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CloudAlly vs TrueNAS

CloudAlly logo

CloudAlly

Software

Enterprise SaaS backup made simple

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TrueNAS logo

TrueNAS

Software

Open-source ZFS storage operating system for network-attached storage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CloudAlly pricing not transparently displayed; requires customer inquiry; TrueNAS requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CloudAlly and TrueNAS actually diverge.

Attributes where CloudAlly and TrueNAS differ
AttributeCloudAllyTrueNAS
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
PlatformsWeb, CloudSelf-hosted, Linux, Web, API
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 CloudAlly

  • Automated daily backup
  • Point-in-time recovery
  • Cross-account restore
  • Archive export
  • Activity logs
  • Multi-admin support
  • Microsoft 365
  • Google Workspace

Only in TrueNAS

Nothing recorded that CloudAlly does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

CloudAlly

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

TrueNAS

  • On-premises backup and archival storage for enterprisesnot CloudAlly
  • Home lab and small business network-attached storagenot CloudAlly
  • Media server storage for video, photo, and document librariesnot CloudAlly
  • Disaster recovery and business continuity replicationnot CloudAlly
  • S3-compatible object storage for cloud-native applicationsnot CloudAlly
  • High-availability storage clusters for datacentresnot CloudAlly

Where each one falls short

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

CloudAlly

  • Pricing not transparently displayed; requires customer inquiry
  • Limited visibility into data center locations for compliance-sensitive organizations
  • Transition to OpenText Cybersecurity branding may cause confusion

TrueNAS

  • Requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure
  • ZFS filesystem entails high memory requirements (1 GB RAM per 1 TB of storage recommended), increasing costs for large deployments
  • Limited ARM/embedded support; Community Edition is primarily x86-64, reducing deployment options for edge installations
  • Clustering and replication setup requires operational expertise; misconfiguration can lead to data loss
  • Enterprise support and SLA guarantees require paid subscriptions; Community Edition relies on peer-based forums

Pricing, plan by plan

CloudAlly

Free
  • CloudAlly Backup$3/month
    • Daily backup
    • Point-in-time restore
    • Unlimited storage

TrueNAS

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the TrueNAS review.

Which should you pick?

Choose CloudAlly if

  • You need automated daily backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want point-in-time recovery.
CloudAlly review

Choose TrueNAS if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API.
TrueNAS review

Questions people ask

Is CloudAlly or TrueNAS better?
Neither clearly leads. CloudAlly starts at Free and TrueNAS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CloudAlly or TrueNAS?
CloudAlly starts at Free and TrueNAS at Free.
Does CloudAlly or TrueNAS run on more platforms?
CloudAlly runs on Web, Cloud. TrueNAS runs on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API.
Can I use CloudAlly for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is CloudAlly best used for?
CloudAlly is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what TrueNAS is typically brought in for.
What can CloudAlly do that TrueNAS cannot?
CloudAlly covers Automated daily backup, Point-in-time recovery, Cross-account restore, Archive export.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CloudAlly: What cloud applications can CloudAlly backup?

CloudAlly backs up Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, SharePoint/OneDrive, Salesforce, Box, and Dropbox with daily automated backups and unlimited retention.

Source
TrueNAS: What is the cost of TrueNAS Community Edition?

TrueNAS Community Edition is free and open-source. There are no licensing fees, but organisations must purchase and maintain their own x86 hardware. Enterprise Edition requires paid support contracts for production environments.

Source
CloudAlly: How is CloudAlly data encrypted and stored?

CloudAlly stores backups on AWS servers with 128-bit SSL encryption and AES 256-bit encryption, maintaining compliance certifications including ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR.

Source
TrueNAS: Can I replicate TrueNAS data between sites?

Yes. TrueNAS supports snapshot-based replication over network links, enabling disaster recovery and business continuity. Replication can occur between Community Edition systems or between Enterprise Appliances.

Source
CloudAlly: What recovery options does CloudAlly provide?

CloudAlly offers granular point-in-time recovery with unlimited retention, allowing three-click recovery of deleted files, and point-in-time restore capabilities for ransomware protection.

Source
TrueNAS: What storage protocols does TrueNAS support?

TrueNAS simultaneously supports NFS (network file system), SMB (Windows file sharing), iSCSI (block storage), and S3-compatible object storage, all from the same storage pool.

Source
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