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File Storage & Backup · head to head

Duplicati vs Spanning Backup

Duplicati logo

Duplicati

File Storage & Backup

Free open-source backup with encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Spanning Backup logo

Spanning Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

SaaS backup for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

From
$4/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Duplicati has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Duplicati no managed service or commercial support; Spanning Backup cloud-only deployment; no on-premise or self-hosted options available
  • They diverge on capability: Duplicati covers AES-256 encryption, Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Duplicati and Spanning Backup differ
AttributeDuplicatiSpanning Backup
Starting priceFree$4/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxCloud SaaS
CategoryFile Storage & BackupBackup & Disaster Recovery
Founded20082010

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Duplicati

  • AES-256 encryption
  • Incremental backup
  • Deduplication
  • Multiple cloud backends
  • Compression
  • Web interface
  • AWS S3
  • Azure

Only in Spanning Backup

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Duplicati

  • Data protectionnot Spanning Backup
  • Disaster recoverynot Spanning Backup
  • Business continuitynot Spanning Backup
  • Ransomware protectionnot Spanning Backup
  • Compliancenot Spanning Backup

Spanning Backup

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

Where each one falls short

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

Duplicati

  • No managed service or commercial support
  • Relies on community support
  • No enterprise features

Spanning Backup

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Duplicati

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Duplicati review.

Spanning Backup

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Duplicati if

  • You need aes-256 encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want incremental backup.

Choose Spanning Backup if

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

Questions people ask

Is Duplicati or Spanning Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Duplicati 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, Duplicati or Spanning Backup?
Duplicati has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Duplicati and $4/month for Spanning Backup.
Does Duplicati or Spanning Backup run on more platforms?
Duplicati runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Spanning Backup runs on Cloud SaaS.
Can I use Duplicati for free?
Yes. Duplicati has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Spanning Backup starts at $4/month.
What is Duplicati best used for?
Duplicati is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Spanning Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Duplicati do that Spanning Backup cannot?
Duplicati covers AES-256 encryption, Incremental backup, Deduplication, Multiple cloud backends. Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, Point-in-time restore, Cross-user restore, eDiscovery. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Duplicati: Is Duplicati free?

Yes. Duplicati is completely free and open-source under the LGPL license. There are no premium tiers, trials, or limitations.

Source
Duplicati: What does Duplicati support?

Duplicati supports zero-trust, fully encrypted backups to local storage, network drives, and cloud services. It includes deduplication and incremental backups.

Source
Duplicati: What are the platforms?

Duplicati runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It can back up data to local storage, network drives, or cloud providers.

Source

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