---
id: comparisons.copying-folders-to-a-drive-vs-data-backup
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/copying-folders-to-a-drive-vs-data-backup
category: "Comparisons & alternatives"
subcategory: "Doing it yourself"
question: "Why use Data Backup instead of copying my folders to a drive every so often?"
alt_questions:
  - "manual backup copy folder to external drive vs app"
  - "drag folders to backup drive vs data backup"
  - "is copying files a good backup"
  - "backup by hand vs automatic backup mac"
  - "versioned backup vs copying files"
short_answer: "Hand copies are one-off snapshots that overwrite or duplicate each other. Data Backup runs automatically, keeps point-in-time versions while storing only changes, and marks a set Protected only after an integrity check."
tags: ["backup", "manual copy", "versions"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/comparisons/online-backup-services-vs-data-backup"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# Why use Data Backup instead of copying my folders to a drive every so often?

Copying folders by hand gives you one snapshot from whenever you last remembered — and each new copy either overwrites the last or doubles the space. **Data Backup** fixes the three weak spots:

- **It runs itself** — it watches the folders you choose and backs up changes as they happen, and catches up when you open the app after time away.
- **Versions** — every change becomes a point-in-time version you can go back to, while only the changed parts are stored again. Older versions are thinned over time.
- **Proof** — a set is marked **Protected** only after its latest version passes an integrity check.

Backups to a local drive are encrypted automatically. You can restore a whole version or just specific files, and restores land beside your current files rather than over them. See [Data Backup](https://storagestudio.us/manual/data-backup).