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Software · head to head

Arq Backup vs Comet Backup

Arq Backup logo

Arq Backup

Software

Mac and Windows backup to your own cloud storage

From
$50/year
Rated
-
Comet Backup logo

Comet Backup

Software

White-label backup software for service providers

From
$49/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Arq Backup runs on Mac and Windows only; Comet Backup endpoint costs starting at $2 per endpoint per month on top of base plan
  • They diverge on capability: Arq Backup covers Client-side encryption, Comet Backup covers White-label branding.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arq Backup and Comet Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Arq Backup and Comet Backup differ
AttributeArq BackupComet Backup
Starting price$50/year$49/month
PlatformsWindows, MacWindows, macOS, Linux
Founded20092017

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Arq Backup

  • Client-side encryption
  • Hourly backups
  • Network backup
  • Deduplication
  • Immutable backups
  • Budget controls
  • Dropbox

Only in Comet Backup

  • White-label branding
  • Bring your own storage
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Chunking deduplication
  • Delta compression
  • Multi-tenant
  • SFTP
  • Linux support

Both cover

  • AWS S3
  • Google Cloud
  • Azure
  • Backblaze B2
  • Wasabi
  • Windows support
  • Mac support

What people use each for

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

Arq Backup

  • Data protectionnot Comet Backup
  • Disaster recoverynot Comet Backup
  • Business continuitynot Comet Backup
  • Ransomware protectionnot Comet Backup
  • Compliancenot Comet Backup

Comet Backup

  • MSP backup and disaster recovery solutionsnot Arq Backup
  • Cloud-to-cloud backup automationnot Arq Backup
  • Ransomware protection with immutable storagenot Arq Backup

Where each one falls short

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

Arq Backup

  • Runs on Mac and Windows only
  • Arq 7 is licensed per computer, and continuing to receive updates after the first year costs $25 per year per computer
  • Arq Premium covers up to 5 computers, so larger households or teams need more than one subscription
  • Arq Premium includes 1TB of storage and charges $0.0059 per GB per month beyond it

Comet Backup

  • Endpoint costs starting at $2 per endpoint per month on top of base plan
  • Storage costs vary based on destination, adding to overall expenses

Pricing, plan by plan

Arq Backup

$50/year
  • Arq Premium$50/year
    • 5 computers
    • Arq Cloud storage option
    • Email support

Comet Backup

$49/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Comet Backup review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Arq Backup if

  • You need client-side encryption.
  • You work on Windows, Mac.
  • You also want hourly backups.

Choose Comet Backup if

  • You need white-label branding.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want bring your own storage.

Questions people ask

Is Arq Backup or Comet Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Arq Backup starts at $50/year and Comet Backup at $49/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arq Backup or Comet Backup?
Arq Backup starts at $50/year and Comet Backup at $49/month.
Does Arq Backup or Comet Backup run on more platforms?
Arq Backup runs on Windows, Mac. Comet Backup runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
What is Arq Backup best used for?
Arq Backup is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Comet Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Arq Backup do that Comet Backup cannot?
Arq Backup covers Client-side encryption, Hourly backups, Network backup, Deduplication. Comet Backup covers White-label branding, Bring your own storage, End-to-end encryption, Chunking deduplication. Both handle AWS S3, Google Cloud, Azure, Backblaze B2.

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