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Backup · head to head

Spanning Backup vs UrBackup

Spanning Backup logo

Spanning Backup

Backup

SaaS backup for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
UrBackup logo

UrBackup

Backup

Open source client server backup doing both file and whole disk image backups of Windows machines

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only UrBackup has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Spanning Backup no pricing published; requires quote request; UrBackup backups are stored on the server without encryption at rest by default, so the backup server holds a readable copy of every machine it protects and becomes the highest value target on the network.
  • They diverge on capability: Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, UrBackup covers Windows image backups.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Spanning Backup and UrBackup actually diverge.

Attributes where Spanning Backup and UrBackup differ
AttributeSpanning BackupUrBackup
Starting price$4/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud SaaSLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
Founded2010Unknown

Identical on both: 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 Spanning Backup

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

Only in UrBackup

  • Windows image backups
  • File backups
  • Web interface
  • Client discovery
  • Internet mode
  • Filesystem deduplication

What people use each for

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

Spanning Backup

  • SaaS backup and recoverynot UrBackup
  • Microsoft 365 backupnot UrBackup
  • Google Workspace backupnot UrBackup
  • Salesforce backupnot UrBackup

UrBackup

  • A small office with Windows workstations that needs bare metal restore without per seat licensingnot Spanning Backup
  • Schools and labs where machines are re-imaged often and a known good image must be recoverablenot Spanning Backup
  • Backing up a mixed fleet to one server on premises with a web interface non specialists can usenot Spanning Backup
  • Replacing an expiring commercial endpoint backup licence where the budget is the constraintnot Spanning Backup

Where each one falls short

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

Spanning Backup

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

UrBackup

  • Backups are stored on the server without encryption at rest by default, so the backup server holds a readable copy of every machine it protects and becomes the highest value target on the network.
  • Deduplication relies on filesystem features such as hard links, btrfs or ZFS, so a server built on the wrong filesystem silently consumes far more space and the fix is a rebuild rather than a setting.
  • There is no native object storage target, so offsite copies mean replicating the server storage with another tool rather than backing up to a bucket directly.
  • Restoring a full Windows image requires booting a restore environment, which is a manual, on site procedure that needs to be rehearsed before the day it is needed.
  • A single server holds everything and there is no built in clustering, so its own failure removes every recovery point at once unless you have separately solved replication.

Pricing, plan by plan

Spanning Backup

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

UrBackup

Free
  • UrBackupFree
    • Full functionality, unlimited clients
    • File and image backups
    • Web administration interface

Which should you pick?

Choose Spanning Backup if

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

Choose UrBackup if

  • You need windows image backups.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want file backups.
UrBackup review

Questions people ask

Is Spanning Backup or UrBackup better?
Neither clearly leads. Spanning Backup starts at $4/month and UrBackup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Spanning Backup or UrBackup?
UrBackup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4/month for Spanning Backup and Free for UrBackup.
Does Spanning Backup or UrBackup run on more platforms?
Spanning Backup runs on Cloud SaaS. UrBackup runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use UrBackup for free?
Yes. UrBackup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Spanning Backup starts at $4/month.
What is Spanning Backup best used for?
Spanning Backup is most often used for saas backup and recovery, microsoft 365 backup, google workspace backup, salesforce backup. Of those, saas backup and recovery and microsoft 365 backup are not what UrBackup is typically brought in for.
What can Spanning Backup do that UrBackup cannot?
Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, Point-in-time restore, Cross-user restore, eDiscovery. UrBackup covers Windows image backups, File backups, Web interface, Client discovery.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
UrBackup: Does it back up Linux servers as well?

File backups yes, image backups no. The image path is Windows only through volume shadow copy.

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
UrBackup: Is the data encrypted?

Transport can be encrypted, and there is optional client side file encryption, but the default server storage is not encrypted at rest. Use full disk encryption on the server.

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
UrBackup: Can I back up to Amazon S3?

Not directly. The server writes to local or mounted storage, so cloud copies are made by replicating that storage separately.

UrBackup: How many clients can one server handle?

Dozens is routine on decent hardware. The limit is usually storage input and output during overlapping backup windows rather than client count.

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