Datto Alternatives for MSPs
MSPs evaluating a move off Datto SIRIS or ALTO have four credible options. Here is how each compares on the factors that actually drive the decision.
Comparison - Updated Jul 2026
Contents
- 1.Why MSPs look for Datto SIRIS / ALTO alternatives
- 2.Alternatives at a glance
- 3.Axcient x360Recover - the closest like-for-like swap
- 4.Axcient x360Recover
- 5.Veeam Backup & Replication - best for virtualization-heavy clients
- 6.Veeam Backup & Replication
- 7.Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud - best for stack consolidation
- 8.Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud
- 9.Comet Backup - best for margin on high client counts
- 10.Comet Backup
- 11.When staying on Datto SIRIS / ALTO is the right call
- 12.Before you migrate
- 13.What is the closest equivalent to Datto SIRIS?
- 14.Can you keep Datto for some clients and move others?
- 15.How long does migrating off Datto take?
- 16.Is Datto more expensive than the alternatives?
Why MSPs look for Datto SIRIS / ALTO alternatives
Datto SIRIS and ALTO are appliance-based: a device sits on the client site and replicates to Datto's cloud. That architecture is what delivers fast local virtualization, and it is also what makes the platform expensive to justify at a ten-seat office that would be adequately served by direct-to-cloud backup.
Licensing is per protected device, so cost scales with endpoint count rather than with data volume or workload type. MSPs whose client base has grown in number of small sites rather than in size of sites tend to feel that structure first.
The alternatives below differ on exactly those two axes - whether an appliance is required, and how licensing is metered. The last section covers when Datto's architecture is worth its cost.
Alternatives at a glance
| Datto SIRIS / ALTO (current) | Axcient x360Recover | Veeam Backup & Replication | Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud | Comet Backup | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per-protected-device, appliance + cloud storage | Per-protected-device, appliance or direct-to-cloud | Per-workload licensing (socket or instance-based) | Pay-per-GB, per-workload options | Per-protected-device or unlimited with self-hosted server |
| Hosting | BDR appliance + Datto Cloud | BDR appliance + Axcient Cloud, or direct-to-cloud only | Self-managed; Veeam Cloud Connect for offsite | Cloud (Acronis-hosted or partner-hosted) | Self-hosted server or Comet-hosted, BYO storage (S3, Wasabi, B2) |
| Integrations | Autotask PSA, IT Glue, Datto RMM, ConnectWise | ConnectWise, Autotask, major RMMs via API | VMware, Hyper-V, AWS, Azure, NAS, Microsoft 365 (separate product) | ConnectWise, Autotask, cPanel, major RMMs | ConnectWise, Syncro, API for custom integration |
Axcient x360Recover - the closest like-for-like swap
Axcient is the most common destination for MSPs leaving Datto, because it targets the same job with a more flexible commercial model. Direct-to-cloud deployment removes the appliance entirely for sites that do not need local virtualization, while appliance-based deployment remains available where they do. For MSPs standardizing one vendor across a mixed client base, that flexibility is usually the deciding factor.
Axcient x360Recover
Axcient x360Recover competes directly with Datto and supports both appliance-based and direct-to-cloud deployment. It supports both appliance-based and direct-to-cloud deployment models, which gives flexibility for sites where a local appliance isn't practical. AirGap technology provides chain-free backup storage that resists ransomware. AutoVerify runs automated restore tests. The management portal handles multi-tenant operations and includes compliance reporting. Axcient's pricing model is generally more transparent than Datto's, though per-device costs vary by storage consumption.
Key features
- ·Both appliance and direct-to-cloud deployment models
- ·AirGap provides ransomware-resistant backup storage
- ·Chain-free architecture eliminates backup chain corruption risk
- ·AutoVerify automated restore testing
- ·More transparent pricing than Datto
Considerations
- ·Smaller third-party integration catalog
- ·Cloud virtualization performance can be inconsistent
- ·Some integrations are less mature than Datto's
- ·Direct-to-cloud model is bandwidth-dependent
Veeam Backup & Replication - best for virtualization-heavy clients
Veeam is the stronger choice when your client base skews toward virtualized infrastructure rather than small offices. Its restore reliability and workload coverage are the reference standard, and per-workload licensing tends to favor environments with fewer, larger workloads. It asks more of you operationally than an appliance-based BDR and gives more capability in return.
Veeam Backup & Replication
Veeam is the enterprise backup standard that many MSPs adopt for its flexibility and depth. It handles virtual, physical, cloud, and NAS workloads with granular recovery options. Veeam Cloud Connect enables MSPs to offer BaaS (Backup as a Service) by hosting a cloud repository that clients replicate to. The management is powerful but complex. Multi-tenant operations require Veeam Service Provider Console, which adds a layer of configuration. Veeam works best for MSPs comfortable managing their own infrastructure who want maximum control over backup architecture.
