Overview

Checkpoint64 checks configured save folders every 60 seconds and uploads changed files after a game has finished writing them. Every upload becomes a version that you can browse and restore manually. This creates a practical safety net for overwritten or corrupted progress, although restoration remains a deliberate action rather than an automatic rollback.

The service watches games from Steam, GOG and Epic, along with emulator and modded installations. Presets cover more than 140 games and seven emulators, including RetroArch, Dolphin, PCSX2, DuckStation, PPSSPP, RPCS3 and Cemu. That coverage makes it a sensible single system for a mixed PC library, but it is focused on save folders rather than full game or PC backup.

Key features

Versioned automatic uploads

Once a save changes, Checkpoint64 uploads the new state and retains it as a separate version. Browsing and manual restoration are valuable when a game writes an unwanted result or a mod changes progress, while the 60-second polling interval means it is not a continuous recording of every intermediate change.

Shared-save controls

Co-op locks permit uploads only from the teammate holding the lock. A lock expires, and another teammate can assume it with a warning and a logbook entry. This is a meaningful guard against concurrent edits, though teams must still agree who has control before playing.

Discord linking lets a bot direct-message teammates when someone manually commits or restores a shared save. A creator can connect a Patreon campaign and limit shared-save access to active members, with membership checked hourly. These controls are particularly useful for organized communities, supporter-only worlds and other saves that need an audit trail.

Security and data control

Files use TLS in transit and AES-256 at rest. Checkpoint64 explicitly does not provide end-to-end or zero-knowledge encryption, so users who must prevent the service from accessing save contents should choose a different approach. You can export account data as a ZIP, and deletion removes it after a seven-day cooling-off period.

Pricing

The free plan is free and does not expire. It provides 20 MiB of cloud storage per space, one team, the ability to join three friends’ teams and three read-only fans. That cap is enough for a small number of saves or an evaluation period, but it will constrain a larger library quickly.

Pro costs €5.00 per month, billed monthly with cancellation at any time. It raises storage to 5 GiB per space, supports up to five teams and 25 seats per team, keeps at least 100 versions for 90 days, adds unlimited read-only share codes and doubles API throughput. This is the practical plan for active players, sizable collections or teams that need defined retention and membership capacity.

Lifetime costs €10.00 once, billed as a one-time payment. It includes 1 GiB per space, up to three teams, joining five friends’ teams and 15 read-only fans. It is attractive for users who want a larger allowance than Free without a subscription, but it gives up Pro’s 5 GiB capacity, 25-seat teams, stated version retention and unlimited share codes.

Platforms

Checkpoint64 supports Linux, macOS and Windows. Downloads cover Windows 10 and 11, macOS on Apple Silicon and Linux; Steam lists Windows and Linux and identifies Steam Deck support. That combination suits desktop and handheld PC libraries, with macOS support specifically tied to Apple Silicon in the download listing.

Who it's for

Choose Checkpoint64 if you want cloud-synchronized save folders, automatic uploads and browsable restore points across several launchers or emulators. It is especially well matched to co-op groups that need locks, activity messages and optional Patreon-gated access. The free tier works for a small test collection; Pro fits regular users and teams; Lifetime favors a one-time purchase and modest storage needs.

Look elsewhere if 20 MiB cannot hold your saves, if you need end-to-end or zero-knowledge encryption, or if you want a general-purpose backup system rather than save-folder protection.

Pros and cons

Pros

Automatic version history: uploads follow save changes and provide manual recovery points.
Broad game support: launcher, emulator and modded setups are covered, with presets for 140-plus games and seven emulators.
Useful team governance: locks, takeover warnings, logbook entries and Discord notifications reduce conflicting shared-save edits.
Flexible billing: a no-expiry free tier, monthly Pro and one-time Lifetime cover different commitment preferences.
Portable data: ZIP export and delayed deletion give users a clear way to retrieve or remove account data.

Cons

Very limited Free storage: 20 MiB per space makes the free plan unsuitable for a substantial collection.
No end-to-end or zero-knowledge encryption: privacy-sensitive users cannot keep save contents inaccessible to the service.
Manual restoration: versions are available to browse and restore, but rollback is not automatic.
Team coordination required: co-op locks prevent conflicts only when players manage lock ownership.

Alternatives

Game Save Managers is the broader category to browse when you want to compare several approaches.

SaveState is a better fit for a free, local-first workflow with optional cloud sync, no account requirement and Android support.

Ludusavi suits users who want a portable, MIT-licensed executable for Windows, Linux or Mac.

GSBS is an alternative for users seeking a free tool with self-hosted and web deployment options.

Hoard is another freemium, multi-platform choice, including self-hosting.

QSave is preferable when you want free, open-source backups stored in your own Google Drive.

Game Backup Monitor fits users who want open-source backups, unlimited games and 7-Zip compression, with cloud storage arranged through their own provider and sync client.

Game Save Genie is an alternative for a subscription-free setup that uses your own cloud storage.

OpenSave suits users seeking free, open-source software with no subscription, ads or telemetry.

Verdict

Checkpoint64 is a strong choice for PC players who want automatic cloud save uploads, recoverable versions and structured shared-save access across launchers and emulators. Pick Pro for serious collections or teams; choose Free only for a small set of saves, and Lifetime when a one-time fee and 1 GiB per space are sufficient. Look elsewhere when privacy requires end-to-end encryption or when you need storage beyond the free plan without accepting a subscription.

	Checkpoint64	Game Backup Monitor
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No
Paid from	€5/mo	Free
Platforms	Linux, macOS, Windows	Linux, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Automatic backup	Yes	Yes
Cloud synchronization	Yes	Yes
Version history	Yes	Yes
Game detection	both	both
Supported platforms	multi-platform	multi-platform
Restore options	manual	both
Scheduled backups		Yes

Checkpoint64 vs Game Backup Monitor

Checkpoint64

Game Backup Monitor