The Best iPhone Manager & Transfer Software We’ve Tested (2026)

Unboxing a new iPhone is fun; moving your entire digital life to it is not. Contacts, photos, messages, app data, WhatsApp history, voicemails—getting all of this from an old device (or from iCloud, or even Android) onto your new iPhone can quickly turn into a weekend project.

Apple’s own tools are good for one‑shot ‘move everything’ migrations. Those work well for many people, but they’re not built for power users, cross‑platform switchers, or anyone who wants full, local control over their data.

That’s where dedicated iPhone transfer and management tools come in — especially if you want selective control, local storage, or cross‑platform moves.

TL;DR: TheSweetBits Top 3 Picks

• iMazing: Best for full iPhone control & backups
• AnyTrans: Best for fast transfers & cross-platform moves
• Dr.Fone: Best all‑in‑one repair, recovery & transfer toolkit

Why 3rd‑party iPhone Managers Still Matter

Apple’s official tools have improved a lot: Quick Start for device‑to‑device transfers, encrypted iCloud and Finder backups, and Move to iOS for switchers.

But they still have limitations:

• You can’t easily browse or selectively restore messages, photos, or app data.
• You get little control over where backups live (e.g., external drive or NAS).
• Cross‑platform moves (Android → iOS, mixed media libraries) are awkward.

Third‑party iOS managers fill those gaps:

• More control over what you move and where it lives.
• Deeper visibility into backups and device contents.
• Extra tools like data recovery, system repair, WhatsApp transfer, and screen mirroring.

In short, they let you transfer, manage, and back up iOS data in a way that’s fast, flexible, and under your control.

Best iPhone Manager and Transfer Tools

At TheSweetBits, we tested over 20 iPhone transfer and management tools across macOS and Windows, focusing on:

• Backup reliability and restore success.
• Depth of data access (messages, app data, WhatsApp, etc.).
• Cross‑device and cross‑platform compatibility.
• Real‑world usability on modern Macs (including Apple Silicon).

We’ve narrowed things down to 9 tools we actually like.

#1 iMazing – The power user’s iPhone manager

iMazing is our go‑to iPhone manager for Mac users. With iMazing 3, it has become closer than ever to what iTunes/Finder should have been for managing iPhones, iPads, and even Vision Pro.

Pros

• Deep, browsable backups and restore options.
• Excellent compatibility across iOS/iPadOS devices.
• A polished interface that works for both power users and beginners.

Cons

• Wi‑Fi connection can occasionally be sluggish or finicky.

Why we like it

Most of iMazing’s features—from installation to device overview—are built with serious users in mind, but the UI stays approachable. You get:

• Complete, restorable backups for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Vision Pro, with options for versioned, incremental backups so you can roll back to specific points in time.
• Flexible backup storage, including external drives or network locations, instead of being locked to your internal disk.
• Data exploration modules for photos, messages, voicemail, contacts, calendars, WhatsApp, and more—so you can export or archive exactly what you need.
• Advanced tools for OS reinstalls, device console access, managing profiles, and automated backup schedules via iMazing Mini.

We also love the focus iMazing has on security features. For instance, instead of accessing the information directly from the iPhone, it creates a real-time backup that you can use for restoring. This way, you do not have to connect your phone and wait minutes for the data to load.

However, we are not the biggest fan of the Wi-Fi transfer feature. It often comes across issues and generally feels sluggish. But it doesn’t affect the iPhone management process in general.

In practice, iMazing shines when you need to export years of messages, maintain multiple encrypted backups, or restore selective data without touching iCloud.

Best for: Users who want full, local control over iPhone backups and data (including years of messages and WhatsApp history) and who manage more than one Apple device from their Mac.

Pricing: You can get iMazing for $29.99 per device. You can also get discounts on family license and business subscriptions.

Also: Read our full iMazing review here.

#2 AnyTrans – The fast transfer & migration pro

AnyTrans for iOS is our favorite for fast, flexible transfers and cross‑platform moves. It covers backups, phone cloning, app and media management, and shines when you’re juggling iPhone, Android, and old iTunes libraries.

Pros

• It offers a good balance between iPhone transfer and management tools.
• Additional utilities for creating ringtones, converting media, and recording.
• Capable app management, including installs/uninstalls and home‑screen arrangement.

Cons

• It lacks wireless connectivity.

Why we like it

AnyTrans is all about practical, real‑world moves:

• Manage iCloud files using Finder or Windows Explorer.
• Create custom ringtones from local files or Media Library.
• Download, install, uninstall, and manage applications.
• Mirror your iPhone to your computer and use it for recording.
• Social message transfer, especially for WhatsApp and Viber.

