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Backup · head to head

Acronis Cyber Protect vs UrBackup

Acronis Cyber Protect logo

Acronis Cyber Protect

Backup

Integrated backup and cybersecurity protection

From
$68/year
Rated
-
UrBackup logo

UrBackup

Backup

Open source client server backup doing both file and whole disk image backups of Windows machines

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only UrBackup 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; UrBackup backups are stored on the server without encryption at rest by default, so the backup server holds a readable copy of every machine it protects and becomes the highest value target on the network.
  • They diverge on capability: Acronis Cyber Protect covers AI-based ransomware protection, UrBackup covers Windows image backups.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acronis Cyber Protect and UrBackup actually diverge.

Attributes where Acronis Cyber Protect and UrBackup differ
AttributeAcronis Cyber ProtectUrBackup
Starting price$68/yearFree
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premisesLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
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 UrBackup

  • Windows image backups
  • File backups
  • Web interface
  • Client discovery
  • Internet mode
  • Filesystem deduplication

What people use each for

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

Acronis Cyber Protect

  • Data protectionnot UrBackup
  • Disaster recoverynot UrBackup
  • Business continuitynot UrBackup
  • Ransomware protectionnot UrBackup
  • Compliancenot UrBackup

UrBackup

  • A small office with Windows workstations that needs bare metal restore without per seat licensingnot Acronis Cyber Protect
  • Schools and labs where machines are re-imaged often and a known good image must be recoverablenot Acronis Cyber Protect
  • Backing up a mixed fleet to one server on premises with a web interface non specialists can usenot Acronis Cyber Protect
  • Replacing an expiring commercial endpoint backup licence where the budget is the constraintnot 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

UrBackup

  • Backups are stored on the server without encryption at rest by default, so the backup server holds a readable copy of every machine it protects and becomes the highest value target on the network.
  • Deduplication relies on filesystem features such as hard links, btrfs or ZFS, so a server built on the wrong filesystem silently consumes far more space and the fix is a rebuild rather than a setting.
  • There is no native object storage target, so offsite copies mean replicating the server storage with another tool rather than backing up to a bucket directly.
  • Restoring a full Windows image requires booting a restore environment, which is a manual, on site procedure that needs to be rehearsed before the day it is needed.
  • A single server holds everything and there is no built in clustering, so its own failure removes every recovery point at once unless you have separately solved replication.

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

UrBackup

Free
  • UrBackupFree
    • Full functionality, unlimited clients
    • File and image backups
    • Web administration interface

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.

Choose UrBackup if

  • You need windows image backups.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want file backups.

Questions people ask

Is Acronis Cyber Protect or UrBackup better?
Neither clearly leads. Acronis Cyber Protect starts at $68/year and UrBackup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acronis Cyber Protect or UrBackup?
UrBackup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $68/year for Acronis Cyber Protect and Free for UrBackup.
Does Acronis Cyber Protect or UrBackup run on more platforms?
Acronis Cyber Protect runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premises. UrBackup runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use UrBackup for free?
Yes. UrBackup 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 UrBackup is typically brought in for.
What can Acronis Cyber Protect do that UrBackup cannot?
Acronis Cyber Protect covers AI-based ransomware protection, Continuous data protection, Disk cloning, Universal restore. UrBackup covers Windows image backups, File backups, Web interface, Client discovery.

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
UrBackup: Does it back up Linux servers as well?

File backups yes, image backups no. The image path is Windows only through volume shadow copy.

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
UrBackup: Is the data encrypted?

Transport can be encrypted, and there is optional client side file encryption, but the default server storage is not encrypted at rest. Use full disk encryption on the server.

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
UrBackup: Can I back up to Amazon S3?

Not directly. The server writes to local or mounted storage, so cloud copies are made by replicating that storage separately.

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
UrBackup: How many clients can one server handle?

Dozens is routine on decent hardware. The limit is usually storage input and output during overlapping backup windows rather than client count.

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