AnyTrans Review: Can It Simplify iPhone Data Management?
If you are an experienced iPhone or iPad user, you are likely familiar with the device management features in iTunes or Finder. These features allow you to manage your iPhone on a computer, but they can be challenging to understand and have a steep learning curve due to their complex data synchronization modes. As a result, using third-party iOS management software, such as AnyTrans, is becoming increasingly popular and is generally easier to use.
In this review, we will delve into the history of AnyTrans, its features, pros, cons, and pricing of the latest version. (It’s worth noting that AnyTrans has undergone significant changes in recent years, including the removal of certain features such as online video downloading and AnyTrans for Android. However, some review articles have yet to be updated to reflect these changes.)
What is AnyTrans? And Its History
AnyTrans is a popular iOS data management tool developed by iMobie Inc. From the beginning, AnyTrans aimed to be a top alternative to iTunes, offering a range of features and capabilities that made it easy for users to manage and transfer their data.
It was first released in 2012, focusing on providing users with a simple and efficient way to transfer data between their iOS devices and computers. It can also transfer and manage data, including music, photos, videos, contacts, messages, and more. It was also compatible with iTunes libraries and backups, allowing users to easily export data from iTunes backups directly to the computer.
As the years went on, AnyTrans continued to expand its capabilities, adding support for new iOS versions, devices, and features. In 2015, the company introduced Phone Clone and Phone Merge, which allowed users to easily transfer data between devices, even if they were running different iOS versions.
In 2016, AnyTrans released version 5, which included a completely redesigned UI, faster data transfer speeds.
In 2017, AnyTrans released version 6, adding a new feature named iOS Mover. This feature enabled users to transfer data from Android devices to iOS devices with a single click. In the same year, AnyTrans released AnyTrans for Android, a data management tool for Android devices. It also introduced a completely new feature that allowed users to download music from over 900 online sites to their computers and iPhone devices.
In 2018, AnyTrans introduced AnyTrans for Cloud, a tool for managing cloud storage accounts, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. It also allows cloud users to freely share, transfer, and merge content across popular cloud drives.
In version 8, the company introduced a screen mirroring feature, which allows users to mirror, record, and capture their iOS device screen on their computer, as well as an online HEIC converter, which allows users to convert iPhone-generated HEIC images to Windows-compatible JPG format.
Overall, AnyTrans has established itself as a reliable and comprehensive iOS data management tool, offering users a wide range of features and capabilities to help them transfer, organize, and back up their data with ease. While AnyTrans for Android and AnyTrans for Cloud, along with some of its key features, such as downloading online videos, are no longer supported, AnyTrans continues to focus on providing users with the best possible experience when managing their data on iOS devices. With support for the latest iOS versions and devices, as well as regular updates and improvements, AnyTrans remains a top choice for iOS users seeking an effective way to manage their data.
AnyTrans’s Main Features & Benefits
Through eight updates, AnyTrans has evolved into a comprehensive tool for managing content, backing up and transferring data, and offering specialized features for iOS devices. This offers a complete solution for Apple mobile device users to efficiently manage their devices from a computer. Here are a few of my favorite features from AnyTrans.
1. AnyTrans’s intuitive content management
One of the most “user-friendly” aspects of AnyTrans compared to using iTunes for managing iOS device content is that it avoids the confusing “sync” logic that iTunes often employs. iTunes tends to treat an iPhone as if it were an iPod, requiring users to add music, videos, and images to the “library” in iTunes and then sync the data with the iPhone. This concept does not exist when using a file manager to manage data on a computer, which is why many people prefer not to use iTunes to manage iOS device data.
AnyTrans makes managing data on an iPhone as simple and intuitive as managing documents on a computer. In the “Device Manager,” clicking on any media item in the right panel will take you to AnyTrans’s “iOS Content Manager,” where detailed item categories allow you to view the contents of various items on the device in an intuitive way.
