Cobian Reflector

What Cobian Reflector is
Cobian Reflector is free Windows software for scheduling file and directory backups. It can send files to another location on the same computer, another computer on a network, or FTP, FTPS, and SFTP servers. Backup tasks may be full, incremental, differential, or dummy, with schedules set for one run, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, timed, or manual execution. ZIP, Zip64, and 7z compression are available, and compressed archives can use AES 128, AES 192, or AES 256 encryption. Reflector can run as an application or service, supports Volume Shadow Copy snapshots, and creates logs that can optionally be mailed. File restoration is supported, but ransomware protection and mobile backup are not. Windows Vista SP2 or later, Windows Server 2008 or later, and .NET 4.6 or newer are listed requirements. Version 2.7.20 is the latest, and development has ended.
Who it suits
It suits Windows users needing scheduled file backups to local, network, or FTP-family destinations. It also fits people who want compression, encryption, logs, and manual or recurring schedules without a license fee.
What it does well
- Free plan permits commercial use
- Supports full, incremental, and differential tasks
- Offers ZIP, Zip64, and 7z compression
- AES encryption options for compressed files
- Supports Volume Shadow Copy snapshots
What to know first
- Windows only
- No mobile backup or ransomware protection
- FTP and SFTP sources require full backups
- No longer under development
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cobian Reflector | Freeware · usable in commercial environments · donations accepted | Free |
As cobiansoft.com lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Cobian Reflector provides broad scheduled file-backup options at no cost, including network and FTP-family destinations. Its Windows requirement, FTP/SFTP limitation, discontinued support forum, and ended development should be considered first.
Facts from Cobian Reflector's own pages
- Backup scope
- file · cobiansoft.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Backup types
- It supports full, incremental, differential, and dummy tasks. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Compression
- The help page lists ZIP, Zip64, and 7z compression options. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Computer backup
- Yes · cobiansoft.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Development status
- The FAQ says version 2.7.20 is the latest and Reflector is no longer under development by the maker. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- The help page says compressed backup files can be encrypted using AES 256, AES 192, or AES 128. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Execution modes
- Reflector can run as an application or as a service. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · cobiansoft.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Logging
- Reflector creates log files that can optionally be mailed automatically. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The About page identifies Luis Cobian and says he lives and works in Umeå, Sweden; it does not state a company founding date or headquarters. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Mobile backup
- No · cobiansoft.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Notable limitation
- The FAQ says backups from FTP or SFTP sources must be full backups; other backup types are ignored for those sources. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Platform requirement
- The download page lists Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 or newer, and Windows Server 2008 or newer, and requires .NET runtime 4.6 or newer (not 5.x). · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Supported platforms
- Windows · cobiansoft.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- Cobian Reflector schedules backups of files and directories to other locations on the computer, other computers on a network, or FTP, FTPS, and SFTP servers. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Ransomware protection
- No · cobiansoft.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Remote client
- The maker offers a separate Remote Client download for Cobian Reflector. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Restore modes
- file · cobiansoft.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Scheduling
- Backups can run once, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, on a timer, or manually. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Server backup
- Yes · cobiansoft.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Support
- The FAQ says the support forum has been discontinued and asks users not to email technical questions. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Volume Shadow Copy
- The feature list says Reflector supports Volume Shadow Copy snapshots. · cobiansoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Cobian Reflector stands on Freedom251
- Backup software#64 of 151
