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File Storage · head to head

Barracuda Backup vs Cloudian

Barracuda Backup logo

Barracuda Backup

File Storage

Complete backup solution with built-in ransomware protection

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cloudian logo

Cloudian

File Storage

S3-compatible on-premises object storage with object lock immutability

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Barracuda Backup requires subscription commitment per terabyte of data; Cloudian you operate the hardware, so capacity planning, firmware, node failures and a refresh cycle every five years return as costs that a public cloud bill hides.
  • They diverge on capability: Barracuda Backup covers Unlimited cloud storage, Cloudian covers S3 API compatibility.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Barracuda Backup and Cloudian actually diverge.

Attributes where Barracuda Backup and Cloudian differ
AttributeBarracuda BackupCloudian
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWindows, Linux, macOS, VMware, Hyper-VLinux
Founded2003Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage).

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 Barracuda Backup

  • Unlimited cloud storage
  • LiveBoot instant recovery
  • Instant replacement
  • Ransomware protection
  • Deduplication
  • Site-to-site replication
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

Only in Cloudian

  • S3 API compatibility
  • Object Lock
  • Erasure coding
  • Multi-tenancy
  • Hybrid tiering
  • HyperStore appliances

What people use each for

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

Barracuda Backup

  • Enterprise data protection across physical and virtual environmentsnot Cloudian
  • Ransomware recovery and data resiliencenot Cloudian
  • Multi-location backup and replicationnot Cloudian
  • Compliance reporting for regulated industriesnot Cloudian

Cloudian

  • A backup team needing an immutable target so a compromised administrator account cannot delete the backupsnot Barracuda Backup
  • An organisation restoring hundreds of terabytes regularly where public cloud egress charges make cloud storage untenablenot Barracuda Backup
  • A university or government body with data residency rules preventing use of public cloud object storagenot Barracuda Backup
  • A media archive holding petabytes of finished content where per-terabyte capital cost beats per-gigabyte monthly cloud feesnot Barracuda Backup

Where each one falls short

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

Barracuda Backup

  • Requires subscription commitment per terabyte of data
  • Complex appliance-based architecture

Cloudian

  • You operate the hardware, so capacity planning, firmware, node failures and a refresh cycle every five years return as costs that a public cloud bill hides.
  • Per-terabyte licensing plus servers means high upfront cost, and the crossover point against public cloud only arrives at meaningful scale, typically hundreds of terabytes and up.
  • S3 compatibility is high but not identical to Amazon, so occasional applications depending on newer or less common S3 features need testing rather than assumption.
  • Small deployments need a minimum node count for erasure coding to be meaningful, which sets a practical floor on entry cost regardless of how little data you have.
  • Performance is object storage performance, so it is not a substitute for block or high-throughput file storage and buyers occasionally deploy it for the wrong workload.

Pricing, plan by plan

Barracuda Backup

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Barracuda Backup review.

Cloudian

On request
  • Cloudian HyperStore$undefined/year
    • Licensed per usable terabyte, subscription or perpetual
    • Software-only on your hardware or as Cloudian appliances
    • No egress or API request charges

Which should you pick?

Choose Barracuda Backup if

  • You need unlimited cloud storage.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, macOS, VMware, Hyper-V.
  • You also want liveboot instant recovery.
Barracuda Backup review

Choose Cloudian if

  • You need s3 api compatibility.
  • You work on Linux.
  • You also want object lock.
Cloudian review

Questions people ask

Is Barracuda Backup or Cloudian better?
Neither clearly leads. Barracuda Backup starts at On request and Cloudian at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Barracuda Backup or Cloudian?
Barracuda Backup starts at On request and Cloudian at On request.
Does Barracuda Backup or Cloudian run on more platforms?
Barracuda Backup runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, VMware, Hyper-V. Cloudian runs on Linux.
What is Barracuda Backup best used for?
Barracuda Backup is most often used for enterprise data protection across physical and virtual environments, ransomware recovery and data resilience, multi-location backup and replication, compliance reporting for regulated industries. Of those, enterprise data protection across physical and virtual environments and ransomware recovery and data resilience are not what Cloudian is typically brought in for.
What can Barracuda Backup do that Cloudian cannot?
Barracuda Backup covers Unlimited cloud storage, LiveBoot instant recovery, Instant replacement, Ransomware protection. Cloudian covers S3 API compatibility, Object Lock, Erasure coding, Multi-tenancy.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Barracuda Backup: How is Barracuda Backup licensed?

Barracuda uses a 'capacity-based, all-inclusive subscription model' based on a 'per-terabyte subscription model'. You 'pay for only what you need to protect today'.

Source
Cloudian: Does object lock really stop ransomware deleting backups?

Within the retention period, yes, provided the lock is set in compliance mode. That is precisely why it is the common answer to backup-targeting ransomware.

Barracuda Backup: What is included in the subscription cost?

The subscription covers appliance hardware, software, support, Barracuda Cloud Storage, and Barracuda's Instant Replacement service with no hidden fees mentioned.

Source
Cloudian: Are there egress charges?

No. That is the central cost argument against public cloud object storage, and it only becomes visible when you have to restore at volume.

Barracuda Backup: Can I add more storage later without replacing equipment?

Yes. You can 'easily add extra TBs as your needs expand' without replacing hardware or shipping new appliances.

Source
Cloudian: Can we use our own servers?

Yes, HyperStore is software-defined and runs on qualified commodity hardware, or you can buy Cloudian appliances if you would rather not certify your own.

Barracuda Backup: Does Barracuda offer a free trial?

Yes, Free Trials are available. However, specific trial duration is not detailed on the pricing page. Use the Build and Price tool or contact sales for trial details.

Source
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