Backup Pro 26 is the latest edition of this popular multipurpose Windows backup solution from PC software experts, Ashampoo. This is a backup solution which, amongst many other useful features, supports making both file and full disk image backups whilst also providing third-party cloud storage integration via several popular cloud storage services including Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox.
Now on version 26 which was released towards the later part of 2024, Backup Pro has been further enhanced and refined with various new and upgraded features helping to extend the overall usefulness of what is already a solid backup tool. Notable enhancements to Backup Pro 26 include the newly upgraded real-time backup technology which provides enhanced data protection, the “Easy Backup” tool which makes creating ad-hoc backups easier than ever before plus various improvements to the interface and backup engine helping to maintain Backup Pro as one of the best all-round backup applications.
The previous edition of this multipurpose backup application, Backup Pro 25, has been a personal favourite of mine as well as one of the top-rated multipurpose backup solutions tested on this very website. Naturally I am looking forward to trying out this latest edition and reviewing some of the many new and updated features that Backup Pro 26 has to offer – Vamos.
Key Features
New & Enhanced Features:
- Upgraded Real-time Backups: The latest and most advanced real-time backup technology ensures nothing gets missed form an always-on Windows backup.
- “Easy Backup” Technology: A new approach to making ad-hoc backups even faster and more flexible than ever before.
- Enhanced BitLocker Support: Unlock Microsoft BitLocker encrypted drives within the Backup Pro application for faster backup configuration.
- Automatic Shutdown on Completion: Automatically set a PC to shut down upon the successful completion of a backup job.
- Improved Desktop Application: The latest design of Backup Pro features a new menu system and makes finding built-in functionality easy.
- Improved NAS support: Support is available for NAS systems including those from leading manufacturers such as Synology, QNAP and WD My Cloud.
- Improved Application Stability: A newly improved backup engine ensures backup jobs are stable and performance optimised for the latest editions of Windows.
Already Proven Features:
- Full Windows 11 Support: Support is provided for modern editions of the Windows operating system up to and including the latest versions of Windows 11.
- Well-designed & Easy to Use: Continuous refinement of the Backup Pro desktop application help to make backing-up simple and straightforward.
- Disk Image Backups: Support for making partition, disk and full system image-based backups is included.
- Multiple Backup Methodologies: Choose between full backups each time or more performance optimised incremental and differential backup methodologies.
- Strong Cloud Support: Multiple third-party cloud services are integrated into Backup Pro 26 including Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox plus any WebDAV service.
- Full BitLocker Support: Built-in support for BitLocker drives makes working with encrypted Windows systems more straightforward.
- Historic File Versioning: Easily specify custom historic file versioning across all backup types for enhanced protection against data-loss and malware.
- Zero-knowledge Encryption: Protect backups with strong encryption (up to AES 256-bit) ensuring stored data always remains safe.
- Free Email Notifications: Receive backup status notifications from backup Pro 26 when signed in to a (free-to-use) Ashampoo account (no SMTP details required).
- System Recovery Media: Built-in support for making bootable system recovery media (including full UEFI support) is included.
Licensing & Pricing:
- Perpetual Pricing Available: Available as a one-off purchase at just $66 per PC.
- Subscription Options: Annual pricing covers 3x PCs for just $18 per year including free upgrades to any new editions during the subscription.
- 30-Day Free Trial Available: A 30-Day free trial of Backup Pro 26 is also available (this requires a free Ashampoo account, else it is limited to 10-days).
Backup Pro 26 Usability
In this first section of my review, I will be downloading and installing Ashampoo Backup Pro 26 for myself. I will then be testing out how well the application performs during a range of real-world PC backup scenarios. This begins with the downloading and installation of the software itself before moving on to using some of the many backup and recovery related features.
What’s New in Backup Pro 26?
Before starting to test Backup Pro 26, I want to quickly address some of the key new and upgraded features which can be found in this latest edition of the software. This begins with the new real-time backup technology which can be used to track any changes to monitored files and folders reliably and help to ensure that such files on a device always remain automatically backed-up.
