AOMEI Backupper

Comparing Macrium Reflect Free Edition vs. AOMEI Backupper Free

Advantages of Macrium reflect Free Edition:

• I can can start MR Free backups from the command line from System Scheduler
  AB Free is not able to make command line backups, only AB pro can be started from the commandline, see Edition Comparison
  The System Scheduler needs only 4.9 MB of the RAM, Macrium Reflect needs 69 MB, AB 38 MB. So it is better to have Macrium Reflect only in the RAM, when it runs. This is done by System Scheduler.
• Macrium Reflect Free is the quickest Backup Software and is not slower than Macrium Reflect Pro. AB Free is slower than AB PRO.
• Macrium Reflect Free needs only 27.4 MB space on the harddisk, AB needs 104 MB

Avantages of AOMEI Backupper over Macrium Reflect Free Edition
AOMEI Backupper is able to make file- or folder-backups (as Cobian backup can do), Macrium Reflect Free Edition can only make backups of complete partitions

Weak points of both Macrium Reflect Free Edition and AOMEI Backupper Free

• Free versions cannot do automatical cleanup: but I only start one single bat-File to do the cleanup and to do the backup. So it is very easy to do a full-automated and very quick backup-prozess with Macrium Reflect free edition. For all backups on all my computers I use the same bat-File.
• AOMEI 2.8 in June 2015 ist not able to create a bootable USB-Disk on newer UEFI/GPT Notebooks (Win7 or Win8). It's the same with Macrium Reflect Free Edition. But it is no big problem, because the portable open source software RUFUS is able to create a bootable USB-Disk on newer UEFI/GPT Notebooks.

A nice backup software! Besides backup and restore work, it can also clone partition or disk. What I like most is its incremental backup. It backs only the new added or changed files on your computer not the whole after you have made a full backup. Thus, you don't have to get a full backup every time. Much time and effort is saved! Anyway, I'm satisfied with its intuitive interface and easy operations.

[Edited by Jiao, July 25]

Since Version 4 AOMEI Backupper does not include Universal Restore anymore which allowed you to restore to different hardware. You have to buy it now or use an older version prior to 4. Due to that being the only useful function this thing had (compared to others) I sadly have to downvote it now...

[Edited by EpicLPer, April 06]

Unfortunately, for me AOMEI Backupper works incredibly slow...

Backups, regardless of full or incremental, literally take days to complete.

I have a relatively fast laptop (Lenovo ThinkPad, i7) with a 1 TB hard drive.

Using file backup mode, to backup approx. 500-or-so GB, to a 1 TB Toshiba USB 3.0 external HD.

So easy to use and works like a charm!

I use the Chinese free version of this software which seems to have more features than the English version. It sometimes causes the windows don't refresh pixels when using it, but a restart brings my PC to normal. Besides that, I have no complaint.

it has Good UI, and supports Live CD, but only full backup supported