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Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head

Windows Backup vs Altaro VM Backup

Windows Backup logo

Windows Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Built-in backup and recovery for Windows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Altaro VM Backup logo

Altaro VM Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Simple and powerful VM backup for SMBs

From
$595/perpetual
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Windows Backup has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Windows Backup folder backup goes to OneDrive, and a free Microsoft account comes with only 5 GB of OneDrive storage; Altaro VM Backup limited to small and medium-market businesses with up to 50 host servers
  • They diverge on capability: Windows Backup covers File History, Altaro VM Backup covers Augmented inline dedup.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Windows Backup and Altaro VM Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Windows Backup and Altaro VM Backup differ
AttributeWindows BackupAltaro VM Backup
Starting priceFree$595/perpetual
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindowsWindows Server
Founded19752009

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Backup & Disaster Recovery).

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 Windows Backup

  • File History
  • System image backup
  • OneDrive integration
  • System restore points
  • Reset this PC
  • Recovery drive
  • OneDrive
  • Windows Server

Only in Altaro VM Backup

  • Augmented inline dedup
  • WAN-optimized replication
  • Boot from backup
  • Granular restore
  • Cloud management
  • Continuous CDP
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Windows Backup

  • Moving folders, settings and app list to a new Windows PCnot Altaro VM Backup
  • Basic personal file backup for a Windows home usernot Altaro VM Backup

Altaro VM Backup

  • Data protectionnot Windows Backup
  • Disaster recoverynot Windows Backup
  • Business continuitynot Windows Backup
  • Ransomware protectionnot Windows Backup
  • Compliancenot Windows Backup

Where each one falls short

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

Windows Backup

  • Folder backup goes to OneDrive, and a free Microsoft account comes with only 5 GB of OneDrive storage
  • It requires signing in with a Microsoft account rather than a local Windows account
  • Personalization preferences are not backed up if OneDrive storage is insufficient
  • OneDrive folder syncing through Windows Backup is not available for work or school accounts, and Windows does not remember apps for those accounts
  • Device settings sync for a work or school account only if the organization allows it

Altaro VM Backup

  • Limited to small and medium-market businesses with up to 50 host servers
  • Perpetual license model outdated compared to modern cloud-based backup solutions
  • Lacks enterprise-grade features for large-scale deployments
  • Offsite backup to cloud requires additional setup and configuration

Pricing, plan by plan

Windows Backup

Free
  • Built-inFree
    • File History
    • System image
    • OneDrive sync

Altaro VM Backup

$595/perpetual

No published plan breakdown. See the Altaro VM Backup review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Windows Backup if

  • You need file history.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want system image backup.
Windows Backup review

Choose Altaro VM Backup if

  • You need augmented inline dedup.
  • You work on Windows Server.
  • You also want wan-optimized replication.
Altaro VM Backup review

Questions people ask

Is Windows Backup or Altaro VM Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Windows Backup starts at Free and Altaro VM Backup at $595/perpetual, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Windows Backup or Altaro VM Backup?
Windows Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Windows Backup and $595/perpetual for Altaro VM Backup.
Does Windows Backup or Altaro VM Backup run on more platforms?
Windows Backup runs on Windows. Altaro VM Backup runs on Windows Server.
Can I use Windows Backup for free?
Yes. Windows Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Altaro VM Backup starts at $595/perpetual.
What is Windows Backup best used for?
Windows Backup is most often used for moving folders, settings and app list to a new windows pc, basic personal file backup for a windows home user. Of those, moving folders, settings and app list to a new windows pc and basic personal file backup for a windows home user are not what Altaro VM Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Windows Backup do that Altaro VM Backup cannot?
Windows Backup covers File History, System image backup, OneDrive integration, System restore points. Altaro VM Backup covers Augmented inline dedup, WAN-optimized replication, Boot from backup, Granular restore. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Altaro VM Backup: What is the price per host for Altaro VM Backup?

Altaro VM Backup pricing starts at $595 per host for the Standard Edition, with the Unlimited Edition at $695 per host and Unlimited Plus at $875 per host. Pricing includes the first year of priority support and updates.

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Related pages

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