Afi.ai Google Workspace Backup vs GWS Backup

Afi.ai Google Workspace Backup is a web service for automated backup and data protection across Google Workspace. It covers Gmail, Google Drive, Shared Drives, Contacts, Calendars, Google Sites, Google Directory, Google Classroom, Hangouts chats, and the Drive Computers folder. Restores can target individual items, folders, users, or accounts, either in place or in another account or new folder. Full-text search covers email backups, and individual items or entire accounts can be exported offline. Prior versions can be browsed and restored without a time limit by default, with custom retention policies available. Afi describes ransomware detection, preemptive backups, recovery-point labels, and immutable storage. Admins assign protection levels while schedules and new-user discovery are automated. SaaS Backup costs $3 a month per user, starting from five users, with a 14-day trial and no free plan. Seven storage regions are listed.

GWS Backup is self-hosted software for backing up Google Workspace Gmail, Drive, Shared Drives, Calendars and Contacts. It can send backups to Google Drive, local disks or NAS, Amazon S3, and Azure Blob storage. After its initial full backup, it transfers only new mail and changed files. Restores can cover a workspace, account, folder, email or file, including transfer to a different user or download. Deleted source items remain in backup for one year; operators can configure version history and vault pruning. A live monitor shows transfers, and an audit trail records actions and backup results. Security options include 2FA and separate administration and restore roles. The maker says backups stay in storage controlled by the customer and do not pass through its infrastructure. Deployment options include Windows, Linux, cPanel and Docker. GWS Backup requires Node.js 22.5 or newer and an activated licence key. Its plan is free, covering up to 10 client workspaces and unlimited accounts, with one running installation per licence key.