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Backup · head to head

Duplicacy vs StorageCraft ShadowProtect

Duplicacy logo

Duplicacy

Backup

Lock-free deduplication cloud backup

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
StorageCraft ShadowProtect logo

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

Backup

Fast and reliable image-based backup

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Duplicacy has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Duplicacy web GUI pricing tier not specified on product page; StorageCraft ShadowProtect host-based backup requires Windows Server 2016 or above on the Hyper-V host, and desktop, client and Pro editions are not supported
  • They diverge on capability: Duplicacy covers Lock-free deduplication, StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Duplicacy and StorageCraft ShadowProtect actually diverge.

Attributes where Duplicacy and StorageCraft ShadowProtect differ
AttributeDuplicacyStorageCraft ShadowProtect
Starting priceFree$15/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsmacOS, Linux, WindowsWindows, Linux, Web
Founded20162003

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 Duplicacy

  • Lock-free deduplication
  • Client-side encryption
  • Multiple computers
  • Erasure coding
  • Variable-size chunking
  • RSA encryption
  • AWS S3
  • Azure

Only in StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Image-based backup
  • VirtualBoot
  • Bare metal recovery
  • Hardware-independent restore
  • Incremental imaging
  • ShadowStream replication
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

Both cover

  • Windows support
  • Linux support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Duplicacy

  • Client-side encrypted cloud backupsnot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
  • Lock-free deduplication for efficient backup storagenot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
  • Multi-destination backup supportnot StorageCraft ShadowProtect

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Backup and disaster recovery (legacy)not Duplicacy
  • System image backup and recoverynot Duplicacy

Where each one falls short

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

Duplicacy

  • Web GUI pricing tier not specified on product page

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Host-based backup requires Windows Server 2016 or above on the Hyper-V host, and desktop, client and Pro editions are not supported
  • Host-based and agent-based backup are mutually exclusive installation modes in ShadowProtect 8.0; one machine cannot run both
  • Switching from agent-based to host-based requires a clean reinstall rather than an in-place upgrade
  • Host-based backups are not compatible with VirtualBoot
  • Granular file and folder recovery is not available for host-based backups; the whole backup must be restored to a .vhd or .vhdx first
  • Host-based backup jobs do not report status to ShadowControl
  • Advanced Verification in ImageManager 8.1 is not supported for host-based backups
  • All host-based backups go into a single folder by default, so separating them per VM means creating a separate backup job for each
  • Host-based licence keys are generated only through the Arcserve MSP portal

Pricing, plan by plan

Duplicacy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Duplicacy review.

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

$15/month
  • ShadowProtect SPX$15/month
    • Image-based backup
    • VirtualBoot
    • Bare metal recovery

Which should you pick?

Choose Duplicacy if

  • You need lock-free deduplication.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Linux, Windows.
  • You also want client-side encryption.
Duplicacy review

Choose StorageCraft ShadowProtect if

  • You need image-based backup.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want virtualboot.
StorageCraft ShadowProtect review

Questions people ask

Is Duplicacy or StorageCraft ShadowProtect better?
Neither clearly leads. Duplicacy starts at Free and StorageCraft ShadowProtect at $15/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Duplicacy or StorageCraft ShadowProtect?
Duplicacy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Duplicacy and $15/month for StorageCraft ShadowProtect.
Does Duplicacy or StorageCraft ShadowProtect run on more platforms?
Duplicacy runs on macOS, Linux, Windows. StorageCraft ShadowProtect runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Can I use Duplicacy for free?
Yes. Duplicacy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. StorageCraft ShadowProtect starts at $15/month.
What is Duplicacy best used for?
Duplicacy is most often used for client-side encrypted cloud backups, lock-free deduplication for efficient backup storage, multi-destination backup support. Of those, client-side encrypted cloud backups and lock-free deduplication for efficient backup storage are not what StorageCraft ShadowProtect is typically brought in for.
What can Duplicacy do that StorageCraft ShadowProtect cannot?
Duplicacy covers Lock-free deduplication, Client-side encryption, Multiple computers, Erasure coding. StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup, VirtualBoot, Bare metal recovery, Hardware-independent restore. Both handle Windows support, Linux support, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Duplicacy: What is the cost of the Duplicacy command line version for commercial use?

The commercial license for Duplicacy's command line version costs $50 per machine per year. The CLI version is free for individual users.

Source
StorageCraft ShadowProtect: How much does StorageCraft ShadowProtect cost?

StorageCraft no longer maintains independent product pricing. The domain redirects to ArcServe, and ArcServe does not publish specific pricing on its homepage. Prospective customers must request a trial, demo, or contact sales.

Source
Duplicacy: Is pricing available for the Duplicacy Web GUI edition?

No pricing information is provided for the Web Edition (GUI) on the Duplicacy website. You would need to contact [email protected] for Web Edition pricing details.

Source
StorageCraft ShadowProtect: Where can I find StorageCraft pricing?

StorageCraft's website (storagecraft.com) now redirects to ArcServe.com. ArcServe does not publish pricing publicly. To obtain pricing information, users can start a trial, request a demo, or contact ArcServe's sales team.

Source
Duplicacy: Are volume discounts available for IT service providers?

Yes, volume discounts are available for IT service providers and resellers. Contact [email protected] to discuss volume pricing options.

Source
Duplicacy: What backup modes and features are included in the free version?

The free version includes file, disk, partition, and system backup with full, incremental, and differential backup modes. It also offers scheduled backups, encryption, and emergency disk creation.

Source
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