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Backup · head to head

AvePoint Cloud Backup vs Windows Backup

AvePoint Cloud Backup logo

AvePoint Cloud Backup

Backup

Microsoft 365, Dynamics and Salesforce backup from a long-standing Microsoft partner

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Windows Backup logo

Windows Backup

Backup

Built-in backup and recovery for Windows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Windows Backup has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: AvePoint Cloud Backup no pricing is published, so the per-user cost has to be established through sales, and it varies with data volume rather than being a flat seat rate.; Windows Backup folder backup goes to OneDrive, and a free Microsoft account comes with only 5 GB of OneDrive storage
  • They diverge on capability: AvePoint Cloud Backup covers Microsoft 365 backup, Windows Backup covers File History.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AvePoint Cloud Backup and Windows Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where AvePoint Cloud Backup and Windows Backup differ
AttributeAvePoint Cloud BackupWindows Backup
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotefree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWindows
FoundedUnknown1975

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 AvePoint Cloud Backup

  • Microsoft 365 backup
  • Granular restore
  • Entra ID backup
  • Salesforce and Dynamics backup
  • Bring your own storage
  • Multiple daily backups
  • Governance portfolio

Only in Windows Backup

  • File History
  • System image backup
  • OneDrive integration
  • System restore points
  • Reset this PC
  • Recovery drive
  • OneDrive
  • Windows Server

What people use each for

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

AvePoint Cloud Backup

  • A tenant consolidation after an acquisition where backup, migration and governance are needed against the same Microsoft 365 estatenot Windows Backup
  • An organisation that has discovered Microsoft 365 native retention does not restore a deleted SharePoint site after the recycle bin windownot Windows Backup
  • Backing up Entra ID configuration so an accidental conditional access or group change can be reversednot Windows Backup
  • A regulated organisation that must hold backup data in its own storage account under its own encryption keysnot Windows Backup

Windows Backup

  • Moving folders, settings and app list to a new Windows PCnot AvePoint Cloud Backup
  • Basic personal file backup for a Windows home usernot AvePoint Cloud Backup

Where each one falls short

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

AvePoint Cloud Backup

  • No pricing is published, so the per-user cost has to be established through sales, and it varies with data volume rather than being a flat seat rate.
  • Whether AvePoint or your organisation holds the storage account and encryption keys is a configuration decision that is expensive to reverse later, and buyers often accept the vendor-managed default without considering it.
  • Per-user pricing means organisations with many low-activity accounts, such as education institutions with dormant student mailboxes, pay for seats with almost no data.
  • Restore of very large SharePoint sites and Teams structures is slow and API-throttled by Microsoft rather than by the product, so recovery time objectives set on paper often cannot be met in practice.
  • The breadth of the AvePoint portfolio means sales conversations quickly widen into governance and migration products, and buyers who wanted only backup should expect to defend that scope.

Windows Backup

  • Folder backup goes to OneDrive, and a free Microsoft account comes with only 5 GB of OneDrive storage
  • It requires signing in with a Microsoft account rather than a local Windows account
  • Personalization preferences are not backed up if OneDrive storage is insufficient
  • OneDrive folder syncing through Windows Backup is not available for work or school accounts, and Windows does not remember apps for those accounts
  • Device settings sync for a work or school account only if the organization allows it

Pricing, plan by plan

AvePoint Cloud Backup

On request
  • AvePoint Cloud Backup$undefined/year
    • Priced per user, with variation by protected data volume
    • AvePoint-managed or bring your own storage
    • Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Dynamics, Salesforce and Google Workspace

Windows Backup

Free
  • Built-inFree
    • File History
    • System image
    • OneDrive sync

Which should you pick?

Choose AvePoint Cloud Backup if

  • You need microsoft 365 backup.
  • You also want granular restore.
AvePoint Cloud Backup review

Choose Windows Backup if

  • You need file history.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want system image backup.
Windows Backup review

Questions people ask

Is AvePoint Cloud Backup or Windows Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. AvePoint Cloud Backup starts at On request and Windows Backup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AvePoint Cloud Backup or Windows Backup?
Windows Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for AvePoint Cloud Backup and Free for Windows Backup.
Does AvePoint Cloud Backup or Windows Backup run on more platforms?
AvePoint Cloud Backup runs on Web. Windows Backup runs on Windows.
Can I use Windows Backup for free?
Yes. Windows Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. AvePoint Cloud Backup starts at On request.
What is AvePoint Cloud Backup best used for?
AvePoint Cloud Backup is most often used for a tenant consolidation after an acquisition where backup, migration and governance are needed against the same microsoft 365 estate, an organisation that has discovered microsoft 365 native retention does not restore a deleted sharepoint site after the recycle bin window, backing up entra id configuration so an accidental conditional access or group change can be reversed, a regulated organisation that must hold backup data in its own storage account under its own encryption keys. Of those, a tenant consolidation after an acquisition where backup, migration and governance are needed against the same microsoft 365 estate and an organisation that has discovered microsoft 365 native retention does not restore a deleted sharepoint site after the recycle bin window are not what Windows Backup is typically brought in for.
What can AvePoint Cloud Backup do that Windows Backup cannot?
AvePoint Cloud Backup covers Microsoft 365 backup, Granular restore, Entra ID backup, Salesforce and Dynamics backup. Windows Backup covers File History, System image backup, OneDrive integration, System restore points.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AvePoint Cloud Backup: Can we keep backups in our own storage?

Yes, bring your own Azure or Amazon S3 storage is supported. Decide this before rollout, because moving to it afterwards is a migration.

Windows Backup: How much cloud storage do I get with Windows Backup?

Your Microsoft account includes 5 GB of free OneDrive cloud storage. "More storage is available to purchase if you need it" for users requiring additional capacity.

Source
AvePoint Cloud Backup: Is Microsoft 365 native retention not enough?

No. Native retention covers deletion within limited windows and does not provide point-in-time restore of arbitrary items after those windows expire.

Windows Backup: What types of Microsoft accounts are supported by Windows Backup?

Windows Backup works exclusively with personal Microsoft accounts (such as those ending in @outlook.com or @live.com). The service explicitly does not support work or school accounts at this time.

Source
AvePoint Cloud Backup: How is it priced?

Per user, varying by protected data volume, quoted rather than published. Ask for the volume assumption behind the per-user figure.

Windows Backup: Can I restore my backup to a different PC?

Yes. When setting up a new device, simply sign in with the same Microsoft account used to create the original backup. "If you have more than one PC backed up, you can select More options and select the backup you wish to restore from."

Source
Windows Backup: How do I delete my backed-up data if I no longer want it stored?

Visit your Microsoft Account Devices page, locate the Cloud synced settings section at the bottom, and select 'Clear stored settings' to delete previously backed-up data from your account.

Source
Windows Backup: Which folders and settings can I choose to back up?

You can selectively back up Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music folders, plus settings including apps, accessibility, accounts, Wi-Fi passwords, personalization, and language preferences.

Source
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Related pages

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