Even though AnyTrans for iOS is designed for data transport, you can manage a few aspects of your iPhone similar to iMazing (see our detailed iMazing vs. AnyTrans comparison). For instance, there is a full-on module for music and other media. Similarly, you can choose between multiple backup and restore solutions to keep your data safe.

We’d still love to see stable Wi‑Fi connectivity in a future update. Right now, you need a USB connection to access your device.

Best for: Users who want to move everything quickly between phones (including Android ↔ iOS), or who need a practical mix of transfers and light management without the depth of iMazing.

Pricing: $39.99 for a one-year subscription; $59.99 for one-time purchase.

Also: Read our full Anytrans review here.

#3 Dr.Fone – The all‑purpose toolkit

Sometimes you want more than just transfer and backup. Dr.Fone from Wondershare is a modular toolbox that covers phone transfer, repair, screen unlock, virtual location, and data recovery in one suite.

Pros

• Dr.Fone offers a wide range of tools for various phone-related tasks.
• Easy to navigate, suitable for all user levels.
• Available for both Windows and macOS.

Cons

• Costly: It can be a bit expensive, especially for the full-feature set.

Why we like it

Once your iPhone is connected via USB, Dr.Fone presents a clean dashboard with:

• Phone Manager to handle photos, videos, music, apps, books, and reminders.
• Backup & Restore modules to archive device data and selectively restore it later.
• Screen mirroring and capture for demos, presentations, or support.
• Advanced utilities for system repair, password management, and data recovery.

Dr.Fone stands out when things go wrong: recovering lost data, fixing devices stuck in recovery mode, or addressing iOS glitches that basic sync can’t solve.

One catch: to send files to the iPhone, you often need the companion Dr.Fone Link app installed on the device, which adds a small extra step.

Best for: Users who want a single toolbox that can transfer, fix, and recover iPhones and other phones, and are willing to pay for that breadth.

Pricing: The complete toolkit is available for $94.95, core transfer/manager modules from around $29.95.

Also: Read our full Dr.Fone review here.

iPhone Transfer Alternatives

These tools are ideal if you don’t need deep device control—just reliable, straightforward transfers.

#4 EaseUS MobiMover – Simple & (partly) free

EaseUS MobiMover is a straightforward helper for moving files between your Mac/PC and iPhone, plus basic backup and restore.

The app’s core feature is Transfer & Manager, which lets you go through audio, pictures, videos, podcasts and messages on your phone (including Android device) and transfer them. However, you also get a few quick transfer options for phone to Mac, Mac to phone and phone to phone.

Surprisingly enough, you get a backup and restore option for your device or something specific, such as WhatsApp. There are a handful of media utilities, such as a video downloader and HEIC to JPG converter.

Pricing: Free, Pro version starting at $29.95.

Also: Read our full EaseUs MobiMover review.

#5 Wondershare MobileTrans – Clean, wizard‑style transfers

If your primary need is to move data between phones or back up specific apps like WhatsApp, Wondershare Mobiletrans is worth a look.

It offers quite a few options through a super simple menu. You can go for WhatsApp Transfer, Phone Transfer, Backup, and Restore. In all these sections, you get a couple of options. For instance, when it comes to Phone Transfer, you can transfer data from phone to phone or import data to your computer.

There is also an option to transfer iCloud data to a new phone. We also liked how straightforward the backup process is. It even has an option to recover deleted WhatsApp data on Android devices. So, you can use this single app to manage your iOS and Android devices.

Price: $49.99 per year; $64.99 for lifetime.

Also: Read our full MobileTrans review.

#6 WALTR PRO – Drag‑and‑drop media genius

WALTR PRO is still one of the smoothest ways to push media onto your iPhone from a Mac.

You connect your iPhone and open WALTR Pro. Then, you drag and drop anything you want to transfer to your device. WALTR Pro will intelligently categorize them and put the file where it belongs. It can transfer all types of files this way.

This drag-n-drop transfer tool does more than push suitable files onto your iPhone. It can intelligently convert anything that you throw at it. So, if you want to transfer a file that doesn’t work with iOS, WALTR PRO will convert it into a format that does.

For users who mostly care about getting movies, TV shows, music, and documents onto an iPhone without iTunes/Finder drama, WALTR PRO is hard to beat.

Pricing: You get WALTR PRO and other apps for $9.95 monthly.

Also: Read our full WALTR PRO review here

iPhone Manager Alternatives

Here are some other options if you need broader control but not iMazing-level depth.

#7 AltTunes – An iTunes replacement

AltTunes is a new iPhone management tool from Softorino that is currently available for Windows. However, the macOS version will be released soon.

AltTunes is designed to work as a complete replacement for iTunes for Windows. This tool can manage your device and transfer content to a new device without needing iTunes or iCloud. Judging by the other apps we love from Softorino, AltTunes will also be a massive relief for macOS users.

