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Backup · head to head

Velero vs Zerto

Velero logo

Velero

Backup

Open source backup and migration for Kubernetes cluster resources

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zerto logo

Zerto

File Storage

Continuous data protection with near-zero RPO

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Velero has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Velero there is no vendor support contract from the project itself, so a failed restore during an outage is resolved by your team reading source code and GitHub issues.; Zerto zerto with Azure is listed on UK G-Cloud as a reseller-managed disaster recovery service, not Zerto's own licence pricing, with OS management from £75 per host per month for the public sector
  • They diverge on capability: Velero covers Cluster resource backup, Zerto covers Continuous data protection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Velero and Zerto actually diverge.

Attributes where Velero and Zerto differ
AttributeVeleroZerto
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinuxWindows, Linux, Web
CategoryBackupFile Storage
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Velero

  • Cluster resource backup
  • Volume snapshots
  • File-level backup
  • Cross-cluster restore
  • Backup hooks
  • Scheduled backups
  • Object storage targets

Only in Zerto

  • Continuous data protection
  • Journal-based recovery
  • Automated failover
  • Non-disruptive testing
  • Multi-cloud mobility
  • Long-term retention
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

What people use each for

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

Velero

  • A platform team needing namespace-level restore after an accidental deletion, with no budget for a backup productnot Zerto
  • Migrating workloads between Kubernetes clusters or between cloud providers using backup and restorenot Zerto
  • Capturing cluster configuration before a risky upgrade so the previous state can be reinstatednot Zerto
  • An organisation proving a Kubernetes recovery capability to an auditor before deciding whether to buy a commercial productnot Zerto

Zerto

  • Data protectionnot Velero
  • Disaster recoverynot Velero
  • Business continuitynot Velero
  • Ransomware protectionnot Velero
  • Compliancenot Velero

Where each one falls short

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

Velero

  • There is no vendor support contract from the project itself, so a failed restore during an outage is resolved by your team reading source code and GitHub issues.
  • Application consistency depends on backup hooks you write and maintain, and a database backed up without a correct hook restores to a state that may not be usable.
  • Restore ordering across dependent resources such as custom resource definitions and operators needs manual attention, and complex applications frequently need a documented runbook rather than a single restore command.
  • Corporate engineering investment became uncertain after Broadcom acquired VMware, which is a real consideration for anyone building a long retention policy on the project.
  • Object storage egress charges apply on restore and are billed by your cloud provider, so a full cluster recovery from another region carries a cost discovered during the incident rather than during planning.

Zerto

  • Zerto with Azure is listed on UK G-Cloud as a reseller-managed disaster recovery service, not Zerto's own licence pricing, with OS management from £75 per host per month for the public sector

Pricing, plan by plan

Velero

Free
  • VeleroFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed
    • No cluster or capacity limits
    • Community support via Kubernetes Slack and GitHub

Zerto

$5/month
  • Zerto Enterprise Cloud$5/month
    • Continuous protection
    • Journal-based recovery
    • Multi-cloud mobility

Which should you pick?

Choose Velero if

  • You need cluster resource backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux.
  • You also want volume snapshots.
Velero review

Choose Zerto if

  • You need continuous data protection.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want journal-based recovery.
Zerto review

Questions people ask

Is Velero or Zerto better?
Neither clearly leads. Velero starts at Free and Zerto at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Velero or Zerto?
Velero has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Velero and $5/month for Zerto.
Does Velero or Zerto run on more platforms?
Velero runs on Linux. Zerto runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Can I use Velero for free?
Yes. Velero has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zerto starts at $5/month.
What is Velero best used for?
Velero is most often used for a platform team needing namespace-level restore after an accidental deletion, with no budget for a backup product, migrating workloads between kubernetes clusters or between cloud providers using backup and restore, capturing cluster configuration before a risky upgrade so the previous state can be reinstated, an organisation proving a kubernetes recovery capability to an auditor before deciding whether to buy a commercial product. Of those, a platform team needing namespace-level restore after an accidental deletion, with no budget for a backup product and migrating workloads between kubernetes clusters or between cloud providers using backup and restore are not what Zerto is typically brought in for.
What can Velero do that Zerto cannot?
Velero covers Cluster resource backup, Volume snapshots, File-level backup, Cross-cluster restore. Zerto covers Continuous data protection, Journal-based recovery, Automated failover, Non-disruptive testing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Velero: Can we buy support for Velero?

Not from the project. Several commercial Kubernetes backup products package or extend it and sell support, which is the practical route to an accountable vendor.

Zerto: Can I try Zerto before buying?

Yes, Zerto offers a 14-day free trial or on-demand lab access to test the platform.

Source
Velero: Does it back up persistent volume data?

Yes, through cloud or Container Storage Interface snapshots, or through file-level upload where snapshots are not available.

Velero: What does it cost?

Nothing to licence. You pay for object storage capacity and for egress on restore, both billed by your cloud provider.

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