VM Backup

VM Backup is Hornetsecurity’s server backup and replication software for Hyper-V, VMware, and Proxmox virtual machines. It is best suited to administrators protecting Windows-hosted virtual workloads across one or more of those hypervisors. Its frequent backups and varied recovery options are compelling, but Proxmox feature gaps and custom-priced paid plans call for a close fit check.

Overview

VM Backup focuses on virtual machines rather than personal computers or mobile devices. A single console manages Hyper-V, VMware, and Proxmox, and a separate remote management console can connect to remote installations. That makes it a practical option for teams with mixed hypervisor estates; it is not a general-purpose endpoint backup choice.

Automatic backups can run as often as every five minutes without taking VMs offline. Recovery ranges from full-VM restores to files or Exchange items, and administrators can restore to another host or boot a VM from backup. That breadth supports both disaster recovery and narrower retrieval needs.

The product also supports AES-256 encryption, immutable backup storage, and cloud targets including Microsoft Azure, Impossible Cloud Storage, Backblaze B2, Amazon S3, and Wasabi. Its Backup Health Monitor checks storage integrity and may attempt repairs in a subsequent backup job.

For a broader comparison, see Virtual Machine Backup Software.

Key features

Frequent protection: Scheduled jobs can run every five minutes; Continuous Data Protection is also listed for Windows VMs at that frequency. This is useful where short recovery gaps matter, though the Proxmox limitations below narrow that benefit.

Flexible recovery: Full VM, granular file, and Exchange item restores, cross-host recovery, and booting from backup give administrators several routes back to service. VMware backups can be restored to Hyper-V and vice versa; the described cross-platform restore does not name Proxmox.

Replication and integrity: WAN-optimized replication and CDP are listed alongside integrity checking. These features strengthen the recovery toolkit, but Proxmox replication and CDP were not yet available in the stated version information.

Storage choices: Supported cloud destinations include Azure, Impossible Cloud Storage, Backblaze B2, Amazon S3, and Wasabi. AES-256 encryption and immutable backup storage add safeguards for stored copies.

Administration: A shared console covers all three hypervisors, with a separate remote management console for remote installations. A RESTful API and PowerShell cmdlets serve administrators comfortable with those tools.

Proxmox LXC container backups are unsupported. Teams relying on containers or Proxmox replication and CDP should consider whether those gaps rule the product out.

Pricing

The Free Edition costs nothing and covers two VMs per host, free forever. It is a useful way to protect a small host without a license charge, but the per-host cap makes it unsuitable for larger estates.

The 30-day fully featured trial costs nothing for 30 days. It lets administrators assess the full feature set before choosing a license, but it is time-limited rather than a continuing free tier.

Subscription — Unlimited Plus has custom pricing, billed per backed-up VM per month. Support, updates, and version upgrades are included; more than 75 VMs requires a custom quote. This suits teams preferring a recurring per-VM arrangement with maintenance included, though costs cannot be compared without a quote.

Perpetual licensing has custom pricing and is billed per host, with unlimited sockets and VMs per host. Standard, Unlimited, or Unlimited Plus editions are offered; more than 10 hosts requires a custom quote. An SMA is required for support, updates, and version upgrades, so the license price alone does not cover those services.

Monthly subscriptions include support, updates, and version upgrades. Perpetual license holders need an SMA for the same services. The product has a 10-year retention period.

Platforms

VM Backup runs on Windows hosts and supports Hyper-V, VMware, and Proxmox virtualized environments. The platform scope also includes Linux, API, and self-hosted. It is a server backup product, not computer or mobile backup.

Who it's for

VM Backup is a strong fit for administrators protecting virtual servers who want frequent jobs, more than one recovery path, and a choice of cloud targets. Mixed-hypervisor teams can manage VMware, Hyper-V, and Proxmox from one console, while the remote console and API support more distributed or technically managed deployments.

It is a weaker fit for Proxmox-heavy environments that depend on LXC protection, replication, or CDP, and for organizations seeking personal-device backup. The free cap works for small deployments; larger teams should weigh custom pricing and, for perpetual licensing, the added SMA requirement.

Pros and cons

Pro: Backups as frequent as every five minutes and live operation avoid scheduled downtime and keep recovery points close together.

Pro: Full-VM, granular, cross-host, and boot-from-backup recovery offer options for both broad outages and individual retrievals.

Pro: Multiple cloud destinations, AES-256 encryption, immutable storage, and integrity checks support a layered backup approach.

Con: Proxmox LXC backups are unsupported, and Proxmox replication and CDP were not yet available in the stated version information.

Con: Paid plan prices are custom; perpetual licensing also requires an SMA for support, updates, and upgrades.

Con: The free edition stops at two VMs per host, limiting its usefulness as an ongoing plan for growing environments.

Alternatives

MSP360 Backup is worth considering for personal workstation file and image backup, with a free plan and Linux, macOS, and Windows support; VM Backup is the more directly targeted choice for the named hypervisors.

DRS Softech Microsoft 365 Backup Tool is an alternative for readers focused on Microsoft 365 user-account backup, with home and administrator licenses; VM Backup is aimed at virtual machines.

GMvault is a free, open-source option for readers seeking email backup rather than VM protection.

Druva Endpoint Data Protection is an alternative for endpoint-focused backup, with enterprise and elite per-user plans and endpoint pricing by request.

Mail Backup X is an alternative for readers who need mail-profile backup, with a one-time Personal Edition profile-pack option.

Veeam Agent for Mac is a Mac workstation option; its free edition is limited to one backup job and does not back up directly to object storage.

Datto Endpoint Backup for Windows is an alternative for endpoint protection with consumption-based pricing tied to storage used.

MailVault is an alternative for readers seeking email backup.

For adjacent categories, see Backup software, Microsoft 365 Backup Software, Email Backup Software, Email Security Gateways, and Email Archiving Software.

Verdict

Choose VM Backup if you manage Hyper-V, VMware, or Proxmox virtual machines and value frequent, live protection with flexible recovery and cloud targets. Its main appeal is the range of recovery paths under one management console; look elsewhere if Proxmox container or replication coverage is essential, or if custom pricing and perpetual-license maintenance terms do not suit your budget.