As can be seen above, real-time backups can be selected under the backup triggers section during the configuration process. Notably, the Backup Pro software supports using only real-time backups as a backup methodology in and of itself plus the use of real-time backups alongside a secondary fixed schedule (ensuring, for example, that full backups can still be made at specified timepoints as required).
Also new in version 26 is the Ashampoo “Easy Backup” technology, a new configuration interface which makes setting-up and taking ad-hoc backups straightforward and allows PC users of all abilities to quickly get their important data backed-up. Furthermore, the “Easy Backup” technology works with both file and disk image backup types meaning it is easy to get everything on a device backed up to a nearby external hard drive or NAS device as required.
Whilst there might not be too many brand-new features within this latest edition of Backup Pro, I believe it is important to point out that this is a well-established application and, as a tool already capable of virtually everything that would be required from a backup solution, it isn’t lacking many features to begin with. With this in mind, it is worth considering the many upgrades and improvements which Ashampoo have made to the software in this latest edition over and above the two main new features, useful that they both are.
Some of the more notable improvements in this latest edition include improved in-application BitLocker support, one-click access to all important areas of the app, an upgraded real-time file tracking system, upgraded NAS storage options (which extends to many leading NAS systems including Synology and QNAP) plus additional pre-made backup plans which make getting started with backup software as easy as possible (and are ideal for avoiding the configuration of backup sets from scratch).
Installing Backup Pro 26
Installation of Ashampoo Backup Pro 26 begins via the official Ashampoo website where a 30-day free trial can be started (this 30-day trial requires a free Ashampoo account, otherwise it is limited to just 10-days). As is always the case with any Ashampoo software, installation of Backup Pro 26 was simple and straightforward and, when making use of the default installation options, more-or-less automatic as well.
One of the first steps in the installation process will see the installer will notify us that we must register the software or, alternatively, elect to take advantage of the fully functional free trial before continuing. Upon completing these registration steps, the installation of Backup Pro 26 was soon complete upon my own device and the application itself ready to start backing up.
NB – Remember, Ashampoo offer a full 30-day free trial of Backup Pro 26 should you wish to try the software out for yourself, click to visit the official Ashampoo website for details.
Making Disk Image Backups
Backup Pro 26 supports various different methods for keeping a Windows PC backed up and in this first section of my review I will be covering this extensive backup functionality. This is a task which involves looking at the making of disk image backups and why for many PC users they are the ideal way of ensuring everything on a device (including the operating system and installed applications) is included in a back-up set (thus naturally providing maximum levels of data protection).
When creating any new backup set within Backup Pro 26, one of the first things the application will require is that we specify the target location upon which any data will be stored. As can be seen above, Backup Pro 26 makes it easy to simply select a local or network drive (NAS device) as well as utilising of one several third-party cloud storage services (including Google Drive and Dropbox) which are directly integrated into the application.
NB – When choosing a third-party cloud provider for storing backups upon, there will be an additional step in the configuration process whereby Backup Pro 26 will need to be authenticated to said cloud storage service. The exact steps in doing so will vary between the different providers available.
Having at this point chosen a storage destination and also specified some associated settings such as the name of the backup set, it is here we see one of the best features of Backup Pro 26 and a feature which can help to make the configuration of a new backup set as straightforward as is possible. This is the predefined templates page and, as can be seen below, this page enables simply selecting one of many preconfigured plans to help ensure certain folders, drives or even the entire PC is backed up with suggested settings including scheduling, version history and encryption all pre-configured.
NB – It is possible to skip this templates page and configure your own backup set form scratch should this be preferred.
In my own configuration I have opted not to use a predefined template, this means the next important choice I will need to make is whether to use a file-level backup or, as is the case for this section, a disk image-based backup as can be seen below.
NB – Disk image backups work by making a full and exact (1:1) copy of a disk (or disks) which make up a PC meaning all user data, installed applications and system settings can also be recovered. For example, if a hard drive fails, a new hard drive can be installed and the existing operating system can be recovered with all files, settings and installed applications also restored as a part of the recovery process.