You also get nifty features, such as exporting text messages and songs and managing your storage space. And all of this is made easy by a very intuitive user interface. We particularly love that AltTunes uses WiFi for easy data transfer.

Price: $9.95 monthly for Universal License.

Also: Read our full AltTunes review.

#8 DearMob iPhone Manager – Solid but dated

DearMob iPhone Manager is another alternative out there. You can use it as a simple iPhone manager.

It checks all the essential boxes for managing files on your iPhone. For instance, you can use the app to transfer photos(Apple ProRAW supported!), music, videos and other files. Where it lacks is actual utilities that help you. For example, it does not have an app installer or SMS export feature.

It is also a little restrictive because you need to take a backup of your device first. More importantly, despite having few features, it is not the most affordable option. I also think the UI needs much work compared to the other options we have covered.

Pricing: Starts at $29.95 per year.

#9 CopyTrans Manager – Windows‑only, focused

CopyTrans targets Windows users who want simple plug‑and‑play access to their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

This is a straightforward app and offers plug-and-play access to your device. It focuses on managing video and backups for your device. You can also use the built-in tools to organize your picture library or edit the photo albums on your iPhone or iPad.

Even though CopyTrans advertises itself as an iTunes alternative, it’s significantly lighter than the big Mac‑first tools and not available on macOS. On the bright side, you get advanced features, such as turning your iPhone into a basic USB‑style storage device.

Pricing: $29.99 for the bundle.

Comparison At-a-Glance

Tips and Tricks for Using iPhone Managers

• Regularly back up your iPhone to avoid data loss.
• Spend time exploring the features of your chosen tool to make the most of it.
• For faster and more reliable transfers, use a wired connection instead of relying on WiFi.
• Ensure both your iPhone and management software are up to date for the best performance.
• Use encryption features available in some tools to secure your data backups.

The FAQs

Can I use Apple’s official tools to transfer data to a new device?

Yes. Quick Start lets you wirelessly clone your old iPhone to a new one; iCloud and Finder/iTunes can restore from encrypted backups; Move to iOS helps Android switchers bring over essentials.

These methods work well for many people, but they can be time‑consuming, opaque (you can’t see what’s inside the backup), and limited when you want selective restores or cross‑platform moves—where tools like iMazing, AnyTrans, and Dr.Fone shine.

While transferring data using these methods is generally manageable for many users, it can also become overwhelming due to time demands, complexity, and potential data loss concerns.

How do I choose the right iPhone transfer / manager?

• Choose an intuitive interface you’re comfortable with.
• Check compatibility with your device model and current iOS.
• Decide whether you need simple transfers or deep backup/repair features.
• Compare pricing vs how often you’ll use it, and look for evidence of regular updates.

Can these tools access my ‘super-secret’ photos?

They can only access what iOS allows once you unlock your iPhone and authorize the connection. They don’t bypass Apple’s built‑in security. Still, always stick to reputable vendors and keep your device protected with a passcode or Face ID.

Do I need to jailbreak my iPhone to use these transfer managers?

Absolutely not. All the tools in this guide are designed for standard, non‑jailbroken iPhones. Jailbreaking is not recommended for most users and can introduce security risks.

Can I use these tools to transfer data to my Android friend’s phone?

Some tools support cross‑platform moves—for example, AnyTrans and Dr.Fone include Android↔iOS transfer modules, especially for media and messaging apps like WhatsApp.

The Future of iPhone Data Management

Looking ahead, we expect a few trends to shape how you manage iPhone data:

• AI‑driven cleanup and suggestions – smarter tools that highlight redundant photos, stale backups, or rarely used apps, and propose what to archive or delete.
• Tighter Mac integration – with features like iPhone mirroring in macOS Sequoia, you’ll drag and drop content between your mirrored phone and Mac more naturally, blurring the line between “transfer” and “just use it”.
• Stronger defaults for security – more widespread encryption, better key management, and biometric checks before sensitive operations.
• Richer, more visual management UIs – whether via AR or 3D‑style views, future tools may make it easier to “see” how your data lives across devices and clouds.
• Smarter fleet and policy management – tools are evolving beyond personal backups into full‑blown device‑fleet workflows, with features like profile editing, payload management, and consistent configurations for teams using Macs and PCs to manage Apple devices.

Final Recommendations

If you want quick, opinionated picks:

• Best all‑around manager and backup tool: go with iMazing
• Best for easy iPhone↔Android and fast migration: choose AnyTrans
• Best for a full toolkit (transfer + repair + recovery): pick Dr.Fone
• Best free‑leaning option for basic moves: try EaseUS MobiMover Free

As always, we recommend starting with free trials where available to see which workflow fits your Mac and your iPhone life best.

* Readers like you help support TheSweetBits. When you buy something through the links in this article, we may get a small commission at no extra charge to you.

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