For example, in the “Photos” content category, you can see detailed divisions for “My Photos,” “Albums,” “Shared Albums,” “My Photo Stream,” and “Recently Deleted,” which is almost exactly the same as the categories under “Photos” on an iOS device. Most importantly, you can see thumbnail images of the content, allowing you to manage files in a more intuitive way.
When it comes to managing local content, it’s similar to using a file manager on a computer. In the “iOS Content Manager” window, you can use the Shift or Ctrl keys to select multiple items, and then use the operation buttons in the upper right corner to perform operations such as copying, pasting, deleting, and sharing. For example, if you want to transfer photos from your iPhone to your computer, you can simply select the desired photos in the “Photos” section of the iOS Resource Manager and then click the “Export” button to transfer them to your computer.
2. Bulk App Update & App Data Management
In addition to managing media files, AnyTrans allows users to manage installed apps on their iOS devices—a feature that has been removed from iTunes (Finder). In AnyTrans, users can view a list of installed apps on their iOS device, including the account used to install them and the storage space they occupy.
One useful aspect of AnyTrans’ app management is the ability to perform bulk updates. Users can select all of their apps and then click the “More” button in the upper-right corner to update them all at once. Additionally, users can open the document directory of a specific app by clicking the “View” button in the app’s item and using the various operation buttons in the upper right corner to import or export files. Alternatively, users can manage app documents from the “Application File Sharing” section in the “Quick Start” menu of AnyTrans.
3. Advanced Backup & Restore Management
AnyTrans enables users to back up their iPhone data, similar to iTunes, but with the added benefit of not overwriting backups and allowing access to past backup files. Additionally, users can browse and extract or restore their backup data with AnyTrans, making it more suitable for organized management than iTunes’ backup function.
To use this feature, simply connect your iOS device to your computer and navigate to the “Backup Management” section in the left sidebar. Then, click “Back Up Now” to open the relevant backup settings page. For added convenience, you can select “Incremental Backup” and “Enable AirBackUP” and adjust the backup path to your NAS, effectively achieving “private cloud backup” for your iOS device.
In addition to restoring data backed up through the software, AnyTrans can also restore data backed up through iTunes. You can view which data has been backed up by accessing the “Backup History” records.
4. Seamless Cloud Data Management
A small number of iPhone and iPad users who utilize Apple’s cloud storage may have accessed the iCloud web version or downloaded the iCloud client to manage their cloud data.
However, like iTunes, the cloud data management tool provided by Apple is not very satisfactory. In comparison, AnyTrans’s iCloud manager is much simpler. You can manage “contacts,” “calendars,” “photos,” “memos,” and “videos” in a very intuitive way, and perform operations such as uploading, downloading, deleting, and creating data.
Additionally, for cross-cloud transfers, AnyTrans is also very thoughtful. It can help users transfer data between two different iCloud accounts or between iCloud and Google Cloud. This is particularly beneficial for multi-cloud users, making cloud data management a one-stop and efficient process. Additionally, for users with insufficient iCloud storage space, this is also a blessing.
5. Mirror iPhone iPad Screen to Computer
One of the standout features of AnyTrans that I particularly appreciate is the Screen Mirroring feature, which allows you to easily project your Apple phone’s or iPad’s screen onto your computer for free. This can be done by simply connecting your device and computer to the same wireless network and accessing the Screen Mirroring option in the Control Center menu of your mobile device.
AnyTrans also offers the ability to record and capture screenshots from your phone’s screen, making it a useful tool for those who want to display the screens of their iPhone or iPad on a Windows system.
AnyTrans’s Downsides
During my use of AnyTrans, I encountered few issues with the software, except for one instance where I failed to import a large PDF file to my iPhone. However, upon gathering information about AnyTrans and comparing it to similar software, I have identified the following areas for potential optimization.
One weakness of AnyTrans is the number of reported issues and crashes experienced by some users. While the software generally has a good reputation, a significant number of users have reported problems such as crashes, error messages, excessive CPU usage, and compatibility issues. This can be frustrating for users and may impact their overall satisfaction with the software.
Another potential improvement for AnyTrans would be to offer more competitive pricing. The software is currently relatively expensive compared to some of its competitors, which may discourage some users from choosing it over other options.