With disk imaging selected and any disks to be included within the backup set chosen (more than one disk can be included), the next step is to optionally set-up encryption to protect any backed-up data. This is an important step as it is almost always a good idea to encrypt a backup set (unless you have specific reasons not to) and when setting up such encryption it is also very important to remember the password which is set.
NB – When using zero-knowledge encryption (as is the case here) there is no way of resetting the password if it is lost or forgotten. If you do forget this password then Ashampoo will have no means to re-set it and the backup will become inaccessible and of no use.
This latest edition of Backup Pro makes use of highly secure AES 256-bit encryption technology (amongst other encryption choices) which is widely considered as one of the most secure forms of encryption and, in-turn, one of the best methods for protecting backed-up data. With this encryption optionally configured, we can also specify whether or not to compress the backup (for saving disk space at the expense of a slower backup) before configuring the version history settings as can be seen below.
One of the most important aspects of a good backup (and something which makes backups much safer for protecting data versus file synchronisation) is the ability to keep multiple historic copies (versions) of any files which are a part of the backup set. As can be seen above, Backup Pro 26 offers some very good versioning options allowing users to specify exactly how many previous versions of files they want to keep. The tool also allows for specifying the methodology for handling incremental backups with the option to make regular full backups within the version history chain available thus helping to provide additional resilience.
NB – A good backup set which is configured to keep multiple historic versions of files can also provide one of the best forms of mitigation against modern dangers including malware and ransomware. For more information on this particular topic, be sure to read my guide to How Backup Software Can Help Protect Against Ransomware.
It is at this point in the configuration, having just specified the historic versioning settings, that we see one of the more recent features in the Backup Pro line become available. As can be seen below, we have on the following page the option to configure a fixed schedule for our new backup set as well as make use of the “Plug & Play” option which will set the backup running automatically once any external hard drives have been plugged into the device.
NB – Backup Pro 26 allows use of the “Plug & Play” option alongside the fixed schedule and both can be used together. This setup means we can set the backup to be run whenever an external hard drive is plugged in to the device as well as on a fixed schedule whilst this device remains plugged in thereafter.
As discussed, using the “Plug & Play” option will set this backup set running automatically as soon as the specified target storage device is connected to the PC. Setting up a fixed schedule involves simply selecting a fixed daily or weekly option or, alternatively, making use of the advanced scheduling functionality which affords a more complex schedule.
NB – Whilst the advanced strategy builder is very useful and should ensure all Backup Pro 26 users get the schedule that they require, I would like to see Ashampoo add an easier way of running the backup continuously with a fixed delay interval specified (e.g. an option reading “run the backup every ‘x’ hour(s)” would be helpful).
There are some other settings which can be configured after scheduling including options for handling missed backups, power saving settings for laptop users, configuration of email-based backup reports (which requires a free to use Ashampoo account be configured) plus one final (and very important) setting which is configuring how the software handles backup set verification.
Should the performance of backups be important then automatic verification can be turned off and simply performed manually as required. Ashampoo do, however, offer automatic verification of backup sets thus helping to ensure the highest levels of resiliency and reliability for any backup sets which are actively in use.
NB – Ashampoo have also recently added the “Backup & Shutdown” tool (see above) which, as the name implies, allows for any active backup set to be set running with the backup software then shutting down the Windows device once it has completed (great for large backups which need to be left running overnight).
Making Cloud Backups
As I have already mentioned in this review, one of the best features of the Ashampoo Backup Pro software line is its versatility and the number of backup configuration options it provides. This versatility also extends to the software having integrated a good range of third-party cloud storage services including several notable favourites including Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox and Google Drive.
