Software · head to head
Borg Backup vs Acronis Cyber Protect
Borg Backup
Software
Deduplicating archiver with compression and encryption
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Acronis Cyber Protect
Software
Integrated backup and cybersecurity protection
- From
- $68/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Borg Backup has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Borg Backup linux, macOS and BSD only; Windows is not a supported platform; Acronis Cyber Protect technical support response is slow and inconsistent for resolving issues
- They diverge on capability: Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking, Acronis Cyber Protect covers AI-based ransomware protection.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Borg Backup and Acronis Cyber Protect actually diverge.
| Attribute | Borg Backup | Acronis Cyber Protect |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $68/year |
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Linux, Mac | Windows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premises |
| Founded | 2015 | 2003 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Borg Backup
- Content-defined chunking
- Deduplication
- Compression
- Authenticated encryption
- Pruning
- Mount archives
- SSH
- BorgBase
Only in Acronis Cyber Protect
- AI-based ransomware protection
- Continuous data protection
- Disk cloning
- Universal restore
- Backup validation
- Vulnerability assessments
- Microsoft 365
- Google Workspace
Both cover
- Linux support
- Mac support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Borg Backup
- Deduplicated backups where daily full snapshots would otherwise be expensivenot Acronis Cyber Protect
- Encrypted backup to a server you do not fully trust, since the server never sees plaintextnot Acronis Cyber Protect
- Browsing previous versions by mounting an archive over FUSEnot Acronis Cyber Protect
- Scripted server backups with no agent or daemon to runnot Acronis Cyber Protect
Acronis Cyber Protect
- Data protectionnot Borg Backup
- Disaster recoverynot Borg Backup
- Business continuitynot Borg Backup
- Ransomware protectionnot Borg Backup
- Compliancenot Borg Backup
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Borg Backup
- Linux, macOS and BSD only; Windows is not a supported platform
- Command-line only, with no graphical interface in the project itself
- Version 2.0 is still in beta, so production use means staying on the 1.4 line
- Restoring requires the Borg tooling, since archives are a deduplicated chunk store rather than plain files
Acronis Cyber Protect
- Technical support response is slow and inconsistent for resolving issues
- UI performance is slow when handling operations like checking backup status or initiating restores
- Backup speed can be slow with limited replication options
- Complex pricing policies with multiple licensing models make cost prediction difficult
- Antivirus engine can significantly impact system performance on client machines
Pricing, plan by plan
Borg Backup
Free- FreeFree
- Deduplication
- Compression
- Encryption
Acronis Cyber Protect
$68/year- Standard$68/year
- Backup and recovery
- Basic security
- Advanced$129/year
- Enhanced security
- Ransomware protection
- Anti-malware
- Business$5.67/month
- Enterprise features
- Support
- Multiple workloads
Which should you pick?
Choose Borg Backup if
- You need content-defined chunking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, Mac.
- You also want deduplication.
Choose Acronis Cyber Protect if
- You need ai-based ransomware protection.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premises.
- You also want continuous data protection.
Questions people ask
- Is Borg Backup or Acronis Cyber Protect better?
- Neither clearly leads. Borg Backup starts at Free and Acronis Cyber Protect at $68/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Borg Backup or Acronis Cyber Protect?
- Borg Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Borg Backup and $68/year for Acronis Cyber Protect.
- Does Borg Backup or Acronis Cyber Protect run on more platforms?
- Borg Backup runs on Linux, Mac. Acronis Cyber Protect runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premises.
- Can I use Borg Backup for free?
- Yes. Borg Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acronis Cyber Protect starts at $68/year.
- What is Borg Backup best used for?
- Borg Backup is most often used for deduplicated backups where daily full snapshots would otherwise be expensive, encrypted backup to a server you do not fully trust, since the server never sees plaintext, browsing previous versions by mounting an archive over fuse, scripted server backups with no agent or daemon to run. Of those, deduplicated backups where daily full snapshots would otherwise be expensive and encrypted backup to a server you do not fully trust, since the server never sees plaintext are not what Acronis Cyber Protect is typically brought in for.
- What can Borg Backup do that Acronis Cyber Protect cannot?
- Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking, Deduplication, Compression, Authenticated encryption. Acronis Cyber Protect covers AI-based ransomware protection, Continuous data protection, Disk cloning, Universal restore. Both handle Linux support, Mac support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Acronis Cyber Protect: What does Acronis Cyber Protect include?
Acronis Cyber Protect combines backup, disaster recovery, next-generation anti-malware, cybersecurity, and endpoint management in a single platform for complete cyber resilience.
SourceAcronis Cyber Protect: What are the main pricing plans for Acronis Cyber Protect?
Acronis offers Cyber Protect Standard at $68/year, Cyber Protect Advanced at $129+/year for consumers, and business plans at $5.67-$8.60/month. Acronis runs three licensing models: per-workload, per-GB, and solution-based.
SourceAcronis Cyber Protect: Does Acronis offer an API for integrations?
Yes, Acronis exposes REST APIs allowing partners to integrate existing solutions and create new ones. They provide 300+ pre-built integrations and support both inbound (CyberApps) and outbound API integrations.
SourceAcronis Cyber Protect: Can Acronis Cyber Protect be deployed on-premises?
Yes, Acronis Cyber Protect supports multiple deployment options including on-premises and SaaS, giving organizations flexibility in how they manage their backup and disaster recovery infrastructure.
Source