PhoneFerry vs iMazing
Both get an iPhone's photos, messages and contacts onto a computer. The short version: PhoneFerry is a one-time $14.99 with no account and covers Android; iMazing is a yearly plan with an account and whole-phone backups.
Last updated 25 October 2026. Written by BlackBox Tools, the maker of PhoneFerry.
What they are
PhoneFerry is a Windows program by BlackBox Tools that copies photos, videos, messages, WhatsApp, contacts, files, music, notes, voicemail, voice memos, calendar, reminders and Safari bookmarks from an iPhone, and photos, files, messages, contacts, call log and calendar from an Android phone, to a Windows 10 or 11 PC. $14.99 once, two PCs, no account.
iMazing is a Windows and Mac program by DigiDNA that keeps iPhone backups and exports photos, messages, contacts and other data from them. Its published personal plan is $29.99 a year for one computer, with an account.
Side by side
| PhoneFerry | iMazing | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 once | $29.99 a year |
| Computers per licence | 2 PCs | 1 computer |
| Platforms | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows and Mac |
| Android phones | Yes, same licence | No |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 100 items, no time limit | Limited |
| Whole-phone backups | No | Yes |
| Messages export | Web page, PDF, text, with attachments | PDF, CSV, text, Excel |
| Files onto the phone | Drag from Explorer into a file-sharing app | Yes |
| Cloud or telemetry | None | See vendor |
Where iMazing is the better pick
If you want whole-phone backups kept on a schedule that can go back onto a phone, or you are on a Mac. PhoneFerry copies and exports and puts nothing back on the phone.
Where PhoneFerry is the better pick
- Price: $14.99 once against $29.99 a year, and two PCs against one.
- No account, no sign-in, no renewal email.
- Android on the same licence.
- Everything local: the phone is read on your own PC and nothing is uploaded.
- A trial you can finish: 100 real copies with no time limit.
Questions
Is PhoneFerry an iMazing alternative?
Yes, for Windows. Both copy an iPhone's photos, messages, contacts and files to a computer. PhoneFerry costs $14.99 once for two PCs with no account; iMazing's published personal plan is $29.99 a year for one computer and needs an account, as published on 25 October 2026.
Does iMazing work with Android?
No. PhoneFerry covers Android phones on the same licence: photos, videos, files, messages, contacts, call log and calendar.
Which one keeps whole-phone backups?
iMazing does, on a schedule, and can put one back on a phone. PhoneFerry reads what it needs from a filtered backup stream and keeps only the databases for messages, contacts and the rest; it copies and exports, and puts nothing back on the phone.
Which one is cheaper over three years?
PhoneFerry: $14.99 once. iMazing at $29.99 a year comes to about $90 over three years for one computer, at its published price.