A PhotoSync alternative with nothing to install on your phone
Published 27 September 2026 · by the team behind MySimpleBackup
PhotoSync sends photos over Wi-Fi using an app on your iPhone. MySimpleBackup takes a different approach: plug your iPhone or iPad into your Mac with a cable and back up, with nothing to install on the phone and your albums kept as folders.
MySimpleBackup vs PhotoSync at a glance
| MySimpleBackup | PhotoSync | |
|---|---|---|
| App on the iPhone | None needed | PhotoSync app installed and running |
| Connection | USB cable | Wi-Fi |
| Price | £10 / $10 once | Free Mac companion; paid iPhone app, one-off or subscription |
| Built for | A complete backup of your photo library, organised by album | Wireless transfers to computers and cloud services |
PhotoSync details from its App Store page, September 2026.
Why choose MySimpleBackup
- Every album becomes a folder on your Mac, in one go, with a Camera Roll folder for everything else.
- Original files: HEIC photos, HEVC videos, Live Photos and edits, never converted.
- The right dates on every file, so your folders sort properly in Finder.
- Only new photos next time, and nothing is ever deleted from your phone or your backup.
- Private: straight to your Mac over a cable. No cloud, no account, no tracking.
- One licence, every phone: back up every iPhone and iPad you plug into your Mac.
A cable is also reliable for big libraries: no waiting on Wi-Fi, no keeping an app open on the phone while thousands of photos transfer.
How it works
- Connect your iPhone or iPad with a cable and open MySimpleBackup. Your Camera Roll and albums appear in the sidebar, with thumbnails.
- Keep everything ticked, or choose the albums (or individual photos) you want.
- Pick a backup folder and click Backup Selected.
Works with iPhone and iPad on iOS / iPadOS 18 and 26, on Macs with Apple silicon running macOS 14 or later.
When PhotoSync might suit you better
If you want to send photos wirelessly, or straight to a cloud service from your phone, PhotoSync is built around that. For a complete, organised backup of your photos on your Mac, MySimpleBackup is the simpler route.
PhotoSync is a trademark of its owner. MySimpleBackup is made by Blank Atlas Limited and isn’t affiliated with PhotoSync. Details about PhotoSync were checked in September 2026 from the sources linked above and may have changed since; check before you buy.