Softwr

Backup · head to head

Acronis Cyber Protect vs Proxmox Backup Server

Acronis Cyber Protect logo

Acronis Cyber Protect

Backup

Integrated backup and cybersecurity protection

From
$68/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Proxmox Backup Server logo

Proxmox Backup Server

Backup

Deduplicating backup server for virtual machines, containers and Linux hosts, with verification built in

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Proxmox Backup Server has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Acronis Cyber Protect technical support response is slow and inconsistent for resolving issues; Proxmox Backup Server there is no Windows client, so physical Windows machines must be backed up by something else and the estate ends up with two backup products.
  • They diverge on capability: Acronis Cyber Protect covers AI-based ransomware protection, Proxmox Backup Server covers Deduplicated chunk store.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acronis Cyber Protect and Proxmox Backup Server actually diverge.

Attributes where Acronis Cyber Protect and Proxmox Backup Server differ
AttributeAcronis Cyber ProtectProxmox Backup Server
Starting price$68/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premisesLinux
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Backup).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Acronis Cyber Protect

  • AI-based ransomware protection
  • Continuous data protection
  • Disk cloning
  • Universal restore
  • Backup validation
  • Vulnerability assessments
  • Microsoft 365
  • Google Workspace

Only in Proxmox Backup Server

  • Deduplicated chunk store
  • Incremental guest backups
  • Client side encryption
  • Verification jobs
  • Remote sync
  • Live restore and file level restore

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Acronis Cyber Protect

  • Data protectionnot Proxmox Backup Server
  • Disaster recoverynot Proxmox Backup Server
  • Business continuitynot Proxmox Backup Server
  • Ransomware protectionnot Proxmox Backup Server
  • Compliancenot Proxmox Backup Server

Proxmox Backup Server

  • Backing up a Proxmox VE cluster with incremental block level backups of running guestsnot Acronis Cyber Protect
  • Replacing a backup product whose licence is priced per socket or per terabyte on a virtualisation estatenot Acronis Cyber Protect
  • Proving backup integrity on a schedule rather than discovering corruption during a restorenot Acronis Cyber Protect
  • Keeping an encrypted second copy on a remote server or on tape without a third party servicenot Acronis Cyber Protect

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Acronis Cyber Protect

  • Technical support response is slow and inconsistent for resolving issues
  • UI performance is slow when handling operations like checking backup status or initiating restores
  • Backup speed can be slow with limited replication options
  • Complex pricing policies with multiple licensing models make cost prediction difficult
  • Antivirus engine can significantly impact system performance on client machines

Proxmox Backup Server

  • There is no Windows client, so physical Windows machines must be backed up by something else and the estate ends up with two backup products.
  • The datastore is millions of small chunk files, so it needs storage with real input and output capability and performs poorly on a single spinning disk or an SMB or NFS share.
  • Deduplication is per datastore, so splitting workloads across datastores for retention or tenancy reasons multiplies the storage those workloads consume.
  • Garbage collection depends on file access time semantics on the underlying filesystem, so a datastore mounted with the wrong options can fail to reclaim space or, worse, behave unpredictably.
  • Subscriptions are priced per CPU socket per year, so a backup server consolidated onto fewer larger dual socket machines pays twice per host for the supported repository.

Pricing, plan by plan

Acronis Cyber Protect

$68/year
  • Standard$68/year
    • Backup and recovery
    • Basic security
  • Advanced$129/year
    • Enhanced security
    • Ransomware protection
    • Anti-malware
  • Business$5.67/month
    • Enterprise features
    • Support
    • Multiple workloads

Proxmox Backup Server

Free
  • No subscriptionFree
    • Full functionality with no capacity limit
    • Community package repository
    • Community forum support
  • Subscription$undefined/year
    • Priced per CPU socket per year
    • Access to the enterprise package repository
    • Vendor support tickets

Which should you pick?

Choose Acronis Cyber Protect if

  • You need ai-based ransomware protection.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premises.
  • You also want continuous data protection.
Acronis Cyber Protect review

Choose Proxmox Backup Server if

  • You need deduplicated chunk store.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux.
  • You also want incremental guest backups.
Proxmox Backup Server review

Questions people ask

Is Acronis Cyber Protect or Proxmox Backup Server better?
Neither clearly leads. Acronis Cyber Protect starts at $68/year and Proxmox Backup Server at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acronis Cyber Protect or Proxmox Backup Server?
Proxmox Backup Server has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $68/year for Acronis Cyber Protect and Free for Proxmox Backup Server.
Does Acronis Cyber Protect or Proxmox Backup Server run on more platforms?
Acronis Cyber Protect runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premises. Proxmox Backup Server runs on Linux.
Can I use Proxmox Backup Server for free?
Yes. Proxmox Backup Server has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acronis Cyber Protect starts at $68/year.
What is Acronis Cyber Protect best used for?
Acronis Cyber Protect is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Proxmox Backup Server is typically brought in for.
What can Acronis Cyber Protect do that Proxmox Backup Server cannot?
Acronis Cyber Protect covers AI-based ransomware protection, Continuous data protection, Disk cloning, Universal restore. Proxmox Backup Server covers Deduplicated chunk store, Incremental guest backups, Client side encryption, Verification jobs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Acronis Cyber Protect: What does Acronis Cyber Protect include?

Acronis Cyber Protect combines backup, disaster recovery, next-generation anti-malware, cybersecurity, and endpoint management in a single platform for complete cyber resilience.

Source
Proxmox Backup Server: Can it back up machines that are not on Proxmox?

Linux hosts yes, through the client, at file level. Other hypervisors and physical Windows machines are outside its scope.

Acronis Cyber Protect: What are the main pricing plans for Acronis Cyber Protect?

Acronis offers Cyber Protect Standard at $68/year, Cyber Protect Advanced at $129+/year for consumers, and business plans at $5.67-$8.60/month. Acronis runs three licensing models: per-workload, per-GB, and solution-based.

Source
Proxmox Backup Server: Is a subscription required?

No. Without one you use the community repository and forum support. The subscription buys the tested enterprise repository and vendor tickets.

Acronis Cyber Protect: Does Acronis offer an API for integrations?

Yes, Acronis exposes REST APIs allowing partners to integrate existing solutions and create new ones. They provide 300+ pre-built integrations and support both inbound (CyberApps) and outbound API integrations.

Source
Proxmox Backup Server: How do I know a backup will restore?

Run verification jobs. They re-read the stored chunks and mark snapshots verified or failed, which is stronger evidence than a successful backup log.

Acronis Cyber Protect: Can Acronis Cyber Protect be deployed on-premises?

Yes, Acronis Cyber Protect supports multiple deployment options including on-premises and SaaS, giving organizations flexibility in how they manage their backup and disaster recovery infrastructure.

Source
Proxmox Backup Server: What storage should the datastore be on?

Local disks, ideally with ZFS and enough input and output capacity for many small files. Network shares are supported but routinely disappointing.

Share

Related pages

More on Acronis Cyber Protect

More on Proxmox Backup Server

Keep looking

Other head to heads