Skip to content
Backup and disaster recovery software · 11 alternatives

Veeam alternatives: 11 compared

Sebastiaan Smits Editor Sebastiaan Smits · Published October 23, 2026 · Updated October 23, 2026

Teams look past Veeam when licensing across several products becomes hard to follow, when a small team finds the platform larger than the job, or when they would rather buy backup as a hosted service. Most go to NAKIVO or Acronis for a like-for-like software replacement, to Druva or Cove for vendor-hosted backup, and to Backblaze for plain endpoint backup.

Short answer: The closest replacements for Veeam in our backup and disaster recovery software ranking are NAKIVO Backup & Replication, Acronis Cyber Protect and Cohesity. Choose NAKIVO Backup & Replication if you want a similar virtual-machine backup scope with per-workload subscriptions and a free edition. All 11 alternatives below are ranked products from Best Backup & Disaster Recovery Software in 2026, and each says where it differs from Veeam and when Veeam is still the better choice.

Visibility in our rankings can be paid for. Payment moves a vendor's position within the shortlist; it never adds a vendor, and it never changes a word of the review or of this page. The first three alternatives go to challengers, vendors outside the best-known brands in a category, wherever the category has them; the established names follow in their ranked order. How it works: placement disclosure · editorial process.

Veeam at a glance

  • Headquarters: United States
  • Pricing model: Per instance (10-pack), online store or partner quote
  • Pricing: Veeam Data Platform editions (Foundation, Advanced, Premium) on the Veeam Universal License, bought online from Veeam's store in ten-instance packs (Foundation listed at EUR 1,631.69 per pack) or quoted through resellers and partners; a 30-day free trial is offered.
  • Free option: Free trial
  • Built for: Mid-market to large enterprises with hybrid, multi-cloud environments
  • Wrong for: A small business with a handful of workloads and a limited budget is paying for enterprise breadth it will not use; NAKIVO or Acronis covers most of the same core job for considerably less.
  • Place in our ranking: #9 of 12
  • Website: veeam.com

Facts from our backup and disaster recovery software ranking, last checked October 23, 2026.

Why buyers look past Veeam

  1. Several licences for one estate

    Veeam's own enterprise page says Veeam Data Platform, Microsoft 365, Salesforce and Kasten are separate offerings, and licences from one cannot be used for another. A mixed estate therefore needs more than one contract.

  2. Prices move at renewal

    The licensing policy says Veeam may change packaging and pricing without advance notice, and renewals are charged at the list price in force at renewal. Repricing can follow a volume or term reduction. Plan for this at each contract end.

  3. Larger than a small team needs

    The Essentials page limits that bundle to fewer than 250 employees and 50 workloads, sold in packs of five. Above that, the Foundation, Advanced and Premium editions come in packs of ten and are bought through partners or a sales contact.

11 alternatives at a glance

Closest replacement first. The last column is our place in the full 12-product ranking.

