---
id: backups.is-data-backup-a-replacement-for-time-machine
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/is-data-backup-a-replacement-for-time-machine
category: "Backups & restore points"
subcategory: "Data Backup basics"
question: "Should I use Data Backup instead of Time Machine?"
alt_questions:
  - "Data Backup vs Time Machine"
  - "Do I still need Time Machine with Storage Studio?"
  - "Can Storage Studio replace Time Machine?"
  - "Time Machine or Storage Studio backups"
  - "Is Data Backup better than Time Machine?"
short_answer: "Use both. Time Machine protects the whole Mac; Data Backup adds versioned backups of chosen folders to another drive or an encrypted cloud copy, including folders on your external drive."
tags: ["time machine", "strategy", "comparison"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/does-data-backup-back-up-my-whole-mac", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/does-time-machine-back-up-folders-moved-to-my-external-drive"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Should I use Data Backup instead of Time Machine?

Use both. Time Machine is Apple's whole-Mac backup and is the right tool for restoring macOS, apps and settings. Data Backup adds versioned backups of the folders you choose — to another drive or to a cloud account — which Time Machine doesn't do on its own.

Data Backup is especially useful for:
- Folders on your **external drive**, which Time Machine usually leaves out.
- An **off-site** copy in a cloud account, encrypted on your Mac first.
- Separate rules per folder — continuous for documents, nightly for archives.

Storage Studio never deletes your Time Machine backups. See [Time Machine and moved folders](https://storagestudio.us/faq/backups/does-time-machine-back-up-folders-moved-to-my-external-drive).