Side by side
Arctera Backup Exec vs Windows File Recovery
Both stand on backup software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
Backup Exec provides broad workload coverage, centralized administration, and recovery options across major cloud and virtualization environments. Confirm licensing, system requirements, and encryption scope before deployment.
Visit Arctera Backup Exec Free plan Windows
Choose Windows File Recovery if you need a free command-line option for deleted files on local storage and can work with its recovery modes. Look elsewhere if the files are in cloud storage or a network share, or if you need a graphical app.
Visit Windows File RecoveryThe facts
| Arctera Backup Exec | Windows File Recovery | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Not published | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | backupexec.com | support.microsoft.com |
| On backup software | #93 of 151 | #89 of 151 |
Arctera Backup Exec: what it does well
- Protects physical, virtual, cloud, and Microsoft 365 data
- Supports AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Wasabi
- Includes instant VM recovery
- Offers immutable storage options
- Trial edition available without a license
What to know first
- Pricing is available on request
- Requires a supported 64-bit server operating system
- Agents and features depend on the license
- Software encryption excludes metadata and catalog information
Windows File Recovery: what it does well
- Free to use through the Microsoft Store.
- Supports internal and external drives, USB devices, SD cards, and flash drives.
- Offers Regular and Extensive recovery modes.
- Filters searches by name, path, type, or wildcard.
- Signature mode targets groups of file extensions.
What to know first
- Cloud storage and network file shares are unsupported.
- The recovery source and destination must be different drives.
- FAT and exFAT recovery is available only in Extensive mode.
- Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025.
Alternatives to Arctera Backup Exec Alternatives to Windows File Recovery The whole list