AweClone is basically a subset or portion of a disk/partition image backup app -- the main difference, along with features like incremental backups, is that image backup software clones the HDD to a VHD [Virtual Hard Disk], though most can clone a disk or partition(s) to a physical drive as well. As a single file without any wasted free space, a VHD is simply a better choice for storing the cloned data from an HDD. That said, there's nothing preventing you from cloning to a VHD you create and attach [mount] in Windows. Do bear in mind that Win10 & 11 by default are installed on GPT drives with a FAT32 boot partition, a 16 or 100MB default partition, and a Recovery partition at the end. If the target drive or partition is a different size, and you stretch or shrink one or more partitions to fit, the recovery partition may not work -- for a quick check type reagentc /info at the command prompt. Also note that cloning the boot partition is not guaranteed to work -- it *should*, but doesn't always. Google BCDBoot and note the info so you're prepared.
Many of AweClone's files have names starting with EU, which I associate with EaseUS, and in fact there are a couple that include EaseUS in the name. That's good, because EaseUS is generally a very good company that's been in the business of backup software for quite a long time. The bad part is that like AOMEI, the bootable USB stick you create with their apps generally will not work with Secure Boot enabled, and it is in most every current Windows device. I tried creating a bootable USB stick in AweClone, and the process of creating the USB stick failed. I was able to create an ISO however, which could be put on a bootable USB stick using the free Rufus app, but again, it probably wouldn't work unless you turned off Secure Boot.
AweClone had an orange button for activation on the lower left 1/4 of its window that disappears once activated. It flashed a message immediately that there was an update available -- I activated the original version [from GOTD] then updated and it remained activated or registered. Updating involves downloading the setup file, which uninstalls the app when run, before installing the newer version.
AweClone itself is not portable -- it will run without being installed, but it throws an error because it can't find any attached drives, and it's service isn't installed & running. If you need to run it from a USB stick create that in AweClone, or create the ISO & use Rufus. Installing the app adds the program's folder, plus an empty "SystemAcCrux" folder in ProgramData\. Besides the service, the registry gets a couple of keys plus one more for uninstall.