iMazing Review 2024: Does It Work for iOS Data Transfer and Backup

In my quest to explore various iTunes alternatives, I came across iMazing. To provide an in-depth and authentic imazing review, I dedicated 4 days to thoroughly testing the software. This allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding of how iMazing functions, and I’m excited to share my findings in this imazing review.

Let’s dive into the details.

iMazing Review

Samuel White

Ease of Use
Effectiveness
Price
Support

Summary

I would say iMazing is a great alternative to iTunes because it’s simpler and more efficient. However, it is not easy-to-use enough as it should be and you should pay for it.
Before buying we would recommend to go for its trial version.

3.8

What is iMazing?

iMazing, developed by DigiDNA, is designed to transfer music, files, messages, apps and more from any iPhone, iPad, or iPod to a computer, Mac or PC. Manage and backup your iOS device simply without iTunes.

Supported Devices:

  • iPhone: From the 1st generation to the latest iPhone 15 Pro Max.
  • iPad: All generations including iPad Air, iPad mini, and iPad Pro models.
  • iPod: Includes iPod classic, iPod mini, iPod nano, iPod shuffle (only on PC), and iPod touch from 1st to 7th generation.

Operating System Support:

  • macOS: Compatible with macOS versions from Yosemite (10.10) to Sonoma (14), including both x86 32-bit and 64-bit, and native Apple Silicon support.
  • Windows: Supports Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11, available in both x86 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Supported File Types

iMazing facilitates the management of a variety of data types including backups, photos, music, messages, WhatsApp chats, call history, voicemail, apps, Safari data (history, bookmarks, reading list), contacts, calendars, eBooks, PDFs, ringtones, notes, voice memos, and more.

Key features:

  1. Back up your iPhone and restore data.
  2. Transfer photos, music, and other files between iPhone and computer.
  3. Transfer data between iOS devices.
  4. Manage apps.

How to Use iMazing – Main Features of iMazing

First, you need to download iMazing from the official website and install it on your Windows computer or Mac.

Second, connect your iOS device to the computer via USB or Wi-Fi.

Use iMazing

As the app is mainly for backing up and restoring data, transferring files and managing apps, I have tested all of these main features one by one and here’s the details.

Note: iMazing supports both PC and Mac and I tested the Windows computer on my Windows 10 computer. The UI and function may be a little different for each OS.

1. Transfer Files Between iPhone and PC

iMazing can transfer photos, videos, music, and other media contents between iPhone and Mac/PC. One of the best feature is that it can transfer files through USB as well as through Wi-Fi which means that you don’t need to connect a lightning cable every time you need to transfer contents.

In our test, the main problem is that the speed is really slow while handling large volumes of photos and videos.

Additionally, though you can export most of data from your iPhone to computer, you cannot transfer photos, messages, notes, etc. from computer to your iPhone. Here’s the details:

Supported DataExportImport
PhotosYesNo
Music & VideoYesYes
MessagesYesNo
Call History & VoicemailYesNo
Contacts & BooksYesYes
NotesYesNo
Voice MemosYesNo
iMazing Transfer

2. Transfer Files Between iOS Devices

This is a handy feature for those who just got a new iPhone 12/11/X. iMazing can help you transfer all the data saved on your old device to the new phone. You simply choose what types of data and even apps you want and iMazing will transfer them all to your new phone quickly without iTunes hassles.

3. Backup your iOS Device and Restore if Necessary

If you need to backup your devices, iMazing can help you to backup an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to computer or to an external drive. Then, you can restore it if needed.

What I must mention is that it can automatically backup an iPhone or iPad via Wi-Fi. Though both iTunes and iCloud allows you to backup iPhone wirelessly, iMazing may have its advantages.

 iTunesiCloudiMazing Mini
PriceFreePaidFree
ScheduleNoNoYes
Choose LocationNoNoYes
Backup HistoryNoNoYes
EncryptionYesYesYes

Note: iMazing Mini is iMazing’s menu bar app. It is packaged inside iMazing, so if you already have iMazing 2, simply make sure you are up to date and you should have iMazing Mini already.

