Finder / iTunes backup vs Memora Keep
Finder and iTunes create backups for restoring a device. Memora Keep imports supported data from those backups so you can browse it, search within WhatsApp chats and export files. The tools can be used together.
Windows & macOS · Free · No account required
Side by side
What each tool does
Compare backup, browsing, export and storage options side by side.
| Dimension | Finder / iTunes backup | Memora Keep |
|---|---|---|
| What it is for | Backing up an entire iPhone to your computer, and restoring the device from that backup. It is the built-in way to keep a local copy of a device. | Backing up an iPhone to your computer, then reading what is inside it. It can also open a backup you already have instead of making a new one. |
| Can you browse the backup? | The backup is written as an opaque set of files managed as a whole. Apple’s tools restore it to a device, but do not open it for reading item by item. | Select a backup folder. Memora Keep checks the required files and device details, then imports supported contents into your local archive. |
| Browsing and searching | No browsing or searching of the contents. The unit of work is the whole backup, restored to a device. | Browse supported iPhone data by date or category and search within WhatsApp chats. Document browsing currently supports Android media backups only. |
| Export options | There is no per-item export for the data types above; the equivalent action is restoring the backup to a device. | WhatsApp to HTML, CSV or PDF; SMS, call history and browser history to CSV; contacts to VCF; multi-select and batch media export, plus export of individual items. |
| Where the data lives | In the backup folder on your computer — MobileSync/Backup on both macOS and Windows. | In a folder you choose. The raw backup is kept intact, and parsed data lives in a local SQLite archive with media stored by type and by device. Nothing is uploaded. |
| Cost model | Finder is included with macOS. Apple provides Apple Devices or iTunes on Windows, with no separate fee for local backup and restore. | Free — no subscription and no account required. |
Comparison details are based on publicly available information about the tools described, last reviewed on September 29, 2026. Product details can change, so verify anything here against the current version of the software before relying on it.
Choosing
Which one do you need?
Neither replaces the other — the right choice depends on whether you want to restore a device or read what is in a backup.
Use the built-in backup when
- You want a device-level copy you can restore to an iPhone, with no extra software.
- The backup itself is the end goal, not reading or exporting the data inside it.
Use Memora Keep when
- You already have a backup and want to see what is in it — chats, messages, photos, calls.
- You need to search a conversation or export data into open formats like PDF, CSV or VCF.
They can be used together: make a backup with Finder or iTunes — or with Memora Keep — then point Memora Keep at the backup folder to read it. The original backup is left intact; parsing writes into the local archive and does not rewrite the backup itself.
Related
Keep reading
- Feature iPhone backup What a full-device backup captures, and the checks that run before it starts. Read
- Feature Browse and import iTunes backups Select an existing MobileSync/Backup folder, validate it and import it into the local archive. Read
- Guide How to import an iTunes backup The step-by-step path from choosing a backup folder to browsing what is inside. Read
Start your own local archive
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Windows & macOS · Free