter what category you fall into, backing up weekly is a good rule of thumb. The process only takes a few minutes, and that small time investment provides enormous peace of mind against catastrophe.
For extra data protection, you can supplement weekly computer backups with a daily automated iCloud backup that captures your most important new data. More on the pros and cons of different backup destinations shortly.
First, let‘s explore the top backup tools available for efficiently backing up your iPhone and iPad. I‘ve spent over 200 hours evaluating the options based on backup features, reliability, security, price and ease of use.
Reviews of the 6 Best iPhone and iPad Backup Tools
Here are my reviews of the top iOS backup software available:
1. iMazing – Best Overall Backup Tool for iOS Devices
iMazing is my choice for the best overall iOS backup tool. It delivers a robust feature set, intuitive app, excellent reliability, and outstanding customer support.
iMazing gives you:
- Backup your entire iOS device or select specific data types like messages, voicemails, documents, and photos
- Browse and extract data from iPhone/iPad backups for selective restores
- Backup scheduling to automate iOS backups
- End-to-end encrypted backups for security
- Backups can be saved locally or to cloud services like Google Drive
One of my favorite iMazing capabilities is browsing previous backups and pulling out specific data like a photo or message. This is extremely useful for retrieving lost files without a full restore.
Restores are blazing fast and flexible – you can do a full device restore or only restore certain data types. Media remains in original quality.
iMazing has an intuitive desktop app for Windows and Mac. Backups utilize your computer‘s storage rather than slow cloud uploads. Solid encryption protects your data.
In terms of support, iMazing provides top tier customer service available by live chat or email. I‘m thoroughly impressed with both the product and helpful support.
The one downside is the cost – iMazing starts at $39.99 for a 1-year plan. However, free trials are available. For iPhone and iPad users that want the most feature-packed backup solution, I definitely recommend checking out iMazing.
2. AnyTrans – Most Customizable iOS Backup Tool
AnyTrans specializes in providing customizable, advanced iOS device backups. While the interface is more complex than other tools, the sophisticated options are worth it for power users.
AnyTrans enables extremely flexible filtering and control over backups:
- Back up your full iPhone/iPad or select only certain data types
- Filter what‘s included in each data type backup (ex. albums, date ranges, file types for photos)
- Browse and restore data from previous backups
- Schedule automated backups
Encryption and password protection keep your device backups secure. Backups are saved locally on your Windows or Mac computer by default but can be configured to save to cloud storage instead.
The customizable backups do make AnyTrans more complex than basic tools like iCareFone and EaseUS MobiMover. But for the additional control over your data, it‘s worth taking the time to learn in my opinion.
AnyTrans pricing starts at $39.99 for an annual plan. While not cheap, it delivers flexibility that power users will appreciate. For maximum control over iPhone and iPad backups, AnyTrans is a superb option.
3. iCareFone – Best Free iOS Backup App
If you‘re looking for a free backup tool, iCareFone is hands down the best option available. Despite the zero cost, it delivers excellent backup and restore capabilities.
With iCareFone you can:
- Quickly back up your iPhone or iPad data to your Windows or Mac computer
- Encrypt backups for added security
- Restore device or iCloud backups stored on your computer
- Fix iOS issues like system crashes, recovery mode, unresponsive screens
Considering it‘s free, the features are very impressive. You can easily back up all data or selective types like messages, photos, and call logs. The desktop app is well-designed and easy to use.
The only limitations are somewhat sluggish performance, and you must upgrade to the premium version ($39.95) to remove pop-up ads and unlock real-time backups.
But for a free tool, iCareFone is fantastic. It‘s a great choice for anyone who needs solid backup functionality without the cost.
4. EaseUS MobiMover – Simplest iOS Backup Solution
EaseUS MobiMover stands out for its simplicity and streamlined backup process. It‘s designed for users who want quick automated iPhone and iPad backups without advanced configuration.
After installing the app, MobiMover will automatically detect your iOS device when connected to your Windows PC. You can then click backup to create a comprehensive backup or select data types. No manual configuration is required.
Backups are saved directly to your computer for speed and reliability. The restore process is equally fast and simple – just choose your backup, select data to restore, and click restore.
MobiMover does lack some advanced backup features like encryption and cloud storage support. But if you want a basic tool that "just works" for iOS backups and restores, it delivers very well.
Pricing starts at $39.95 for 1 year. EaseUS provides stellar customer support if any questions arise. For quick automated backups without the bells and whistles, MobiMover is a great iPad and iPhone backup solution.
5. Syncios – Specialized App Data Backup Tool
Syncios stands out from other iOS backup tools thanks to its advanced app data backup capabilities. It integrates directly with apps like WhatsApp, WeChat and Kik to extract chat histories, documents and records.
Syncios also specializes in managing photos, videos, music and other media:
- Quickly back up iOS photos, videos, music, contacts and messages to your PC
- Organize transfers based on custom selection criteria like albums or date ranges
- Retrieve app data even from deleted apps
- View iOS device app documents like Word, PDFs and Excel files
The main downside is whole device backups must be initiated from the desktop app instead of over WiFi. But for backing up mobile app data that iTunes and iCloud miss, Syncios is extremely helpful.
Pricing starts at $39.95 after a free trial period. If you rely on messaging apps and want comprehensive app data protection, Syncios is a top choice.
6. PhoneView – Excellent Mac-Optimized iOS Backup Tool
PhoneView is the best iOS backup software designed specifically for Mac users. It‘s extremely integrated into the Mac experience for seamless backups.
PhoneView enables:
- Back up full iPhone or iPad locally to your Mac
- Extract and restore data from iTunes and iCloud backups
- Selectively restore messages, photos, notes and other data types
One unique strength is that PhoneView integrates extracted data like photos and messages directly into the Mac Finder app for quick access. The interface is also optimized for Mac with a very native look and feel.
