What Is the Difference Between Differential and Incremental Backup?

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Larissa· Answered on Jan 05, 2024

Differential backup and incremental backup are both "intelligent" backup solutions that can help you save more storage space by saving up only updated information.

However, they are not the same. They differ in how they do backups and how much storage space they require.

A differential backup only backs up files that have changed since the last full backup. Assume you make a full backup on Monday, then back up files that have changed since Monday on Tuesday, files that have changed on Monday on Wednesday, and so on until the next full backup.

Differential backup is better suited for a single file or folder that changes on a daily basis.

Incremental backup also backs up altered files, but only the data that has changed since the last backup. Assume you performed a full backup on Monday. You modified some files on Tuesday and ran an incremental backup, which saved up only changed files since Monday. And on Wednesday, the incremental backup only saves the files that have changed from Tuesday.

Because incremental backup requires less storage space and less time, it is the preferred method for people who must handle a large number of files.

Do you know how to perform a differential or incremental backup? Do you know which tool is ideal for performing incremental and differential backups? With these two capabilities, EaseUS Todo Backup is an outstanding choice.

With an ultra-simple user interface, you can discover the smart backup under the "Options" tab and select the differential or incremental backup approach you prefer.

Download it and use its comprehensive backup options to protect your data.

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