Best Free Backup Software for 2023

What is Backup? 

Backup is the process of creating a copy of data and storing it in the same or different location to recover from data loss. 

Why is it important to backup your data?

Data Backup is crucial for any business as they help you retrieve your data quickly & easily in the event of data loss. Data loss can occur due to several reasons, such as software or hardware failure, fire accidents, natural disaster, virus or malware attacks, and accidental deletion of data. Backup helps businesses recover from these unplanned circumstances and quickly resume their business operations. 

Why still some businesses don't backup their data? 

More than a third of businesses don't have a backup plan in place for their data. This is often due to budget constraints, lack of staff, and a lack of awareness about the importance of data backups.

Implementing a solid backup plan can be a significant investment of money, time, and manpower. Many small businesses operate on tight budgets and may not have the resources to invest in backup software. Additionally, many backup software solutions on the market have a steep learning curve, which can be intimidating for businesses without dedicated IT staff.

Furthermore, some businesses still don't fully understand the consequences of data loss and how it can impact their revenue. As a result, they may not see the value in implementing a backup plan.

Businesses that understand the importance of data backups but are unable to afford expensive backup software solutions are constantly on the lookout for efficient and easy-to-use free backup software which is also secure & reliable.

Tips for finding the best free backup software

Free or Open Source software 

Before choosing a free backup software to use check whether it's a free version of premium backup software that comes with limited features/functionalities or open source software which is a fully functional backup software. 

Many backup software on the market offer free versions of premium backup software products. This means users can gain access to the product but with limited functionalities and features compared to the paid version. 

Open source software is free to use built by the community or sponsored by commercial companies. So it's your choice to choose free version or open source backup software but make sure to check that feature required for your business needs comes in the free product. 

Check the features included 

When choosing a free backup software solution, it is important to consider the features that are included in the free edition and whether they will meet your business needs. 

Free backup software may have limitations on the amount of data that can be backed up, the number of workloads that can be protected, and a few others. Free backup software may not include all the features of the premium version, as the vendor may want to differentiate the free edition from the paid version. Therefore, it is essential to review the features of the free backup software carefully and confirm that it will be sufficient for your business. 

Check the type of backup supported – File or Image backup or both

File level backup is just simply selecting and individually backing up files and folders on your machine. Image backup is backing up the entire disk by taking a copy of a hard disk itself that includes an operating system, applications, and all files and folders. Based on your requirement, make sure the free backup software supports the type of backup you need to protect your machines.

Supported Storage Targets – Local Storage or Cloud Storage

When choosing free backup software there will be restrictions on storage targets (Disk, Tape, Cloud) available compared to the premium version. Backed up data can be stored in local storage or cloud. So try to choose free backup software according to your business needs whether it's storing data on cloud or storing data locally. 

Automated Backups

Another important factor to consider is the automated backup option. This gives a user an option to backup frequently on an hourly, weekly or monthly basis. Try choosing backup software that allows you to automate backup that need not require human intervention.

List of Best FREE Backup Software in the market

Many backup software vendors offer free editions of their products. Some of the best free backup software vendors include BDRSuite, Veeam, Nakivo, and Altaro.

1. BDRSuite's Free Edition allows users to backup 10 VMware and Hyper-V VMs, 10 AWS Instances, 10 Microsoft 365 users, 10 Google Workspace users, and 10 Endpoints. This comprehensive free edition allows businesses to protect a wide range of workloads without incurring any costs.
2. Veeam's Free Edition offers backup for up to 10 workloads in total. This means that businesses can protect only 10 workloads, including virtual machines, cloud instances, and applications, without any cost.
3. Nakivo's Free Edition offers backup for up to 10 workloads for 1 year. 
4. Altaro offers a free backup solution for virtual machines only, allowing users to backup 2 VMs per host for free. This free edition is suitable for businesses that primarily use VMware or Hyper-V for their virtualization needs.

Overall, these free backup software solutions offer businesses a cost-effective way to protect their data and maintain business continuity.

Top Pick for Best Free Backup Software: 

When it comes to choosing the best free backup software, our top pick is BDRSuite. BDRSuite stands out from other free backup solutions on the market because it is the only software that offers free backup for all workloads. This means that users can back up more workloads for free with BDRSuite than with any other free backup software. Try BDRSuite for yourself.

Conclusion

Backing up your essential data is a crucial step to prevent data loss, ensure data protection, and maintain business continuity in the face of unforeseen events like natural disasters or fire accidents. If you are unable to invest in costly backup software, it is better to opt for free backup software instead of not backing up your data at all.

Free backup software may not offer the same level of features and capabilities as paid solutions, but it can still provide a basic level of protection for your data.