For Windows

5 Best Disk Cloning Software For Windows 11, 10, 8, 7 PC | Paid & Free

Whether you want to create a 1-to-1 copy of your hard drive for backup and file transfer purposes or simply replace your slow HDD with a fast SSD (while keeping your preferences & settings completely intact), Disk Cloning Software eases the entire task. But before you create an image of your disk, it’s important to get familiar with the whole concept.

What Is Disk Cloning?

Disk Cloning creates a functional one-to-one copy of your hard drive to an image file that can be used to keep a backup or transfer the data to another location, per users’ needs. But what makes disk cloning different from the standard copy functionality? Disk Cloning simply replicates your computer’s operating system, drives, software, settings, patches & almost every bit of information on your PC. It eliminates the technical hassle of reinstalling or reconfiguring your OS, as all you need to do is replace the cloned drive with the source drive.

Why Clone A Hard Drive?

Things To Do Before Imaging Hard Drive

Before you begin with the disk cloning process, make sure you prepare for a couple of things:

Note: In case you’re searching for a manual way to clone a hard drive without software, it is undoubtedly impossible. Microsoft doesn’t have in-built functionality to create an exact copy of the hard drive in Windows 11/10. You can copy all your files from one drive to another, but it’s a time-consuming process.

5 Best Disk Cloning Software To HDD/SSD (Paid & Free Choices In 2023)

Now that you’ve prepped up, it’s time to take a look at the top paid & free disk cloning programs to use in 2023.

1. EaseUS Todo Backup

Trial Version: Available

Compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8, 7

USP: Protect your data in simple clicks and restore everything instantly.

Website & Download Link!

Latest Version: 13.5

EaseUS Todo Backup is one of the leading disk cloning programs that offers a perfect blend of features to perform various imaging activities such as complete system cloning, hard drive cloning, and partitioning cloning. You will also find useful tools to run full & incremental backups. When I installed the disk imaging tool, I liked the overall UI.

Features: EaseUS Todo Backup

Here’re the major highlights from all the versions:

How To Clone Disk With EaseUS Todo Backup?

Five-step process to use EaseUS Todo Backup on Windows:

Step 1 – Launch the hard drive cloning tool.

Step 2 – Hit the Clone button on the left-side panel.

Step 3 – Select the disk or partition you want to image.

Step 4 – Tweak with Advanced options to configure the process.

Step 5 – Hit the Proceed button to start cloning your Windows disk.

EaseUS Todo Backup Pricing: 

  • Todo Backup Free – $0
  • Todo Backup Home – $39.95 for 1-Year, $79.95 for Lifetime
  • Todo Backup Workstation – $49 for 1-Year, $89 for Lifetime

Read complete review: EaseUS Todo Backup Home: Smartest Tool to Backup Data 

2. AOMEI Backupper

Trial Version: Available for 30 days

Compatibility: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP

USP: Uses 4K technology to improve the overall performance of SSD disk.

Website & Download Link!

Latest Version: 9.81

AOMEI Backupper is one of the best free disk cloning software for Windows 11 and older versions. Using the tool, you can copy a disk, specific partitions, and the entire OS while skipping the bad sectors and ensuring a secure boot. Regardless of the disk size, interface and brands, it supports cloning large HDD, SATA SSD, NVMe SSD, etc.

Features: AOMEI Backupper  

Here’re the major highlights from all the versions:

How To Clone Disk With AOMEI Backupper?

Five-step process to use AOMEI Backupper Standard edition on Windows:

Step 1 – Launch the disk cloner program and hit the Clone button from the left-side menu.

Step 2 – Hit the Disk Clone option & choose the original disk you want to copy.

Step 3 – Choose the destination disk where your source disk will be copied & hit Next.

Step 4 – Preview your action & tweak the cloning, backup & partition settings.

Step 5 – Click the Start Clone button & hit the Finish button to complete the process!

AOMEI Backupper Pricing: 

  • Standard Edition = Freeware disk cloning app
  • Professional Edition = $49.95/1 License (For Home Use)
  • Workstation Edition = $59.95/1 License (For Business Use)
  • Technician Edition = $419.40/1 License (For Enterprise & MSP)

3. MiniTool Partition Wizard

Trial Version: Available

Compatibility: Windows 11, 10, 8, 8.1, 7

USP: Suitable disk cloner utility for an average user, packed with basic disk check, partition & system conversion features.

Website & Download Link! 

Latest Version: 12.6

MiniTool Partition Wizard is one of the most popular disk cloner and management software for your Windows PC. It’s a versatile tool for performing various operations, including cloning disk, migrating OS to SSD, managing partitions, converting MBR to GPT, and more. Besides the free version with basic features, it also offers Pro, Pro Platinum & Pro Ultimate versions.

Features: MiniTool Partition Wizard

Here’re the major highlights from all the versions:

How To Clone Disk With MiniTool Partition Wizard?

Five-step process to use MiniTool Partition Wizard on Windows:

Step 1 – Launch the free disk cloning software on your Windows.

Step 2 –Choose the hard drive you want to clone from the available disks.

Step 3 – Hit the Copy Disk option from the Convert Disk action panel.

Step 4 – Choose the target drive where you want to copy the contents.

Step 5 – Adjust the partition-related options & hit the Next button to follow on-screen instructions and complete the disk cloning process.

MiniTool Partition Wizard Pricing: 

  • Free disk cloning application.
  • Pro = $59/1-Year
  • Pro Platinum = $109/1-Year
  • Pro Ultimate = $159/Lifetime License

Read an unbiased review here: MiniTool Partition Wizard: An Ultimate Partition Manager for Windows! 

