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Backup · head to head

Paragon Backup & Recovery vs Spanning Backup

Paragon Backup & Recovery logo

Paragon Backup & Recovery

Backup

Professional-grade backup for Windows

From
$50/year
Rated
-
Spanning Backup logo

Spanning Backup

Backup

SaaS backup for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

From
$4/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Paragon Backup & Recovery the free Community Edition is licensed for non-commercial use only; Spanning Backup no pricing published; requires quote request
  • They diverge on capability: Paragon Backup & Recovery covers Full disk backup, Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paragon Backup & Recovery and Spanning Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Paragon Backup & Recovery and Spanning Backup differ
AttributeParagon Backup & RecoverySpanning Backup
Starting price$50/year$4/month
PlatformsWindowsCloud SaaS
Founded19942010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Paragon Backup & Recovery

  • Full disk backup
  • File-level backup
  • Incremental/differential
  • Recovery media
  • Virtual disk mount
  • UEFI support
  • Windows
  • Network shares

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.

Paragon Backup & Recovery

  • Full disk and partition backup on Windowsnot Spanning Backup
  • Bare metal recovery from an imagenot Spanning Backup
  • Scheduled incremental backups for a home machinenot Spanning Backup
  • Migrating an installation to a new drive on the paid editionsnot Spanning Backup

Spanning Backup

  • SaaS backup and recoverynot Paragon Backup & Recovery
  • Microsoft 365 backupnot Paragon Backup & Recovery
  • Google Workspace backupnot Paragon Backup & Recovery
  • Salesforce backupnot Paragon Backup & Recovery

Where each one falls short

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

Paragon Backup & Recovery

  • The free Community Edition is licensed for non-commercial use only
  • Windows only, and specifically Windows 10 x64 from 1809, Windows 11 x64 and Windows 11 Arm64
  • Volume and OS copying, partition management and email notifications need the Advanced edition
  • Windows Server support requires the Business edition
  • Paid edition prices are not shown on the product page

Spanning Backup

  • No pricing published; requires quote request
  • Pricing is customizable based on data volume and service changes

Pricing, plan by plan

Paragon Backup & Recovery

$50/year
  • Community Edition$50/year
    • Full disk backup
    • File-level backup
    • Recovery media

Spanning Backup

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Paragon Backup & Recovery if

  • You need full disk backup.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want file-level backup.

Choose Spanning Backup if

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

Questions people ask

Is Paragon Backup & Recovery or Spanning Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Paragon Backup & Recovery starts at $50/year and Spanning Backup at $4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paragon Backup & Recovery or Spanning Backup?
Paragon Backup & Recovery starts at $50/year and Spanning Backup at $4/month.
Does Paragon Backup & Recovery or Spanning Backup run on more platforms?
Paragon Backup & Recovery runs on Windows. Spanning Backup runs on Cloud SaaS.
What is Paragon Backup & Recovery best used for?
Paragon Backup & Recovery is most often used for full disk and partition backup on windows, bare metal recovery from an image, scheduled incremental backups for a home machine, migrating an installation to a new drive on the paid editions. Of those, full disk and partition backup on windows and bare metal recovery from an image are not what Spanning Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Paragon Backup & Recovery do that Spanning Backup cannot?
Paragon Backup & Recovery covers Full disk backup, File-level backup, Incremental/differential, Recovery media. Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, Point-in-time restore, Cross-user restore, eDiscovery.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Paragon Backup & Recovery: Is Paragon Backup & Recovery still available?

No, Paragon Backup & Recovery has been unavailable since October 8, 2025, and is marked as a legacy product. Business customers are directed to explore alternative products for business use.

Source
Spanning Backup: How much does Spanning Backup cost?

Spanning Backup does not publish pricing online. The company offers FLEXspend, a feature that gives complete flexibility in adjusting backup spend based on data changes. Customers must request a quote through their pricing page.

Source
Paragon Backup & Recovery: How much does Paragon Backup & Recovery cost?

No pricing information is published. The product is restricted to home use only and customers must contact Paragon's sales team directly for any inquiries.

Source
Spanning Backup: Does Spanning Backup offer a free trial?

Yes, Spanning Backup offers a free trial. Customers can also book a call or request a demo to discuss their specific backup needs and receive a custom quote.

Source
Paragon Backup & Recovery: What should business users do if they used Paragon Backup & Recovery?

Business customers are recommended to explore the company's other products designed for business use and contact the sales team for alternative solutions.

Source
Spanning Backup: What products does Spanning Backup cover?

Spanning Backup provides backup solutions for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce with customizable pricing based on organizational needs.

Source
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