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Backup · head to head

Comet Backup vs Windows Backup

Comet Backup logo

Comet Backup

Backup

White-label backup software for service providers

From
$19/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Windows Backup logo

Windows Backup

Backup

Built-in backup and recovery for Windows

From
Free
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: Comet Backup per-endpoint costs ($2/month per endpoint) can add up for large deployments with many protected machines; Windows Backup folder backup goes to OneDrive, and a free Microsoft account comes with only 5 GB of OneDrive storage
  • They diverge on capability: Comet Backup covers White-label branding, Windows Backup covers File History.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Comet Backup and Windows Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Comet Backup and Windows Backup differ
AttributeComet BackupWindows Backup
Starting price$19/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows
Founded20171975

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 Comet Backup

  • White-label branding
  • Bring your own storage
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Chunking deduplication
  • Delta compression
  • Multi-tenant
  • AWS S3
  • Azure

Only in Windows Backup

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

Both cover

  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Comet Backup

  • MSP backup and disaster recovery solutionsnot Windows Backup
  • Cloud-to-cloud backup automationnot Windows Backup
  • Ransomware protection with immutable storagenot Windows Backup

Windows Backup

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

Where each one falls short

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

Comet Backup

  • Per-endpoint costs ($2/month per endpoint) can add up for large deployments with many protected machines
  • Advanced and Enterprise tiers with additional management capabilities are significantly more expensive than base tiers
  • Platform-specific features (SQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Microsoft 365) have separate per-unit pricing

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Comet Backup

$19/month
  • Starter$19/month
    • 1 self-hosted license
    • Endpoint scaling at $2/endpoint/month
  • Growth$49/month
    • 2 self-hosted licenses
    • Primary/replica setups
    • Endpoint scaling at $2/endpoint/month
  • Advanced$99/month
    • 5 management console licenses
    • Audit logging
    • Air-gap management console
  • Professional (Cloud-Hosted)$49/month
    • 1 cloud-hosted console license
    • Endpoint scaling at $2/endpoint/month

Windows Backup

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Comet Backup if

  • You need white-label branding.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want bring your own storage.
Comet Backup review

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

Questions people ask

Is Comet Backup or Windows Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Comet Backup starts at $19/month and Windows Backup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Comet Backup or Windows Backup?
Windows Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $19/month for Comet Backup and Free for Windows Backup.
Does Comet Backup or Windows Backup run on more platforms?
Comet Backup runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Windows Backup runs on Windows.
Can I use Windows Backup for free?
Yes. Windows Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Comet Backup starts at $19/month.
What is Comet Backup best used for?
Comet Backup is most often used for msp backup and disaster recovery solutions, cloud-to-cloud backup automation, ransomware protection with immutable storage. Of those, msp backup and disaster recovery solutions and cloud-to-cloud backup automation are not what Windows Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Comet Backup do that Windows Backup cannot?
Comet Backup covers White-label branding, Bring your own storage, End-to-end encryption, Chunking deduplication. Windows Backup covers File History, System image backup, OneDrive integration, System restore points. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Comet Backup: How much does Comet Backup cost?

Self-hosted plans start at $19/month (Starter) and go up to $99/month (Advanced), with cloud-hosted plans starting at $49/month (Professional). All plans charge $2 per endpoint per month for additional protected machines beyond the base license count.

Source
Windows Backup: How much cloud storage do I get with Windows Backup?

Your Microsoft account includes 5 GB of free OneDrive cloud storage. "More storage is available to purchase if you need it" for users requiring additional capacity.

Source
Comet Backup: What is the price difference between self-hosted and cloud-hosted deployments?

Cloud-hosted plans start at $49/month (Professional) versus self-hosted which starts at $19/month (Starter). The main advantage of cloud-hosted is Comet manages the console infrastructure, though both models charge the same per-endpoint fees.

Source
Windows Backup: What types of Microsoft accounts are supported by Windows Backup?

Windows Backup works exclusively with personal Microsoft accounts (such as those ending in @outlook.com or @live.com). The service explicitly does not support work or school accounts at this time.

Source
Comet Backup: Does Comet Backup charge for additional protected machines?

Yes, all plans charge $2 per endpoint per month beyond the licensed endpoints. For example, the Growth plan includes 2 self-hosted licenses, but each additional protected machine costs $2/month.

Source
Windows Backup: Can I restore my backup to a different PC?

Yes. When setting up a new device, simply sign in with the same Microsoft account used to create the original backup. "If you have more than one PC backed up, you can select More options and select the backup you wish to restore from."

Source
Windows Backup: How do I delete my backed-up data if I no longer want it stored?

Visit your Microsoft Account Devices page, locate the Cloud synced settings section at the bottom, and select 'Clear stored settings' to delete previously backed-up data from your account.

Source
Windows Backup: Which folders and settings can I choose to back up?

You can selectively back up Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Videos, and Music folders, plus settings including apps, accessibility, accounts, Wi-Fi passwords, personalization, and language preferences.

Source
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