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Backup · head to head

Bacula vs Quest NetVault Backup

Bacula logo

Bacula

Backup

The best open source backup software for Linux

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Quest NetVault Backup logo

Quest NetVault Backup

Backup

Cross-platform enterprise backup solution

From
$50/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.; Quest NetVault Backup as of a 15 December 2019 archived capture, Quest NetVault Backup pricing is available only on request, sold either by front-end storage capacity or by component, with component-based licensing requiring separate purchase of each module needed rather than a single bundled price
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bacula and Quest NetVault Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Bacula and Quest NetVault Backup differ
AttributeBaculaQuest NetVault Backup
Starting priceFree$50/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWindows, Linux, Web
FoundedUnknown1987

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 Quest NetVault Backup does not also cover.

Only in Quest NetVault Backup

  • Cross-platform support
  • Application-aware backup
  • Inline deduplication
  • Built-in scheduling
  • VMware integration
  • Bare metal recovery
  • 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 Quest NetVault Backup
  • VMware, KVM, Hyper-V virtual machine backupnot Quest NetVault Backup
  • MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL database backupnot Quest NetVault Backup
  • Microsoft Exchange Server backupnot Quest NetVault Backup
  • Tape backup and enterprise data retentionnot Quest NetVault Backup

Quest NetVault Backup

  • 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.

Quest NetVault Backup

  • As of a 15 December 2019 archived capture, Quest NetVault Backup pricing is available only on request, sold either by front-end storage capacity or by component, with component-based licensing requiring separate purchase of each module needed rather than a single bundled price

Pricing, plan by plan

Bacula

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Bacula review.

Quest NetVault Backup

$50/month
  • NetVault Backup$50/month
    • Cross-platform
    • Application support
    • Deduplication

Which should you pick?

Choose Bacula if

  • You want to start without paying.
Bacula review

Choose Quest NetVault Backup if

  • You need cross-platform support.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want application-aware backup.
Quest NetVault Backup review

Questions people ask

Is Bacula or Quest NetVault Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Bacula starts at Free and Quest NetVault Backup at $50/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bacula or Quest NetVault Backup?
Bacula has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bacula and $50/month for Quest NetVault Backup.
Does Bacula or Quest NetVault Backup run on more platforms?
Bacula runs on Web. Quest NetVault Backup runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Can I use Bacula for free?
Yes. Bacula has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quest NetVault Backup starts at $50/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 Quest NetVault Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Bacula do that Quest NetVault Backup cannot?
Quest NetVault Backup covers Cross-platform support, Application-aware backup, Inline deduplication, Built-in scheduling.

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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