NEWJoin 2M+ software buyers|Get Weekly Insights, Trends & Expert PicksSubscribe free →

Spotsaas logo
Last updated:

6 Microsoft System Center Alternatives Ranked by Real Users, Free Picks Included (2026)

Explore 6 alternatives to Microsoft System Center, vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

The top free Microsoft System Center alternatives, at a glance

Quick answer

Want the short version? The top Microsoft System Center alternatives are OpenDrive, Livedrive and Handy Backup. OpenDrive leads with a SpotScore of 9.1 and a 4.72★ rating. See the full comparison of all 6 on score, rating, and price below.

Outgrown Microsoft System Center, or never quite settled in? These 6 backup software free alternatives are the strongest alternatives, ranked by SpotScore, which fuses verified user satisfaction with market presence, plus star ratings and pricing. We vet each one. The table below sums them up; the sections after go deeper.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
OpenDriveUnlimited access and secure storage for your files.9.1★★★★★ 4.72(88)Freefrom $5/moteams of all sizes
LivedriveSecure, automatic backup for your digital life.8.8★★★★☆ 3.82(113)Freefrom $8.99/moteams of all sizes
Handy BackupConfidently backup and safeguard your precious data.8.7★★★★☆ 3.67(6)Freefrom $39 One Time Paymentteams of all sizes
BigMIND Cloud BackupProtect your data with seamless cloud backup.8.2★★★★☆ 4.38(4)Freefrom $15/moteams of all sizes
CloudAlly Office 365 backupSecure your cloud data effortlessly.8.1★★★★★ 5(15)Freefrom $3 /User/Monthteams of all sizes
CloudbackPeace of mind for your GitHub repos.7.8★★★★★ 4.67(3)Freefrom $10/moteams of all sizes

9.1

SpotScore

OpenDrive - Backup Software

OpenDrive

Unlimited access and secure storage for your files.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

88 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is OpenDrive?

OpenDrive provides fast, secure, and reliable access to all files from any device. It allows to create a backup schedule for computers and mobile devices and provides a simple way to encrypt all data. OpenDrive is simple to set up and works quietly in the background. Add files from any device, ...

Read more about OpenDrive
Free TrialTry Free →·

OpenDrive offers custom pricing plan

8.8

SpotScore

Livedrive - Backup Software

Livedrive

Secure, automatic backup for your digital life.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

3.8

113 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Livedrive?

Livedrive is the online backup service that provides automatic backups for computer including all emails, contacts, calendar events, files etc. It provide 5GB of storage for free so user can have peace-of-mind about the security of data. It features password protected folders and the option to ...

Read more about Livedrive
Free TrialTry Free →·

Livedrive offers custom pricing plan

Spotsaas Ads

Want your product up here? Put it in front of buyers the moment they're comparing your category.

Reach in-market buyersRank above rivals2M+ buyers a year
Advertise your product

8.7

SpotScore

Handy Backup - Backup Software

Handy Backup

Confidently backup and safeguard your precious data.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

3.7

6 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Handy Backup?

Handy Backup is a great choice for data backup. It's a full-featured software solution that can help to protect entire system, arrange automatic backups, and recover lost data whenever needed. Backup all of regular folders, custom homepages, photos, videos, MP3s and other regular files with ...

Read more about Handy Backup
Free TrialTry Free →

8.2

SpotScore

BigMIND Cloud Backup - Backup Software

BigMIND Cloud Backup

Protect your data with seamless cloud backup.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

4 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is BigMIND Cloud Backup?

BigMIND is comprehensive backup software that allows to schedule, manage, and restore computer data. Create backup policies with multiple computers, files, external hard drive(s), offsite servers, and cloud technologies including Amazon S3, Google Docs, Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage, and more ...

Read more about BigMIND Cloud Backup
Free TrialTry Free →

8.1

SpotScore

CloudAlly Office 365 backup - Backup Software

CloudAlly Office 365 backup

Secure your cloud data effortlessly.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

5.0

15 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is CloudAlly Office 365 backup?

CloudAlly backup software for Office 365 provides single-click backup for Microsoft cloud services. Protect all company’s Office 365, G Suite, and other cloud applications with data backup or online data backup for business including file backup, email archiving, SharePoint backups, OneDrive ...

Read more about CloudAlly Office 365 backup
Free TrialTry Free →·

CloudAlly Office 365 backup offers custom pricing plan

7.8

SpotScore

Cloudback - Backup Software

Cloudback

Peace of mind for your GitHub repos.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

3 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Cloudback?

Cloudback is the ideal choice for ensuring the safety of your GitHub repositories. Our automated daily backups guarantee a secure, up-to-date version - including metadata and code - of your entire repository. Furthermore, a selection of cloud storage solutions are supported to store backups in ...

Read more about Cloudback
Free TrialTry Free →

Microsoft System Center vs its closest competitors

There are 6 direct Microsoft System Center competitors in Backup Software. The ones that come up most often are OpenDrive, Livedrive and Handy Backup. Each is compared against Microsoft System Center on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Sites and apps like Microsoft System Center

Searches for "sites like Microsoft System Center" and "apps like Microsoft System Center" land on the same set of options as "Microsoft System Center alternatives" — the 6 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

What earned each Microsoft System Center alternative its spot

OpenDrive9.1Best for teams of all sizes

Convenient access to files from anywhere, with user-friendly sharing options and high security features.

Watch for: Slow upload speed, especially for large files, causing delays in data transfers.

Livedrive8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Reliable and secure backup service that has saved users' data numerous times without any issues.

Watch for: Some users find the small size of the app windows tedious for navigating through large file trees.

Handy Backup8.7Best for teams of all sizes

Full-featured backup solution

Watch for: Limited cloud storage options

BigMIND Cloud Backup8.2Best for teams of all sizes

Comprehensive backup management

Watch for: Limited free version features

CloudAlly Office 365 backup8.1Best for teams of all sizes

Single-click backup process

Watch for: Limited to Office 365 and G Suite

Cloudback7.8Best for teams of all sizes

Automated daily backups

Watch for: Limited to GitHub repositories

Why teams look for a Microsoft System Center alternative

Here's what tends to push teams toward a Microsoft System Center alternative:

  • Steep learning curve for new users, requiring time to master the complexities of the tool.
  • Implementation process can be cumbersome and expensive, with unclear instructions and navigation challenges.
  • Limited support for macOS, Linux, or specific network setups can complicate integration.
  • Interface complexities, general bugginess in multicasting, and the need for more real-time reporting may impact user experience.

Key things to look for in a Microsoft System Center alternative

By the numbers, these 6 backup software free alternatives shake out as follows: 6 offer a free tier; paid plans run $3–$39, with CloudAlly Office 365 backup the cheapest entry point; and CloudAlly Office 365 backup is the highest rated at 5★ across 15 reviews.

How we rank, in short.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Microsoft System Center are CloudAlly Office 365 backup (5.0★), OpenDrive (4.7★), Cloudback (4.7★). Compare all 6 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Microsoft System Center, prioritize: Incremental Backup, Mobile Compatibility, Web Access, Compression Option, Automated Storage, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Microsoft System Center starts from $1,323. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Microsoft System Center is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

How to narrow down your Microsoft System Center alternative

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — OpenDrive, Livedrive and Handy Backup let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: CloudAlly Office 365 backup has the strongest star rating (5★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: OpenDrive has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.1) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Before you switch from Microsoft System Center

To replace Microsoft System Center smoothly, treat data first. Export it, confirm the new tool can import it, and check feature parity for the work you actually do. Pilot on a free tier before rolling out, and keep Microsoft System Center running until everything has moved over cleanly.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].