#AlternativeHeadquartersPricingKey differenceSwitch ifOur rank
1NAKIVO Backup & ReplicationUnited StatesPer workload / year, published; free planVeeam-class backup and replication at a fraction of the licence costyou want a similar virtual-machine backup scope with per-workload subscriptions and a free edition#2
2Acronis Cyber ProtectSwitzerlandPer workload / year; free trialBackup and cybersecurity protection in one agentyou want backup and anti-malware from one vendor and one console#4
3CohesityUnited StatesQuote only (SaaS, subscription or managed service); free trialUnified hybrid and multi-cloud data protection, now including NetBackupyour estate is large and mixed and you want backup, vaulting and data security from one vendor#12
4CommvaultUnited StatesQuote only; free trialEnterprise data protection across everything a large estate holdsyour estate spans SaaS, cloud-native and legacy workloads and you accept a quote-led purchase#10
5RubrikUnited StatesQuote only, sales-led; noneZero Trust Data Protection for cyber resilience at scaleyou are buying through enterprise sales and want a security-led vendor to evaluate#11
6DruvaUnited StatesQuote only (per workload or per user); free trial100% SaaS-delivered backup with no on-premises infrastructureyou want to stop running backup servers and prefer a vendor-hosted service#8
7N-able Backup (Cove Data Protection)United StatesFlat rate per device / user, quoted; free trialMSP-focused backup with 15-minute incremental snapshotsyou want cloud-delivered backup of servers and workstations with storage bundled in#7
8Datto BCDRUnited StatesQuote only, MSP channel only; noneMSP-exclusive backup with ransomware detection and instant virtualizationyou want an appliance-based service with instant local virtualization and a flat fee#1
9Barracuda BackupUnited StatesCapacity-based, quoted; free trialCapacity-priced backup appliance and cloud replication from a security vendoryou want an appliance subscription priced by protected terabytes, hardware included#5
10BackblazeUnited StatesPer computer / year, or per TB / month, published; free planUnlimited business backup and low-cost cloud object storageyour need is laptops and desktops at a flat price per computer#3
11CarboniteCanadaPublished annual tiers; free trialLong-standing cloud backup brand, now under OpenTextyou run a small office of computers and a server and want a simple cloud backup service#6

What each alternative does differently

1. NAKIVO Backup & Replication

Veeam-class backup and replication at a fraction of the licence cost · United States

Licensed per workload on subscription, where a workload is a VM, physical server, workstation, cloud instance or Microsoft 365 user, and units can be reassigned between types. It lists VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix AHV, Proxmox, EC2 and NAS, and has a free edition. Narrower in ecosystem than Veeam.

Switch from Veeam if you want a similar virtual-machine backup scope with per-workload subscriptions and a free edition.

Pricing: Published per-workload subscription pricing (virtual machine, physical server, cloud instance or Microsoft 365 user each counted as one workload), plus per-CPU-socket perpetual licences and per-TB NAS backup; Enterprise Plus and some perpetual editions are quoted. (free plan)

Full review: #2 of 12 in our ranking · Visit NAKIVO Backup & Replication →

2. Acronis Cyber Protect

Backup and cybersecurity protection in one agent · Switzerland

Puts backup and security tooling in one product, with backup scanning and validation, immutable storage options and a multi-tenant console. Covers VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix AHV, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and Entra ID. Veeam keeps threat detection in higher editions; here protection is the core pitch.

Switch from Veeam if you want backup and anti-malware from one vendor and one console.

Pricing: Subscription licensed per protected workload, sold in Standard, Advanced and Backup Advanced editions with an online purchase portal and price calculator; no free plan, only a free trial across business, service-provider and home tiers. (free trial)

Full review: #4 of 12 in our ranking · Visit Acronis Cyber Protect →

3. Cohesity

Unified hybrid and multi-cloud data protection, now including NetBackup · United States

A platform sold as software, SaaS or appliance, spanning on-premises, cloud and SaaS data, with cyber vaulting and data security posture products alongside backup. The product pages describe a combination with Veritas. Priced by quote, and its breadth goes well past backup of virtual machines.

Switch from Veeam if your estate is large and mixed and you want backup, vaulting and data security from one vendor.

Pricing: Quote-only for DataProtect, offered as SaaS, software subscription or managed/partner-delivered service; no published price list, with a 30-day free trial available for cloud backup, cyber vaulting and disaster recovery capabilities. (free trial)

Full review: #12 of 12 in our ranking · Visit Cohesity →

4. Commvault

Enterprise data protection across everything a large estate holds · United States

Commvault Cloud covers SaaS apps, cloud-native workloads and AI data under one platform, and offers a 30-day trial. It aims at heterogeneous estates, not only virtualization. Pricing is by quote, so the comparison to Veeam's published pack prices happens only after a sales conversation.

Switch from Veeam if your estate spans SaaS, cloud-native and legacy workloads and you accept a quote-led purchase.

