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Backup · head to head

Bacula vs Micro Focus Data Protector

Bacula logo

Bacula

Backup

The best open source backup software for Linux

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Micro Focus Data Protector logo

Micro Focus Data Protector

Backup

Enterprise backup for multi-platform environments

From
$75/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bacula has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bacula the community edition has no vendor support contract; bacula.org directs support and paid deployments toward the separate commercial Bacula Enterprise product instead.; Micro Focus Data Protector micro Focus Data Protector was rebranded to OpenText Data Protector following the OpenText acquisition of Micro Focus; the vendor's own product pages carry no published pricing at either name (Internet Archive capture, 10 January 2022, and live site check)
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bacula and Micro Focus Data Protector actually diverge.

Attributes where Bacula and Micro Focus Data Protector differ
AttributeBaculaMicro Focus Data Protector
Starting priceFree$75/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWindows, Linux, Web
FoundedUnknown1976

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 Bacula

Nothing recorded that Micro Focus Data Protector does not also cover.

Only in Micro Focus Data Protector

  • Zero downtime backup
  • Instant recovery
  • Application integration
  • Synthetic full backup
  • Granular recovery
  • Centralized management
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

What people use each for

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

Bacula

  • Linux, Windows, and macOS network backup at scalenot Micro Focus Data Protector
  • VMware, KVM, Hyper-V virtual machine backupnot Micro Focus Data Protector
  • MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL database backupnot Micro Focus Data Protector
  • Microsoft Exchange Server backupnot Micro Focus Data Protector
  • Tape backup and enterprise data retentionnot Micro Focus Data Protector

Micro Focus Data Protector

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

Where each one falls short

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

Bacula

  • The community edition has no vendor support contract; bacula.org directs support and paid deployments toward the separate commercial Bacula Enterprise product instead.

Micro Focus Data Protector

  • Micro Focus Data Protector was rebranded to OpenText Data Protector following the OpenText acquisition of Micro Focus; the vendor's own product pages carry no published pricing at either name (Internet Archive capture, 10 January 2022, and live site check)

Pricing, plan by plan

Bacula

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Bacula review.

Micro Focus Data Protector

$75/month
  • Data Protector$75/month
    • Zero downtime backup
    • Instant recovery
    • Multi-platform

Which should you pick?

Choose Bacula if

  • You want to start without paying.
Bacula review

Choose Micro Focus Data Protector if

  • You need zero downtime backup.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want instant recovery.
Micro Focus Data Protector review

Questions people ask

Is Bacula or Micro Focus Data Protector better?
Neither clearly leads. Bacula starts at Free and Micro Focus Data Protector at $75/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bacula or Micro Focus Data Protector?
Bacula has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bacula and $75/month for Micro Focus Data Protector.
Does Bacula or Micro Focus Data Protector run on more platforms?
Bacula runs on Web. Micro Focus Data Protector runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Can I use Bacula for free?
Yes. Bacula has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Micro Focus Data Protector starts at $75/month.
What is Bacula best used for?
Bacula is most often used for linux, windows, and macos network backup at scale, vmware, kvm, hyper-v virtual machine backup, mysql, oracle, postgresql database backup, microsoft exchange server backup. Of those, linux, windows, and macos network backup at scale and vmware, kvm, hyper-v virtual machine backup are not what Micro Focus Data Protector is typically brought in for.
What can Bacula do that Micro Focus Data Protector cannot?
Micro Focus Data Protector covers Zero downtime backup, Instant recovery, Application integration, Synthetic full backup.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bacula: How much does Bacula cost?

Bacula Community Edition is free and open source. Bacula Enterprise is a commercial offering with a free trial available, but specific pricing is not listed on the main website.

Source
Bacula: Is Bacula free?

Bacula Community Edition is fully free and open source. Enterprise Edition is commercial but offers a free trial to evaluate features before purchasing.

Source
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