Key features
- ·Industry-leading backup and recovery for virtual environments
- ·Veeam Cloud Connect enables MSP-hosted BaaS
- ·Granular recovery options down to individual application items
- ·Supports virtually every workload type
- ·SureBackup automated recovery verification
Considerations
- ·Multi-tenant management requires Service Provider Console
- ·Higher complexity than appliance-based solutions
- ·Self-managed infrastructure adds operational overhead
- ·Microsoft 365 backup is a separate product and license
- ·Licensing model has changed frequently
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud - best for stack consolidation
Acronis bundles backup with endpoint security tooling, which appeals to MSPs trying to reduce vendor count rather than optimize each category independently. Pay-per-GB and per-workload options can suit client mixes where per-device pricing was the problem. Treat the bundled security as consolidation with a trade-off, not as a replacement for dedicated EDR.
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud combines backup with endpoint security in a single agent, which appeals to MSPs looking to consolidate tools. The backup component handles image and file-level protection for physical and virtual workloads, with direct-to-cloud and local-to-cloud options. The multi-tenant management portal is functional. Where Acronis stands out is pricing flexibility: the pay-per-GB model works well for MSPs with variable storage needs. Where it struggles is recovery speed for large datasets (bandwidth-dependent) and the integration depth with PSA platforms compared to Datto or Axcient.
Key features
- ·Backup plus endpoint security in one agent reduces tool sprawl
- ·Pay-per-GB pricing scales with actual usage
- ·Supports both local and cloud backup targets
- ·Multi-tenant management portal included
- ·Broad workload coverage including mobile devices
Considerations
- ·Recovery speed is bandwidth-limited without local appliance
- ·PSA integration is less mature than Datto/Axcient
- ·Support responsiveness has drawn mixed reviews
- ·Agent resource consumption can be heavy on older hardware
Comet Backup - best for margin on high client counts
Comet's self-hosted server with unlimited-device licensing removes per-endpoint cost scaling entirely, which is the single largest margin lever available to MSPs with many small clients. The trade-off is real: you operate the backup infrastructure, including its storage, patching, and uptime. Count those hours before assuming the savings.
Comet Backup
Comet Backup is a self-hosted backup platform that appeals to MSPs who want full control over their backup infrastructure and storage costs. You run the Comet server on your own hardware or VM, bring your own cloud storage (Wasabi, Backblaze B2, AWS S3, or local storage), and manage everything through a multi-tenant web portal. The pricing model is radically different from appliance vendors: you pay a flat per-device license and control your own storage costs. This makes it very cost-effective at scale but requires you to manage the infrastructure yourself.
Key features
- ·Full control over storage and infrastructure
- ·Dramatically lower cost at scale vs appliance vendors
- ·BYO storage means you choose your own redundancy and location
- ·Multi-tenant portal with brandable client interface
- ·Active development with responsive team
Considerations
- ·Self-hosted means you own the infrastructure reliability
- ·No turnkey BDR appliance hardware (local backup requires self-managed infrastructure)
- ·Self-hosted deployment places infrastructure operation on the MSP
- ·No built-in instant virtualization for disaster recovery
- ·Requires comfort managing your own backup infrastructure
When staying on Datto SIRIS / ALTO is the right call
If your clients depend on fast local virtualization from an on-site appliance, and your contracts already price the hardware through, Datto's maturity in exactly that scenario is difficult to beat. Migration cost is real and recovery reliability is not where you want to run an experiment. Shop the renewal aggressively before assuming you need to move.
Before you migrate
Backup migrations carry a retention gap. Your new platform starts with no history, so decide before you cut over whether you must retain the old platform read-only through your retention window - and price that overlap. Run at least one full restore test on the new platform before decommissioning the old one, and stage the migration by client rather than switching everything at once.
What is the closest equivalent to Datto SIRIS?
Axcient x360Recover is the most direct functional equivalent, offering both appliance-based and direct-to-cloud deployment with image-based backup and local virtualization. Most MSPs evaluating a Datto replacement shortlist it first.
Can you keep Datto for some clients and move others?
Yes, and it is often the sensible path. Keep Datto where local virtualization requirements justify the appliance, and move small sites to a direct-to-cloud alternative. The cost is running two platforms - two consoles, two alerting patterns, two restore procedures - which is a real operational tax to weigh against the margin gain.
How long does migrating off Datto take?
Plan per client rather than in aggregate. A single small site can be seeded and verified within days; a full book of business realistically takes months if you stage it responsibly with restore testing at each step. The constraint is usually initial seeding bandwidth, not platform configuration.
Is Datto more expensive than the alternatives?
Frequently, though not universally, and the comparison depends heavily on client size. Appliance amortization and cloud retention costs move the total materially. Price a representative small, medium, and large client across each vendor rather than comparing list rates.