Google's June Android beta surfaced a long-overdue toggle: per-app backup. Each installed app gets its own switch in Settings, and the user picks what gets pushed to Google's servers and what stays local. The change is small but a meaningful step beyond the "all or nothing" approach the system backup has shipped with for years. Until the feature ships to stable, the better choice is a dedicated backup app that already gives you per-app control, plus the option to back up app data and not just the APK. We tested seven Android backup apps used by Pixel and Samsung owners who want serious control over what gets backed up and where.
The picks below cover three workflows: cloud-first (Swift Backup), open-source local-first (Neo Backup), and the migration helpers people use when switching phones or restoring after a factory reset.
What to look for in an Android backup app
The category has been crowded for over a decade. Five things separate the picks below from the long tail of forgotten freeware:
- App-by-app granularity. The Softonic story is the headline because most users want per-app control, not a single global toggle.
- App data backup, not just the APK. Restoring an app without its data is a fresh install. The real win is restoring chat history, saved games, and settings.
- Root or no-root. Newer Android versions restrict what non-root apps can back up. The cleaner picks work non-rooted; the more powerful picks need root.
- Cloud destination choice. Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, local NAS. The good apps let you pick.
- Restore reliability. Some apps back up cleanly and choke on restore. Test restore once before you trust it.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Root | Free plan | Cloud destinations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift Backup | Polished cloud + local backup | Optional | Free, Premium upgrade | Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive |
| Neo Backup | Open-source root-only deep backup | Required | Fully free | Local only |
| Helium | No-root data backup via ADB pairing | Optional | Free, Premium upgrade | Google Drive, Dropbox, Box |
| Migrate | Custom ROM migration | Required | Free | Local then transfer |
| JS Backup | Contacts, SMS, calls, photos | No | Free, Premium upgrade | Google Drive, Dropbox |
| Super Backup Pro | SMS, contacts, call logs | No | Paid (one-time) | Local, Gmail, Drive |
| Google One | System-level automatic | No | 15 GB free, paid tiers | Google Drive |
The apps
1. Swift Backup: Best polished cloud and local backup
Swift Backup is the most actively maintained third-party backup app on the storefront and the closest non-root tool to a real backup-and-restore workflow. It backs up APKs, app data (for apps that allow ADB-style backups, plus root-only for the rest), call logs, SMS, contacts, wallpapers, and Wi-Fi networks. Each app appears in a list with its own backup toggle, the scheduling system runs daily or weekly, and the upload destinations cover Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. Premium adds incremental backups, dedicated app data backups, and ad removal.
Where it falls short: Some app-data backups require root or a USB ADB pair on newer Android versions because of platform restrictions. Premium is needed for the deepest features.
Pricing:
- Free: APK backup, schedule, call logs, contacts
- Paid: Premium for app-data backup and incremental cloud sync, from around $5 per year
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: The default pick if you want per-app backup with cloud sync and you do not want to root the phone.
2. Neo Backup: Best open-source root-only deep backup
Neo Backup (formerly OAndBackupX) is the open-source root-only backup tool that handles every app's data, settings, and shared preferences with the granularity that root unlocks. The per-app list lets you flag what to back up, the scheduler runs nightly, and the encrypted-archive format keeps the backup unreadable without your passphrase. The project lives on GitHub and ships through F-Droid alongside the Play Store builds, which makes it the right pick for buyers who care about provenance.
Where it falls short: Requires root, which is a major filter on the audience. Local backups only; you bring your own sync solution. The UI assumes some Android knowledge.
Pricing:
- Free: fully free, open source
- Paid: no
Platforms: Android (rooted)
Bottom line: The right pick for a rooted phone where you want complete control and the freedom to inspect the source code.
3. Helium: Best no-root data backup via ADB pairing
Helium from ClockworkMod was the first non-root app-data backup tool and still works on modern Android with a one-time ADB pairing from a desktop. The desktop pair grants the permission the app needs to back up another app's data via the Android backup protocol. Once paired, the app can sync to local storage, Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box on a schedule. The Premium tier adds the cloud sync and the per-app schedule control.
Where it falls short: The ADB pairing has to be redone after some Android version updates. Newer apps increasingly opt out of the Android backup framework, which means Helium cannot touch their data.
Pricing:
- Free: app backup, local restore, ad-supported
- Paid: Premium for cloud sync and schedule, around $5 one-time
Platforms: Android plus the Helium Desktop pair
Bottom line: The no-root pick for buyers willing to do a one-time ADB pair and accept that newer apps may opt out of the protocol.
4. Migrate: Best for custom ROM migration
Migrate by lambb is the root-only tool built specifically for the moment you flash a new custom ROM and want every app, every data set, and every system setting to come back exactly as it was. It batches per-app backups into one archive, supports incremental backups across multiple ROMs, and replays the entire backup after the flash without manual app-by-app restore. Users of LineageOS, GrapheneOS, and CalyxOS treat Migrate as the standard companion tool.
