The alternative.me listing for M.2 SSDs is the kind of category that shows up when an upgrade is already in the cart. A drive lands, the screwdriver comes out, and then the actual hard part starts: getting the existing Windows install (or the macOS install with all the years of settings) onto the new drive without losing the bookmarks, the saved game data, or the BitLocker recovery key. SSD cloning apps make the last step boring, which is what you want.
We tested the 8 best SSD cloning apps on PC in 2026 across Windows, macOS, and Linux. The list covers the free open-source options (Clonezilla), the polished freeware tier (Macrium Reflect, AOMEI Backupper, EaseUS Todo Backup, Samsung Data Migration), and the paid backup suites that include cloning (Acronis True Image, Carbon Copy Cloner). Each pick handles GPT boot partitions, secure-boot signing, and the Windows Recovery Environment so the new drive boots without a recovery USB.
What to look for in an SSD cloning app
Pick a cloning app that:
- Handles GPT and the Microsoft Reserved partition correctly. The new drive should boot first try. Apps that quietly skip the EFI partition cause hours of recovery-USB roulette.
- Resizes partitions on the fly. Cloning a 500 GB drive onto a 2 TB drive should expand the main partition rather than leave the spare space unallocated.
- Handles NVMe trim and alignment. SSDs perform poorly when the partition isn’t aligned to the erase block. Modern cloners do this. Some do not.
- Has a rescue media builder. WinPE or Linux-based bootable USBs that run the cloning app outside the running OS are the safe path for source drives with Windows installed.
- Has a clear restore story. If the clone fails halfway, the rollback procedure should be one paragraph, not a forum thread.
- Plays nicely with BitLocker, FileVault, or LUKS. Encrypted source drives need to be unlocked first; some apps require decrypting to clone, others handle live keys.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macrium Reflect | Reliable Windows cloning with WinPE rescue media | Windows | Trial only | Paid (Home licence) |
| Clonezilla | Open-source cross-platform cloning | Linux live USB | Yes, fully | Free |
| AOMEI Backupper | Friendly Windows cloning + backup | Windows | Yes, basic clone | Paid Pro tier |
| Acronis True Image | Paid backup suite with cloning included | Windows, macOS | Trial only | Subscription |
| EaseUS Todo Backup | Friendly cloning with NVMe assist | Windows | Yes, basic clone | Paid Home tier |
| Samsung Data Migration | Vendor-tied cloning for Samsung SSDs | Windows | Yes, fully | Free (Samsung drives) |
| Carbon Copy Cloner | macOS cloning with bootable backups | macOS | Trial 30 days | Paid licence |
The 7 apps
1. Macrium Reflect — best Windows cloning app overall
Macrium Reflect is the long-standing standard for Windows cloning. The WinPE rescue media builder is the secret weapon: it boots from a USB, runs the clone outside the live Windows install, and finishes a 500 GB clone in under fifteen minutes on modern NVMe. Partition alignment is automatic. BitLocker-enabled source drives are handled cleanly.
Where it falls short: the free Reflect Free was retired in 2023. The home licence is paid now. The UI takes a beat to learn.
Pricing:
- 30-day trial
- Home licence with three-PC lifetime tier
- Annual maintenance optional for updates
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Macrium Software
Bottom line: the most reliable Windows cloner if you’re willing to pay once.
2. Clonezilla — best free open-source cloning app
Clonezilla is the answer when free and offline matter. The Live ISO boots from a USB stick, walks through partition selection in a TUI, and clones disks or partitions to disks, partitions, or image files. Cross-platform (Windows, Linux, even older HFS+ macOS) at the block level. The Live ISO is the same one that’s been keeping IT departments going for over a decade.
Where it falls short: the TUI is functional rather than friendly. The first cycle requires reading the documentation.
Pricing:
- Free, open-source
Platforms: Live USB, runs on any x86 hardware. Source can be Windows, Linux, or macOS partitions.
Download: Clonezilla
Bottom line: the pick if you don’t mind reading documentation and want zero licensing.
3. AOMEI Backupper — best free Windows option for friendly UI
AOMEI Backupper Standard is the most beginner-friendly free Windows cloner. The disk-clone wizard handles SSD alignment with one checkbox, the partition resize step is visual, and the bootable rescue media maker uses WinPE or Linux as you prefer. The free tier covers what most home upgrades need.
Where it falls short: the paid upsell is everywhere in the UI. Some features (incremental imaging, command-line scheduling) are paid-tier only.