The full list of cloud storage providers available within Backup Pro 26 is as follows:
- Dropbox
- Microsoft OneDrive
- Google Drive
- OneDrive for Business
- Strato HiDrive
- 1&1 cloud storage
- MagentaCLOUD
- ownCloud
- nextCloud
- WebDAV (any WebDAV supported service)
When creating a cloud backup within Backup Pro 26, we must select the third-party cloud service to be used as one of the first steps in the backup set configuration process. As was seen earlier on when configuring the disk image-based backup, this choice is made on the very first page of the set-up wizard.
As can be seen above, Backup Pro 26 already provides a good selection of integrated cloud storage services alongside the option to make use of the WebDAV protocol for connecting to one of many cloud storage services not currently showing up in the list (WebDAV being a standardised technology which is enabled upon most cloud storage services by default). In this particular setup I am going to be using Dropbox which, as with any other third-party cloud storage choice on this list, involves authorising my cloud account for use within the Backup Pro application (see below).
In the case of Dropbox, authorising Backup Pro 26 to use the cloud storage account is as simple as signing into Dropbox when prompted to do so (via a web browser) and then, once confirmation of authorisation is received, returning back to the backup application which will now be ready to utilise Dropbox storage.
NB – Integration with Dropbox, in my own experience, was straightforward and easy to accomplish. It is important to note, however, that the work required to authorise with other third-party cloud storage services could vary and support for such services could potentially also change over time as well.
As before, when making a disk image backup, the next steps in configuring a cloud-based backup involve giving the new backup set a name as well as (optionally) selecting one of the multiple predefined backup templates to help cut down on the configuration work required. In my example I am not going to use a predetermined backup template, instead configuring all options manually which begins with the selection of a file-based approach (versus the full disk imaging approach seen earlier on).
When choosing to configure a file-based backup set, we need to make use of the file selection tool for specifying what exactly is to be included. This can involve selecting individual files and folders using the file selection tool or making use of shortcuts for easily including all types of files such as documents, videos, photos, music files and downloads (thus making the file selection process much easier).
Also available on this file selection page is the ability to include or exclude files based upon their file type (file extension). For example, we could automatically exclude all “.iso” files from a backup set (regardless of where they might be located) which could, in turn, help to reduce running time given such files are usually large in size.
When making a cloud-based backup set we can still specify whether or not to use file compression and encryption (although both of these are recommended when using third-party cloud storage). Additionally, it is possible to set either a fixed schedule or make use of the real-time scheduling option which will automatically monitor files for changes and run the backup when such changes are detected.
NB – Ashampoo have revised and improved the real-time backup functionality in this latest version making it ideal for use with cloud backup storage given the little and often approach to backing-up it facilitates.
Having chosen a scheduling-based approach, I can then go on to optionally specify any power saving settings for this particular backup set, how missed backups are to be handled as well as opt to turn on email-based notifications via the free to use notification service provided via Ashampoo themselves (a free to use Ashampoo account is required to use this service).
It is also worthy of note that, when making file-based backups within Backup Pro 26, we also get a revised and easier to configure historic file versioning setup as can be seen above. This more straightforward approach simply allows for specifying a certain number of days’ worth of historic versions to be kept (we don’t need to worry about full and incremental chains as was the case when making a full disk image backup earlier on).
Restoring Data
Restoring data is one of the most important functions for any backup software. Not only must the restore process itself be reliable and deliver the results that are expected from it, but it must also be easy to use with the backup software itself making it straightforward to get to the correct version of any files as required.
As can be seen above, we can start recovering files from any active backup set via the dropdown context menu found on the “Backup Plans” page or via the dedicated “Restore” page which lists all available recovery options. Next, and if set, one of the first things to do before the restore operation can commence is the entering of the backup encryption password which will allow for the contents of the backup to be viewed.
Once authenticated to recover data, we will see the file selection tool become available for choosing the individual files and folders which are to be recovered. Selecting all necessary files and folders can then (optionally) be followed by selecting a specific version (or date) from which to recover using the version control options highlighted below.
NB – In the above example I am recovering from a file-level backup set. When using the disk image backup functionality, we can still recover individual files and folders (as required) in addition to the ability to recover an entire disk drive to an earlier point in time.
