Compare
Isn’t File History enough?
Sometimes, yes. Here is where it stops, and where this starts.
Click to enlarge
Where the two part ways.
More options
Four backup types, seven rhythms, or continuously.
Checked copies
Every run is read back, S3 included.
Search, not browse
Every version of every file, drive unplugged.
The honest one
For one drive and a few folders, File History works.
Side by side.
| Feature | Windows File History | Genie Backup Manager AI |
|---|---|---|
| Copies your folders to an external drive | ||
| Price | Free with Windows | Free · $39 · $79 · $199 for a server, once |
| Backup types | One | Full, incremental, differential, mirror |
| How often it saves | Every hour by default, every 10 minutes at most | On a schedule, or each change within minutes (Pro) |
| Previous versions from File Explorer | Restore previous versions, from File History | GBM AI: Previous versions, every edition |
| Holds the backup when files change like ransomware | Pro, on continuous jobs | |
| Checks the copy after writing | Yes, on a disk, USB drive, NAS or S3 | |
| Search every backup, drive unplugged | ||
| NAS and network shares | Yes | Home and up |
| S3-compatible cloud | Pro and up | |
| Encryption | BitLocker To Go on the drive, on Windows Pro and up | AES-256 per job, with checksum verification (Home and up) |
| Runs with nobody signed in | Pro (Windows service) | |
| Whole-PC system image | Yes, with the older Backup and Restore (Windows 7) tool | No. Use BigMind DR, also from Genie9, free for one PC |
| Describe a backup in a sentence | ||
| Restore without the software installed | Files are plain copies | Restore in any edition, always; sets are read by the app |
- Copies your folders to an external drive
- File HistoryGBM AI
- Price
- File HistoryFree with WindowsGBM AIFree · $39 · $79 · $199 for a server, once
- Backup types
- File HistoryOneGBM AIFull, incremental, differential, mirror
- How often it saves
- File HistoryEvery hour by default, every 10 minutes at mostGBM AIOn a schedule, or each change within minutes (Pro)
- Previous versions from File Explorer
- File HistoryRestore previous versions, from File HistoryGBM AIGBM AI: Previous versions, every edition
- Holds the backup when files change like ransomware
- File HistoryGBM AIPro, on continuous jobs
- Checks the copy after writing
- File HistoryGBM AIYes, on a disk, USB drive, NAS or S3
- Search every backup, drive unplugged
- File HistoryGBM AI
- NAS and network shares
- File HistoryYesGBM AIHome and up
- S3-compatible cloud
- File HistoryGBM AIPro and up
- Encryption
- File HistoryBitLocker To Go on the drive, on Windows Pro and upGBM AIAES-256 per job, with checksum verification (Home and up)
- Runs with nobody signed in
- File HistoryGBM AIPro (Windows service)
- Whole-PC system image
- File HistoryYes, with the older Backup and Restore (Windows 7) toolGBM AINo. Use BigMind DR, also from Genie9, free for one PC
- Describe a backup in a sentence
- File HistoryGBM AI
- Restore without the software installed
- File HistoryFiles are plain copiesGBM AIRestore in any edition, always; sets are read by the app
And the Windows Backup app?
It copies your folders to OneDrive: a Microsoft account, and 5 GB free. GBM AI keeps copies on drives you own.
Keep File History if this is you.
One drive, a few folders, and no need to check the copy or find an old version.
Compare on your own PC.
The Free edition costs nothing and needs no account.