Macrium Reflect Free vs. Clonezilla: Which Should You Choose?

Updated by Linda on November 19, 2021 to Disk/Partition Clone | How-to Guides

Why do we need software cloning?

Disk cloning can be very useful in many situations. It can really save the day when your computer won't boot or is completely bricked. Ideally, if your disk wasn't cloned, you'd lose everything once your system crashes – including your data and OS settings. But if it's cloned to another drive, you have a chance to recover. A disk cloning software copies the entire image of a hard drive, including partitions, drives, installed software and drivers, as well as the operating system. With disk cloning, you can not only fix a bricked PC but also upgrade your hard drive, perform multiple installations with the same image, and even fix software errors.

Macrium Reflect Free

When it comes to disk cloning, there is no doubt that Macrium Reflect Free is one of the best out there. It can be used for cloning, backing up disks, and even imaging them. The best part is, as they say, “it's a free solution.” Yes, it's free, and you get all these great features for free. That's why we call it a freemium app. It uses the Macrium backup engine for data backup, OS cloning, and imaging. Apart from being free, it's also efficient and fast. Macrium was the first company to release a fully featured free backup software; however, because it's free, it has fewer features than licensed cloning software. Best of all, it can be used for quick disk imaging and quick recovery when needed.

Why choose Macrium Reflect?

One of the main reasons you should pick Macrium Reflect Free is that it's free. So, if your needs are basic and minimal, and you don't want to spend too much, this tool is obviously for you. The user interface is simple, with a traditional look. It has no unnecessary features, and is very straightforward. This also makes it useful for first-time users who aren't familiar with such apps.

Disadvantages of Macrium Reflect

With Reflect, you can only image partitions or disks. As such, there's no file backup or true cloning feature. That said, it offers the option to choose which Windows OS partition you want to restore. In other words, if you want to back up a folder, you'll have to shell out another $70, and that's not exactly cheap. Even then, the paid version only lets you back up folders, not individual files. As such, you must ensure that any files you want backed up are located within the folder you're backing up.

Reflect Free offers the option to create backup schedules, letting you determine when backups should run. It also lets you define retention rules, so you can choose what to keep and what to discard. You can specify how long specific backups should be kept, which aids in managing disk space. In the paid version, you get the added benefit of password protection. You can also set up email notifications in the paid edition.

The app supports GPT and MBR disks. It also has an option to create a Windows PE boot media.

One of its major pros is that it's free, but this can also be one of its biggest cons. This is because the free version only offers basic features. To access additional functionalities, you need to purchase the paid version. Hence, if you're looking for advanced features for personal and commercial use, the free version might not be your best bet. As mentioned, it's suitable for basic individual use only. Another downside of the application is its performance. It runs slightly slower compared to other cloning software available in the market.

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Clonezilla

If you're still living in the DOS era and are completely obsessed with command-line utilities, Clonezilla is for you. It's free and open-source, which means that if you're a developer, you can customize it. It supports different operating systems, including Chrome OS, Windows, Mac, and Linux. The downside is that Clonezilla has limited user support, but it makes up for it with some features that make it one of the best cloning software out there. It can perform disk cloning and image cloning. On top of that, Clonezilla can be used for system backup, drive cloning, system deployment, and more. The best thing about the software is that it supports multiple file systems and various bootloaders. Usually, most cloning apps only support MBR and GPT, but that's not the case here.

Why Clonezilla?

One reason is that Clonezilla is free. It's open source, so developers have access to and can customize the source code. But aside from that, it's a feature-packed software package. It can run standalone and doesn't rely on the host operating system. This is because Clonezilla is available on a CD/DVD or USB flash drive, but you can also run it as a server tool called Clonezilla Live. It has a reliable backup engine and several cloning options for system administrators to use. Since it supports multiple file systems, it can be used on any setup. Backups can be executed through a command-line interface with just a few simple commands. They can be automated and run unattended. It uses compression algorithms to compress cloned or backed-up data, saving space. Clonezilla allows for the recovery of multiple devices from a single image.

Disadvantages of Clonezilla

It relies heavily on its CLI (Command Line Interface) platform, which is great for system administrators. There is a command and switch for almost everything, so you can find a solution for any task. As such, it's complex and not suitable for regular users. Also, the free version comes with basic features, and you have to pay for enhancements.

Clone Software Alternatives: Disk Cloning Tools

Aside from Macrium Reflect and Clonezilla, you have another choice – the Disk Copy tool. This is a dedicated cloning tool with a straightforward interface. It supports sector-by-sector cloning, cloning from HDD to SSD, and adjusting disk layout as needed. The highlight of Disk Copy is its simplicity. You don't need to spend much time learning how to use it, and you won't get lost in a sea of buttons. Besides, it's also powerful. Whatever Macrium Reflect and Clonezilla can do, Disk Copy can do for you.

Download and examine the hard drive cloning utility Disk Copy to see how it works.

Use the utility Disk Copy to perform a smooth disk duplication or cloning process.

1. Download, install, and run the Disk Copy utility on your computer. Click on the Disk Mode, select the source disk that you want to copy or clone, and then click Next to proceed.

2. Select the target disk to clone/copy the old disk, then click "Next" to proceed.

3. Check and edit the layout, and select either "Auto-resize partitions," "Same as source," or "Customize partition sizes."
It is recommended that you choose "Auto-resize partitions."

• Selecting "Copy Source" will copy/clone the partition layout of the source disk to the target disk. • Choose "Edit Disk Layout" to manually adjust the partition size or move partitions on the target disk. • If the target disk is an SSD, remember to check "Optimize for SSD" if it is.

Click Continue to start the disk cloning or disk duplication process.

Conclusions

Macrium Reflect Free is suitable for basic use, and even its paid version offers fairly basic features. However, its outdated user interface makes it easy to use and navigate. On the other hand, Clonezilla's command-line options might be more complicated, better suited for system administrators who want to tweak settings or run batch jobs. For both, the free versions offer limited functionality, and you'll need to pay for more features.