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Backup · head to head

Axcient x360Recover vs StorageCraft ShadowProtect

Axcient x360Recover logo

Axcient x360Recover

Backup

Unified BCDR for managed service providers

From
$99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
StorageCraft ShadowProtect logo

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

Backup

Fast and reliable image-based backup

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Axcient x360Recover sMR hard drives not supported and cause severe performance degradation; StorageCraft ShadowProtect host-based backup requires Windows Server 2016 or above on the Hyper-V host, and desktop, client and Pro editions are not supported
  • They diverge on capability: Axcient x360Recover covers Chain-free backup, StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Axcient x360Recover and StorageCraft ShadowProtect actually diverge.

Attributes where Axcient x360Recover and StorageCraft ShadowProtect differ
AttributeAxcient x360RecoverStorageCraft ShadowProtect
Starting price$99/month$15/month
PlatformsWindows, VMware, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft 365, Google WorkspaceWindows, Linux, Web
Founded20022003

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Axcient x360Recover

  • Chain-free backup
  • AutoVerify testing
  • Instant virtualization
  • Direct-to-cloud
  • AirGap ransomware protection
  • Run local
  • Microsoft 365
  • ConnectWise

Only in StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Image-based backup
  • VirtualBoot
  • Bare metal recovery
  • Hardware-independent restore
  • Incremental imaging
  • ShadowStream replication
  • Windows Server
  • Linux Server

Both cover

  • VMware
  • Hyper-V
  • Windows support
  • Linux support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Axcient x360Recover

  • Data protectionnot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
  • Disaster recoverynot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
  • Business continuitynot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
  • Ransomware protectionnot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
  • Compliancenot StorageCraft ShadowProtect

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Backup and disaster recovery (legacy)not Axcient x360Recover
  • System image backup and recoverynot Axcient x360Recover

Where each one falls short

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

Axcient x360Recover

  • SMR hard drives not supported and cause severe performance degradation
  • Maximum 100TB per protected system in Axcient cloud storage
  • Limited recovery operations for systems using 4K disks (mount, iSCSI, and bare metal only)
  • Licensing model is complex and confusing, requiring careful mapping of servers versus workstations

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Host-based backup requires Windows Server 2016 or above on the Hyper-V host, and desktop, client and Pro editions are not supported
  • Host-based and agent-based backup are mutually exclusive installation modes in ShadowProtect 8.0; one machine cannot run both
  • Switching from agent-based to host-based requires a clean reinstall rather than an in-place upgrade
  • Host-based backups are not compatible with VirtualBoot
  • Granular file and folder recovery is not available for host-based backups; the whole backup must be restored to a .vhd or .vhdx first
  • Host-based backup jobs do not report status to ShadowControl
  • Advanced Verification in ImageManager 8.1 is not supported for host-based backups
  • All host-based backups go into a single folder by default, so separating them per VM means creating a separate backup job for each
  • Host-based licence keys are generated only through the Arcserve MSP portal

Pricing, plan by plan

Axcient x360Recover

$99/month
  • x360Recover$99/month
    • Chain-free backup
    • AutoVerify
    • Instant virtualization

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

$15/month
  • ShadowProtect SPX$15/month
    • Image-based backup
    • VirtualBoot
    • Bare metal recovery

Which should you pick?

Choose Axcient x360Recover if

  • You need chain-free backup.
  • You work on Windows, VMware, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace.
  • You also want autoverify testing.
Axcient x360Recover review

Choose StorageCraft ShadowProtect if

  • You need image-based backup.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want virtualboot.
StorageCraft ShadowProtect review

Questions people ask

Is Axcient x360Recover or StorageCraft ShadowProtect better?
Neither clearly leads. Axcient x360Recover starts at $99/month and StorageCraft ShadowProtect at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Axcient x360Recover or StorageCraft ShadowProtect?
Axcient x360Recover starts at $99/month and StorageCraft ShadowProtect at $15/month.
Does Axcient x360Recover or StorageCraft ShadowProtect run on more platforms?
Axcient x360Recover runs on Windows, VMware, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace. StorageCraft ShadowProtect runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
What is Axcient x360Recover best used for?
Axcient x360Recover is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what StorageCraft ShadowProtect is typically brought in for.
What can Axcient x360Recover do that StorageCraft ShadowProtect cannot?
Axcient x360Recover covers Chain-free backup, AutoVerify testing, Instant virtualization, Direct-to-cloud. StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup, VirtualBoot, Bare metal recovery, Hardware-independent restore. Both handle VMware, Hyper-V, Windows support, Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Axcient x360Recover: What are the RPO and RTO for x360Recover?

x360Recover delivers a recovery point objective of 15 minutes and recovery time objective of less than 1 hour, enabling rapid recovery from data loss events.

Source
StorageCraft ShadowProtect: How much does StorageCraft ShadowProtect cost?

StorageCraft no longer maintains independent product pricing. The domain redirects to ArcServe, and ArcServe does not publish specific pricing on its homepage. Prospective customers must request a trial, demo, or contact sales.

Source
Axcient x360Recover: Can x360Recover be deployed without hardware appliances?

Yes. x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud allows backup directly to Axcient Cloud, private cloud, or public cloud without requiring local appliances, providing a hardware-free deployment option.

Source
StorageCraft ShadowProtect: Where can I find StorageCraft pricing?

StorageCraft's website (storagecraft.com) now redirects to ArcServe.com. ArcServe does not publish pricing publicly. To obtain pricing information, users can start a trial, request a demo, or contact ArcServe's sales team.

Source
Axcient x360Recover: What platforms and cloud services does x360Recover protect?

x360Recover protects Windows, VMware, Linux, and macOS systems, as well as Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud VMs, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace data.

Source
Axcient x360Recover: Does x360Recover integrate with existing PSA and RMM tools?

Yes. x360Recover integrates with ConnectWise PSA and RMM to automate ticketing, billing, and alerts, and works with ConnectWise Asio for dashboard visibility.

Source
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