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Backup · head to head

Bacula vs Keepit

Bacula logo

Bacula

Backup

The best open source backup software for Linux

From
Free
Rated
-
Keepit logo

Keepit

Backup

Independent cloud backup for SaaS workloads

From
$3/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Bacula has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bacula the community edition has no vendor support contract; bacula.org directs support and paid deployments toward the separate commercial Bacula Enterprise product instead.; Keepit search functionality is very limited with restrictive search strings and poor filter options
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bacula and Keepit actually diverge.

Attributes where Bacula and Keepit differ
AttributeBaculaKeepit
Starting priceFree$3/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
FoundedUnknown2017

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Bacula

Nothing recorded that Keepit does not also cover.

Only in Keepit

  • Vendor-independent storage
  • Immutable backup
  • Blockchain verification
  • Unlimited retention
  • Granular restore
  • API access
  • Microsoft 365
  • Google Workspace

What people use each for

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

Bacula

  • Linux, Windows, and macOS network backup at scalenot Keepit
  • VMware, KVM, Hyper-V virtual machine backupnot Keepit
  • MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL database backupnot Keepit
  • Microsoft Exchange Server backupnot Keepit
  • Tape backup and enterprise data retentionnot Keepit

Keepit

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

Where each one falls short

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

Bacula

  • The community edition has no vendor support contract; bacula.org directs support and paid deployments toward the separate commercial Bacula Enterprise product instead.

Keepit

  • Search functionality is very limited with restrictive search strings and poor filter options
  • Download speeds during restoration are slow, particularly for mailbox restorations
  • Console interface is complex and unintuitive, making file retrieval time-consuming
  • Limited support for advanced features like Power Automate flows and manual backup job initiation
  • Primarily targets SaaS applications and is not a single platform for on-premises workloads, VMs, or endpoint backup

Pricing, plan by plan

Bacula

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Bacula review.

Keepit

$3/month
  • Keepit Business$3/month
    • Immutable backup
    • Unlimited retention
    • Blockchain verification

Which should you pick?

Choose Bacula if

  • You want to start without paying.

Choose Keepit if

  • You need vendor-independent storage.
  • You also want immutable backup.

Questions people ask

Is Bacula or Keepit better?
Neither clearly leads. Bacula starts at Free and Keepit at $3/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bacula or Keepit?
Bacula has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bacula and $3/month for Keepit.
Does Bacula or Keepit run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Bacula for free?
Yes. Bacula has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Keepit starts at $3/month.
What is Bacula best used for?
Bacula is most often used for linux, windows, and macos network backup at scale, vmware, kvm, hyper-v virtual machine backup, mysql, oracle, postgresql database backup, microsoft exchange server backup. Of those, linux, windows, and macos network backup at scale and vmware, kvm, hyper-v virtual machine backup are not what Keepit is typically brought in for.
What can Bacula do that Keepit cannot?
Keepit covers Vendor-independent storage, Immutable backup, Blockchain verification, Unlimited retention.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bacula: How much does Bacula cost?

Bacula Community Edition is free and open source. Bacula Enterprise is a commercial offering with a free trial available, but specific pricing is not listed on the main website.

Source
Keepit: What SaaS applications does Keepit protect?

Keepit provides backup for Microsoft 365 workloads (Teams, Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Groups, Public Folders), Microsoft Entra ID, Google, Salesforce, and 15 SaaS applications total as of 2026, with plans to add more.

Source
Bacula: Is Bacula free?

Bacula Community Edition is fully free and open source. Enterprise Edition is commercial but offers a free trial to evaluate features before purchasing.

Source
Keepit: How is Keepit priced?

Keepit uses custom pricing starting at $5 per seat monthly. Enterprise plans are custom quoted, with median annual contracts around $60,270. The pricing includes unlimited data storage.

Source
Keepit: Does Keepit guarantee immutability?

Yes, Keepit's architecture runs on secure, private infrastructure offering data immutability to prevent ransomware and accidental deletion.

Source
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