Importantly, Backup Pro 26 also allows specifying the restore location for these recovered files to be saved to (a feature sometimes overlooked in other backup products which make the assumption that files are only to be recovered to their original locations). Selecting the correct restore location in this case is as simple as selecting the drive and folder to be used, however, I would have liked to have seen a checkbox available for easily specifying that recovered items are to be saved back in their original locations.
And with the restore location chosen, everything is ready to go and we should see a restore summary page confirming our choices before the actual job itself can be set running.
NB – Remember, Ashampoo offer all new users a fully functional 30-day free trial of Backup Pro 26 via the official Ashampoo website.
Other Features of Backup Pro 26
Having now seen some of the core backup related features in use, it is time to look at some of the additional functionality also built into Backup Pro 26. This begins with a look at the “Backup & Shutdown” functionality which is also one of the newest additions to the Backup Pro software line.
As can be seen above, whilst on the Backup & Shutdown page we can simply select any of the (already configured) backups sets to be run and, once complete, the software itself will then see that the PC is shut down upon completion. It is also nice to see that Ashampoo have added-in the option to create desktop shortcuts for such backups meaning (once configured) we can set the entire backup and shutdown process running by simply double clicking an icon found on the desktop.
Moving on and, as has been the case for a long time within the Backup Pro series, we also have access to an excellent recovery media building suite of tools as can be seen below.
These recovery media tools allow for the building of a bootable recovery device using either an optical medium (e.g. CDs / DVDs) or a USB flash drive, both of which can be built from within the application itself. Once created, unbootable PCs can then be booted into the Ashampoo recovery environment using this bootable media and a disk image backup used to recover the system to a previously working state.
One final addition which needs to be mentioned is that of the “Check Disks” module, a tool which can (as the name implies) be used to perform reliability and integrity checks upon any hard disks installed in a PC (helping to ensure they are reliable and remain suitable for continued use).
As can be seen above, this disk maintenance tool will automatically list all available disks installed upon the system and can also be used to perform additional checks for issues and (optionally) set to automatically attempt to repair any issues which might arise.
Backup Pro 26 Security
Making use of strong zero-knowledge encryption is one of the safest and most effective methods for protecting backed-up data. This is especially true if such backed-up data is stored upon a third-party cloud storage service whereby the cloud provider themselves might (potentially) have access to such files or upon an external drive which could become lost or stolen.
With the above in mind, it is really useful to know that Ashampoo Backup Pro 26 provides the option to password protect all backups made within the application (including both file-level and disk image backups) using strong AES 256-bit encryption (amongst other encryption options as can be seen above). This step, whilst always optional regardless of which backup methodology is chosen, is definitely recommended in almost all backup situations, regardless of where the backed-up data is eventually stored.
NB – When using strong, zero-knowledge encryption (as is the case here within Backup Pro 26) there is no way of resetting the encryption password if it is lost or forgotten. If you do forget this password then Ashampoo will have no means to reset it and the backup will become inaccessible. With this in mind, if you do set a password, make sure to remember it!
Ashampoo Support
Ashampoo have a very useful help and support portal which is accessible via their official website. This resource features product documentation for Backup Pro 26 alongside a comprehensive FAQ section which should be capable of handling most problems you might encounter whilst using the software.
Should you still need to get in touch with a support representative from Ashampoo, you can also submit support tickets directly online via this same support portal.
Backup Pro 26 Pricing
Ashampoo Uninstaller 26 is priced at a one-off cost of $66 for a single perpetual licence (per PC) or from just $18 per year for a 3x PC subscription which includes free upgrades to any newer editions during the subscription period. Users of previous editions of Backup Pro can also upgrade to this latest edition for the special upgrade price of just $27.50 on the perpetual licence.
Also be sure to also check out the official Ashampoo deals page to find regular special offers across all Ashampoo software titles including Backup Pro 26.
