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Backup · head to head

HPE StoreOnce vs UrBackup

HPE StoreOnce logo

HPE StoreOnce

Backup

Disk-based backup with built-in deduplication

From
$5000/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
UrBackup logo

UrBackup

Backup

Open source client server backup doing both file and whole disk image backups of Windows machines

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only UrBackup has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: HPE StoreOnce covers StoreOnce Catalyst, UrBackup covers Windows image backups.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which HPE StoreOnce and UrBackup actually diverge.

Attributes where HPE StoreOnce and UrBackup differ
AttributeHPE StoreOnceUrBackup
Starting price$5000/one-timeFree
Pricing modelone-timeOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsLinux, WebLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
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 UrBackup

  • Windows image backups
  • File backups
  • Web interface
  • Client discovery
  • Internet mode
  • Filesystem deduplication

What people use each for

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

HPE StoreOnce

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

UrBackup

  • A small office with Windows workstations that needs bare metal restore without per seat licensingnot HPE StoreOnce
  • Schools and labs where machines are re-imaged often and a known good image must be recoverablenot HPE StoreOnce
  • Backing up a mixed fleet to one server on premises with a web interface non specialists can usenot HPE StoreOnce
  • Replacing an expiring commercial endpoint backup licence where the budget is the constraintnot 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.

UrBackup

  • Backups are stored on the server without encryption at rest by default, so the backup server holds a readable copy of every machine it protects and becomes the highest value target on the network.
  • Deduplication relies on filesystem features such as hard links, btrfs or ZFS, so a server built on the wrong filesystem silently consumes far more space and the fix is a rebuild rather than a setting.
  • There is no native object storage target, so offsite copies mean replicating the server storage with another tool rather than backing up to a bucket directly.
  • Restoring a full Windows image requires booting a restore environment, which is a manual, on site procedure that needs to be rehearsed before the day it is needed.
  • A single server holds everything and there is no built in clustering, so its own failure removes every recovery point at once unless you have separately solved replication.

Pricing, plan by plan

HPE StoreOnce

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

UrBackup

Free
  • UrBackupFree
    • Full functionality, unlimited clients
    • File and image backups
    • Web administration interface

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 UrBackup if

  • You need windows image backups.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want file backups.
UrBackup review

Questions people ask

Is HPE StoreOnce or UrBackup better?
Neither clearly leads. HPE StoreOnce starts at $5000/one-time and UrBackup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, HPE StoreOnce or UrBackup?
UrBackup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $5000/one-time for HPE StoreOnce and Free for UrBackup.
Does HPE StoreOnce or UrBackup run on more platforms?
HPE StoreOnce runs on Linux, Web. UrBackup runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use UrBackup for free?
Yes. UrBackup 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 UrBackup is typically brought in for.
What can HPE StoreOnce do that UrBackup cannot?
HPE StoreOnce covers StoreOnce Catalyst, Cloud bank storage, Instant recovery, Federated deduplication. UrBackup covers Windows image backups, File backups, Web interface, Client discovery.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

UrBackup: Does it back up Linux servers as well?

File backups yes, image backups no. The image path is Windows only through volume shadow copy.

UrBackup: Is the data encrypted?

Transport can be encrypted, and there is optional client side file encryption, but the default server storage is not encrypted at rest. Use full disk encryption on the server.

UrBackup: Can I back up to Amazon S3?

Not directly. The server writes to local or mounted storage, so cloud copies are made by replicating that storage separately.

UrBackup: How many clients can one server handle?

Dozens is routine on decent hardware. The limit is usually storage input and output during overlapping backup windows rather than client count.

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Related pages

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