SmartBackup for Mac
Daily backups with Spotlight integration.
Free
In English
Version 4.6When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission
SmartBackup overview
SmartBackup is an alternative lightweight backup application for OS X.
- Backup multiple source items to a destination folder on an external harddrive, flashdrive or network share, or create a bootable clone of your system.
- SmartBackup only copies what has changed after the initial run and is very fast in updating your backup or system clone.
- Archive deleted or changed files in an archive folder during the backup and easily browse available versions of a file and restore them with one click.
- Use Spotlight Saved Searches to define what you want to backup or what you want to exclude.
- Automate your backup using iCal, Automator or launch it in commandline mode and include it in launchd items or scripts.
Note: While the software is classified as free, it is actually donationware. Please consider making a donation to help support development.
What's new in version 4.6
New:
- New Backup option to skip and ignore dataless files when not downloaded (for example iCloud files that have been removed from this Mac), and not trigger a download.
Improvements:
- Purging of deleted/changed archives is now performed as the first step to free up space before backup.
- Detects volume unmount/mount and open/closes currently selected destination if affected automatically.
- Adding source open panel how has option to show hidden files.
- Displays current file copy throughput when files are copying.
Changes:
- Legacy HFS system volume clone support has been removed.
Bugfixes:
- Performs extra utimes change for smbfs (in addition to exfat) to solve issues with utime transfer on certain smb servers, for example some Synology NAS
- Updates destination free size display on finish/cancel backup.
- Fixes crash that sometimes occurred when a backup was cancelled due to the destination running out of space.
- Background items (for automation) display correctly with App Icon in System Settings.
SmartBackup for Mac
Free
In English
Version 4.6
Write a detailed review about SmartBackup
(49 Reviews of SmartBackup)
Comments
User Ratings
Mar 4, 2025
Version: 4.4.1
What a great little app! I was using an expensive backup app that was overkill, and I had to transfer the licence to another Mac so I went looking for something simpler. SmartBackup is simple but also powerful, elegant and fast. I was happy to donate.
Feb 18, 2023
Version: 4.3
Great little program. Basic functionality. Get's the job done. Good work!
Feb 15, 2023
Version: 4.3
It's a very simple backup app and it suitable for me. There is something I noticed, I set up a scheduled backup for every Monday at a certain time but the backup is being executed on Sundays. Has anyone had this issue?
Mar 19, 2022
Version: 4.3
I have recently installed SmartBackup on my iMac and it works when I click the Start button, but the schedule will not run. Is there something I need to do in order for the daily backups to run?
Oct 28, 2021
Version: 4.3
Question: I want both a local backup and a cloud backup on my MacBook Pro. I have already installed JustCloud, and it's working fine for the cloud backup. Can I install SmartBackup as well, for the local backup? Will these two programs interfere with each other?
