Our verdict · 8.3/10 Excellent
Strong value for SMBs running virtual machines or on-premise servers. Overkill for businesses that only need laptop backup.
Key takeaways
- Best for: SMBs with VMware, Hyper-V or Proxmox.
- Strongest area: Features & fit (8.6/10). Weakest: Ease of use (7.6/10).
- Price: Per workload subscription or perpetual per socket — free plan available.
- Watch out for: Self-managed infrastructure.
What is NAKIVO Backup & Replication?
NAKIVO backs up VMware, Hyper-V and Proxmox VMs, physical servers, workstations, NAS shares and Microsoft 365 with deduplication, immutability and replication. It is a lower-cost alternative to Veeam, sold per workload or per socket.
NAKIVO Backup & Replication is made by NAKIVO and is reviewed here as a backup service. It is priced on a subscription basis, and our editorial score is 8.3 out of 10, calculated from six weighted criteria.
Who it’s for — and who should skip it
Choose NAKIVO Backup & Replication if
- SMBs with VMware, Hyper-V or Proxmox
- On-premise servers and NAS
- Ransomware-resilient immutable backup
Not for you if
- Laptop-only businesses
- Teams wanting fully managed SaaS backup
Key features
Agentless backup for VMware, Hyper-V and Proxmox.
Ransomware-proof repositories.
Site recovery and failover.
Back up Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams.
- VMware
- Hyper-V
- Proxmox
- Microsoft 365
- Amazon S3
- Wasabi
Pros & cons
What we like
- Cheaper than Veeam for many SMBs
- Broad platform support
- Immutable and air-gapped options
- Free edition
Watch out for
- Self-managed infrastructure
- Pricing needs the calculator or a quote
- Learning curve for replication
Pricing & true cost
| Plan | Indicative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free edition | Free | — |
| Subscription | Custom quote | Per workload/month, billed annually |
| Perpetual | Custom quote | Per CPU socket |
Pricing watch-out: NAKIVO's pricing page lists 'starts at' prices without amounts in its text; use its calculator or request a quote. A free edition is available.
True cost at 5, 10 and 25 seats
Cheapest paid plan that fits each team size, from indicative list prices researched November 5, 2026 (not yet re-checked). Excludes tax, add-ons, onboarding fees and promotional discounts.
Pricing watch-outs
- Quote-only tier. Subscription, Perpetual have no public price. Ask for a written quote that includes onboarding and support fees.
Contract questions to ask before you sign
- Does the plan auto-renew, and how many days’ notice do you need to cancel?
- Is the advertised price for annual billing? What is the month-to-month price?
- Is the first-year price a promotion? What will renewal cost, and is it capped?
- Is there a minimum number of seats, or a charge for inactive users?
- Are onboarding, implementation or premium-support fees extra?
- How do we export all our data if we leave, and in what format?
General questions for any vendor — not findings about this product. Build a full checklist with our requirements builder.
Indicative USD pricing from our research as of November 5, 2026; not yet re-checked against a live vendor pricing page. Vendors change prices and promotions often — always confirm on their website. Model your own numbers with our SaaS TCO calculator.
Score breakdown
| Criterion | Weight | Score | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features & fit | 25% | 8.6 | 2.20 | |
| Ease of use | 15% | 7.6 | 1.10 | |
| Value for money | 15% | 8.4 | 1.30 | |
| Support & reliability | 10% | 8.0 | 0.80 | |
| Security & privacy | 30% | 8.6 | 2.60 | |
| Integrations & ecosystem | 5% | 7.8 | 0.40 | |
| Overall | 100% | Weighted for security products | 8.3 | |
Security & compliance facts
| Item | Status | Question to ask NAKIVO |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-factor authenticationStops most account takeovers from reused or phished passwords. | Not verified by us | Can admins enforce MFA for every user, on every plan? |
| Single sign-on (SAML/OIDC)Lets you remove a leaver’s access everywhere from one place. | Not verified by us | Is SSO included on the plan we are buying, or only on enterprise tiers? |
| SOC 2 Type II reportIndependent audit of the vendor’s security controls — often required by larger customers. | Not verified by us | Can we see your current SOC 2 Type II report (under NDA if needed)? |
| ISO/IEC 27001 certificationInternational standard for running an information-security programme. | Not verified by us | Which legal entity and services does your ISO 27001 certificate cover? |
| GDPR data processing agreementNeeded if you handle personal data of people in the EU/UK. | Not verified by us | Do you offer a signed DPA and list your sub-processors? |
| HIPAA business associate agreementRequired before US healthcare businesses store protected health information. | Not verified by us | Will you sign a BAA, and on which plans? |
We have not yet verified these items for NAKIVO Backup & Replication against a primary source, so we don’t claim them either way. Check NAKIVO’s trust or security page and ask for documents in writing.
Before you buy any backup service
Check NAKIVO Backup & Replication against the same list we use for every backup service — and confirm each point on the plan you intend to buy, not the top tier.
- Automatic, continuous backup
- Version history and retention
- Immutable or ransomware-protected storage
- Simple restore workflow
- Transparent storage pricing
See every ranked option in Backup & Recovery.
NAKIVO Backup & Replication alternatives
Pick an alternative by what matters to you
- Easier to use
BackblazeEase-of-use score 9.4 vs 7.6 - Better integrations
Veeam Data PlatformIntegrations score 8.6 vs 7.8 - Stronger on securityVeeam Data PlatformSecurity & privacy score 9.2 vs 8.6
Computed from our published scores and indicative pricing for tools in the same category as NAKIVO Backup & Replication. Scores are editorial; see the methodology.
Editor’s picks
The standard for VM, server and Microsoft 365 backup.
Backup and cyber protection combined in one agent.
Low-cost backup software that sends data to the cloud storage you choose.
Review history
- Scored under methodology v2.0 (six weighted criteria, computed overall score).
NAKIVO Backup & Replication FAQ
Is NAKIVO cheaper than Veeam?
Often yes for SMBs, but compare quotes for your workloads.
Does NAKIVO have a free version?
Yes, a free edition with limited workloads.
Does NAKIVO Backup & Replication have a free plan?
Yes. NAKIVO Backup & Replication offers a free plan. Paid plans start at Per workload subscription or perpetual per socket (indicative — check the vendor for current pricing).
Who is NAKIVO Backup & Replication best for?
NAKIVO Backup & Replication is best for: SMBs with VMware, Hyper-V or Proxmox; on-premise servers and NAS; ransomware-resilient immutable backup.
How is the NAKIVO Backup & Replication score calculated?
The 8.3/10 overall score is a weighted average of six sub-scores — features & fit, ease of use, value, support & reliability, security & privacy, and integrations — using the published weights for security products. Affiliate relationships have no input. See our methodology page for the full rubric.
What are the best alternatives to NAKIVO Backup & Replication?
Popular alternatives include Veeam Data Platform, Acronis Cyber Protect, MSP360 Backup. See our comparisons for side-by-side verdicts.