Most backup software has moved to subscriptions. Macrium Reflect is $49.99 a year now. Acronis wants an annual plan plus cloud storage. If you’d rather pay once and own your backup tool, the options are shrinking — but they still exist.
If you’re shopping for data backup software you buy once instead of renting forever, these five are worth comparing.
Here are five Windows backup tools with verified one-time purchase options, checked against each vendor’s official store in September 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you buy — but as of this writing, none of these force you into a subscription.
| Tool | One-time price (Sep 2026) | Covers | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|
| BackupEasy | $19.99 (1 PC) · $29.99 (5 PCs) | File backup | 60-day trial |
| AOMEI Backupper Professional | From $39.95, lifetime | File backup + disk imaging | Free Standard edition |
| Ashampoo Backup Pro 27 | £25 one-time, 1 device (UK store) | File backup + disk imaging | Trial + free editions |
| O&O DiskImage 22 | $49.95 · $69.95 (5 PCs) | Disk imaging | Trial |
| Paragon Hard Disk Manager Advanced | $79.95 perpetual, 3 PCs | File backup + disk imaging + disk tools | Free Community Edition |
1. BackupEasy — the simple one
BackupEasy does one thing: backs up your files. Pick a source folder, pick a destination (USB drive, external drive, or network folder), press Start. The first run copies everything; later runs copy only what changed. Restore a single file, a folder, or the whole backup. It works fully offline — no account, no cloud, no telemetry.
$19.99 covers one PC, $29.99 covers five, and there’s a 60-day free trial. No subscription tier exists.
Best for: home users who want their documents and photos safe without learning backup software.
2. AOMEI Backupper Professional — the all-rounder
AOMEI sells Backupper Professional two ways: a cancellable subscription or a lifetime license. Choose the lifetime option and it’s yours — from $39.95, with a family plan at $89.95 for five PCs. It covers file backup, system backup, full disk imaging, cloning, and file sync. A free Standard edition handles the basics.
Watch the checkout page: the subscription is presented prominently, so make sure you select the lifetime license.
Best for: people who want file backup and full-disk imaging in a single tool.
3. Ashampoo Backup Pro 27 — the budget pick
Ashampoo’s license selector offers Backup Pro 27 as a £25 one-time purchase for one device (UK store pricing; US one-time pricing isn’t listed as clearly, so check the selector for your region). A £13/year subscription with three devices is the alternative. You get scheduled backups of files or entire partitions, disk imaging with incremental technology, a bootable rescue system, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Free Backup FREE and Backup Lite editions also exist.
Best for: set-and-forget imaging on a tight budget.
4. O&O DiskImage 22 — imaging with no subscription at all
O&O is the only tool on this list with no subscription tier whatsoever. DiskImage 22 costs $49.95, or $69.95 for five PCs. It does complete PC backups you can mount as drives in Windows, creates bootable recovery media, and works with VHDX images. A trial is available from their site.
Best for: full-system imaging purists who never want to see a renewal notice.
5. Paragon Hard Disk Manager Advanced — the suite
Paragon’s license page states it plainly: the Advanced 3-PC license at $79.95 is “Perpetual.” A one-year subscription ($24.95) is also offered, but the perpetual option is explicit — the clearest of any vendor on this list. Beyond backup (files, volumes, whole system, incremental and differential imaging), it’s a broader suite with partitioning and disk-wipe tools. A free Community Edition covers personal use.
Best for: users who want backup plus disk management in one purchase.
File backup vs. disk imaging: which do you need?
Disk imaging copies your entire drive — operating system, programs, everything — so you can restore a dead PC to a bootable state. File backup copies your documents, photos, and folders, so you can recover what matters after accidental deletion, ransomware, or a dead drive.
Most home users need file backup. Your photos and documents are irreplaceable; Windows and your applications can be reinstalled. If full-system restore matters to you, pick one of the imaging tools above. If your files are the priority, a focused file-backup tool is simpler, faster, and cheaper.
How BackupEasy helps
BackupEasy exists for the file-backup case. It deliberately doesn’t do disk imaging, cloud storage, or subscriptions — those are the features that make backup software complicated and expensive.
What you get: select your source folders, select a USB drive, external drive, or network folder as the destination, and press Start. The first backup is full; every backup after that is incremental, copying only what changed. Deleted a photo? Restore just that file. Lost a folder? Restore the folder. Everything is stored on your own drives, and the program works with no internet connection at all.
One payment — $19.99 for one PC or $29.99 for five — and a 60-day free trial with no card required. If you need full-disk imaging instead, AOMEI, O&O, or Paragon above are the honest picks. If your files are what matter, BackupEasy is the simplest way to protect them.
FAQ
Are these prices still current?
They were verified on each vendor’s official site in September 2026. Backup pricing moves often — confirm on the vendor’s store page before buying.
Which of these is best for photos and documents?
Any of them will do it, but the file-backup-focused tools (BackupEasy, AOMEI, Paragon) are the most direct fit. Pure imaging tools work too, but you’ll be using a sledgehammer to hang a picture.
Is free backup software enough?
Often, yes. Hasleo Backup Suite’s free edition is genuinely full-featured, and AOMEI and Paragon both offer capable free versions. Paid one-time tools buy you simplicity, support, and freedom from upsell screens.
Why isn’t [big subscription tool] on this list?
Because this list is only tools you can still buy once. Subscription-only products didn’t qualify.
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