Backup Pro 26 FAQs
Backup Pro 26 works by allowing users to create either file-level or full disk image backups in order to help protect the data stored upon a Windows PC. This backed-up data can then be stored either locally on an external hard drive or flash drive, on a NAS device / shared folder or on third-party cloud storage from leading providers including Dropbox, Google Drive or on any WebDAV compatible service.
Yes, Ashampoo Backup Pro 26 remains one of the best all-round Windows backup solutions I have reviewed. The ability to make both file-level and disk image backups as well as store data both locally or on one of multiple third-party cloud storage providers help to make this a very versatile tool. Better still, with easy-to-use premade backup plans and a subscription free, one-off payment of just $66, Backup Pro 26 will surely also prove to be a great value solution for many PC users as well.
Yes, Backup Pro 26 can be used both for backing up data to external hard drives as well as including the data stored upon such external hard drives for backing up else ware (including upon one of the many third-party cloud storage providers integrated into the application).
Ashampoo Backup Pro 26 supports the use of very strong AES 256-bit encryption (amongst other options) for providing the highest levels of protection to any backups made within the application. This encryption can be optionally applied across all backup types including both file-level and full disk image backups.
No, Backup Pro 26 does not include any dedicated disk cloning software, however, since the application supports making full disk image backups, such backups can effectively deliver the same result (the cloning of one disk to another) with the help of a secondary disk to store the disk image file during the process.
Backup Pro 26 Alternatives
In this section of my review, I will be looking at some good alternatives for Ashampoo Backup Pro 26. This will be focused on backup software which provides a highly versatile approach to backing up a PC including support for both file-level and disk image backups as well as the option to apply strong encryption and make use of system recovery media.
Remember, any ratings and opinions given below reflect my own opinions and should be treated only as a guide. When purchasing any kind of backup software, always be sure to check the details of the offering for yourself and always try and to make use of any free trials, whenever possible, to help ensure the solution is suitable before committing to a purchase.
1) Acronis True Image
True Image (formally Cyber Protect Home Office) is the security focused all-in-one backup, antivirus and cyber protection suite form leading backup software developers, Acronis.
An evolution of the highly popular Cyber Protect Home Office software line, True Image retains the industry leading disk imaging backup functionality for which Acronis have become well known. This means full disk, partition and system image backups can be taken, automatically replicated to the cloud, mounted as drives within Windows and even used as a base for migrating existing systems to dissimilar hardware via specialist tools.
Alongside this powerful image-based backup functionality are many other useful backup features and utilities which are built-in to True Image. This includes versatile file-level backups with powerful automatic scheduling options, blockchain backup verification, support for making Microsoft 365 backups, various system recovery tools plus utilities for directly cloning between disks and SSD drives (with 4K sector alignment) amongst many others.
Enhancing the True Image offering even further is the recent integration of the Acronis cloud, a built-in cloud storage service providing a pre-set allocation of cloud storage from Acronis themselves (on selected plans). Alongside this is a fully functional antivirus service which is also built into the core True Image software and is capable of replacing a traditional antivirus suite whilst helping to create much safer and malware-free backups in the process.
- Disk image backups
- Secure cloud backups
- Built-in antivirus suite
- Disk cloning tools
- AES 256-bit encryption
- 30-Day free trial
- From $49.99 / year
- Subscription only pricing
Acronis True Image is priced from $49.99 per year with multi-device plans available from $79.99 for use across 3x devices as well as plans with varying allocations of Acronis Cloud storage included from $54.99. A 30-day free trial is also available which includes access to 1TB of Acronis cloud storage during the trial.
2) EaseUS ToDo Backup Home
Available in both a free-to-use and premium edition, EaseUS ToDo Backup is a highly versatile backup solution providing file-level, disk, partition and system image backups which is complimented by many other useful backup and system related tools.
The ability to create both full disk image and file backups across both free and premium editions is one of the key features making ToDo Backup such a versatile backup option. Other functions including automatic scheduling, use of the EaseUS smart backup mode, the ability to mount disk image backups as drives within Windows plus support for utilising strong AES 256-bit encryption help reaffirm this as a top backup choice.
