VM Backup

Overview

VM Backup is Hornetsecurity’s backup and replication software for Windows-hosted Hyper-V, VMware and Proxmox virtual machines. It suits administrators protecting virtual servers, especially those managing more than one hypervisor; it is not for personal computer or mobile backup. Its frequent backup options and flexible recovery make it a strong server-focused choice, with important Proxmox feature limits to weigh.

A single console manages the three supported hypervisors, and a separate remote management console can connect to remote installations. Scheduled backups can run as often as every five minutes without taking VMs offline. Recovery can mean restoring a whole VM, retrieving files or Exchange items, restoring to another host, or booting a VM directly from backup. VMware backups can also be restored to Hyper-V and vice versa.

Encryption, immutable backup storage, and cloud destinations including Microsoft Azure, Impossible Cloud Storage, Backblaze B2, Amazon S3 and Wasabi broaden its protection options. The Backup Health Monitor checks storage integrity and may attempt repairs in a later backup job. These safeguards suit organizations looking beyond local copies, though they do not remove the need to check the Proxmox limitations.

For more options, compare the Virtual Machine Backup Software list.

Key features

• Frequent backups and CDP: Scheduled jobs can run every five minutes, and Continuous Data Protection is described for Windows VMs at the same frequency. That cadence can reduce the gap between recoverable states for workloads that change often.
• Multiple recovery paths: Full VM, file-level and Exchange-item restores cover both system recovery and narrower retrieval needs. Restoring to another host and booting from backup add options when the original environment is unavailable.
• Cross-hypervisor recovery: VMware and Hyper-V backups can be restored across those platforms, useful for teams moving between or maintaining both. Proxmox is supported, but the cross-platform restore description does not extend that promise to it.
• Replication and protection: WAN-optimized replication, AES-256 encryption and immutable backup storage support off-site and tamper-resistant protection. Backup Health Monitor adds integrity checks, with possible repair during a subsequent job.
• Cloud targets and administration: Azure, Impossible Cloud Storage, Backblaze B2, Amazon S3 and Wasabi are supported destinations. The RESTful API and PowerShell cmdlets are aimed at advanced users, rather than administrators seeking a purely graphical automation path.
• Proxmox caveats: LXC container backups are unsupported, and Proxmox replication and CDP were not yet available in the stated version information. Proxmox users who depend on those functions should confirm their requirements before choosing it.

Pricing

The freemium model gives teams a way to start without a paid commitment, but the free edition’s two-VM-per-host cap makes it more suitable for small deployments or evaluation than broad production coverage. The fully featured trial lasts 30 days, enough to assess the paid feature set before selecting a license.

• Free Edition — free: Free forever, limited to two VMs per host. It is the clear starting point for a small host footprint, but the per-host cap may constrain larger environments.
• 30-day fully featured trial — free: Free for 30 days. It offers a time-limited route to evaluate the full feature set.
• Subscription — Unlimited Plus: Custom pricing, billed per backed-up VM per month. Support, updates and version upgrades are included. More than 75 VMs requires a custom quote, so this suits organizations preferring monthly per-VM billing and included maintenance.
• Perpetual: Custom pricing, billed per host, with unlimited sockets and VMs per host. Standard, Unlimited and Unlimited Plus editions are offered; more than 10 hosts requires a custom quote. Support, updates and version upgrades require a service maintenance agreement, an ongoing cost to account for when comparing it with subscription.

Licensing therefore hinges on whether per-VM monthly billing or per-host perpetual licensing better fits the deployment. The perpetual option’s unlimited VM count per host is attractive for dense hosts, but its SMA requirement changes the cost of keeping support and upgrades.

Platforms

VM Backup runs on Windows hosts and supports Hyper-V, VMware and Proxmox virtualized environments. Its deployment is described as cloud and hybrid, with cloud backup targets and off-site replication. The product is server backup rather than computer or mobile backup.

Who it's for

VM Backup is best suited to IT teams responsible for virtualized servers, particularly mixed Hyper-V and VMware estates that value short backup intervals, granular recovery and cross-platform restores. Its centralized and remote consoles also fit administrators overseeing multiple installations. It is a less convincing fit for Proxmox environments that rely on LXC backups, replication or CDP, or for anyone seeking a general-purpose desktop or mobile backup tool.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Five-minute scheduled backups and Windows VM CDP offer frequent protection for changing workloads.
• Pro: Full-VM, granular, cross-host and boot-from-backup recovery cover several distinct recovery scenarios.
• Pro: The free edition has no end date, making small deployments possible without a subscription.
• Con: Two VMs per host limits the practical reach of the free edition.
• Con: Proxmox lacks LXC backup support, and replication and CDP were unavailable in the stated version information.
• Con: Perpetual licensing needs an SMA for support, updates and upgrades, while paid plan prices are custom.

Alternatives

Proxmox Backup Server is a relevant alternative for Linux-based Proxmox environments; its Community plan costs €560 a year for unlimited backup storage and clients, while VM Backup covers Hyper-V and VMware as well.

Continuous Data Protection Software is a useful category comparison if continuous protection is the priority; VM Backup itself offers CDP for Windows VMs, subject to the Proxmox caveat above. Readers evaluating adjacent needs can also browse Microsoft 365 Backup Software, Email Archiving Software, Email Backup Software and Email Security Gateways.

Verdict

Choose VM Backup if you need frequent, flexible protection for Hyper-V and VMware virtual machines, particularly across a mixed-hypervisor estate. Its broad recovery choices, cloud destinations and permanent free tier are persuasive strengths. Look elsewhere if Proxmox LXC backup, replication or CDP is essential, and compare the custom-priced plans carefully against the included support of subscription and the SMA requirement for perpetual licensing.