Understanding Carbon Copy Cloner Costs and License Options

Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC) is widely regarded as one of the best backup solutions for macOS, offering robust features that cater to both casual users and professionals. Understanding how CCC’s licensing and pricing work will help you choose the right option for your needs and get the most value out of this powerful software.

Licensing Model

Carbon Copy Cloner uses a per-user license system. When you purchase a license, it grants you the right to install and use CCC on all Macs that you personally own or control. This makes it ideal for individual users and small teams who need to protect multiple devices without purchasing separate licenses for each one.

Pricing Structure

Free Trial: CCC offers a fully functional 30-day free trial, allowing users to explore all features without restrictions before committing to a purchase. This trial is a great way to test compatibility and usability.
Single User License: After the trial period, purchasing a single-user license unlocks all features permanently with free updates within the current major version. The price is typically around $40-50 USD, but check the official website for the latest pricing.
Volume Discounts and Business Licenses: For businesses or educational institutions that require multiple licenses, Bombich Software offers volume discounts and tailored licensing options to fit larger-scale deployment needs.

What’s Included?

A CCC license covers:

All backup and cloning features.
Support for APFS snapshots and bootable backups.
Compatibility with Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2).
Free minor updates and bug fixes within the same major version.
Access to the companion iOS app for mobile backups.

Additional Considerations

Upgrade Policy: Major version upgrades (e.g., moving from CCC 6 to CCC 7) may require a new license purchase or an upgrade fee. Minor updates within the same version are free.
Trial to Paid Transition: Once you decide to purchase, you can apply your license without losing any settings or backup configurations made during the trial.
Refund Policy: The company typically offers a refund policy if you encounter issues or are unsatisfied with the product within a reasonable time frame.

Conclusion

Carbon Copy Cloner offers straightforward and fair licensing designed to meet the needs of individual users, professionals, and organizations. The flexible per-user license combined with a generous trial period makes it easy to test and adopt CCC as your go-to macOS backup solution.