Parachute Backup

Parachute Backup is a set-and-forget backup utility for iCloud Photos and iCloud Drive. It automatically syncs memories, photos, videos, and documents from iCloud to user-controlled storage locations, addressing the risk of depending solely on cloud providers for critical personal data.

The application preserves full fidelity of iCloud content, including originals, edits, live photos, and shared albums. It supports multiple backup modes such as full, incremental, or mirror. Users can run backups manually or on a schedule, with the option to override schedules and trigger Shortcuts during specific events. After backing up, it performs smart offloading by moving items back to iCloud to manage local storage on the Mac.

Storage destinations include external drives, mounted NAS devices, and other cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive when connected to the Mac. The tool extends beyond iCloud to back up any folder or drive on the Mac, covering local documents, downloads, and project files. It is delivered as a Mac application, with a separate iOS version available.

Parachute Backup requires a one-time purchase with no subscriptions or vendor lock-in. Customer reviews on the App Store give it a 4.8-star rating based on 659 ratings, with users highlighting its simplicity, reliability for local and NAS backups, and effectiveness at preserving iCloud data without bloat.