Pricing: Quote-only for Commvault Cloud, with "request a demo" as the main path to a number and a separate Clumio pricing page for the AWS backup service; a 30-day free trial of Commvault Cloud is offered with no fees. (free trial)

Full review: #10 of 12 in our ranking · Visit Commvault →

5. Rubrik

Zero Trust Data Protection for cyber resilience at scale · United States

An enterprise platform that is bought through sales contact. We could not load Rubrik's own product pages from our fetch, so we describe it only as a sales-led security vendor and compare it on that basis. Request a demo and confirm workload coverage against your list before shortlisting.

Switch from Veeam if you are buying through enterprise sales and want a security-led vendor to evaluate.

Pricing: Quote-only, enterprise sales-led with "Contact Sales" as the only path on product pages; no calculator, no published numbers and no self-serve trial found. (none)

Full review: #11 of 12 in our ranking · Visit Rubrik →

6. Druva

100% SaaS-delivered backup with no on-premises infrastructure · United States

Delivered as a SaaS-first platform, so there is no backup server for you to install or patch. Its page lists endpoints, VMware, Hyper-V, Nutanix, databases, NAS, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce and Entra ID. Veeam can run entirely on your own infrastructure; this cannot.

Switch from Veeam if you want to stop running backup servers and prefer a vendor-hosted service.

Pricing: Quote-only across per-workload plans (data center, public cloud, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace individually) and a per-user "SaaS Universal" licence with dynamic pooled storage; no published numbers, free trial available. (free trial)

Full review: #8 of 12 in our ranking · Visit Druva →

7. N-able Backup (Cove Data Protection)

MSP-focused backup with 15-minute incremental snapshots · United States

Cove Data Protection is cloud-native with worldwide cloud storage included, backs up servers, workstations and SaaS data, and keeps immutable copies. Its page speaks to both MSPs and IT teams, though most testimonials come from MSPs. No on-premises backup server to maintain, unlike a Veeam deployment.

Switch from Veeam if you want cloud-delivered backup of servers and workstations with storage bundled in.

Pricing: Quote-only, described by the vendor as a flat rate per server or workstation and a flat per-user rate for Microsoft 365, with cloud storage bundled in; a free trial is available. (free trial)

Full review: #7 of 12 in our ranking · Visit N-able Backup (Cove Data Protection) →

8. Datto BCDR

MSP-exclusive backup with ransomware detection and instant virtualization · United States

SIRIS virtualizes systems locally on its appliance or in the cloud and scans for ransomware activity. Datto advertises free-to-use hardware on a flat-fee service and its site is built around MSPs. It replaces a software license with an appliance service.

Switch from Veeam if you want an appliance-based service with instant local virtualization and a flat fee.

Pricing: Quote-only through the MSP channel; Datto and parent company Kaseya describe a flat-fee model but publish no numbers, and the product cannot be purchased directly by an end business without an MSP. (none)

Full review: #1 of 12 in our ranking · Visit Datto BCDR →

9. Barracuda Backup

Capacity-priced backup appliance and cloud replication from a security vendor · United States

Delivered as a physical or virtual appliance, with optional cloud storage and replication to a site you choose. Licensing follows front-end terabytes under a subscription that includes the appliance, support and a four-year hardware refresh. Not licensed per workload as Veeam is.

Switch from Veeam if you want an appliance subscription priced by protected terabytes, hardware included.

Pricing: Quote-only via a "Build and Price" configurator; licensed on scalable, capacity-based terms rather than a flat per-workload fee, with free trials available. (free trial)

Full review: #5 of 12 in our ranking · Visit Barracuda Backup →

10. Backblaze

Unlimited business backup and low-cost cloud object storage · United States

Business Backup is listed at $99 per computer per year with unlimited data per device for Macs and PCs and one-year version history. It protects end-user computers, not virtual machines or server applications, so it replaces only the endpoint part of a Veeam estate.

Switch from Veeam if your need is laptops and desktops at a flat price per computer.

