Kevin
Computer failures and software problems could compromise your system and the overall experience of using your Windows PC. At this moment, your computer and OS might perform well, so now is the time to consider protecting the system and data stored on the disk.
That is where the best cloning software for Windows 10/11 can help. These apps are capable of replicating your entire system to another disk. That way, you keep the operating system, programs, drives, and other settings as you remember them. If anything goes wrong, restoring the PC to an earlier version is a piece of cake.
Look at our selection of PC clone software for Windows 10 users. We reviewed the top-rated products currently available on the market and pointed out their pros and cons in the reviews below!
Quick Summary
- If you are looking for the best cloning software Windows 10 offers, you can’t go wrong with Paragon Drive Copy. It doesn’t have demanding system requirements and delivers numerous useful functions. You can clone a hard drive in merely a couple of clicks, and the tool will complete the process quickly. The app supports HDD, SDD, and other drives, as well as multiple file systems.
- EaseUS Todo Backup is another decent option in this category. Although only the premium version allows cloning, the program does a great job and has an extremely high success rate. The tool is simple to use, but it also offers advanced options for users who like to adjust all details to their preferences.
- The best SSD cloning software Windows 10 can offer might be the MiniTool Partition Wizard free. It supports multiple file systems and offers partition management, while the premium version offers fast disk migrations to SSD or HDD. The graphic layout is simple, which minimizes the learning curve for new users.
Part 1. What Is Disk Cloning Software
Disk cloning software is a tool that allows you to clone your system or an entire hard drive, or migrate data to an SSD or another destination. These programs are useful for users who want to preserve their current configuration and protect against potential software issues in the future. They are also great for replicating the configuration of one PC to another machine.
Tools for PC cloning are suitable for both beginners and advanced users. Those who don’t have sufficient tech knowledge can copy a hard drive in a couple of clicks. Advanced users can make additional adjustments and perform extra functions to suit their needs in using these programs.
Part 2. Who Should Get A Disk Cloning Software for Windows 10/11
You might have second thoughts on why you need a Windows cloning tool. Here are several situations where these programs could be useful:
- Protecting system configuration and settings – if you are used to how your machine works, duplicate those settings. In case you encounter any problem in the future, it will be easy to revert to an earlier version.
- Set up multiple machines identically – cloning a single system is convenient when you need multiple PCs with identical configurations. That is a common case in business settings.
- Upgrade or replace a hard drive – you can use these tools to replace a hard drive that has performance-related problems or is damaged. It is also suitable for hardware upgrades.
Part 3. How We Tested and Picked the Best Disk Cloning Software for Windows 10/11 in 2024
The fact that the market offers dozens of solutions for disk cloning doesn’t make it easy to find the best option available. Our team of experts looks beyond the basics to identify the most reliable tools.
Here are the factors that we considered in the process:
- Available operations – the first thing to ensure is that the program offers a decent range of disk cloning options. That includes cloning a disk in several steps, migrating data to an SSD, etc.
- Additional functions – some PC clone tools will offer extra functions, such as space analyzer or partition management. Managing your partitions is easy to keep the machine organized and working in line with your expectations.
- Supported file formats – the best disk cloning software out there will support a wide range of formats, including FAT, NTFS, etc.
- Supported storage options – from HDD and SSD variations to supporting DVDs, CD-R, and other drives, everything can add to the tool’s versatility.
- Ease of use – the program should be simple enough to use even by beginners who never came across a similar app. That is why the graphic layout should be clean and attractive, and menus should be placed so they are easy to navigate.
- Price – you might encounter Windows cloning tools that are free. Other apps require purchasing a premium edition, especially if you want to experience the full potential of a particular tool.
Part 4. Our Picks: Best Disk Cloning Software for Windows 10/11 in 2024
1. Paragon Drive Copy
Our top pick for the best tool to clone Windows 10 is Paragon Drive Copy. The company behind this app is Paragon Software, which has been around for over 25 years. They developed the famous Hard Disk Manager application, and Drive Copy is among the functions available in this software.
That means you cannot get Drive Copy separately. Instead, you need to buy Paragon Hard Disk Manager to experience all its functions. The tool costs $79.95, and it secures licenses for up to three computers. You will also get a wide variety of other utilities, such as disk wiping, data, and backup recovery, etc.
