Out of the numerous file management operations that we perform on our computers regularly, Copy and Move are probably the most common. But the OS native copy and move operations are generally slow, and don’t offer much in the way of more controls, there are numerous advanced file copy software programs available, such as the extremely popular TeraCopy.
But as good as it is, TeraCopy isn’t the only one of its kind out there. In fact, there are some really great and feature laden file copy applications that you can use in its place. But before we take a look at the 6 best TeraCopy alternatives, let’s see why these alternatives are needed in the first place. Keep reading!
Why do you need TeraCopy alternatives?
I’m sure you must be thinking, why even bother with other file copy applications, when TeraCopy works just fine. And while it’s true that TeraCopy is pretty great, it does have certain downers.
For example, TeraCopy, though awesome at copying files, is much less reliable when it comes to moving files. There are also times when it doesn’t improve the copy speeds much. Then there’s the fact that it’s only available for Windows, which makes it a no-go for Mac OS users. That’s quite a few reasons to start looking for alternatives, don’t you think?
Best TeraCopy alternatives
1. Copy Handler
It may not be the easiest to use, but once you get a hang of Copy Handler, it’s hard not to get impressed by the awesomeness that it is. A robust alternative to TeraCopy, Copy Handler is extremely customizable, and can be fully integrated into the Operating System. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Copy Handler has multiple read/write buffer size presets based on copy/move locations and media (e.g. CDs, networked disks), and you can also specify your own buffer size, to increase transfer speeds. Multiple copy/move operations can be added in Copy Handler to be executed on a queued basis, and you can pause/resume/restart one or more operation(s) at any time. The status window shows details copy/move statistics, including source & destination paths, thread priority, estimated and total time, average transfer speed, and much more. Copy Handler can automatically monitor clipboard for copy/move operations, and the data transfer speeds are consistently fast as well.
Bottom line is, Copy Handler is one of the best file copy/move software out there, that effortlessly handles multiple tasks without bugging down the computer. And the fact that it’s open source, now that’s just icing on the cake.
Platform Availability: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Price: Free
2. FastCopy
Despite being lightweight, FastCopy offers quite a handful of features that make it one of the best file copying software available. FastCopy lets you copy/move files between specified source/destination directories, and automatically chooses one of the two available modes (Diff HDD/Same HDD), based on whether the source and destination folders reside on the same disks, or different ones. It also has numerous usage modes, such as Diff (Size/date), which copies files if their date and time stamps are different, and Copy (Overwrite), which always copies and overwrites files to the destination. It lets you specify the size of the buffer for the read/write operations, and even adjust the copy/move speeds. Other goodies include verification of copied files, shell integration with custom context menu entries, and auto shutdown/hibernation of system once all the specified operations are done.
Summing it up, if you’re looking for a feature laden TeraCopy alternative that also offers granular controls, along with great transfer speeds, FastCopy is what you need.
Platform Availability: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Price: Free
3. Ultra Copier
Ultra Copier is an impressively well rounded file copy utility, having quite a handy selection of unique features that make it a perfectly capable alternative to TeraCopy. One of its standout features is that Ultra Copier can be configured to use one of the many “copying engines” to achieve the best speed and efficiency. It runs in the system tray, and adding a copy/move/transfer task is just a matter of a mouse click or two. Multiple copy operations can be queued for execution, and tasks can be re-ordered, paused and resumed at any time. You can also specify the default actions for file collisions/errors, as well as limit transfer speeds and configure filters. The file copy/move speeds with Ultra Copier are generally very good, if not the best. Oh, and it’s also available as a portable application.
But arguably the biggest advantage of Ultra Copier is that it’s cross-platform, and also available for Mac OS X and Linux, apart from Windows. This means you can copy and move files faster and better, regardless of the OS you use. How cool is that?
Platform Availability: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP; Mac OS X, Linux.
Price: Free, Ultimate version costs ~$7.64
4. Extreme Copy
What’s best about Extreme Copy is that it includes a sufficient amount of advanced features, but at the same time, is simple enough to be configured and used by just about anyone. It’s a solid alternative to TeraCopy, and makes moving/copying multiple files and folders from one location to another a breeze. No seriously, it’s as simple as dragging and dropping the files/folders to the source and destination fields, and hitting the Copy/Move button. Extreme Copy can replace the default copy/move operations of Windows, and can also verify data after copying it. If the files to be copied/moved are already present at the destination, Extreme Copy can be configured to automatically replace all of them, or selectively, based on creation time-stamps. Transfer speeds are generally good, and there are other features like adjustable read/write buffer size, task queuing, auto retry on errors, and stuff like that.
Essentially, go for Extreme Copy if you want a well rounded file copy software that’s not overly complicated to use. However, it can only verify data when it’s copied, and not moved.
Platform Availability: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Price: Free, Pro version costs $19.95
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5. NiceCopier
On the hunt for a good TeraCopy alternative that’s light on system resources? Look no further than NiceCopier. Once installed, NiceCopier, true to its name, nicely integrates with the OS, makes quick work of copying files and folders. The copying operations can be paused and resumed as required.You can add multiple tasks to the task list for more granular control. NiceCopier runs in the system tray, and has a few settings that can be tinkered with. You can specify default operation (e.g. replace, overwrite) if the files to be copied are already present, as well as delay copy operations. Other features include check-sum based file verification after copying, as well as automatic shutdown after the tasks are done.
All in all, NiceCopier is a fairly good basic file copy software that achieves some really good copying speeds. However, it oddly doesn’t support move operations, so that’s a bit of a downside.
Platform Availability: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Price: Free
6. Perigee Copy
There’s not too much to say about Perigee Copy, except that it’s a simple and to the point TeraCopy alternative that adds a few useful extras to the usual copy and move operations. It’s not too heavy on features, but what it does, it does really good. Perigee Copy fully integrates with the OS, and can both replace the default Windows copy and move operations, or function alongside them. Standard features like multiple overwrite options, auto skipping on errors etc. are also supported. You can also configure Perigee Copy to finish one task before it takes over another, thus making it light on system resources. Download speeds are fairly reliable, and of course better than Windows’ default method. However, Perigee Copy can’t pause/resume transfers, and can’t handle multiple queued tasks. But it does have some handy extras, such as clearing file attributes, and it can even delete files.
In totality, it can be said that Perigee Copy makes the copying and moving operations a bit easier and more reliable. So if you’re looking for a basic but efficient alternative to TeraCopy, Perigee Copy is for you.
Platform Availability: Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP.
Price: Free
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All set to copy and move those files better?
Copying and moving files are such basic and routine tasks that we rarely pay any attention to them. However, file copy software like TeraCopy and its numerous altneratives, as discussed above, can really make copying and moving files a lot better. Want fast transfer speeds with granular controls? Go for FastCopy or Copy Handler? Would prefer something that’s good enough yet a bit simpler? NiceCopier and Perigee Copy would work just perfect. Try them out, and see how they work out for you. Know of any other file copy software that could act as solid TeraCopy alternatives? Don’t forget to mention in the comments below.
