{"id":"backups.data-backup-vs-backup-drive","url":"/faq/backups/data-backup-vs-backup-drive","category":{"id":"backups","title":"Backups & restore points"},"subcategory":{"id":"backup-strategy","title":"Time Machine and backup strategy"},"question":"What's the difference between Data Backup and Back Up to Another Drive?","alt_questions":["Backup Drive vs Data Backup","clone my fast drive vs versioned backup","Back Up to Another Drive meaning","point-in-time clone vs versions"],"short_answer":"Back Up to Another Drive makes one verified clone of your fast drive's folder on a second drive. Data Backup keeps saving versions as things change, so you can restore many points in time.","answer_markdown":"**Back Up to Another Drive** (the Backup Drive option in the More menu's Drive section) makes a full, verified copy of your fast drive's Storage Studio folder onto a second drive and then stops — one point-in-time clone, while your current drive stays active. **Data Backup** keeps going: it saves a new version every time things change, so you can go back to many points in time.\n\nUse the clone when you want a complete spare copy of the fast drive, for example before replacing it. Use Data Backup for everyday protection with history. More on drive tools in [external drive questions](/faq/external-drives/).","answer_html":"

Back Up to Another Drive (the Backup Drive option in the More menu's Drive section) makes a full, verified copy of your fast drive's Storage Studio folder onto a second drive and then stops — one point-in-time clone, while your current drive stays active. Data Backup keeps going: it saves a new version every time things change, so you can go back to many points in time.

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Use the clone when you want a complete spare copy of the fast drive, for example before replacing it. Use Data Backup for everyday protection with history. More on drive tools in external drive questions.

","answer_text":"Back Up to Another Drive (the Backup Drive option in the More menu's Drive section) makes a full, verified copy of your fast drive's Storage Studio folder onto a second drive and then stops — one point-in-time clone, while your current drive stays active. Data Backup keeps going: it saves a new version every time things change, so you can go back to many points in time.\n\nUse the clone when you want a complete spare copy of the fast drive, for example before replacing it. Use Data Backup for everyday protection with history. More on drive tools in external drive questions.","tags":["backup drive","clone","versions"],"related":[{"id":"backups.what-is-the-fast-drive-working-set","question":"What is the \"Fast drive working set\" in Data Backup?","url":"/faq/backups/what-is-the-fast-drive-working-set"},{"id":"backups.is-data-backup-a-replacement-for-time-machine","question":"Should I use Data Backup instead of Time Machine?","url":"/faq/backups/is-data-backup-a-replacement-for-time-machine"}],"applies_to":"all","last_reviewed":"2026-10-01","title":"What's the difference between Data Backup and Back Up to Another Drive? — Storage Studio FAQ","description":"Back Up to Another Drive makes one verified clone of your fast drive's folder on a second drive. Data Backup keeps saving versions as things change, so you can restore many points in time.","crumbs":[{"name":"Home","path":"/"},{"name":"FAQ","path":"/faq/"},{"name":"Backups & restore points","path":"/faq/backups/"},{"name":"What's the difference between Data Backup and Back Up to Another Drive?","path":"/faq/backups/data-backup-vs-backup-drive"}],"jsonld":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/data-backup-vs-backup-drive","inLanguage":"en","dateModified":"2026-10-01","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What's the difference between Data Backup and Back Up to Another Drive?","alternateName":["Backup Drive vs Data Backup","clone my fast drive vs versioned backup","Back Up to Another Drive meaning","point-in-time clone vs versions"],"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Back Up to Another Drive (the Backup Drive option in the More menu's Drive section) makes a full, verified copy of your fast drive's Storage Studio folder onto a second drive and then stops — one point-in-time clone, while your current drive stays active. Data Backup keeps going: it saves a new version every time things change, so you can go back to many points in time.\n\nUse the clone when you want a complete spare copy of the fast drive, for example before replacing it. Use Data Backup for everyday protection with history. More on drive tools in external drive questions.","url":"https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/data-backup-vs-backup-drive"}}]},"fragment":"
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Backups & restore points · Time Machine and backup strategy

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What's the difference between Data Backup and Back Up to Another Drive?

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Short answer: Back Up to Another Drive makes one verified clone of your fast drive's folder on a second drive. Data Backup keeps saving versions as things change, so you can restore many points in time.

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Back Up to Another Drive (the Backup Drive option in the More menu's Drive section) makes a full, verified copy of your fast drive's Storage Studio folder onto a second drive and then stops — one point-in-time clone, while your current drive stays active. Data Backup keeps going: it saves a new version every time things change, so you can go back to many points in time.

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Use the clone when you want a complete spare copy of the fast drive, for example before replacing it. Use Data Backup for everyday protection with history. More on drive tools in external drive questions.

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