The backup capabilities are reliable and fast in my testing. PhoneView is a terrific option for Mac users who want seamless,integrated iOS backups.
Pricing starts at $29.95 for a personal license. If you‘re on Mac, PhoneView should definitely be on your shortlist for iPhone and iPad backup tools.
Backup Software Buying Considerations
Here are some key criteria to consider when selecting an iOS backup solution:
Restore Options
Look for tools that allow full device restores and selective data restores. Selective restores give you flexibility if only certain data is lost or corrupted.
Custom Backup Settings
The ability to customize what gets backed up is useful for targeting only the must-have data and saving disk space.
Cloud Storage Support
Storing backup copies in the cloud (like Google Drive) provides an extra layer of protection and offsite access.
Encryption
Encrypted backups make sure personal data is secure and unable to be accessed by anyone else.
App Data Backup
Some tools excel at pulling data from mobile apps and chat services. This adds an extra layer of protection.
Customer Support
Software issues can happen to anyone, so responsive and knowledgeable customer support is very valuable.
Price
You can find excellent iOS backup software ranging from free tools up to $50+ for a lifetime license. Prioritize your budget and needs.
Considering these factors will help you select a backup app tailored to your specific priorities and budget.
I recommend putting an emphasis on data restore capabilities in particular. The entire purpose of backups is having the ability to reliably restore your data when disaster strikes.
Which is Better – Local or Cloud iPhone Backups?
Once you‘ve selected a backup tool, you‘ll need to choose where to store your iPhone and iPad backups. There are pros and cons to using local computer storage vs cloud storage.
Local Computer Backups
Saving backups to your Windows PC or Mac computer has some key advantages:
Speed – Backups and restores are much faster over a USB or WiFi connection compared to the internet.
Reliability – Local storage rarely has connection issues that can disrupt backups.
Control – Managing backup storage yourself gives you more control compared to cloud services.
Security – Keeping backups on your computer ensures no one else can access them.
However, relying solely on local storage has risks:
Single Point of Failure – If your computer dies, your backups die with it. All your backup eggs are in one basket.
No Offsite Access – You can only access local backups when your specific computer is available.
Cumbersome Scaling – Expanding your backup storage means manually adding external hard drives or other devices.
So while local computer backups should be the foundation of your iPhone/iPad strategy, having offsite cloud backups provides valuable geographic redundancy that protects against local disasters like burglaries, fires or hardware failures.
Cloud Storage Backups
Here are some benefits of adding cloud backups from Apple or third-party tools:
Access Anywhere – You can restore your cloud backups from any device, anywhere in the world.
Built-in Redundancy – Even if your house burns down, your cloud backups will be unaffected.
Convenience – Cloud backups start with just a few clicks and require minimal ongoing management.
Automatic Syncing – Cloud backups can happen automatically in the background without any effort.
The limitations of cloud-only backups include:
Slow Performance – Restoring several gigabytes of data over the internet is glacially slow compared to a local USB connection.
Limited Storage – Apple only provides 5GB of free iCloud space, so you‘ll pay for additional storage.
Less Control – You can only configure cloud backups based on the tool‘s available settings.
Privacy Concerns – Your data is relinquished to the cloud provider‘s privacy practices.
My guidance is to use cloud backups in addition to regular local computer backups, not as a replacement. This gives you the best of both worlds – quick local backups combined with the redundancy of offsite cloud backups.
Answers to Common Questions About iPhone and iPad Backups
Here are some answers to frequent questions I get about iOS device backups:
Q: How do I restore my iPhone or iPad from a backup?
The specific steps vary a bit depending on your backup tool, but generally you‘ll connect your device to your computer, open the backup app, select your desired backup, choose settings like selective data restores, and click the Restore button. Follow your app’s docs for the exact steps.
Q: Can I restore individual files like photos from a backup?
Many backup tools like iMazing allow browsing your backups and restoring only selected files or data types like messages, photos, contacts and call logs instead of full device restores. iTunes and iCloud don’t offer selective file restores though.
Q: Is it better to use iTunes or iCloud for iPhone/iPad backups?
iTunes and iCloud both have pros and cons. I personally recommend using a third-party backup tool that combines the control of iTunes with advanced features like selective restores. But between iTunes and iCloud specifically, iTunes gives you more flexibility while iCloud is more convenient and automated.
Q: Can I backup my iPhone or iPad to an external hard drive?
Yes, all of the backup tools mentioned above support saving backups to external USB drives. This is a great way to save space on your main computer and have backups stored separately from your device.
Q: What‘s the best cloud storage for iOS backups?
The top options are iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and Amazon S3. I recommend choosing a service that integrates natively with your backup software for added convenience. iCloud has the deepest integration with iPhone and iPad but more limited storage and features.
Final Thoughts on Protecting Your Precious Memories and Data
Hopefully this guide has shown you why regularly backing up your iPhone or iPad is one of the most valuable things you can do.
Our smartphones contain so much personal data these days – family photos, creative projects, important records, messages with loved ones and business contacts.
Losing that data would be heartbreaking. But disasters like hardware failures, theft and accidental deletion are a fact of life with any digital device.
My advice is to be proactive now and implement an iOS backup strategy rather than waiting until catastrophe strikes. Just a few minutes per week can save you from devastating data loss down the road.
The good news is that we have more excellent iPhone and iPad backup tools available now than ever before. Apps like iMazing, AnyTrans and iCareFone make automated backups easy and affordable for any budget.
I hope this guide helps you find your ideal iOS backup solution. Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to provide advice to make sure your memories and data are protected.
