How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Cove Data Protection, from N-able, is built for MSPs, with per-device pricing, cloud-first backup, and recovery testing.
- Veeam suits teams that want control over the whole stack, while Acronis suits teams that want backup plus security in one agent.
- Datto SIRIS is the MSP classic for local plus cloud disaster recovery with instant virtualization.
- Veeam's free Community Edition covers up to 10 workloads, making it the cheapest way to test enterprise-grade backup.
Quick comparison
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The best Cove Data Protection alternatives
#1Veeam Data Platform
Best for: Control over the full stack4.6/5 on
G2 (752 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit veeam.com
Starting priceFree
Free planYes
Veeam is the platform teams pick when they want to own backup end to end. It covers virtual machines, physical servers, and cloud workloads, with instant VM recovery that can boot a failed machine from backup in minutes. Immutability and anomaly detection protect backups themselves from ransomware, which matters because attackers now target backups first.
The cost is complexity. Veeam's editions and pricing page shows no dollar prices, so buyers get quotes from Veeam or a reseller, and Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and Kasten backup are licensed separately. The free Community Edition covers up to 10 workloads without support, which is a genuine way to test it. For teams with staff to run it, Veeam is the most capable platform here.
What we like- Instant VM recovery
- Immutable backups
- Free Community Edition for up to 10 workloads
Watch out for- Licensing is complex and quote-based
- Needs staff to run well
- Microsoft 365 backup is a separate product
#2Acronis Cyber Protect
Best for: Backup plus security in one agent4.7/5 on
G2 (1,462 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit acronis.com
Starting price$85 per year
Free planNo
Acronis combines backup and cybersecurity in one agent, which suits teams that want fewer agents on each machine. Published October 2026 prices list Backup Advanced at $109 per year per workstation and $779 per year per server, with Standard from $85 per workstation. Image-based backups, universal restore to dissimilar hardware, and continuous data protection cover the recovery basics well.
Costs rise with editions and storage. Workstation licenses include 50 GB of Acronis cloud storage and server licenses include 250 GB, with extra storage from $229 per year for 250 GB. For teams that want backup plus endpoint security from one vendor with transparent pricing, Acronis is the clearest quote in this guide.
What we like- Published pricing
- Backup plus anti-malware in one agent
- Universal restore to different hardware
Watch out for- Prices climb with edition and device type
- Cloud storage add-ons cost extra
- Server editions are pricey
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Datto SIRIS is the MSP disaster recovery classic. It keeps a local copy for fast restores and a cloud copy for site loss, and instant virtualization can spin up a failed server in the cloud while hardware is repaired. Ransomware detection watches backups for signs of encryption, so a bad restore is caught before it spreads.
Datto publishes no prices, so MSPs get quotes through the channel, and the appliance model needs capacity planning per client. For MSPs selling backup as a managed service with recovery time promises, SIRIS remains the benchmark that clients ask for by name.
What we like- Instant virtualization for fast recovery
- Local plus cloud copies
- Ransomware detection built in
Watch out for- No published prices
- MSP channel focus
- Hardware appliance model adds planning
#4
Rubrik Security Cloud
Best for: Immutable enterprise recovery
Visit rubrik.com
Starting price$3,000 per year
Free planNo
Rubrik builds backup around immutability: backups cannot be altered or deleted by ransomware, even with admin credentials. Live Mount recovery brings data back instantly for critical systems, and the platform is designed around recovery SLAs rather than backup jobs. Third-party guides put entry pricing near $3,000 per year.
That enterprise focus makes Rubrik heavy for small teams. Implementation and policy design take planning, and the price reflects enterprise scale. For organizations where recovery time is a board-level promise, Rubrik is the most security-first platform here.
What we like- Immutable backups with air-gapped logic
- Live Mount instant recovery
- SLA-driven enterprise design
Watch out for- Enterprise pricing
- Overkill for small estates
- Implementation needs planning
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Druva runs backup entirely as a service, so there are no backup servers to patch, scale, or protect. It covers endpoints, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and cloud workloads from one console, with ransomware response features that help teams recover clean data after an attack. That SaaS model suits distributed companies with no central data center.
The trade is control. Storage sits in Druva's cloud, and pricing is quote-based. Teams that need storage in their own buckets or regions should look at MSP360 instead. For SaaS-first companies that want backup to disappear as an infrastructure problem, Druva is the cleanest fit.
What we like- Fully SaaS, no backup servers to run
- Covers endpoints, SaaS apps, and cloud workloads
- Ransomware response built in
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing
- Less control over storage location than self-hosted tools
- Enterprise focus
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Unitrends covers physical servers, virtual machines, and cloud workloads in one platform, with recovery features and ransomware detection aimed at mid-market teams. It is a practical all-in-one choice for organizations that outgrew single-server backup tools but do not need Rubrik-scale enterprise design.
Pricing is quote-based, and the interface feels less modern than Veeam or Acronis. Very large estates will find scaling and policy features thinner than the enterprise leaders. For mid-market IT that wants one backup platform without enterprise complexity, Unitrends is a solid middle ground.
