Is restic better than Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows?

restic ranks higher in our list of backup software (#4 against #5, score 86.5 against 85.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. restic is best for: scripted backups from the command line on major systems. Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows is best for: Windows PC owners who want free recovery media.

Which is cheaper, restic or Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows?

restic: Free and open source under the BSD 2-Clause License. Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows: Free edition for Windows PCs, described by Veeam as free forever.

Do restic and Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows run on the same platforms?

restic supports Linux, macOS, Windows, Command line. Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows supports Windows.

Comparison · Backup software

restic vs Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows: which is better in 2026?

restic86.5#4 in best backup software

Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows85.0#5 in best backup software

restic ranks higher in our list of backup software (#4 against #5, score 86.5 against 85.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need.

How we rank Share

86.5
Editorial score
85.0
4
Platforms
1
Yes
Free to use
Yes
Yes
Open source
No

Which should you choose?

Choose restic if you want

Scripted backups from the command line on major systems.

A free, open-source command-line tool under BSD-2-Clause that covers Linux, macOS and Windows and many storage back ends. It needs a terminal and scripting, so it suits technical users rather than people who want a point-and-click app.

Choose Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows if you want

Windows PC owners who want free recovery media.

Free Windows backup with file-level and folder-level backups and bootable recovery media. Veeam describes the free edition as free forever, but it is Windows only and does not replace a server-level backup product.

The main differences

Only restic runs on Linux.
Only restic runs on macOS.
restic is open source; Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows is not.

Side by side

	restic	Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows
Score	86.5	85.0
Rank in list	#4 of 10	#5 of 10
Price	Free and open sourceFree and open source under the BSD 2-Clause License	FreeFree edition for Windows PCs, described by Veeam as free forever
Free to use	Yes	Yes
Open source	Yes	No
Platforms	LinuxmacOSWindowsCommand lineLinux, macOS, Windows, Command line	WindowsWindows
Made by	Not stated	Not stated
Best for	Scripted backups from the command line on major systems	Windows PC owners who want free recovery media
Strengths	Free and open source under BSD-2-Clause Runs on Linux, BSD, macOS and Windows	Free forever for Windows PCs, per the vendor page Bootable recovery media and file-level restores
Limits	Command-line program in this entry Scheduling and setup are left to the user	Windows only Server and multi-user features point to other Veeam products
Links	Visit site	Visit site

Questions about restic vs Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows

Is restic better than Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows?: restic ranks higher in our list of backup software (#4 against #5, score 86.5 against 85.0), but the gap is small and the better choice depends on what you need. restic is best for: scripted backups from the command line on major systems. Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows is best for: Windows PC owners who want free recovery media.
Which is cheaper, restic or Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows?: restic: Free and open source under the BSD 2-Clause License. Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows: Free edition for Windows PCs, described by Veeam as free forever.
Do restic and Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows run on the same platforms?: restic supports Linux, macOS, Windows, Command line. Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows supports Windows.