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Macrium Reflect vs Spanning Backup

Macrium Reflect logo

Macrium Reflect

Software

Award-winning disk imaging and cloning

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spanning Backup logo

Spanning Backup

Software

SaaS backup for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Macrium Reflect has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Macrium Reflect business editions (Workstation, Site Backup) publish named tiers but no self-serve figure on their own product pages; only a free trial of the management console is offered directly; Spanning Backup cloud-only deployment; no on-premise or self-hosted options available
  • They diverge on capability: Macrium Reflect covers Disk imaging, Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Macrium Reflect and Spanning Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Macrium Reflect and Spanning Backup differ
AttributeMacrium ReflectSpanning Backup
Starting priceFree$4/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindowsCloud SaaS
Founded20062010

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

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 Macrium Reflect

  • Disk imaging
  • Rapid delta cloning
  • Rescue Media
  • Incremental backup
  • Scheduling
  • Email notifications
  • Windows PE
  • Hyper-V

Only in Spanning Backup

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

What people use each for

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

Macrium Reflect

  • 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 Macrium Reflect
  • Data protection and compliance management for Google Workspace and Salesforcenot Macrium Reflect

Where each one falls short

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

Macrium Reflect

  • Business editions (Workstation, Site Backup) publish named tiers but no self-serve figure on their own product pages; only a free trial of the management console is offered directly

Spanning Backup

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Macrium Reflect

Free
  • Home$70/year
    • Disk imaging
    • Rescue Media
    • Rapid delta

Spanning Backup

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Macrium Reflect if

  • You need disk imaging.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want rapid delta cloning.
Macrium Reflect review

Choose Spanning Backup if

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

Questions people ask

Is Macrium Reflect or Spanning Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Macrium Reflect 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, Macrium Reflect or Spanning Backup?
Macrium Reflect has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Macrium Reflect and $4/month for Spanning Backup.
Does Macrium Reflect or Spanning Backup run on more platforms?
Macrium Reflect runs on Windows. Spanning Backup runs on Cloud SaaS.
Can I use Macrium Reflect for free?
Yes. Macrium Reflect has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Spanning Backup starts at $4/month.
What is Macrium Reflect best used for?
Macrium Reflect 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 Macrium Reflect do that Spanning Backup cannot?
Macrium Reflect covers Disk imaging, Rapid delta cloning, Rescue Media, Incremental backup. Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, Point-in-time restore, Cross-user restore, eDiscovery.
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Related pages

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