As for the Paragon Drive Copy itself, this Windows cloning software comes with multiple useful features.
Those include:
- Simple migration function – if you want to clone a hard drive, this program can perform the task in a couple of clicks.
- Support for different sector sizes – you can both restore and copy data to hard drives of various sector sizes.
- Backup and restore the system easily – you can backup and restore your Windows systems effortlessly by using this tool.
- User-friendly disk management – the app offers an option to manage disks, and keep them organized by migrating data and making backups.
Paragon Drive Copy requires at least Windows 7 to work, and it functions flawlessly on Win10. It will take around 250MB of hard drive space, and it isn’t demanding in terms of processor and RAM requirements.
The PC clone software supports various computer bus interfaces and storage options like SSD, HDD, DVD, BD-R, CD-R, AFD, and other drives. You can use the tool on NTFS, FAT16, FAT 32, Apple, Linux, and other file systems. The program is extremely versatile and secures excellent value for the money.
Does Paragon Drive Copy Really Work? Hands-On Testing
The features look promising, but it is the testing that convinced us that Paragon Drive Copy is the best cloning software for Windows 10. The download and installation process went smoothly. Once we entered the app, here is how the main interface looked like:
The left section in the central part of the screen features a disk map. It will notify you about all drives that the tool managed to find on your machine. Take a look at the map, and use it as a starting point for cloning drives and managing partitions.
If you select a specific partition, Paragon Drive Copy will show its information in the bottom right corner. That includes detailed data about the size, status, sectors, etc. You will also notice available actions to be performed at that time above the Properties section. From here, you can pick the desired function and apply the preferred changes easily.
Now, if you notice the top menu, it shows a quick-access icon for partition management, including creating, formatting, deleting, and un-deleting partitions. The top menu grants you access to different functional categories. Apart from the default Partitioning, you also have Copy & Migration, Schedule, and Volume Explorer.
If you choose the Copy & Migration, you can access the Copy Hard Disk wizard.
The wizard features an easy way to the desired actions. For starters, you pick the hard drive to copy. The next step will allow you to pick the destination drive. You can also tick the box to Use Exclude Masks. If you use that option, you can save time by telling the program not to estimate size after applying excluding options.
Paragon Drive Copy might also be the best SSD cloning software for Windows 10 since it supports the migration of your OS to SSD.
The wizard is easy to use and provides extremely useful information: the program shows which OS it is going to copy and the destination drive. The info about used space on the target drive is very useful. Once you are ready, you click Copy to execute the process.
The next utility is a P2V copy. It is an option that allows you to copy a hard drive to a virtual machine of your selection.
Depending on your selection, Paragon Drive Copy creates one or multiple virtual disks.
It is also possible to initiate the Create a Virtual Disk wizard, which looks like this:
You have options for creating a new virtual image, converting a physical disk to a virtual one, and choosing a virtual container to convert.
Paragon Drive Copy is also a partition manager. As other functions, this one is handled via a wizard, which simplifies things for users.
For users who would like more control, the Advanced Mode gives you more options.
The software shows you how the hard drive looks before and after the changes. Knowing the results helps to confirm you picked the right actions. Formatting and deleting partitions is an option with this program, too.
Finally, you can pick to edit and view sectors. However, please note that you should only use this function if you know what you are doing.
Overall, Paragon Drive Copy is an extremely versatile tool. It offers a simplistic interface for beginners, but also features that advanced users will appreciate. The app is reliable and fast and will perform all tasks quickly.
2. EaseUS Todo Backup
Our second top pick for the best disk cloning software Windows 10 can offer is the EaseUS Todo Backup. A tool is an award-winning option for backing up files, and the manufacturer mentioned that over 20 million users tried the program.
The free version allows you to make various backups, but it is only the Ease US Todo Backup Home Edition that can clone the system. It also offers smart and scheduled backups, wiping partition options, and transferring files to another PC.
Once you download and install the program, here is how the main interface looks:
You can initiate a system backup with a single click, which is convenient. The alternative is to choose one of the options from the left-hand menu. It might be a downside that they are all features with an icon rather than a text. However, you will quickly get used to the available options.
When it comes to cloning function, you can pick to clone an entire partition or disk.
Whether you want to replace or upgrade a hard drive, migrating all data in a single click is a useful function. EaseUS Todo Backup makes the entire process simple since you only need to pick the source and destination drives.
