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Backup · head to head

Acronis Cyber Protect vs Velero

Acronis Cyber Protect logo

Acronis Cyber Protect

Backup

Integrated backup and cybersecurity protection

From
$68/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Velero logo

Velero

Backup

Open source backup and migration for Kubernetes cluster resources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Velero 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; Velero there is no vendor support contract from the project itself, so a failed restore during an outage is resolved by your team reading source code and GitHub issues.
  • They diverge on capability: Acronis Cyber Protect covers AI-based ransomware protection, Velero covers Cluster resource backup.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Acronis Cyber Protect and Velero differ
AttributeAcronis Cyber ProtectVelero
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 Velero

  • Cluster resource backup
  • Volume snapshots
  • File-level backup
  • Cross-cluster restore
  • Backup hooks
  • Scheduled backups
  • Object storage targets

What people use each for

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

Acronis Cyber Protect

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

Velero

  • A platform team needing namespace-level restore after an accidental deletion, with no budget for a backup productnot Acronis Cyber Protect
  • Migrating workloads between Kubernetes clusters or between cloud providers using backup and restorenot Acronis Cyber Protect
  • Capturing cluster configuration before a risky upgrade so the previous state can be reinstatednot Acronis Cyber Protect
  • An organisation proving a Kubernetes recovery capability to an auditor before deciding whether to buy a commercial productnot 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

Velero

  • There is no vendor support contract from the project itself, so a failed restore during an outage is resolved by your team reading source code and GitHub issues.
  • Application consistency depends on backup hooks you write and maintain, and a database backed up without a correct hook restores to a state that may not be usable.
  • Restore ordering across dependent resources such as custom resource definitions and operators needs manual attention, and complex applications frequently need a documented runbook rather than a single restore command.
  • Corporate engineering investment became uncertain after Broadcom acquired VMware, which is a real consideration for anyone building a long retention policy on the project.
  • Object storage egress charges apply on restore and are billed by your cloud provider, so a full cluster recovery from another region carries a cost discovered during the incident rather than during planning.

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

Velero

Free
  • VeleroFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed
    • No cluster or capacity limits
    • Community support via Kubernetes Slack and GitHub

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 Velero if

  • You need cluster resource backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux.
  • You also want volume snapshots.
Velero review

Questions people ask

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

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
Velero: Can we buy support for Velero?

Not from the project. Several commercial Kubernetes backup products package or extend it and sell support, which is the practical route to an accountable vendor.

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
Velero: Does it back up persistent volume data?

Yes, through cloud or Container Storage Interface snapshots, or through file-level upload where snapshots are not available.

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
Velero: What does it cost?

Nothing to licence. You pay for object storage capacity and for egress on restore, both billed by your cloud provider.

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
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