Pricing: Business Backup is published at a flat rate per computer for unlimited storage, billed monthly, yearly or for two years, with a quoted Enterprise Control tier adding legal hold and OIDC sign-on; B2 Cloud Storage is published at a per-terabyte monthly rate with the first 10GB free. (free plan)

Full review: #3 of 12 in our ranking · Visit Backblaze →

11. Carbonite

Long-standing cloud backup brand, now under OpenText · Canada

Carbonite by OpenText sells personal plans and small-business plans aimed at computers and servers, with encrypted cloud backup and compliance-oriented professional solutions. Courier delivery of recovered files costs extra. It does not target hypervisor-level protection the way Veeam does.

Switch from Veeam if you run a small office of computers and a server and want a simple cloud backup service.

Pricing: Published annual plans: personal Basic, Plus and Prime tiers per computer, and business plans Core (up to 25 computers, 250 GB, $287.99/year), Power (one server plus 25 computers, 500 GB, $599.99/year) and Ultimate (unlimited servers plus 25 computers, 500 GB, $999.99/year), with extra storage at $99 per 100 GB; a 30-day free business trial is offered. (free trial)

Full review: #6 of 12 in our ranking · Visit Carbonite →

When Veeam is still the right choice

Stay with Veeam when you run VMware, Hyper-V or several other hypervisors and want one tool across them, when you already hold packs and the workloads move between platforms, or when you want the free Community Edition for up to 10 workloads. Veeam's pages also show exports to VMDK, VHD and VHDX, which eases a later exit.

What to expect when you switch from Veeam

  1. Take your data with you

    Veeam documents exporting backed-up disks as VMDK, VHD or VHDX, so old restore points can be turned into standard virtual disks. Keep the Veeam licence running until the last retention period you must honor has expired or been exported.

  2. Mind the licence end

    The licensing policy says the end of a subscription VUL, after a grace period, disables all product functionality. Restores from old backups need a working licence or an export taken beforehand. Check support terms before letting it lapse.

  3. Run both for a retention cycle

    Back up with the new tool while Veeam still holds the old chain. Test a full restore on the new tool, a bare-metal or VM recovery included, before decommissioning proxies and repositories.

Questions and answers

Can I export my Veeam backups before I leave?

Yes, for disks. The user guide describes exporting backed-up disks as VMDK, VHD or VHDX to a server you choose. Exports are per disk, so large estates need scripting and storage room.

What happens to my backups if the Veeam licence expires?

Subscription VUL expiry, after the grace period, disables all product functionality, per the licensing policy. Export what you need first. The policy also says support may not be provided for expired licences.

Will the price change at renewal?

It can. The licensing policy states that renewals are priced at Veeam's list price at the time of renewal and that pricing can change without advance notice, though changes are not applied retroactively.

Does Veeam have a free tier I could stay on?

Yes. The Community Edition protects up to 10 workloads, but the licensing policy says free and community licences include no support. Past 10 workloads the Essentials bundle starts at 82.65 EUR per licence per year.

Does my Microsoft 365 backup move with Data Platform licences?

No. Veeam says Data Platform licences cannot be used for Microsoft 365, Salesforce or Kasten, and the reverse. Each product has its own licence, so list each one when you compare a replacement.

Is the replacement likely to cost less?

Not always. Published prices exist for Veeam Essentials, NAKIVO subscriptions and Backblaze, while Commvault, Cohesity, Druva and others are quote-led. Compare per workload, per user and per terabyte on one inventory of your estate.

Sources

Prices, plan limits and product facts about Veeam on this page were checked against the vendors' own pages on October 23, 2026. Vendors change both without notice, so treat the figures as of that date.

Who wrote this

Sebastiaan Smits Sebastiaan Smits, Founder, wrote, edited and fact-checked this page. Founder of The Interregnum and of 2 Steps Ahead, an AI search visibility agency. Editorially responsible for every page here; research and drafting are AI-assisted. Last reviewed October 23, 2026. How we review.