EaseUS also provide good built-in third-party cloud support which extends to allowing the use of mainstream providers (including Google Drive and Dropbox) for the storing of backups alongside subscription options which include integrated cloud storage provided directly from EaseUS themselves.
Other useful features found within ToDo Backup include WinPE based recovery media, dedicated disk cloning and system migration tools (with 4K sector alignment support for SSD drives), use of the EaseUS Secure Zone for enhanced malware protection plus support for migrating image backups to dissimilar hardware amongst various other features.
- Disk Image backups
- Easy to use software
- Secure cloud backups
- AES 256-bit encryption
- Disk cloning tools
- Dissimilar HW support
- 30-Day free trial
- From $39.95 / year
EaseUS ToDo Backup is available in a limited free edition alongside a fully-functional “Home” edition priced from $39.95 per year (or $59.95 with 1TB of cloud storage included). Other purchase options include a perpetual edition form $59.95 which is available with free lifetime upgrades for $79.95. More information on ToDo Backup and the 30-day free trial can be found via the official EaseUS website.
3) AOMEI Backupper
Available in both free-to-use and premium editions, Backupper has become well-known as a highly functional yet easy to use Windows backup application from software experts, AOMEI.
Featuring support for file-level backups alongside disk, partition and full system image-based backups, Backupper is capable of securing all important data on a Windows device to the requirements of the PC user in question. The optional application of automatic backup scheduling, strong AES 192-bit encryption plus email notifications and pre/post backup tasks help to make this a well-featured application overall.
Storage options available include support for locally attached drives and shared folders / NAS devices whilst also incorporating various third-party cloud choices via the use of the CBackup plugin which facilitates integrating such services.
Other notable features found within Backupper include dedicated tools for direct disk-to-disk cloning and full system migrations (including 4K SSD support plus provisions for migrating to dissimilar hardware), real-time folder synchronisation plus a highly functional recovery media builder supporting both Linux and Windows WinPE based recovery media being built.
- Disk image backups
- Secure cloud storage
- AES 192-bit encryption
- Multi-set scheduling
- Disk cloning tools
- Real-time file sync
- Secure data erasure
- Free edition available
- 30-Day Pro trial
- Pro from $39.95 / year
AOMEI Backupper is available in both free and premium editions, this includes the Professional edition at $39.95 per year, $49.95 per year with 1TB of cloud storage included or from $69.95 for a perpetual licence with free lifetime upgrades. A 90-day money back guarantee is also available on all premium editions via the official AOMEI website.
Ashampoo Backup Pro 26 Review Summary
I have been using the Backup Pro line of backup software from Ashampoo for a while now and what continues to impress me is how much functionality is provided in such a well-designed and easy to use application for such a reasonable price (and without any ongoing subscriptions required). I also particularly like how Ashampoo have directly integrated several of the most popular third-party cloud storage provides (including Google Drive, OneDrive and Dropbox) meaning Backup Pro 26 is a great choice for anyone already subscribed to such a cloud storage service and is wanting to utilise this existing storage for their cloud backup requirements.
Functionality wise and Backup Pro 26 also stands out as a highly functional and highly versatile backup application thanks to the wide array of backup related options included by default. Both file-level and full disk image backups are supported as is automatic backup pausing, secure AES 256-bit encryption, data compression, strong scheduling support plus easy-to-use pre-made backup templates which all combine to help make this an all-round backup superstar.
New enhancements in version 26 include the new “Easy Backup” technology which makes getting an initial ad-hoc backup in-place simple and straightforward alongside enhanced support for real-time backups which are now fully upgraded to be even more reliable and accurate than ever before.
Overall, Backup Pro 26 is a solid Windows backup application which continues getting better with every new version, especially so given that this is subscription free software with built-in support for many leading third-party party cloud storage providers and including of strong AES 256-bit data protection – excellent work Ashampoo.
