PhoneFerry vs TouchCopy
Two Windows programs that copy an iPhone to a PC over the cable. The short version: PhoneFerry costs a fifth of the price, covers Android on the same licence, and keeps everything on your PC.
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. It costs $14.99 once for two PCs.
TouchCopy is a Windows and Mac program by Wide Angle Software that copies music, photos, messages, contacts and other data from an iPhone to a computer. Its published price is $70 once for two computers; Android phones are covered by a separate product.
Side by side
| PhoneFerry | TouchCopy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99 once | $70 once |
| Computers per licence | 2 PCs | 2 computers |
| Platforms | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows and Mac |
| Android phones | Yes, same licence | Separate product |
| Free trial | 100 items, no time limit | Limited demo |
| Account required | No | No |
| Messages export | Web page, PDF, text, with attachments | PDF, HTML, text |
| WhatsApp on iPhone | Chats with media | Yes |
| Files onto the phone | Drag from Explorer | No |
| Cloud or telemetry | None | See vendor |
Where TouchCopy is the better pick
If you are on a Mac. PhoneFerry runs on Windows only. TouchCopy has also been sold since 2008, so it has a long record of iOS versions behind it.
Where PhoneFerry is the better pick
- Price: $14.99 against $70, both one-time, both for two computers.
- One licence for both phone kinds: an iPhone and an Android phone on the same PC, or one phone per family member.
- Everything local: no account to make, nothing uploaded, no usage data sent.
- Files go both ways: drag files from Explorer onto the window and they land on the phone.
- A trial you can finish: 100 real copies, not a watermark or a timer.
Questions
Is PhoneFerry a TouchCopy alternative?
Yes. Both copy an iPhone's photos, messages, contacts, music and more to a Windows PC over the cable. PhoneFerry costs $14.99 once for two PCs and covers Android on the same licence; TouchCopy lists $70 once for two PCs and sells Android as a separate product, as published on 21 October 2026.
Which one reads iPhone text messages?
Both export iMessage and SMS conversations with their pictures. PhoneFerry exports each conversation as a web page, a PDF and plain text with the attachments beside them.
Does either one upload my data?
PhoneFerry does not: it has no account, no cloud and no telemetry, and reads the phone on your own PC. Check TouchCopy's own privacy page for its policy.
Which one has a free trial?
PhoneFerry's trial covers 100 copied or exported items with no time limit. TouchCopy offers a limited demo.