Backup · head to head
Amanda Enterprise vs SST
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Amanda Enterprise minimum 10 workloads required for most use cases; SST primarily optimized for AWS with Cloudflare support
- They diverge on capability: Amanda Enterprise covers Cross-platform backup, SST covers Single config file.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Amanda Enterprise and SST actually diverge.
| Attribute | Amanda Enterprise | SST |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, Web | AWS, Cloudflare, Node.js |
| Category | Backup | Cloud |
| Founded | 2005 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Amanda Enterprise
- Cross-platform backup
- Cloud integration
- Disk staging
- Encryption
- Web-based management
- Bare metal recovery
- AWS S3
- Azure
Only in SST
- Single config file
- Resource linking
- Local development
- Multi-cloud support
- Multiple deployment stages
- VPC tunneling
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Amanda Enterprise
- Data protectionnot SST
- Disaster recoverynot SST
- Business continuitynot SST
- Ransomware protectionnot SST
- Compliancenot SST
SST
- Deploying Next.js frontends with serverless backendsnot Amanda Enterprise
- Managing databases and storage alongside application codenot Amanda Enterprise
- Creating staging environments for feature testingnot Amanda Enterprise
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Amanda Enterprise
- Minimum 10 workloads required for most use cases
- Per-device pricing may increase costs for large deployments with many servers
- Enterprise plan requires contacting sales for custom quotes
- NAS/File share backups charged separately at $4.99-$5.99/TB/month after first 10 TB free
SST
- Primarily optimized for AWS with Cloudflare support
- Learning curve for developers unfamiliar with infrastructure concepts
- Limited documentation for some advanced use cases
Pricing, plan by plan
Amanda Enterprise
Free- Business$5.99/monthly
- Linux/Windows backup
- Database backup
- M365 backup
- Business Plus$6.99/monthly
- Everything in Business plus: 24/7 premium support
- 10 hours pro services
- 8 hours training
- Enterprise$undefined/quote
- Everything in Business Plus plus: Integrated data resiliency
- Expert consultation & design
- Bulk automation scripts
SST
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the SST review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Amanda Enterprise if
- You need cross-platform backup.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
- You also want cloud integration.
Choose SST if
- You need single config file.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on AWS, Cloudflare, Node.js.
- You also want resource linking.
Questions people ask
- Is Amanda Enterprise or SST better?
- Neither clearly leads. Amanda Enterprise starts at Free and SST at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Amanda Enterprise or SST?
- Amanda Enterprise starts at Free and SST at Free.
- Does Amanda Enterprise or SST run on more platforms?
- Amanda Enterprise runs on Windows, Linux, Web. SST runs on AWS, Cloudflare, Node.js.
- Can I use Amanda Enterprise for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Amanda Enterprise best used for?
- Amanda Enterprise is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what SST is typically brought in for.
- What can Amanda Enterprise do that SST cannot?
- Amanda Enterprise covers Cross-platform backup, Cloud integration, Disk staging, Encryption. SST covers Single config file, Resource linking, Local development, Multi-cloud support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Amanda Enterprise: How much does Zmanda Pro backup software cost?
Zmanda pricing starts at $5.99/month per device for the Business plan and $6.99/month per device for Business Plus with 24/7 support. Enterprise plans are custom-priced. Pricing estimator available at zmanda.com/pricing to calculate costs based on workload count and storage. Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20241128003646/https://www.zmanda.com/pricing/
SourceSST: Is SST free?
Yes, SST is open source and free. You only pay for cloud resources from AWS and other providers.
SourceAmanda Enterprise: Is Zmanda's licensing model flexible?
Yes, Zmanda's licensing is flexible, you can change your server or client license midway if your backup environment changes and only pay the difference. Additional professional services cost $200/hour for consulting.
SourceSST: What cloud providers does SST support?
SST supports over 150 providers through built-in AWS and Cloudflare components, plus Pulumi and Terraform providers.
SourceAmanda Enterprise: What payment options does Zmanda accept?
Zmanda offers multiple payment options including electronic fund transfers (EFTs), wire transfers, and credit card payments with flexible 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year license periods available.
SourceRelated pages
More on Amanda Enterprise
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