System clone is another option available, and it might be the best tool to clone Windows 10 out there. The app should automatically recognize the source and then let you pick the target disk. The advanced options are there, too, but they are only for those with sufficient tech knowledge.
Overall, EaseUS Todo Backup is a great solution for cloning systems and partitions but also backing data up to increase file security.
3. MiniTool Partition Wizard Free
MiniTool Partition Wizard free offers partition management, file system check, and conversion from FAT to NTFS. The premium version allows disk migration from OS to HDD or SSD, copying of operating systems, converting OS disks from MBR to GPT, and other useful features.
The program offers a clean graphic layout with several sections. The central part analyzes the hard drives identified during the search, while the left-hand menu offers shortcuts to wizards and other operations. Wiping an entire disk, copying it, and migrating an OS are only some of the options at your disposal. The system will also show the current pending operations at the moment. The top menu lets you activate different functions, too.
If you open the Copy Disk wizard, you will notice that you can adjust multiple settings. From copying options to the layout of the targeted disk, everything should be easy to set. The program is reliable and fast and will perform all operations quickly.
MiniTool Partition Wizard Free will work on Windows XP and newer versions. The supported file systems include NTFS, exFAT, Ext2/3/4, and FAT12/16/32. While it might not be the most versatile out there, this app offers many useful functions, and it is worth trying.
4. AOMEI Backupper
AOMEI Backupper is an intriguing solution that offers a free disk cloning tool for Windows. The website doesn’t look that modern, but once we downloaded and installed the app, we were positively surprised.
The main interface features exceptional graphics, a clean layout, and a user-friendly interface. Once you download the app, you can choose from various functions, including disk and partition cloning. We picked Disk Clone for our review of the best disk cloning software for Windows.
AOMEI Backupper led us to a new screen where we got to pick the source disk. The information provided helped us to make an informed decision. In the next screen, we picked the destination drive. The software then showed us the selected options to confirm that everything was properly chosen.
By clicking on the Start Clone, we initiated the operation. It didn’t take long to finish the process, and AOMEI Backupper notified us about the completion.
Multiple testing attempts proved that you could rely on this tool. It is helpful for cloning a system disk without reinstalling the operation system, duplicating hard drives, and cloning disks to SSDs. The program is safe, and there is no adware bundled in the installation process.
5. Clonezilla
Clonezilla might be the best imaging software for Windows 10. It is open-source, which means it is free and available to everyone. The tool seems versatile, especially because it supports numerous file formats. You can use it on Windows, Linux, and Mac, and it includes additional functions like encrypting the image.
On the other hand, it is hard to say that Clonezilla has a user-friendly interface.
It might be a bit tricky for users without tech knowledge to find their way around the program. Thanks to that, this tool might be more suitable for advanced users. That being said, it has many features to offers to people who know how to use them.
You can pick between multiple editions, with the Lite Server and Server Edition, allowing you to clone up to 40 computers at the same time. It is a perfect option for massive deployment, and I can save you a lot of time. You can also go with classic Clonezilla Live, which is suitable for a single machine.
6. Macrium Reflect
Macrium Reflect is another convenient solution suitable for personal and commercial users. Thanks to that, it could be the best disk cloning software for both user types, which increases the tool’s versatility.
The free edition allows you to create images of the running operating system, browse backups, and restore non-booting systems. You can also clone your disks directly and schedule backups. Users can also purchase Workstation, Server, and Technicians editions to unlock additional features.
The main interface of Macrium Reflect is clean and understandable. The top of the screen offers the main menu, and icons below it are useful shortcuts. The left-hand menu allows you to pick the desired task type, and you will find multiple tabs, including Backup, Restore, and Log.
The central part features an overview of the partitions on the machine you are using. You can use tabs to navigate between additional options within a specific function.
Conclusion
A reliable disk cloning and imaging software is both powerful and versatile. It is capable of performing multiple operations, such as disk cloning and migrating an operating system to SSD in a couple of clicks.
The best cloning software for Windows 10 is capable of meeting the needs of both advanced users and those that don’t have sufficient tech knowledge. It should offer a simple interface, but also be capable of performing a wide range of tasks.
The best approach you can take is to find a product that suits your needs. Think about the features you want a PC clone software to have, and look for a suitable tool accordingly.
