Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head
StorageCraft ShadowProtect vs Acronis Cyber Protect
StorageCraft ShadowProtect
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Fast and reliable image-based backup
- From
- $15/month
- Rated
- -
Acronis Cyber Protect
Backup & Disaster Recovery
Integrated backup and cybersecurity protection
- From
- $68/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: StorageCraft ShadowProtect host-based backup requires Windows Server 2016 or above on the Hyper-V host, and desktop, client and Pro editions are not supported; Acronis Cyber Protect technical support response is slow and inconsistent for resolving issues
- They diverge on capability: StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup, Acronis Cyber Protect covers AI-based ransomware protection.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which StorageCraft ShadowProtect and Acronis Cyber Protect actually diverge.
| Attribute | StorageCraft ShadowProtect | Acronis Cyber Protect |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $15/month | $68/year |
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux, Web | Windows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premises |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Backup & Disaster Recovery), founded (2003).
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 StorageCraft ShadowProtect
- Image-based backup
- VirtualBoot
- Bare metal recovery
- Hardware-independent restore
- Incremental imaging
- ShadowStream replication
- Windows Server
- Linux Server
Only in Acronis Cyber Protect
- AI-based ransomware protection
- Continuous data protection
- Disk cloning
- Universal restore
- Backup validation
- Vulnerability assessments
- Microsoft 365
- Google Workspace
Both cover
- VMware
- Hyper-V
- Windows support
- Linux support
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
StorageCraft ShadowProtect
- Image based backup and bare metal recovery of Windows and Linux serversnot Acronis Cyber Protect
- MSPs protecting client Hyper-V hosts and workloads from one consolenot Acronis Cyber Protect
Acronis Cyber Protect
- Data protectionnot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
- Disaster recoverynot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
- Business continuitynot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
- Ransomware protectionnot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
- Compliancenot StorageCraft ShadowProtect
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
StorageCraft ShadowProtect
- Host-based backup requires Windows Server 2016 or above on the Hyper-V host, and desktop, client and Pro editions are not supported
- Host-based and agent-based backup are mutually exclusive installation modes in ShadowProtect 8.0; one machine cannot run both
- Switching from agent-based to host-based requires a clean reinstall rather than an in-place upgrade
- Host-based backups are not compatible with VirtualBoot
- Granular file and folder recovery is not available for host-based backups; the whole backup must be restored to a .vhd or .vhdx first
- Host-based backup jobs do not report status to ShadowControl
- Advanced Verification in ImageManager 8.1 is not supported for host-based backups
- All host-based backups go into a single folder by default, so separating them per VM means creating a separate backup job for each
- Host-based licence keys are generated only through the Arcserve MSP portal
Acronis Cyber Protect
- Technical support response is slow and inconsistent for resolving issues
- UI performance is slow when handling operations like checking backup status or initiating restores
- Backup speed can be slow with limited replication options
- Complex pricing policies with multiple licensing models make cost prediction difficult
- Antivirus engine can significantly impact system performance on client machines
Pricing, plan by plan
StorageCraft ShadowProtect
$15/month- ShadowProtect SPX$15/month
- Image-based backup
- VirtualBoot
- Bare metal recovery
Acronis Cyber Protect
$68/year- Standard$68/year
- Backup and recovery
- Basic security
- Advanced$129/year
- Enhanced security
- Ransomware protection
- Anti-malware
- Business$5.67/month
- Enterprise features
- Support
- Multiple workloads
Which should you pick?
Choose StorageCraft ShadowProtect if
- You need image-based backup.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
- You also want virtualboot.
Choose Acronis Cyber Protect if
- You need ai-based ransomware protection.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premises.
- You also want continuous data protection.
Questions people ask
- Is StorageCraft ShadowProtect or Acronis Cyber Protect better?
- Neither clearly leads. StorageCraft ShadowProtect starts at $15/month and Acronis Cyber Protect at $68/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, StorageCraft ShadowProtect or Acronis Cyber Protect?
- StorageCraft ShadowProtect starts at $15/month and Acronis Cyber Protect at $68/year.
- Does StorageCraft ShadowProtect or Acronis Cyber Protect run on more platforms?
- StorageCraft ShadowProtect runs on Windows, Linux, Web. Acronis Cyber Protect runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, Cloud, On-premises.
- What is StorageCraft ShadowProtect best used for?
- StorageCraft ShadowProtect is most often used for image based backup and bare metal recovery of windows and linux servers, msps protecting client hyper-v hosts and workloads from one console. Of those, image based backup and bare metal recovery of windows and linux servers and msps protecting client hyper-v hosts and workloads from one console are not what Acronis Cyber Protect is typically brought in for.
- What can StorageCraft ShadowProtect do that Acronis Cyber Protect cannot?
- StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup, VirtualBoot, Bare metal recovery, Hardware-independent restore. Acronis Cyber Protect covers AI-based ransomware protection, Continuous data protection, Disk cloning, Universal restore. Both handle VMware, Hyper-V, Windows support, Linux support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Acronis Cyber Protect: What does Acronis Cyber Protect include?
Acronis Cyber Protect combines backup, disaster recovery, next-generation anti-malware, cybersecurity, and endpoint management in a single platform for complete cyber resilience.
SourceAcronis Cyber Protect: What are the main pricing plans for Acronis Cyber Protect?
Acronis offers Cyber Protect Standard at $68/year, Cyber Protect Advanced at $129+/year for consumers, and business plans at $5.67-$8.60/month. Acronis runs three licensing models: per-workload, per-GB, and solution-based.
SourceAcronis Cyber Protect: Does Acronis offer an API for integrations?
Yes, Acronis exposes REST APIs allowing partners to integrate existing solutions and create new ones. They provide 300+ pre-built integrations and support both inbound (CyberApps) and outbound API integrations.
SourceAcronis Cyber Protect: Can Acronis Cyber Protect be deployed on-premises?
Yes, Acronis Cyber Protect supports multiple deployment options including on-premises and SaaS, giving organizations flexibility in how they manage their backup and disaster recovery infrastructure.
Source