Cobian Backup: For When You Want Scheduled File Backups — and That’s It
Some tools try to be everything: system imaging, cloud sync, disaster recovery, file versioning, and deduplication all in one package. That’s fine — if you need all that. But if what you really want is just to back up specific folders on a schedule, quietly and without drama, Cobian Backup delivers.
This tool doesn’t clone drives. It doesn’t image operating systems. What it does is copy files from one place to another, with optional compression and encryption — and it does that reliably, silently, and for free.
What It Actually Offers
| Feature | Why It Matters |
| Scheduled file backups | Set-and-forget jobs for folders or entire directory trees |
| Incremental support | Only changed files are copied after the initial run |
| ZIP compression | Optional — keeps backup size smaller |
| AES encryption | Password-protects sensitive backups |
| Multiple destinations | Local, external drives, network shares, or FTP servers |
| Windows service mode | Runs in background even when no one’s logged in |
| Logging and reports | Keeps a history of what was copied, skipped, or failed |
| No resource hogging | Lightweight and very CPU-friendly |
When Cobian Makes Sense
– You just want to back up files and folders — no full images
– You need multiple scheduled jobs with specific rules
– You work in an environment with mapped drives or remote shares
– You prefer your backups to be readable and restorable without special software
– You’re backing up to external media or a NAS, not a cloud
How to Use It (Version: Cobian Backup 11 – Gravity)
- Download from the developer’s site:
https://www.cobiansoft.com/cobianbackup.htm - During installation, choose whether to run as a service or app
- After launch, create a new task:
– Set source folders (can be local or network)
– Pick destination (local folder, another drive, FTP, etc.)
– Choose full, incremental, or differential backup type
– Schedule the job (daily, weekly, or custom intervals)
- Optionally enable compression or encryption
- Save the task — it’ll run as scheduled or manually as needed
What Works — and Where It’s Showing Its Age
👍 Still solid for:
– Quiet background operation — no tray pop-ups, no nagging
– Low system impact, even on older machines
– Fine control over job scheduling and task-specific options
– Logs make troubleshooting easy when something doesn’t copy
– Still works well on modern Windows versions
👎 A few downsides:
– Interface is a bit dated — Windows XP-style layout
– Doesn’t support VSS by default — locked files may be skipped
– No real-time monitoring or snapshot-style restore
– Not ideal for system-wide protection or full disaster recovery
– FTP support can be flaky depending on server config
Final Thoughts
Cobian Backup isn’t flashy — and that’s what makes it great. If you just need scheduled file-level backups and don’t want to deal with vendor lock-in or complex agents, this tool gets it done. It’s been around for years, still maintained, and still useful in places where a simple, repeatable backup matters more than an all-in-one dashboard.
