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Backup · head to head

HPE StoreOnce vs Proxmox Backup Server

HPE StoreOnce logo

HPE StoreOnce

Backup

Disk-based backup with built-in deduplication

From
$5000/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Proxmox Backup Server logo

Proxmox Backup Server

Backup

Deduplicating backup server for virtual machines, containers and Linux hosts, with verification built in

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Proxmox Backup Server has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: HPE StoreOnce covers StoreOnce Catalyst, Proxmox Backup Server covers Deduplicated chunk store.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HPE StoreOnce and Proxmox Backup Server actually diverge.

Attributes where HPE StoreOnce and Proxmox Backup Server differ
AttributeHPE StoreOnceProxmox Backup Server
Starting price$5000/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timeOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsLinux, WebLinux
Founded2015Unknown

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 HPE StoreOnce

  • StoreOnce Catalyst
  • Cloud bank storage
  • Instant recovery
  • Federated deduplication
  • Encryption
  • Replication
  • Veeam
  • Commvault

Only in Proxmox Backup Server

  • Deduplicated chunk store
  • Incremental guest backups
  • Client side encryption
  • Verification jobs
  • Remote sync
  • Live restore and file level restore

What people use each for

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

HPE StoreOnce

  • Data protectionnot Proxmox Backup Server
  • Disaster recoverynot Proxmox Backup Server
  • Business continuitynot Proxmox Backup Server
  • Ransomware protectionnot Proxmox Backup Server
  • Compliancenot Proxmox Backup Server

Proxmox Backup Server

  • Backing up a Proxmox VE cluster with incremental block level backups of running guestsnot HPE StoreOnce
  • Replacing a backup product whose licence is priced per socket or per terabyte on a virtualisation estatenot HPE StoreOnce
  • Proving backup integrity on a schedule rather than discovering corruption during a restorenot HPE StoreOnce
  • Keeping an encrypted second copy on a remote server or on tape without a third party servicenot HPE StoreOnce

Where each one falls short

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

HPE StoreOnce

Nothing recorded yet. See the HPE StoreOnce review.

Proxmox Backup Server

  • There is no Windows client, so physical Windows machines must be backed up by something else and the estate ends up with two backup products.
  • The datastore is millions of small chunk files, so it needs storage with real input and output capability and performs poorly on a single spinning disk or an SMB or NFS share.
  • Deduplication is per datastore, so splitting workloads across datastores for retention or tenancy reasons multiplies the storage those workloads consume.
  • Garbage collection depends on file access time semantics on the underlying filesystem, so a datastore mounted with the wrong options can fail to reclaim space or, worse, behave unpredictably.
  • Subscriptions are priced per CPU socket per year, so a backup server consolidated onto fewer larger dual socket machines pays twice per host for the supported repository.

Pricing, plan by plan

HPE StoreOnce

$5000/one-time
  • StoreOnce Appliance$5000/one-time
    • Catalyst deduplication
    • Cloud bank
    • Instant recovery

Proxmox Backup Server

Free
  • No subscriptionFree
    • Full functionality with no capacity limit
    • Community package repository
    • Community forum support
  • Subscription$undefined/year
    • Priced per CPU socket per year
    • Access to the enterprise package repository
    • Vendor support tickets

Which should you pick?

Choose HPE StoreOnce if

  • You need storeonce catalyst.
  • You work on Linux, Web.
  • You also want cloud bank storage.
HPE StoreOnce review

Choose Proxmox Backup Server if

  • You need deduplicated chunk store.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux.
  • You also want incremental guest backups.
Proxmox Backup Server review

Questions people ask

Is HPE StoreOnce or Proxmox Backup Server better?
Neither clearly leads. HPE StoreOnce starts at $5000/one-time and Proxmox Backup Server at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HPE StoreOnce or Proxmox Backup Server?
Proxmox Backup Server has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5000/one-time for HPE StoreOnce and Free for Proxmox Backup Server.
Does HPE StoreOnce or Proxmox Backup Server run on more platforms?
HPE StoreOnce runs on Linux, Web. Proxmox Backup Server runs on Linux.
Can I use Proxmox Backup Server for free?
Yes. Proxmox Backup Server has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HPE StoreOnce starts at $5000/one-time.
What is HPE StoreOnce best used for?
HPE StoreOnce is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Proxmox Backup Server is typically brought in for.
What can HPE StoreOnce do that Proxmox Backup Server cannot?
HPE StoreOnce covers StoreOnce Catalyst, Cloud bank storage, Instant recovery, Federated deduplication. Proxmox Backup Server covers Deduplicated chunk store, Incremental guest backups, Client side encryption, Verification jobs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Proxmox Backup Server: Can it back up machines that are not on Proxmox?

Linux hosts yes, through the client, at file level. Other hypervisors and physical Windows machines are outside its scope.

Proxmox Backup Server: Is a subscription required?

No. Without one you use the community repository and forum support. The subscription buys the tested enterprise repository and vendor tickets.

Proxmox Backup Server: How do I know a backup will restore?

Run verification jobs. They re-read the stored chunks and mark snapshots verified or failed, which is stronger evidence than a successful backup log.

Proxmox Backup Server: What storage should the datastore be on?

Local disks, ideally with ZFS and enough input and output capacity for many small files. Network shares are supported but routinely disappointing.

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