
Clonezilla
Free, open-source disk imaging and cloning tool for backup and mass system deployment.
Best for
IT admins who need free, scriptable disk imaging and mass-deployment cloning across many machines.
Skip if
You want a simple point-and-click GUI backup tool instead of a command-line-oriented live environment.
What is Clonezilla?
Clonezilla is a free and open-source partition and disk imaging/cloning program, similar to commercial tools like Acronis True Image or Norton Ghost, used for system deployment, bare-metal backup, and disaster recovery. It supports numerous file systems such as ext2-4, NTFS, HFS+, APFS, UFS, and VMFS3/5, and works with both MBR and GPT partition tables. The project offers Clonezilla Live for single-machine backup and restore, and Clonezilla SE (server edition) for massive deployment to many computers simultaneously using multicast or BitTorrent. It supports LVM2 volumes, LUKS-encrypted partitions, AES-256 image encryption, boot loader reinstallation, and unattended command-line operation, and can save or restore images to local storage, SSH, Samba, NFS, or WebDAV. Clonezilla is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2).
SpecificationsAI-estimated
Key Features of Clonezilla
Use Cases for Clonezilla
Bare-Metal Backup and Recovery
Create a full disk image before a risky change and restore it if something goes wrong.
Mass Computer Deployment
Deploy an identical disk image to many machines at once in a lab or office using multicast.
Migrating to a New Disk
Clone an entire disk to a new, larger drive during a hardware upgrade.
Disaster Recovery Planning
Keep encrypted disk images on network storage for recovery after a system failure.
Pros & Cons of Clonezilla
Pros
- Completely free and open source
- Supports mass deployment to many computers via multicast/BitTorrent
- Wide file system and encryption support
- Works across Linux, Windows, and Mac OS environments via bootable media
Cons
- Command-line-driven workflow with a fairly steep learning curve for beginners
- No polished modern GUI compared to commercial cloning tools
- Requires booting from external media rather than running as an installed app
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clonezilla free?
Yes, it is free and open-source software licensed under GPLv2.
What is the difference between Clonezilla Live and SE?
Clonezilla Live is for single-machine backup/restore from bootable media, while Clonezilla SE (server edition) supports massive deployment to many computers via multicast or BitTorrent.
Does Clonezilla support encrypted images?
Yes, it supports AES-256 image encryption as well as LUKS-encrypted partitions.
What operating systems does Clonezilla work with?
It works with GNU/Linux, MS Windows, Mac OS, and several BSD variants, among others.
Pricing Overview
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