When your PC or Mac and the iOS device are under the same Wi-Fi network, iMazing will automatically take the backup of your data. It has backup archiving option. It allows you to automatically clean the backups older than a specific time period. You can encrypt your backup using a password or leave them unencrypted if you wish.

4. Manage Apps on your iPhone/iPad

This is a feature that iMazing has advantage with its competitors. This software allows you to manage your iOS device apps directly from a computer. Unlike other iPhone managers, it can install apps directly from the app store. You also can manage your app store library and uninstall/install any apps on your device. You can sort the app library by Name, installed status, Size, or Download status; click one of the column headers to sort by its criterion.

Step 1. Launch iMazing on your computer and connect your device.

Step 2. Select your device in the iMazing sidebar, then click Manage Apps.

Step 3. iMazing displays the apps on your iPhone or iPad, as well as its “app library.”

Step 4. Install purchased apps from the iTunes Store.

iMazing Manage App

Is iMazing Safe?

On software itself aspect, iMazing is safe. I downloaded the newest version of iMazing on my computer and the antivirus software didn’t detect any virus or adware. Windows did ask me if I am sure that I want to install the software and I confirm it because my antivirus didn’t find anything suspicious.

On operation level, iMazing is safe to use too. When deleting something, the software always need your double confirmation.

iMazing has been around for years and millions of users have tested it. There is rare complains about the safety of iMazing.

iMazing Free Vs Paid

iMazing is not free, but you can have a free trial version before purchasing.

The free trial version allows you to preview iMazing’s many features. Everything is accessible, but it restricts the amount of items which you can transfer. Backing up and restoring apps is not limited.

The pricing for the different types of iMazing licenses is listed below for your convenience.

  • Single License (for 1 computer): $39.99/Lifetime.
  • Single License (for 2 computers): $49.99/Lifetime.
  • Family License: $89.99/Year.

My Personal Experience with iMazing: Pros and Cons

Pros of iMazing

  • Comprehensive iOS Management: I’ve found iMazing to be an all-in-one solution for managing my iOS devices. It’s great for transferring files, backing up data, and even handling text messages and contacts.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The interface is intuitive and straightforward, making it easy for me to navigate and use the software without any hassle.
  • Wireless Connectivity: One of the best features is the ability to connect to my devices wirelessly. This adds a lot of conveniences, especially when I’m not near a USB cable.
  • Advanced Backup Options: The backup capabilities are impressive. I can create complete backups or specific backups of certain data types, which is very useful.
  • No Need for iTunes: It’s a relief not to rely on iTunes for device management, especially considering the flexibility and efficiency iMazing offers.

Cons of iMazing

  • Cost: While iMazing is a powerful tool, it is quite expensive. The cost might be a barrier for some users who are looking for a more budget-friendly option.
  • Complexity for Beginners: For those who are not tech-savvy, iMazing might seem overwhelming at first with its array of features and settings.
  • Occasional Glitches: I’ve experienced a few minor glitches and slow performance issues, particularly when managing large files or performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Limited Free Trial: The free trial is quite restrictive, which doesn’t allow users to fully explore all the features before making a purchase.
  • Customer Support: While not a major issue, I feel that the customer support could be more responsive and helpful in resolving issues.

Overall, my experience with iMazing has been largely positive. It stands out for its comprehensive management capabilities and user-friendly interface, though the cost and complexity might be off-putting for some users.

iMazing Review: My Ratings

Ease of Use: 3.5/5

iMazing is not quite easy of use.

After installation, it requires you to install Apple drivers or iTunes for running and it will restart again.

iMazing Install

Also, I use more than 30 minute to download and install all software or drivers that needed to make iMazing run normally. Worse, I have to reinstall the software. If I don’t want to write this iMazing review post, I will give up at the beginning.

