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Backup · head to head

Kopia vs MSP360 Backup

Kopia logo

Kopia

Backup

Open source deduplicating backup with client side encryption and a repository on almost any storage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MSP360 Backup logo

MSP360 Backup

Backup

Cross-platform backup for MSPs and IT teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kopia space is only reclaimed when maintenance runs, and in a shared repository full maintenance is owned by one client, so if that machine goes away the repository grows for ever while every backup still reports success.; MSP360 Backup pricing can be expensive when scaling up to large deployments
  • They diverge on capability: Kopia covers Content defined chunking, MSP360 Backup covers Cross-platform support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kopia and MSP360 Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Kopia and MSP360 Backup differ
AttributeKopiaMSP360 Backup
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
PlatformsLinux, macOS, Windows, DockerWindows, macOS, Linux
FoundedUnknown2008

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Kopia

  • Content defined chunking
  • Global deduplication
  • Pack blobs
  • Client side encryption
  • Desktop and command line
  • Repository verification

Only in MSP360 Backup

  • Cross-platform support
  • Any cloud storage
  • Image-based backup
  • SQL backup
  • Centralized management
  • Ransomware protection
  • AWS S3
  • Azure

What people use each for

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

Kopia

  • Backing up laptops and workstations to cheap object storage with a desktop interface rather than a cron jobnot MSP360 Backup
  • Deduplicating backups of several similar machines into one repository so common content is stored oncenot MSP360 Backup
  • Replacing a chunk based tool whose per object charges made a cheap bucket expensivenot MSP360 Backup
  • Keeping an encrypted offsite copy where the storage provider must never be able to read the contentsnot MSP360 Backup

MSP360 Backup

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kopia

  • Space is only reclaimed when maintenance runs, and in a shared repository full maintenance is owned by one client, so if that machine goes away the repository grows for ever while every backup still reports success.
  • The repository format has changed across versions and mixing client versions against one repository is discouraged, so a fleet must be upgraded together rather than machine by machine.
  • There is no central orchestration or reporting for many machines, so monitoring a fleet means building your own alerting around exit codes.
  • Restoring many small files is slower than the backup was, because content must be reassembled from pack blobs, and this is rarely tested until the day it matters.
  • Encryption is client side with no escrow, so a lost repository password means the data is unrecoverable and there is no vendor to appeal to.

MSP360 Backup

  • Pricing can be expensive when scaling up to large deployments

Pricing, plan by plan

Kopia

Free
  • KopiaFree
    • Full functionality, no data limit
    • Desktop application included
    • Any supported storage back end

MSP360 Backup

Free
  • Desktop$4/month
    • Cross-platform backup
    • Any cloud storage
    • Centralized console

Which should you pick?

Choose Kopia if

  • You need content defined chunking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker.
  • You also want global deduplication.
Kopia review

Choose MSP360 Backup if

  • You need cross-platform support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want any cloud storage.
MSP360 Backup review

Questions people ask

Is Kopia or MSP360 Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Kopia starts at Free and MSP360 Backup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kopia or MSP360 Backup?
Kopia starts at Free and MSP360 Backup at Free.
Does Kopia or MSP360 Backup run on more platforms?
Kopia runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, Docker. MSP360 Backup runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Can I use Kopia for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kopia best used for?
Kopia is most often used for backing up laptops and workstations to cheap object storage with a desktop interface rather than a cron job, deduplicating backups of several similar machines into one repository so common content is stored once, replacing a chunk based tool whose per object charges made a cheap bucket expensive, keeping an encrypted offsite copy where the storage provider must never be able to read the contents. Of those, backing up laptops and workstations to cheap object storage with a desktop interface rather than a cron job and deduplicating backups of several similar machines into one repository so common content is stored once are not what MSP360 Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Kopia do that MSP360 Backup cannot?
Kopia covers Content defined chunking, Global deduplication, Pack blobs, Client side encryption. MSP360 Backup covers Cross-platform support, Any cloud storage, Image-based backup, SQL backup.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kopia: Is a partly corrupt repository still restorable?

Partly. Deduplication means one damaged pack blob affects every snapshot referencing its contents, but unaffected files still restore. Run verification regularly rather than assuming.

MSP360 Backup: What cloud storage providers does MSP360 Backup support?

MSP360 Backup integrates with leading cloud storage providers including AWS S3, Backblaze B2, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Wasabi, and on-premises storage solutions, providing flexibility in storage destination selection.

Source
Kopia: How does it compare with restic?

Similar guarantees, with packing that behaves better on per operation billing, a desktop interface, and compression enabled by default.

MSP360 Backup: What platforms does MSP360 Backup support?

MSP360 Backup is cross-platform software supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, allowing organizations to protect diverse IT infrastructure.

Source
Kopia: Do I need to run maintenance manually?

It is scheduled automatically by default, but you must ensure the client that owns full maintenance keeps running, otherwise deleted snapshots never free space.

MSP360 Backup: Does MSP360 Backup offer encryption?

Yes, MSP360 Backup includes encryption features for data protection, role-based permissions, and ransomware protection capabilities to ensure data security during backup and recovery.

Kopia: Can several machines share one repository?

Yes, and that is where deduplication pays off, but they should run compatible versions and only one owns full maintenance.

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