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Backup · head to head

StorageCraft ShadowProtect vs SysCloud

StorageCraft ShadowProtect logo

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

Backup

Fast and reliable image-based backup

From
$15/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SysCloud logo

SysCloud

Backup

Backup and security for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; SysCloud does not backup all Google Workspace data, such as Google Chat information
  • They diverge on capability: StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup, SysCloud covers Automated backup.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which StorageCraft ShadowProtect and SysCloud actually diverge.

Attributes where StorageCraft ShadowProtect and SysCloud differ
AttributeStorageCraft ShadowProtectSysCloud
Starting price$15/month$4/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWindows, Linux, WebWeb, Cloud
Founded20032013

Identical on both: 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 StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Image-based backup
  • VirtualBoot
  • Bare metal recovery
  • Hardware-independent restore
  • Incremental imaging
  • ShadowStream replication
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

Only in SysCloud

  • Automated backup
  • Ransomware protection
  • Cross-user restore
  • Data migration
  • DLP
  • Compliance archiving
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

  • Backup and disaster recovery (legacy)not SysCloud
  • System image backup and recoverynot SysCloud

SysCloud

  • 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

SysCloud

  • Does not backup all Google Workspace data, such as Google Chat information
  • Can be slow with live data and large datasets
  • Difficult user interface for non-technical users
  • Limited backup frequency and capped storage on some plans

Pricing, plan by plan

StorageCraft ShadowProtect

$15/month
  • ShadowProtect SPX$15/month
    • Image-based backup
    • VirtualBoot
    • Bare metal recovery

SysCloud

$4/month
  • Custom Plans$4/month per user
    • Starts at $4 per user per month
    • Discounts for yearly plans
    • Bulk purchase discounts

Which should you pick?

Choose StorageCraft ShadowProtect if

  • You need image-based backup.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want virtualboot.
StorageCraft ShadowProtect review

Choose SysCloud if

  • You need automated backup.
  • You work on Web, Cloud.
  • You also want ransomware protection.
SysCloud review

Questions people ask

Is StorageCraft ShadowProtect or SysCloud better?
Neither clearly leads. StorageCraft ShadowProtect starts at $15/month and SysCloud at $4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, StorageCraft ShadowProtect or SysCloud?
StorageCraft ShadowProtect starts at $15/month and SysCloud at $4/month.
Does StorageCraft ShadowProtect or SysCloud run on more platforms?
StorageCraft ShadowProtect runs on Windows, Linux, Web. SysCloud runs on Web, Cloud.
What is StorageCraft ShadowProtect best used for?
StorageCraft ShadowProtect is most often used for backup and disaster recovery (legacy), system image backup and recovery. Of those, backup and disaster recovery (legacy) and system image backup and recovery are not what SysCloud is typically brought in for.
What can StorageCraft ShadowProtect do that SysCloud cannot?
StorageCraft ShadowProtect covers Image-based backup, VirtualBoot, Bare metal recovery, Hardware-independent restore. SysCloud covers Automated backup, Ransomware protection, Cross-user restore, Data migration. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

StorageCraft ShadowProtect: How much does StorageCraft ShadowProtect cost?

StorageCraft no longer maintains independent product pricing. The domain redirects to ArcServe, and ArcServe does not publish specific pricing on its homepage. Prospective customers must request a trial, demo, or contact sales.

Source
SysCloud: What applications does SysCloud backup?

SysCloud backs up Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Google Classroom, Slack, HubSpot, QuickBooks Online, Salesforce, Box, and Xero with automated daily backups.

Source
StorageCraft ShadowProtect: Where can I find StorageCraft pricing?

StorageCraft's website (storagecraft.com) now redirects to ArcServe.com. ArcServe does not publish pricing publicly. To obtain pricing information, users can start a trial, request a demo, or contact ArcServe's sales team.

Source
SysCloud: Does SysCloud have a free trial?

Yes, SysCloud offers a 30-day free trial to evaluate the platform before committing to a paid plan.

Source
SysCloud: What is SysCloud's uptime guarantee?

SysCloud operates on AWS infrastructure with 99.99% availability, running backups 365 days per year.

Source
SysCloud: How does SysCloud detect ransomware?

SysCloud can identify files encrypted by ransomware and restore a safe version, helping protect against data loss from ransomware attacks.

Source
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