Backup Loupe

Everyone need a backup plan. The more complex your workflow is, the more complex your backup strategy will become. I use a combination of cloud services (Koofr and kDrive) and syncing across multiple devices (two Mac Laptops, two Linux workstations and a self-hosted server/NAS) with FreeFileSync, Syncthing and SmartBackup. But, the base of my plan is the native macOS backup app, Time Machine. An Internet friend recently suggested an addition to my plan, Backup Loupe by Soma-Zone Software, and after evaluating it, I happily paid full price ($33.53) for a license.

What It Is, What It Does

BackupLoupe is a “front-end / analysis / browsing” tool for backups made by Time Machine. Rather than being a replacement backup engine, it helps you inspect, analyze, and restore files from your Time Machine snapshots in a far more transparent way than the stock Time Machine provides. Point it at a backup volume (local drive, external drive, or NAS), and it lists all snapshots (backups), shows their timestamps, and lets you explore each snapshot to view the backed-up files/folders, including their sizes, dates, and changes over time. Basically BackupLoupe gives you insight into your backup history, what changed, what’s large, what’s redundant, in a way Time Machine alone doesn’t.

• Visibility & transparency of backups. You know what was backed up, when, and the size of each snapshot, helping you spot large backups that consume space.
• Easy file recovery. Browse snapshot contents and restore files/folders easily, providing a safeguard if Time Machine fails.
• Snapshot-level granularity. View file versions over time, tracking when changes occurred or restoring older versions.
• Search & filtering. Quickly search by name/path/size/type, saving time compared to Time Machine's Finder UI.
• Support for multiple backup disks/hosts. BackupLoupe manages external drives, NAS, and multiple Macs backing up to the same drive.
• Space-management insights. Identify large backups and exclude directories to control backup drive growth.
• Compatibility and native builds. The app supports Intel and Apple Silicon Macs and works on modern macOS versions.

Caveats

Backup Loupe is not without its quirks.

• No native way to merge backups or folders when restoring.
• No deletion of individual snapshots from within BackupLoupe. You'll have to use the Finder or native Time Machine interface.
• Scanning can be slow, especially for large backup histories or NAS-based backups.
• Changes to Time Machine backups after launching BackupLoupe may not show up without restarting/rescanning.
• UI / UX is functional but dated.
• Not a full backup manager. It complements Time Machine rather than replaces it.

Make no mistake, Backup Loupe is definitely a power user tool, not a smooth, commercial instrument for new or inexperienced users. It won’t replace your broader solution but it gives you a human-friendly, detailed lens on what Time Machine is doing. It might help you spot inefficiencies, unnecessary disk usage, or orphaned backups.