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Clonezilla vs Spanning Backup

Clonezilla logo

Clonezilla

Software

Free disk cloning and imaging solution

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spanning Backup logo

Spanning Backup

Software

SaaS backup for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Clonezilla has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Clonezilla the destination partition must be equal to or larger than the source partition; Spanning Backup cloud-only deployment; no on-premise or self-hosted options available
  • They diverge on capability: Clonezilla covers Disk/partition imaging, Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Clonezilla and Spanning Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Clonezilla and Spanning Backup differ
AttributeClonezillaSpanning Backup
Starting priceFree$4/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, WindowsCloud SaaS
Founded20042010

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 Clonezilla

  • Disk/partition imaging
  • Disk cloning
  • Multicast deployment
  • Multiple file systems
  • Encryption support
  • Unattended mode
  • PXE boot
  • DRBL

Only in Spanning Backup

  • Automated daily backup
  • Point-in-time restore
  • Cross-user restore
  • eDiscovery
  • Unlimited storage
  • Admin delegation
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365

What people use each for

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

Clonezilla

  • Bare metal backup and restore of a whole disk or partitionnot Spanning Backup
  • Mass deployment of a disk image to many PCs over the networknot Spanning Backup

Spanning Backup

  • Cloud-to-cloud backup and disaster recovery for Microsoft 365 applicationsnot Clonezilla
  • Data protection and compliance management for Google Workspace and Salesforcenot Clonezilla

Where each one falls short

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

Clonezilla

  • The destination partition must be equal to or larger than the source partition
  • Differential and incremental backup is not implemented
  • Online imaging and cloning is not implemented; the partition being imaged or cloned has to be unmounted first
  • The image format cannot be explored or mounted, so a single file cannot be recovered from an image
  • Recovery media spanning multiple CDs or DVDs is not implemented; the recovery ISO must fit on one disc
  • Clonezilla SE requires a DRBL server to be prepared in advance and the target machine to boot from the network
  • Runs only on x86 or x86-64 processors and needs at least 196 MB of RAM

Spanning Backup

  • Cloud-only deployment; no on-premise or self-hosted options available

Pricing, plan by plan

Clonezilla

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Disk cloning
    • Multicast
    • Multiple file systems

Spanning Backup

$4/month
  • Spanning Backup$4/month
    • Daily backup
    • Point-in-time restore
    • Unlimited storage

Which should you pick?

Choose Clonezilla if

  • You need disk/partition imaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows.
  • You also want disk cloning.
Clonezilla review

Choose Spanning Backup if

  • You need automated daily backup.
  • You work on Cloud SaaS.
  • You also want point-in-time restore.
Spanning Backup review

Questions people ask

Is Clonezilla or Spanning Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Clonezilla starts at Free and Spanning Backup at $4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Clonezilla or Spanning Backup?
Clonezilla has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Clonezilla and $4/month for Spanning Backup.
Does Clonezilla or Spanning Backup run on more platforms?
Clonezilla runs on Linux, Windows. Spanning Backup runs on Cloud SaaS.
Can I use Clonezilla for free?
Yes. Clonezilla has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Spanning Backup starts at $4/month.
What is Clonezilla best used for?
Clonezilla is most often used for bare metal backup and restore of a whole disk or partition, mass deployment of a disk image to many pcs over the network. Of those, bare metal backup and restore of a whole disk or partition and mass deployment of a disk image to many pcs over the network are not what Spanning Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Clonezilla do that Spanning Backup cannot?
Clonezilla covers Disk/partition imaging, Disk cloning, Multicast deployment, Multiple file systems. Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, Point-in-time restore, Cross-user restore, eDiscovery.
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Related pages

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