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Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head

Windows Backup vs Commvault Complete Data Protection

Windows Backup logo

Windows Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Built-in backup and recovery for Windows

From
Free
Rated
-
Commvault Complete Data Protection logo

Commvault Complete Data Protection

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Enterprise-grade intelligent data management

From
On request
Rated
-

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; Commvault Complete Data Protection requires specialized knowledge to optimize configurations for cost-effectiveness
  • They diverge on capability: Windows Backup covers File History, Commvault Complete Data Protection covers Unified data protection.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Windows Backup and Commvault Complete Data Protection actually diverge.

Attributes where Windows Backup and Commvault Complete Data Protection differ
AttributeWindows BackupCommvault Complete Data Protection
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindowsCloud, On-Premises, Hybrid
Founded19751988

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 Commvault Complete Data Protection

  • Unified data protection
  • Automated recovery orchestration
  • AI-driven insights
  • Cloud mobility
  • Ransomware detection
  • Compliance management
  • AWS
  • Azure

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 Commvault Complete Data Protection
  • Basic personal file backup for a Windows home usernot Commvault Complete Data Protection

Commvault Complete Data Protection

  • 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

Commvault Complete Data Protection

  • Requires specialized knowledge to optimize configurations for cost-effectiveness
  • Integration with certain legacy systems can be challenging

Pricing, plan by plan

Windows Backup

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

Commvault Complete Data Protection

On request
  • Microsoft 365 Backup$1.7/per user per month
    • Cloud-based backup
  • Endpoint Backup$7.5/per user per month
    • User endpoints backup
  • Database Backup$90/per TB per month
    • Database protection
  • File and Object Backup$58.5/per TB per month
    • Storage backup

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.

Choose Commvault Complete Data Protection if

  • You need unified data protection.
  • You work on Cloud, On-Premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want automated recovery orchestration.

Questions people ask

Is Windows Backup or Commvault Complete Data Protection better?
Neither clearly leads. Windows Backup starts at Free and Commvault Complete Data Protection at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Windows Backup or Commvault Complete Data Protection?
Windows Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Windows Backup and On request for Commvault Complete Data Protection.
Does Windows Backup or Commvault Complete Data Protection run on more platforms?
Windows Backup runs on Windows. Commvault Complete Data Protection runs on Cloud, On-Premises, Hybrid.
Can I use Windows Backup for free?
Yes. Windows Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Commvault Complete Data Protection starts at On request.
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 Commvault Complete Data Protection is typically brought in for.
What can Windows Backup do that Commvault Complete Data Protection cannot?
Windows Backup covers File History, System image backup, OneDrive integration, System restore points. Commvault Complete Data Protection covers Unified data protection, Automated recovery orchestration, AI-driven insights, Cloud mobility. Both handle Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Commvault Complete Data Protection: What does Commvault protect?

Commvault protects workloads across on-premises data centers, virtual machines, cloud-native applications, SaaS platforms, and AI data pipelines, offering backup and disaster recovery for diverse environments.

Source
Commvault Complete Data Protection: Does Commvault work with AWS and Azure?

Yes, Commvault integrates natively with AWS (EC2, RDS, S3, Glacier) and Microsoft Azure (managed and non-managed VMs), with agentless protection via Virtual Server Agent.

Source
Commvault Complete Data Protection: What are Commvault's pricing tiers?

Commvault offers Silver (foundational protection and recovery), Gold (automated validation and live replication), and Platinum (data risk visibility and security posture management) packages, with usage-based pricing per workload type.

Source
Commvault Complete Data Protection: Does Commvault support compliance standards?

Yes, Commvault helps organizations meet GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA and other compliance standards, and is ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified for information security management.

Source

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