Best Disk Imaging Software in 2026

In short: AOMEI Cyber Backup is ranked #1 of 34 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Active@ Disk Image and Clonezilla. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Active@ Disk Image. The lowest first paid tier on this page is MiniTool ShadowMaker at $0.25/mo.

For backup planning, disk imaging software is worth comparing on both image handling and recovery options. Check bare-metal restore and bootable recovery media, then weigh incremental and differential images for the backup approaches offered. Image encryption and cloud image destinations describe other aspects of storing and protecting images, while supported platforms help establish compatibility. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add cost context. AOMEI Cyber Backup, Active@ Disk Image, and Clonezilla are among the entries to consider. Use the listed criteria to identify which recovery paths, storage options, and platform support suit your setup.

34 disk imaging software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.

34ranked
15free plans on this page
$0.25/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Disk Imaging Software 25 channels on this page · 68 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromBare-metal restoreBootable recovery mediaIncremental imagesDifferential imagesSupported platformsImage encryption Spec sheet Score
01 AOMEI Cyber Backup Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restoreYesBootable recovery mediaYesIncremental imagesYesDifferential imagesYesSupported platformsWindows 7/8/8.1/10/11, Windows Server 2008 R2–2025, Ubuntu 20.04 LTSImage encryptionYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.8
02 Active@ Disk Image Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery mediaYesIncremental imagesYesDifferential imagesYesSupported platformsWindows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11; Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022; other operating systems via raw imaging and recovery mediaImage encryptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
03 Clonezilla Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.1
04 HDClone Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restoreYesBootable recovery mediaYesIncremental imagesNoDifferential imagesYesSupported platformsWindows, LinuxImage encryptionYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
05 MSP360 Backup Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restoreYesBootable recovery mediaYesIncremental imagesYesDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxImage encryptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
06 Redo Rescue Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restoreYesBootable recovery mediaYesIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsWindows, macOS, LinuxImage encryptionnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 7.1
07 Veeam Agent for Linux Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restoreYesBootable recovery mediaYesIncremental imagesYesDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsLinuxImage encryptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.1
08 AOMEI Backupper Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
09 Buddi Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restoreNoBootable recovery mediaYesIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsWindows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10Image encryptionnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.9
10 Rescuezilla Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.8
11 Veeam Agent for Mac Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.8
12 EaseUS Todo Backup Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 MiniTool ShadowMaker Free planYesPaid from$3/moBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.7
14 DAEMON Tools Lite Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsWindows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows 98Image encryptionnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.6
15 Iperius Backup Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.6
16 O&O AppBuster Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.6
17 Acronis True Image Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.5
18 Arcserve ShadowProtect Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restoreYesBootable recovery mediaYesIncremental imagesYesDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsWindows, Linux, VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Nutanix AHV, ProxmoxImage encryptionYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.4
19 O&O DiskImage Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.2
20 FOG Project Free planYesPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restoreYesBootable recovery mediaNoIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsWindows, Linux, macOSImage encryptionnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.1
21 Vembu BDRCloud Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.1
22 R-Drive Image Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.0
23 Paragon Hard Disk Manager Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.9
24 Image for Windows Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.8
25 Macrium Reflect Free planNoPaid fromnot statedBare-metal restorenot statedBootable recovery medianot statedIncremental imagesnot statedDifferential imagesnot statedSupported platformsnot statedImage encryptionnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.8

Is your tool on this list?

Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.

Questions about this list

Which disk imaging software is ranked first on Specifiction?

AOMEI Cyber Backup is ranked #1 of 34 with a score of 7.8. Active@ Disk Image is second and Clonezilla third.

How many of these have a free plan?

15 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.

Which is the cheapest paid option?

On this page, MiniTool ShadowMaker has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.25/mo.

How is this list ranked?

Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.

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