Pricing:
- Free Standard tier covers basic disk clone
- Professional tier paid (lifetime upgrades available)
Platforms: Windows.
Download: AOMEI Backupper
Bottom line: the pick if you want polish without paying.
4. Acronis True Image — best paid backup suite that includes cloning
Acronis True Image is the heavyweight that bundles backup, anti-malware, and cloning into a single subscription. The clone-to-USB-drive workflow is the smoothest of any paid product. The web-based recovery console is genuinely useful when something goes wrong on a remote machine.
Where it falls short: subscription pricing only. Yearly cost adds up.
Pricing:
- Yearly subscription
- Higher tiers add cloud storage
Platforms: Windows, macOS.
Download: Acronis
Bottom line: the pick if backup is the bigger story and cloning is one feature among many.
5. EaseUS Todo Backup — best alternative free Windows cloner
EaseUS Todo Backup is the other friendly Windows cloner in the same bracket as AOMEI. The disk clone wizard handles NVMe alignment cleanly, the WinPE bootable USB creator is reliable, and the free tier covers the home upgrade case.
Where it falls short: like AOMEI, the upsell is loud. Some features (system clone, advanced scheduling) are paid only.
Pricing:
- Free Home tier
- Paid Workstation and Server tiers
Platforms: Windows.
Download: EaseUS
Bottom line: the second free pick if AOMEI’s UI doesn’t click.
6. Samsung Data Migration — best vendor-tied free cloner
Samsung Data Migration is what Samsung ships free with every 970, 980, 990, and 9100 series NVMe drive. The wizard detects the source automatically, handles partition resize, and walks the upgrade in three clicks. It only works when the destination drive is a Samsung SSD, which is the catch.
Where it falls short: Samsung drives only. The detection occasionally misses on whitebox systems with non-Samsung add-in cards in the chain.
Pricing:
- Free with Samsung SSDs
Platforms: Windows.
Download: Samsung Memory Software
Bottom line: the pick if you bought a Samsung 990 Pro or 9100 Pro for the upgrade.
7. Carbon Copy Cloner — best macOS cloner
Carbon Copy Cloner is the macOS cloning app that survived the Apple Silicon transition with the clearest documentation. Bootable backups, scheduled clones, and per-folder rule-based copies all live in one app. The recovery story when migrating Apple Silicon Macs is well-documented because Apple’s signed-system-volume model breaks naive cloners.
Where it falls short: macOS only. Apple’s APFS containers limit some scenarios the older Carbon Copy Cloner used to handle on HFS+ days.
Pricing:
- 30-day trial
- Single-user paid licence
Platforms: macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon).
Download: Bombich Software
Bottom line: the only macOS cloner that handles the Apple Silicon edge cases correctly.
How to pick the right one
If you want the simplest free Windows option: AOMEI Backupper Standard or EaseUS Todo Backup Home. Either does the upgrade case fine.
If you bought a Samsung SSD: Samsung Data Migration. Free, vendor-supported, and it just works.
If you want the most reliable paid Windows tool: Macrium Reflect.
If you want backup + clone in one paid suite: Acronis True Image.
If you don’t mind documentation: Clonezilla is free and platform-agnostic.
If you’re on a Mac: Carbon Copy Cloner.
If you’ve got a one-off enterprise environment: Macrium Reflect with the WinPE rescue media plus a network share is the path most pros take.
FAQ
Can I clone Windows to a smaller SSD? Only if the used data fits on the new drive. Most apps handle the resize, but a 500 GB drive with 350 GB used will not clone to a 256 GB destination without trimming files first.
Will SSD cloning preserve my Windows licence? Yes. Windows 10 and Windows 11 OEM and Retail licences re-activate against the new drive on first boot because the licence is tied to the motherboard or Microsoft account, not the storage.
Do I need to enable AHCI or NVMe mode before cloning? The destination drive should match the source’s mode. Cloning a SATA-mode install to an NVMe drive without enabling NVMe in BIOS first is a common cause of “boot device not found” after the upgrade.
What is the best free SSD cloning app? Clonezilla if you want full open-source. AOMEI Backupper Standard or EaseUS Todo Backup Home if you want a friendly GUI. Samsung Data Migration if you bought a Samsung drive.
Will cloning erase the source drive? No. Cloning copies data from the source to the destination. The source remains intact and bootable until you decide to wipe it.
Can I clone a BitLocker-encrypted drive? Yes, but you need to either decrypt the drive first or use an app that handles BitLocker live (Macrium Reflect does this cleanly). Save the recovery key first.
