Many of us know that it is possible to copy or move files & folders in Windows by either using your mouse to right click, select Copy and then Paste, or your keyboard’s shortcut key CTRL+C to copy, CTRL+X to cut (for moving) and CTRL+V to paste. The biggest factor on the time taken to copy or move the files very much depend on the hard drive’s speed (5400RPM, 7200RPM, SSD) and also the interface (PATA, SATA, SCSI). However, it is still possible to shorten the duration in copying or moving files if you use third party software to do it instead of relying on the Windows built-in function.
Most if not all file copy software claims that they are able to copy FASTER than Windows copy function. I was curious to find if that is true and also to know which one is the fastest. 12 file copy software (Copy Handler 1.32.276, Copywhiz 4.0 Build 3, ExtremeCopy Pro 1.5.1, FastCopy 2.08, KillCopy 2.85, MiniCopier 0.5, QCopy 1.0.2, RichCopy 4.0.217, Robocopy, SuperCopier 2.2, TeraCopy 2.12, Ultracopier 0.2.0.15) are put to a simple test.
I simply copied a folder containing 2319 files, ranging from files as small as 1KB to as big as 700MB to another hard drive using the software’s default settings. The file copying testing methodology which I used is very simple and I have to admit that it is not enough to determine which is the “best” or “fastest” file copying software. However, the results does give you a hint on which file copy software you should be try and avoid.
FastCopy 2.08 (57 seconds) ExtremeCopy Pro 1.5.1 (57 seconds) * TeraCopy 2.12 (65 seconds) * RichCopy 4.0.217 (66 seconds) * KillCopy 2.85 (74 seconds) Ultracopier 0.2.0.15 (75 seconds) PerigeeCopy 1.2 (75 seconds) * Robocopy (75 seconds) Windows 7 (76 seconds) Copy Handler 1.32.276 (77 seconds) * MiniCopier 0.5 (79 seconds) Copywhiz 4.0 Build 3 (82 seconds) SuperCopier 2.2 (86 seconds) * Roadkil’s Unstoppable Copier 5.2 (86 seconds) QCopy 1.0.2 (409 seconds)
I am quite surprise to find that only about half of the file copy software is able to copy faster than the default Windows 7 copy function and the rest takes longer time to finish copying. Hopefully this simple test will be an eye opener to those that are using the slower file copy software.
The good thing about file copying software is the ability to resume files that failed to copy. In Windows, if the copy failed, you’d have recopy and replace existing files that are already copied. Some file copy software above that are marked with an asterisk (*) are those that can completely replace Explorer copy and move functions, allowing you work with files as usual. For example, using the hotkey CTRL+C and CTRL+V will automatically make the file copy software to copy and paste instead of using the Windows built-in copy function.
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Some do not work with network drives, included shared folders in network attached storage devices. The files are reported to be copied but they do not show up when one views the shared folders using Windows Explorer. Try to recopy the files, though, and the software will say that the files already exist.
the test is too simplistic.
if i may suggest a little more comprehensive test:
- test over less reliable network (low signal wifi?) this is what these apps are built for.
- test multiple big files
- test lots of small files
- test huge amount of folders with mixed (big and small) files
- test multiple times
I don’t think that our friends at MS distribute or support Teracopy.
You would get WAY different results if you tested copying to a external USB NAS device.
have you try to test BurstCopy ?
In fact, I like ExtremeCopy more than TeraCopy, the key reason is speed, ExtremeCopy really faster than TeraCopy completely
Ztree is no slouch.
I do a public access TV show
Tested with a 2.6 Gig mpg (MPEG-2) a one hour show.
61- 86 MB/s D: to D:
50 – 78 MB/s D: to C:
61- 91 MB/s C: to C:
67- 85 MB/s C: to D:
If your talking individual files that slows anything down.
I could test with 13 Gig AVI files but it’s basically the same.
Seems to me since the 90′s a GUI was always slower than command line.
