Clonezilla review
A capable free choice for technicians managing disk images, cloning, and bare-metal recovery.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Clonezilla is free, open-source software for partition and whole-disk imaging, cloning, system deployment, and bare-metal backup and recovery. It suits technicians who need to capture, restore, or replicate computer disks across Windows, macOS, and Linux environments. Clonezilla Live runs as a bootable GNU/Linux distribution from CD/DVD or USB media for individual computers, while Clonezilla Lite Server and Clonezilla Server Edition support network-based deployment and cloning to multiple computers. Its broad file-system support also includes BSD, VMware, and Chrome OS environments.
The product’s strongest area is operational imaging depth. It supports disk-to-disk cloning, restoring one image to multiple disks, MBR and GPT partition formats, AES-256 image encryption, and unattended operation through commands, options, and boot parameters. For centralized workflows, images can be stored through SSH, Samba, NFS, or WebDAV repositories, while PXE, Wake-on-LAN, and multicast deployment through Clonezilla Server Edition extend its usefulness across multiple computers. These capabilities make it a practical fit for technical teams handling repeatable imaging and recovery tasks.
Clonezilla is better suited to deliberate imaging and deployment workflows than to a continuously managed backup service. Its design favors technicians comfortable with bootable media, network repositories, command options, and server-edition deployment. Choose it when free, open-source disk imaging, cloning, encryption, and bare-metal recovery are the priorities. Choose another type of backup product when the main requirement is an automated, continuously managed service rather than technician-directed computer imaging.
Clonezilla pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD, VMware, and Chrome OS file systems
- Provides disk imaging, cloning, bare-metal recovery, and multicast deployment
- Connects to SSH, Samba, NFS, and WebDAV network repositories
- Where it doesn't
- Requires bootable media or deployment workflows for individual computers
- Focuses on disk and partition operations rather than continuously managed backup
- Network-based deployment requires technical configuration and administration
Clonezilla fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update