What we like- Unified backup and recovery for physical, virtual, and cloud
- Ransomware detection
- Mid-market friendly
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing
- Interface is less modern than rivals
- Enterprise scale features trail Veeam and Rubrik
#7
Axcient x360Recover
Best for: MSP backup with chain-free recovery
Visit axcient.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Axcient x360Recover is built for MSPs, with multi-tenant management and a chain-free architecture that avoids the broken incremental chain problem that can ruin a restore. Local and cloud copies cover both fast restores and site loss, and the platform is priced through the MSP channel.
Brand recognition trails Veeam and Datto, so clients may need education on why it was chosen. Pricing is quote-based. For MSPs that want reliable restores without chain risk, and a platform designed for multi-client management, Axcient is a strong alternative to Cove.
What we like- Chain-free recovery avoids broken backup chains
- Cloud and local copies
- MSP multi-tenant management
Watch out for- Quote-based pricing
- MSP channel focus
- Smaller brand than Veeam or Datto
#8MSP360 Backup
Best for: Backup to your own storage4.5/5 on
G2 (511 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit msp360.com
Starting price$19.99 per device per year
Free planYes
MSP360 takes the opposite approach from Cove: instead of bundled storage, you point backups at your own Amazon S3, Wasabi, Backblaze B2, or other S3-compatible bucket, in the region your data must stay in. Licensing is public at $19.99 per device per year by third-party guides, with no long-term contract, and a free plan exists for basic use.
You pay the storage provider directly and manage that bill yourself, which adds work but gives full control over location and cost. Managed-service features are thinner than Datto or Axcient. For MSPs and teams that want storage sovereignty and transparent licensing, MSP360 is the most flexible pick here.
What we like- You choose the storage bucket and region
- Public per-device pricing
- No long-term contract by guides
Watch out for- You manage storage costs separately
- Fewer managed-service features
- Setup needs storage knowledge
How we chose
We compared backup and disaster recovery platforms that replace Cove Data Protection for MSPs and businesses: server, VM, endpoint, and SaaS backup with cloud copies and recovery testing. We checked coverage, recovery features, pricing transparency, and MSP fit from vendor pages and October 2026 backup comparisons, and we left out consumer-only tools and file-sync services. Prices from third-party guides are flagged as such, and unpublished prices are listed as See website.
How to pick a Cove replacement
Start with who runs backup. MSPs should shortlist Datto, Axcient, and Cove itself for multi-tenant management and bundled storage. Internal teams should shortlist Veeam for control, Acronis for backup plus security, and Druva for a fully SaaS model. Teams with data residency rules should shortlist MSP360 for storage choice.
Test a restore, not just a backup
Every vendor can show a successful backup job. The real test is a restore: a single file, a full VM, and a bare-metal server, timed end to end. Test restores monthly, including one from an immutable or air-gapped copy, and confirm that ransomware detection flags a poisoned backup before it is used. A backup you have never restored is a hope, not a plan.
Price storage and retention honestly
Backup bills hide in storage and retention. A low per-device price with short retention can cost more than a higher price with long retention once compliance needs are counted. Model your data size, change rate, and retention period, and ask what immutable storage, cloud copies, and extra retention cost. Cove reviewers praise its clear cost calculation, so hold alternatives to the same standard.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cove Data Protection?
Cove Data Protection is N-able's cloud-first backup product for MSPs and businesses, with per-device pricing, automated recovery testing, and TrueDelta technology for efficient incremental backups. It is managed from N-able's MSP platform, which suits providers already using N-able tools. The alternatives here serve teams that want a different vendor, model, or price structure.
How is MSP backup different from business backup?
MSP backup adds multi-tenant management, per-client billing, and bundled storage so one provider can serve many clients from one console. Business backup serves one organization and often gives more control over storage and policy. Datto, Axcient, and Cove lean MSP, while Veeam, Acronis, and Rubrik serve both models.
Do I need immutable backups?
Yes, for anything that matters. Ransomware now targets backups first, and an immutable copy cannot be altered or deleted even with admin credentials. Rubrik, Veeam, and Acronis all offer immutability in some form. Check whether immutability is default or an add-on, and how long immutable retention lasts.
What is the cheapest way to start?
Veeam Community Edition is free for up to 10 workloads without support, which suits small estates and pilots. MSP360 starts at $19.99 per device per year plus your own storage costs. Acronis publishes workstation pricing from $85 per year. Compare total cost including storage before choosing on headline price.
How often should I test restores?
Test a file restore monthly, a full system restore quarterly, and a disaster recovery scenario at least yearly. Include an immutable copy in one test per year. Document recovery times against your targets, and fix gaps before a real incident finds them.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.veeam.com
- https://www.acronis.com
- https://www.datto.com
- https://www.rubrik.com
- https://www.druva.com
- https://www.unitrends.com
- https://www.axcient.com
- https://www.msp360.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Datto SIRIS
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Unitrends Backup