Robocopy is built into Windows 7 now and rocks all of these tests hardcore. It utilizes multiple procs / threads and I believe can utilize the volume shadow service … check it out you wont be disappointed
Try teracopy
is good from MS
I think one thing missed here is about the usage of CPU. I used Teracopy and fast copy but then I found them took quite a lot of CPU so I can’t do much of other things when I am copying files. I am using supercopiers now. Maybe it’s not the fastest but it has low CPU usage.
the date is hidden at the link.
move your cursor above the title and then look down (to the status bar).
you’ll see the date :)
Did some more testing and read more reviews on the web. TeraCopy was great on XP but on my system it is actually slower on Windows 7 64. I frequently move 1.5GB AVIs to another drive – Windows reaches about 33mb/sec, ExtremeCopy 50mb/s and TeraCopy only 20mb/s. I had automatically installed TeraCopy when moving from XP to 7, not realising until this article how much slower it has become(at least for me). People that have purchased the pro version of TeraCopy have been complaining about the lack of development since Windows 7 has come out.
I hav asked several times (this may be the 3rd or 4th….) if, you & your blogging (??) group, could PLEEEEEEEZZZZ add the year beside/under (or near) the date of the post. I realize this is NOT a ‘crisis-level’ issue, &, I do appreciate the work u ppl do. It’s just that, some of ur posts hav NO comments (below) & therefore it is impossible to determine WHEN the article was posted . Thank you for ur consideration in this matter. U guys (ppl) ROCK!!
Thanks for another usefull article raymond ! I used supercopier2 without really knowing it exists other better copy tools.
Good article, Ray
Hi Ray,
Sorry about the earlier post. Yes richcopy is already there. Sorry once again.
Tks ray for the article. Have you tried Microsoft Richcopy ?
Oho, this realy what I like, thanx man…
While the latest beta of ExtremeCopy was faster it was also buggy so using v1.51 stable now.
Would those with a hook handler (replacing windows default copy function) wreak havoc with Office commands? Such as copying a line of text/ image to another programme. Thanks for the great post!
I’m quite surprise actually with the result.. I’ve been using tera copy for now.. I’m gonna swith to ExtremeCopy.. Thanks ray..
Thanks Raymond, I’m using TeraCopy and I’m going to test the other programs.
great article as always, thanks and keep it up
I use TeraCopy. It may not be the fastest, but I like the CRC checking feature. I use it when transferring FLAC folders to different computers, via flash drive. Very nice, and nice article too. Thank you.
lol @ QCopy
One more vote for FastCopy. Not the best GUI, but does the job fast and easy, thumbs up from me. have been using it for the last year or so, never ever failed. Cheers, Ivan K.
Normally I use TeraCopy but I just tried ExtremeCopy after reading this article. Missing a few features compared to TC but it is faster. Raymond could you please test ExtremeCopy v2.0 beta? I found it even faster again on my system, running Windows 7 64.
Hey Ray, could you run a benchmark test comparing the copy speeds of small file size/high volume transfers (for example 2GB worth of image files that are under 100kB) and large file size/Small volume transfer (4 files at 500 MB’s each).
It might not seem like there could be much difference, but in my personal usage of copy software (like TeraCopy), it’s able to transfer large files quickly, but isn’t as efficient as transferring numerous small ones.
@tuxplorer: Those with * at the end are the ones with copy hook handler. PerigeeCopy 1.6 crashed whenever I tried to paste. However the older 1.2 works. Tested and added to the results.
@Gregg DesElms: Added Unstoppable Copier to the test.
@Outspoken: Robocopy is similar to xcopy.
Now the million dollar question: Which of them can be integrated into software like Total Commander?
I know, for sure, that Teracopy can be, but the others?
Greets Raymond, and thanks for your work.
Hi Raymond,
Currently using this :
Roadkil’s Unstoppable Copier v5.2
roadkil.net/program.php?ProgramID=29
Good article :)
Which of these (faster than windows) has an undo feature?
you could have tested Xcopy too.. although it is not a full ‘software’ per-se.
I am a teracopy user. The most basic reason to recommend a user in using one of these application is for their ability to resume files that failed to copy. The additional bonus is a speed.
