Softabase

CrashPlan vs Commvault: Complete Comparison 2026

An in-depth comparison of features, pricing, and user experience to help you make the right choice.

CrashPlan logo

CrashPlan

7.8(2,400 reviews)

Endpoint backup solution for businesses with unlimited cloud storage, continuous file protection, and centralized admin for distributed teams.

Commvault logo

Commvault

8.6(3,200 reviews)

Enterprise data protection platform with backup, recovery, and cyber resilience for hybrid cloud environments across VMs, databases, and SaaS apps.

Quick Comparison

AspectCrashPlanCommvault
Best ForRemote-first companies protecting employee laptops and desktops without on-premise backup infrastructureLarge enterprises with heterogeneous environments spanning multiple hypervisors, databases, and cloud platforms
Pricing ModelSubscriptionContact Sales
Starting Price$10/moContact Sales
Deploymentcloudcloud, on premise, hybrid
PlatformsWINDOWS, MAC, LINUXWEB, WINDOWS, LINUX
Rating7.8/108.6/10

Pros & Cons

CrashPlan

Pros

  • Unlimited cloud storage per device means you never choose between which files to protect
  • Continuous background backup catches every file change within minutes — no scheduled windows needed
  • Cross-platform restore works between Mac, Windows, and Linux machines seamlessly
  • Centralized admin console gives IT visibility into backup status across the entire device fleet
  • Simple per-device pricing at $10/month is straightforward with no hidden storage or bandwidth fees

Cons

  • Endpoint backup only — does not protect servers, VMs, databases, or SaaS application data
  • No local backup option — everything must go to CrashPlan cloud, requiring reliable internet
  • Initial backup of large datasets (500GB+) can take several days over standard broadband connections
  • No disaster recovery orchestration, bare-metal restore, or VM replication capabilities
  • Legal hold and unlimited versioning require the $15/device Professional plan

Commvault

Pros

  • Supports more data sources than any competitor — VMs, databases, NAS, SaaS, Kubernetes, and cloud-native workloads
  • Database backup granularity is unmatched — restore a single table from a multi-TB Oracle or SQL database
  • Threat Scan analyzes backup data for malware before restore, preventing reinfection during recovery
  • Three deployment models (SaaS, self-managed, hybrid) fit virtually any enterprise architecture preference
  • Policy-based management applies consistent backup rules across heterogeneous workload types from one console

Cons

  • Initial deployment takes weeks and requires trained or certified administrators to configure properly
  • Licensing model remains confusing despite recent simplification — always requires sales engagement for quotes
  • Overkill for small and mid-market companies that do not have heterogeneous enterprise environments
  • Management interface, while improved, still has a significant learning curve for new administrators
  • Self-managed deployments require substantial on-premise infrastructure for backup servers and storage

Pricing Comparison

ProductPricing ModelStarting Price
CrashPlansubscription$10/mo
Commvaultcontact salesContact Sales

Our Verdict

Choose CrashPlan if...

Remote-first companies protecting employee laptops and desktops without on-premise backup infrastructure

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Choose Commvault if...

Large enterprises with heterogeneous environments spanning multiple hypervisors, databases, and cloud platforms

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Still Not Sure?

Explore more alternatives or read in-depth reviews to make your decision.