Softabase

Datto vs CrashPlan: Complete Comparison 2026

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

Datto logo

Datto

8.8(3,400 reviews)

MSP-focused business continuity and disaster recovery platform with integrated backup appliances and instant cloud virtualization.

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.

Quick Comparison

AspectDattoCrashPlan
Best ForMSPs providing managed BDR services who need reliable instant recovery for small business clientsRemote-first companies protecting employee laptops and desktops without on-premise backup infrastructure
Pricing ModelSubscriptionSubscription
Starting Price$100/mo$10/mo
Deploymenthybridcloud
PlatformsWEB, WINDOWS, LINUXWINDOWS, MAC, LINUX
Rating8.8/107.8/10

Pros & Cons

Datto

Pros

  • Instant virtualization on local appliance or Datto cloud gets servers back online in minutes, not hours
  • Inverse Chain Technology keeps the latest backup as a complete image—fastest possible restore of the most recent state
  • Screenshot verification automatically proves every backup is bootable with daily OS-level confirmation
  • Purpose-built for the MSP channel with multi-tenant management, automated billing, and partner support
  • Cloud replication to Datto-owned infrastructure provides a true offsite safety net without third-party dependencies

Cons

  • Hardware appliance costs ($2,500+) plus monthly cloud fees make it significantly more expensive than software-only solutions
  • Kaseya ownership creates long-term pricing uncertainty—MSPs worry about future price increases after the acquisition
  • Vendor lock-in is real: proprietary appliances and cloud infrastructure make migration to alternatives painful
  • Not designed for direct enterprise use—the entire model assumes an MSP intermediary managing the deployment
  • Cloud virtualization bandwidth depends on client internet speed, which can limit RTO for large environments

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

Pricing Comparison

ProductPricing ModelStarting Price
Dattosubscription$100/mo
CrashPlansubscription$10/mo

Our Verdict

Choose Datto if...

MSPs providing managed BDR services who need reliable instant recovery for small business clients

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Choose CrashPlan if...

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

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Still Not Sure?

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