Overall, while AnyTrans is a solid choice for managing data on iOS devices, addressing the reported issues and continually improving and expanding the software’s capabilities could help to enhance the user experience and make it an even more appealing option.
AnyTrans Price. AnyTrans Free vs Paid
AnyTrans is a paid software that provides a free version with limited functionality, such as screen mirroring, App downloading, and ringtone making. However, the core features of iOS data management and transfer are only available with a paid subscription. The paid version allows for an unlimited number of files to be transferred and managed, while the free version is limited in this regard.
The official pricing for the paid version starts at $39.99 for a one-year license, which can be used on one computer without any limitation on the number of iOS devices managed. For more options, a lifetime version and a family version are also available, priced at $59.99 and $79.99, respectively.
You can also purchase the full version of AnyTrans on other platforms, such as Setapp, by subscribing for $9.99 per month. This subscription provides access to a wide range of Mac apps, including AnyTrans, and includes a 7-day free trial. Or from iDownloadBlog for a special discounted price of $29.99 for the lifetime version, which is valued at $79.99.
AnyTrans Alternatives
In addition to AnyTrans, there are other options for managing data on your iOS devices. These include iMazing, iCareFone, Dr.Fone, SynciOS, iExplorer, and FoneTrans. These software tools provide a range of data management and transfer capabilities, including the ability to create and restore backups, transfer files between devices, and manage apps and media. Whether you need a tool that allows for easy data transfer between devices, creation and restoration of backups, or management of apps and media, you can find a suitable alternative to AnyTrans among these options.
- iMazing: Developed by DigiDNA, iMazing is a powerful iPhone management app that offers both wireless and wired connectivity for transferring data and creating backups. Its user-friendly interface allows for easy data transfer between devices, including seamless switching from Android to iOS. One standout feature of iMazing is the ability to export messages and attachments, as well as WhatsApp messages, from your iPhone. The cost for a one-year plan is $34.99.
- iCareFone: This intuitive software from Tenorshare enables the export and import of various files, including contacts and images, and also features tools for uninstalling apps and identifying and merging duplicate files. With iCareFone, you can easily save time by batch deleting files and freeing up space on your device by removing unwanted apps and duplicates. The price for a one-year plan is $39.95 for Windows and $59.95 for Mac.
- Dr.Fone, developed by Wondershare, is a comprehensive iOS management tool that offers a range of features for managing and transferring data. These features include creating and restoring backups, transferring files between devices, and repairing operating system issues. It also features a data recovery option for retrieving deleted files from your device. The cost for a one-year plan is $59.95 for Windows and $69.95 for Mac.
- SynciOS: SynciOS, an all-in-one iOS management software developed by Anvsoft, offers a range of features for managing and transferring data, including the ability to create and restore backups, transfer files between devices, and manage apps and media. It also features a built-in video and audio converter, as well as the ability to download online videos directly to your device. The price for a one-year plan is $39.95.
- iExplorer: iExplorer is a powerful tool for managing and transferring data on your iOS device. It enables the seamless transfer of data between devices and offers a range of features for managing and organizing your data, including the ability to create backups, download and manage apps, and securely erase data from devices to protect your privacy. iExplorer also features an export and import function for music, as well as the ability to access system files on your device. The cost for a one-year plan is $34.99.
- FoneTrans: FoneTrans is an iOS management tool that allows for the easy transfer of data between devices, including the ability to migrate data from iOS to Android. It also offers a range of features for managing and organizing your data, including the ability to create backups, download and manage apps, and erase data from devices to protect your privacy. The price for a one-year plan is $49.95.
End
Although it’s not necessary to manage iPhone data from a computer nowadays, there are still many advantages to using a computer (Mac or Windows PC) to manage your phone’s data. For example, the computer can serve as a local backup, and using a mouse and keyboard can make managing your phone more efficient. Additionally, data can be easily added, removed, and transferred between devices. In short, there are times when a desktop iPhone manager like AnyTrans is still necessary.