However, after successful installation, its user interface is straightforward to manage your device.

Effectiveness: 4/5

As we have discussed previously,iMazing is capable of automatic backup scheduling, browsing and editing your backups, exporting your iPhone messages, transferring all sorts of files between your computer and iOS devices. Overall, it does the iPhone management work well.

Price:3.5/5

The price of iMazing single computer license is a bit higher compared to some of its competitors such as Dr.fone Phone Manager. Though the license has no time limit.

Support: 4/5

Click “Help”at the top menu, you will be directed to the “Guides” page. Here you can learn how to use iMazing in details. Also, iMazing have FAQ pages that can answer some frequently asked questions. If both the Guides and FAQs cannot solve your problem, you can send them an email.

I haven’t found the phone number in its official website.

Overall Rating: 3.8/5

To sum up, I would say iMazing is a great alternative to iTunes because it’s simpler and more efficient. However, it is not easy-to-use enough as it should be and you should pay for it.

Before buying we would recommend to go for its trial version. Try it once and share your experience with us through comments and share.

iMazing Alternatives

SoftwareMain FeaturesPricingSuitable For
TouchCopyTransfer music, messages, photos; iPhone file manager$39.95 (full version), $29.95/yearUsers needing simple transfer and backup
EaseUS MobiMoverTransfer data between devices and computers, manage iPhone files, download videos and audios, backup and restore iPhone, transfer and backup WhatsApp chat historyFree (limited), $23.95/month to $69.95/lifetime for ProTech novices and those seeking easy data transfer
iExplorerTransfer music, messages, photos, disk mounting, export voicemails and contacts$39.99 (Basic), $49.99 (Universal), $69.98 (Family)Users not familiar with iTunes
iMobie AnyTransTransfer and manage iOS data, backup, iCloud content management, social media message backup, video downloads$39.99 (single PC), $69.99 (family license)Old and tech-challenged users
iMazingTransfer files between iPhone and PC, backup and restore iOS devices, manage apps$39.99 (single computer), $49.99 (2 computers), $89.99/year (family license)Users looking for an iTunes alternative

iMazing vs iExplorer

On Reddit, Users shared their experience with iMazing, particularly praising its auto-backup feature, which they found more efficient than Apple’s Photo Stream for transferring photos to a computer. They chose iMazing over iExplorer mainly because of its licensing model, which is based on the number of iOS devices you want to use it with, as opposed to iExplorer’s computer-based licensing.

One thing to note about iMazing is that its license is tied to each registered device and can’t be transferred, meaning new devices will incur additional costs. iExplorer, while seemingly more cost-effective since its license can be registered or deregistered on different computers, requires iTunes to operate. In contrast, iMazing doesn’t need iTunes, which is a big plus for many users.

iMazing vs AnyTrans

Both these tools offer a range of features for data transfer, backup, restoration, and more. iMazing stands out with its pleasing and minimalistic interface, making it user-friendly. It allows for multiple backups on your hard drive, a feature not available in iTunes.

AnyTrans, on the other hand, offers a bit more in terms of features. It has a built-in screen mirror and direct access to download iOS apps from a computer, as well as options for making iPhone ringtones. However, its interface can be a bit cluttered and may experience crashes or freezing.

In terms of pricing, both start at around $39.99, but iMazing offers a slightly cheaper lifetime option compared to AnyTrans’s yearly plan.

So, if you’re looking for a sleek and stable interface, iMazing might be your go-to. But if you need more advanced features like screen mirroring or ringtone making, AnyTrans could be worth considering.

Samuel White
  • Samuel White
  • Samuel White is an accomplished author with extensive experience in reviewing apps and software. His well-researched and engaging content helps readers navigate the ever-evolving tech landscape. Samuel's passion for innovation drives him to stay updated on the latest trends and share his expertise with his audience.