I like Arq

A big ole ten-gallon hat tip to everyone that recommended Arq after I wrote about how I’m using Amazon S3.

Arq is a simple but powerful S3 client written exclusively for the Mac. Whether you want to make sure your data can ride out a Biblical flood or you just want to march a few bytes two by two into Amazon’s cloud, Arq is a great choice for making it happen.

Things I really like about Arq:

• The Time Machine-like backup scheme is awesome.
• Arq encrypts your files.
• I can pause an upload for X minutes.1
• Easy to add folders to backup plan.
• Easy to browse backups right within Arq’s interface.
• Drag and drop restore.
• One-time cost ($30) instead of recurring.
• A “budget” feature lets you assign a cost ceiling. Arq will delete data as needed to stay in your S3 budget.
• If your Mac sleeps or goes offline, Arq picks right back up the next time it sees the internet.

What I might improve:

• An overall progress bar would be nice. Arq shows an individual progress bar for each folder you’ve chosen for backup.

• For excluded folders, I’d love a way to browse and “check” specific folders instead of using the text and path filter.