Nice Article. I am also using TERA COPY. A nice copy software.
Thanks for the adtional info…!!!
How interesting that “Unstoppable Copier” was not in the mix.
________________________________
Gregg DesElms
Napa, California USA
gregg at greggdeselms dot com
409 seconds? Hehehe, I am surprised that copy programs would be slower than windows itself. Especially if you’re transferring to external HDD or flash drive.
409 seconds, I dread how long it would take putting a few Gig of music on my MP3, you could go and have a cup of tea in the meantime :)
Also what about Windows XP SP3 and Windows XP x64? Please also test these OSes.
There is one more interesting app called PerigeeCopy: xmission.com/~jstanley/pscopy.html Can you test it please? :-)
Which apps among these have Windows Explorer integration (copy hook handler), that is, copying and pasting normally starts the copying app instead of Windows’ default copier?
<——–happy with Teracopy :)
Tera copy is not so good. It cannot handle folders with some special characters and it just FREEZE.
For exemple, try to create a folder that have this character: alt+255
Annoying!
Copying files is a zero-fault environment: the first failure is the last time the software should be used.
Did you have any errors from incorrect transfer?
In the old dos days memory caches were all the rage, because of slow HD access……until you lost some huge chunk of data. I’m still shaking my fist at you Hyperdisk, twenty years later.
Given the narrow range of techniques safely available, I’m not surprised there isn’t much speed increase over Windows itself.
Best to you Raymond!
Hello!
Please do this test with
Total Commander 7.56a / TCUP / Total Commander PowerPack
I would like to know whats that program speed :)
Thanks
Mr Raymond:
I’m using TeraCopy 2.2 (latest beta available) and I’m happy using it. But, because it’s easy to unregister it’s copy handler without uninstalling TeraCopy, I’ll try FastCopy.
Best regards and thank you for making and sharing this test. I apreciate it!!!
Thank you for the review Raymond. Now everything is clear :P :D.
Great test Ray, but you have forgot fragmentation, very important IMO.
I remember testing TeraCopy and FastCopy, TC won by far, but also made very fragmented files. I guess author fixed that, because it’s slower now.
On my old hard disk there is a huge difference between fragmented 700MB file and non-fragmented one.
Good article. Currently, I’m using TeraCopy’s latest beta version with ease. It’s a breath of fresh air to see some of the new copy file software alternatives.
Thanks Ray for the information, it is extremely helpful
I enjoyed the reading, thanks Raymond.
Thank You Raymond this post is very useful for me as i copy a lot of files.
I always use Teracopy. Good to see it is one of the fastest.
Thank you Ray!
I am using FastCopy on a regular basis now and apart from its main use, file copying, it has also many nice features, including the profile management, fast delete of a tree folder, etc.
thx for the test . i still dont think i would use an app for copy :D
May I have a question ? Did you do testing for both x86 & x64 bit systems ? Hows difference between x86 vs x64 when copy Testing file on same PC ? In principle, I think with x64 system will be faster than x86 system ? Is this correct ?
i like tera copy..because really faster..
i feel the test frequency should increase so an average result is obtained for fair comparison.
also, it depends on the desktop/notebook buffer, ie whether the user is also engaged in doing other things beside doing the file copy.
Thanks Raymond, this information really is, an “eye opener”.
Thank you for the write up Raymond as it makes for interesting reading, i discovered Teracopy awhile back and was initially happy with better transfer speeds.
after reading this review im going to give Fastcopy a trial and see how well it does on my system.
Thank you Ray
Very useful post. Thanks! :)
What is the difference of Extreme Copy Pro and Extreme Copy Free?
To copy some files from one location to another you have to use some temporary buffer. For faster copy operation you can set the buffer size according to file length(bigger file -> bigger buffer). In this way there will be less disk access which translates in bigger speed. If you can find a program that dynamically change buffer size according to file length or map a portion of the file into memory for faster access, you got the best file copier program.
You can also try to use TotalCommander and set the buffer with different values to see the changes, but this is not dynamic.