Google Takeout Alternative That I Use to Download My Gmail & Drive
If you’re searching for a reliable Google Takeout alternative, here’s what I’ve learned from my experience.
I’ve been using Google services for years, including Gmail, Google Drive, Photos, Contacts, and Calendars. Like most people, I first used Google Takeout to download my account data. It’s Google’s official option for exporting everything from your account.
But if you’ve used it too, you probably know the struggle:
- Huge files broken into multiple ZIPs
- Waiting for days for download links
- Zero flexibility when it comes to choosing what to back up
- No option for scheduled or incremental backups
I quickly realized I needed a better, more flexible way to back up my Google account data.
That’s when I switched to an automated backup tool, and it’s been a much smoother experience ever since.
Why Google Takeout Didn’t Work for Me?
Here are my reasons why I need a Google Takeout alternative:
- Large Exports
Downloading my full Google Drive or Gmail archive meant dealing with multiple ZIP files, many over 2 GB each. Extracting, sorting, and organising those files was honestly a frustrating task. - No Regular Backup Option
If I wanted fresh copies of my data regularly, I had to repeat the entire Takeout process manually. - Messy File Structure
My Drive and Photos folders came out in complicated folder structures, making it hard to find specific files. - Limited File Format Choices
With emails, I wanted file formats like PST or MBOX that I could open in my preferred apps. Google Takeout didn’t offer that flexibility.
I needed something that could do automated, flexible backups without all the hassle.
The Google Takeout Alternative I Use Now
After testing a few solutions, I settled on using the SysTools G Suite Backup. Here’s why:
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- Selective backups: I don’t need to back up everything at once. I can pick specific Gmail folders or Drive folders to save.
- Output format: Emails as PST, and Drive files in their original formats.
- Incremental backups: After the first backup, I can run backups that only download what’s new.
- Keeps the folder structure intact: When I restore or view the backups later, everything is exactly where I expect it to be.
I don’t have to deal with confusing zip files anymore. Everything’s neatly organised, exactly the way I want it.
How I Use Google Takeout Alternative Step-by-Step
Here are the steps that I followed to backup my Google Workspace simultaneously:
- Install the tool on any Windows or Mac machine.
- Mark the G Suite & Outlook(PST) as the source and target location.
- Select the data you want: Email, Document, Contact, or Calendar. For selective backup, use the Date Filter option.
- Log in with your Google credentials, i.e., Admin Email and Service Account. Afterwards, upload the Certificate File(p12 file) and click on Validate.
- Choose where you want to save it, and select the file size(by default, 40GB is selected).
- Map the users via the Fetch Users, Import Users, or Download option.
- Lastly, hit the Start Backup button to let the backup run.
I like that I can come back and run backups regularly without having to start all over again, which makes it the best Google Takeout alternative.
Why I Chose This Method Over Google Takeout?
| Feature | Google Takeout | Automated Tool |
| Selective Backup | No | Yes |
| Incremental Backup | No | Yes |
| Folder Structure | No | Yes |
| Automation | No | Yes |
For me, the biggest win is saving time. Instead of spending hours sorting through downloads, I now have consistent backups I can rely on.
Also Read: How to Enable IMAP in Google Workspace?
Final Thoughts
Want a Google Takeout alternative for more flexibility and better organisation? I have it for you.
For anyone who needs regular backups of Google account data, I’d recommend the above-mentioned solution. It’s been one of the best tech decisions I’ve made for protecting my data. You can try this solution for free before any commitments.
Also Read: Why Does My Gmail Automatically Sign Out?
People Also Ask
Q1. What is the best Google Takeout alternative?
I recommend using SysTools G Suite Exporter, which allows selective, incremental backups with multiple output formats and maintains folder structure.
Q2. Why should I use an alternative to Google Takeout?
Because Google Takeout has several limitations, such as large, messy ZIP files, no automation, and no incremental backups
Q3. Can I selectively back up data with a suggested alternative to Google Takeout?
Yes, using the mentioned solution, I can select specific Gmail folders, Drive files, or other data types for backup.
Q4. Does a specified solution support incremental backups?
Absolutely. The automated tool I use supports incremental backups, meaning that after the first backup, only new or modified data is downloaded.
Q5. Is it safe to use a Google Takeout alternative?
Yes, the suggested software is a desktop-based offline tool, so there is no chance of a data breach with this solution. Additionally, it doesn’t save your credentials at any place, which makes it more robust and trustworthy.
Q6. Can I back up Google Photos using a Google Takeout alternative?
Yes, you can back up Google Photos along with Gmail, Google Drive, Contacts, and Calendar data using a Google Takeout alternative.