4. Macrium Reflect

Trial Version: Available for 30 Days

Compatibility: Windows 11 back to XP

USP: Fast, reliable, and scalable disk cloning program to use.

Website & Download Link! 

Latest Version: V8.0.6979

Macrium Reflect is a robust backup and disk cloning solution for Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7 PC. You can create a full image of the disk with all the associated data and settings. It offers a free edition of both its personal and commercial license. The registration and installation process are a bit longer than other best disk cloning software 2023 (commercial edition).

Features: Macrium Reflect

Here’re the major highlights from all the versions:

How To Clone Disk With Macrium Reflect?

Five-step process to use Macrium Reflect on Windows:

Step 1 – Navigate to the Macrium Reflect website & get the desired edition on your PC.

Step 2 – Get registered with the disk cloning software & run the same.

Step 3 – Click on the disk you want to image and hit the option ‘Clone this disk.’

Step 4 – Now head towards the option ‘Select a disk to clone to.’

Step 5 – At this point, you need to choose the destination disk & tinker with the partitions and data you want to copy. Click the Finish button, followed by OK, to complete the process!

Macrium Reflect Pricing: 

  • Free Home edition.
  • Single License = $69.95
  • Four-Pack License = $139.95

You might want to read: How To Clone A Mac / Windows 10 Hard Drive? 

5. ManageEngine OS Deployer

Trial Version: Available for 30 Days

Compatibility: Windows, macOS, and Linux

USP: Aims at minimizing manual efforts when it comes to online/offline imaging in bulk.

Website & Download Link! 

Latest Version: 1.1.2237.1

As the name entails, ManageEngine OS Deployer seems like an operating system deployment solution for organizations. But in reality, it does much more, like imaging live machines, migrating user profile data, managing drivers conveniently, and more. It’s an innovative, hassle-free disk cloning and large-scale deployment tool for small, medium & large-scale organizations.

Features: ManageEngine OS Deployer.

Here’re the major highlights from all the versions:

How To Clone Disk With ManageEngine OS Deployer?

Five-step process to use ManageEngine OS Deployer on Windows:

Step 1 – Get the latest version of this disk cloning program on your device.

Step 2 – Launch it & select the computer you want to clone under the Create Image tab.

Step 3 –Set the partition and other details you want to copy.

Step 4 – You can further customize the image file under the Deployment Template head.

Step 5 – Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the cloning & deployment process!

ManageEngine OS Deployer Pricing: 

  • Free version for 4 workstations & 1 Server.
  • Professional Edition starts at $325 for 10 Servers.
  • Enterprise Edition starts at $375 for 10 Servers.

To check their full pricing models, click here!

Bottom Line | List Of Best Windows Disk Cloning Software

We hope that our review on the Top 5 hard disk cloning programs was helpful and that you can choose the most suitable application for your device. If you are looking for a free disk cloner tool with basic functionalities, we recommend using AOMEI Backupper Standard & Macrium Reflect’s Free Edition. Professional users should consider using the EaseUS Todo Backup Workstation version, which has many advanced disk management capabilities.

If you’re an IT Admin or Small/Medium/Large Business owner, you should try using the ManageEngine OS Deployer tool. It has robust tools to perform live imaging without interrupting users’ work. Moreover, it’s an excellent utility to manage multiple disk images and deploy customized OSes for multiple computers and remote devices (useful for Work From home users).

Besides these, you may consider trying tools like Paragon Drive Copy and O&O DiskImage Backup Software, which are known for simplifying backup and migration needs!

Additional Information – Disk Cloning Applications (2023)

What To Look For In A Cloning Software?

The best disk cloning utility is the one:

  • Easy-to-use & simple = Offers an effortless experience to backup and restore systems.
  • Effective & Efficient = Save your precious time configuring multiple devices simultaneously.
  • Highly Flexible = Plenty of options to analyze when and where to backup, migrate & more.
  • Secure = Ensure that your data & OS is wholly protected.
  • Affordable = Offers different pricing models so that users can choose the suitable package according to their needs and requirements.

How We’ve Selected These 5 Disk Cloning Tools For You?

After spending approx. 34 hours researching the market and reviewing popular disk cloning systems, we’ve selected the top 5 choices on the following criteria:

  • Does it affect the CPU resources and RAM while performing?
  • Does it offer a choice of storage location for newly created images?
  • What options are offered to manage disk images?
  • Is there a free trial to learn the overall working of the tool?
  • Is it value for money and time?

So, what would be your pick for the category of disk cloning utilities for Windows 11, 10, and older versions? Do let us know your opinion in the comments section below! You can also write to us at social@wethegeek.com or chat via our Facebook or Instagram channel!

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1. What’s the difference between Clone & Copy?

Words like Clone and Copy are often used interchangeably. But there’s a slight difference between both the terms. For instance, when it comes to “Clone,” it means to create something new based on something already existing, while “Copy” is used to replicate something that exists to something else.

Q2. What are the advantages of disk cloning?

Q3. What are the disadvantages of disk cloning?

Q 4. How To Clone A Hard Drive?

Numerous programs can back up your files, but you often need something more bulletproof. If you want to migrate your Windows installation to another drive or keep a backup handy, in case of any mishap. Taking the help of the Best Disk Cloning Programs is probably the best bet to copy your hard drive and create an exact clone of your PC to swap in and boot up instantly.

To easily replicate your hard drive, we’ll take the help of a free disk imaging tool – Macrium Reflect. 

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