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Backup · head to head

MSP360 Backup vs Proxmox Backup Server

MSP360 Backup logo

MSP360 Backup

Backup

Cross-platform backup for MSPs and IT teams

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: MSP360 Backup pricing can be expensive when scaling up to large deployments; 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.
  • They diverge on capability: MSP360 Backup covers Cross-platform support, 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 MSP360 Backup and Proxmox Backup Server actually diverge.

Attributes where MSP360 Backup and Proxmox Backup Server differ
AttributeMSP360 BackupProxmox Backup Server
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxLinux
Founded2008Unknown

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 MSP360 Backup

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

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.

MSP360 Backup

  • 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 MSP360 Backup
  • Replacing a backup product whose licence is priced per socket or per terabyte on a virtualisation estatenot MSP360 Backup
  • Proving backup integrity on a schedule rather than discovering corruption during a restorenot MSP360 Backup
  • Keeping an encrypted second copy on a remote server or on tape without a third party servicenot MSP360 Backup

Where each one falls short

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

MSP360 Backup

  • Pricing can be expensive when scaling up to large deployments

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

MSP360 Backup

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

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 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

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 MSP360 Backup or Proxmox Backup Server better?
Neither clearly leads. MSP360 Backup starts at Free and Proxmox Backup Server at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, MSP360 Backup or Proxmox Backup Server?
MSP360 Backup starts at Free and Proxmox Backup Server at Free.
Does MSP360 Backup or Proxmox Backup Server run on more platforms?
MSP360 Backup runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Proxmox Backup Server runs on Linux.
Can I use MSP360 Backup for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is MSP360 Backup best used for?
MSP360 Backup 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 MSP360 Backup do that Proxmox Backup Server cannot?
MSP360 Backup covers Cross-platform support, Any cloud storage, Image-based backup, SQL backup. Proxmox Backup Server covers Deduplicated chunk store, Incremental guest backups, Client side encryption, Verification jobs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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.

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
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.

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.

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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