Where it falls short: Root required. Single-purpose; not designed for ongoing cloud sync.
Pricing:
- Free: fully free
- Paid: no
Platforms: Android (rooted)
Bottom line: The right pick the day before you flash a new ROM. Set it up, take a backup, flash, restore.
5. JS Backup: Best for contacts, SMS, calls, and photos
JS Backup – Restore & Migrate is the no-root tool focused on the data that lives outside individual apps: contacts, SMS, call history, calendar, photos, and Wi-Fi credentials. The cloud sync supports Google Drive and Dropbox, the cross-device transfer walks you through moving from an old phone to a new one without involving Google's account-based system backup, and the QR code transfer mode handles the move without either phone touching the cloud at all.
Where it falls short: Does not back up individual app data the way Swift Backup or Helium can. Some advanced features require Premium.
Pricing:
- Free: contacts, SMS, photos backup
- Paid: Premium adds cloud upload limits and an ad-free experience, around $5 per year
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: The right pick if your priority is the personal data outside apps and the phone-to-phone transfer.
6. Super Backup Pro: Best for SMS, contacts, and call logs
Super Backup Pro is the long-running no-root tool that focuses on contacts, SMS, MMS, call logs, calendar entries, bookmarks, and APK files. The scheduling system runs daily, the cloud upload pushes to Gmail attachments or Drive, and the restore takes a single tap per category. The Pro version (paid) removes ads and unlocks the scheduled-upload feature.
Where it falls short: Cannot back up app data without root. The interface is functional rather than polished.
Pricing:
- Free: Super Backup free has ads, basic features
- Paid: Super Backup Pro one-time around $4
Platforms: Android
Bottom line: The pick for SMS and call-log backup specifically. Pair with a different app for the rest.
7. Google One: Best system-level automatic backup
Google One is the official system-level backup, the one Google is now adding per-app toggles to in the Settings beta. It backs up the device automatically when on Wi-Fi and charging: app data (for apps that opt in), contacts, calendar, photos at original quality (paid tier) or compressed (free tier), SMS, and device settings. The 15 GB free tier is shared with Gmail and Drive, so heavy users hit the cap before backup finishes. Paid tiers extend the cap and add features like VPN.
Where it falls short: The free tier 15 GB cap is shared with everything else in your Google account. Per-app backup control is still in beta as of June; the stable channel ships an all-or-nothing toggle today.
Pricing:
- Free: 15 GB shared with Gmail and Drive
- Paid: from $2 per month for 100 GB, with higher tiers up to 30 TB
Platforms: Android, iOS, web
Download: Built into Android via Settings; the Google One app extends and manages it. Find it on Google Play.
Bottom line: Turn this on first. Add a third-party app for the granular control Google One has historically not offered.
How to choose
Turn on Google One backup first because it is already on every Android phone with Play Services. Watch for the per-app toggle to land in the stable channel.
Add Swift Backup on top for the per-app granularity Google still does not ship in full, plus cloud sync to a destination of your choice.
Pick Neo Backup if you have a rooted phone and want open-source provenance and complete data control.
Pick Helium if you want no-root app-data backup and are willing to do a one-time ADB pair.
Pick Migrate the day before you flash a new ROM. It is the right tool for that one job.
Pick JS Backup if your priority is the data outside apps (contacts, SMS, photos) and a clean phone-to-phone transfer.
Pick Super Backup Pro if SMS and call-log backup is the single feature you want.
FAQ
Can I back up app data without rooting my Android phone?
Swift Backup (Premium) and Helium can both back up app data without root on apps that allow the Android backup framework. Newer apps increasingly opt out of that framework, which limits what either tool can grab. Root unlocks the rest.
What is the best free Android backup app?
Swift Backup's free tier covers APK, contacts, and call-log backup, which is enough for most casual users. Neo Backup is fully free and open source for rooted phones. Google One is free up to 15 GB shared across Google services.
Does Google One back up everything?
Google One backs up device settings, contacts, calendar, photos (at original or compressed quality depending on tier), SMS, and app data for apps that opt in. The 15 GB free cap is shared with Gmail and Drive, which is the usual limiter. Per-app control is rolling out in the beta channel.
Can I move my apps and data from an old Android phone to a new one?
Yes. JS Backup and the built-in Android setup flow both handle phone-to-phone transfer, including over Wi-Fi without uploading to the cloud. For granular control over what moves and what does not, run Swift Backup or Neo Backup before the transfer.
Are third-party backup apps safe?
Open-source picks (Neo Backup, Migrate) let you inspect the code. Closed-source picks like Swift Backup, Helium, JS Backup, and Super Backup Pro have long track records and explicit data-handling policies. Read the privacy policy and prefer apps that store backups in your own cloud account rather than the developer's servers.
