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Backup · head to head

Datto Backup vs Velero

Datto Backup logo

Datto Backup

Backup

Business continuity without compromise

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Velero logo

Velero

Backup

Open source backup and migration for Kubernetes cluster resources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Velero has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Datto Backup no pricing information published on product page or dedicated pricing page; Velero there is no vendor support contract from the project itself, so a failed restore during an outage is resolved by your team reading source code and GitHub issues.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Datto Backup and Velero actually diverge.

Attributes where Datto Backup and Velero differ
AttributeDatto BackupVelero
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebLinux

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 Datto Backup

Nothing recorded that Velero does not also cover.

Only in Velero

  • Cluster resource backup
  • Volume snapshots
  • File-level backup
  • Cross-cluster restore
  • Backup hooks
  • Scheduled backups
  • Object storage targets

What people use each for

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

Datto Backup

  • Backup and disaster recoverynot Velero
  • MSP solutionsnot Velero
  • Data protectionnot Velero
  • Business continuitynot Velero

Velero

  • A platform team needing namespace-level restore after an accidental deletion, with no budget for a backup productnot Datto Backup
  • Migrating workloads between Kubernetes clusters or between cloud providers using backup and restorenot Datto Backup
  • Capturing cluster configuration before a risky upgrade so the previous state can be reinstatednot Datto Backup
  • An organisation proving a Kubernetes recovery capability to an auditor before deciding whether to buy a commercial productnot Datto Backup

Where each one falls short

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

Datto Backup

  • No pricing information published on product page or dedicated pricing page
  • Vendor directs users to contact sales for pricing information
  • No published tiers or pricing models disclosed

Velero

  • There is no vendor support contract from the project itself, so a failed restore during an outage is resolved by your team reading source code and GitHub issues.
  • Application consistency depends on backup hooks you write and maintain, and a database backed up without a correct hook restores to a state that may not be usable.
  • Restore ordering across dependent resources such as custom resource definitions and operators needs manual attention, and complex applications frequently need a documented runbook rather than a single restore command.
  • Corporate engineering investment became uncertain after Broadcom acquired VMware, which is a real consideration for anyone building a long retention policy on the project.
  • Object storage egress charges apply on restore and are billed by your cloud provider, so a full cluster recovery from another region carries a cost discovered during the incident rather than during planning.

Pricing, plan by plan

Datto Backup

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Datto Backup review.

Velero

Free
  • VeleroFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed
    • No cluster or capacity limits
    • Community support via Kubernetes Slack and GitHub

Which should you pick?

Choose Datto Backup if

Nothing in the data separates Datto Backup from Velero on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Datto Backup review

Choose Velero if

  • You need cluster resource backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux.
  • You also want volume snapshots.
Velero review

Questions people ask

Is Datto Backup or Velero better?
Neither clearly leads. Datto Backup starts at On request and Velero at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Datto Backup or Velero?
Velero has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Datto Backup and Free for Velero.
Does Datto Backup or Velero run on more platforms?
Datto Backup runs on Web. Velero runs on Linux.
Can I use Velero for free?
Yes. Velero has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datto Backup starts at On request.
What is Datto Backup best used for?
Datto Backup is most often used for backup and disaster recovery, msp solutions, data protection, business continuity. Of those, backup and disaster recovery and msp solutions are not what Velero is typically brought in for.
What can Datto Backup do that Velero cannot?
Velero covers Cluster resource backup, Volume snapshots, File-level backup, Cross-cluster restore.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Datto Backup: How is Datto Backup priced?

Datto does not publish specific pricing for Backup on their website. Pricing details require contacting Datto's sales team directly through their website.

Source
Velero: Can we buy support for Velero?

Not from the project. Several commercial Kubernetes backup products package or extend it and sell support, which is the practical route to an accountable vendor.

Datto Backup: Does Datto offer different backup pricing tiers or plans?

The public product pages do not detail pricing tiers or plan structures. Organizations must request quotes from Datto to learn about available options and tier pricing.

Source
Velero: Does it back up persistent volume data?

Yes, through cloud or Container Storage Interface snapshots, or through file-level upload where snapshots are not available.

Datto Backup: What backup and business continuity features does Datto provide?

Datto Backup provides comprehensive business continuity frameworks, threat monitoring, malware insights, and disaster recovery capabilities, but specific features by pricing tier are not publicly disclosed.

Source
Velero: What does it cost?

Nothing to licence. You pay for object storage capacity and for egress on restore, both billed by your cloud provider.

Datto Backup: How would I request Datto Backup pricing information?

Datto customers can request pricing through the website's pricing links in footer navigation or by contacting their sales team. Partners may access customized pricing through Datto's partner portal.

Source
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