---
id: backups.data-backup-vs-backup-drive
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/data-backup-vs-backup-drive
category: "Backups & restore points"
subcategory: "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."
tags: ["backup drive", "clone", "versions"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/what-is-the-fast-drive-working-set", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/is-data-backup-a-replacement-for-time-machine"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

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

**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.

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](https://storagestudio.us/faq/external-drives/).