--- title: Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows FREE canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/veeam-agent/ category: Backup Software points: 77 rank: 6 of 9 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows FREE Free image and file backup for Windows PCs from a business backup vendor, with recovery media and bare-metal restore. 77 points out of 100. #6 of 9 backup tools. Vendor: Veeam Software. Website: https://www.veeam.com/products/free/microsoft-windows.html - The Free edition costs nothing and needs no licence key [1][2]. - It backs up the entire computer, chosen volumes or chosen folders [4]. - The Free edition allows one backup job to a local drive, network shared folder or Veeam backup repository [3]. - Object storage, Veeam Cloud Connect and long-term GFS retention are not available in the Free edition [3][8]. - Recovery media can be made on USB flash drives, SD cards, CD/DVD/BD or as an ISO image [1]. Verdict: Veeam Agent FREE suits people who want scheduled image backups at no cost and back up to a USB drive or NAS [1][8]. It restores a whole system with bare-metal recovery, even on new hardware [11]. The catch: the Free edition allows one backup job and no cloud or object storage, which is also where Veeam's immutable backups live [3][10]. Best for: People who want free, scheduled image backups to a USB drive or NAS. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | What it backs up | Full system image | Yes | 8/8 | Entire computer mode backs up the full computer image [4]. | | What it backs up | File and folder backup | Yes | 4/4 | File level backup covers chosen folders, with include and exclude rules [4]. | | What it backs up | Incremental backups | Yes | 6/6 | After the first full backup, each session copies only new or changed data [5]. | | What it backs up | Scheduled backups | Yes | 4/4 | Daily schedules plus lock, log off and backup-target-connected triggers in the Free edition [6]. | | What it backs up | Bootable rescue media | Yes | 8/8 | Boot from Veeam Recovery Media to restore when the PC stops working [7][1]. | | Where backups go | Destinations | Local or USB drive, Network share or NAS | 10/20 | Local storage and shared folders; object storage and Cloud Connect are not available in the Free edition [8]. | | Safety and recovery | Encrypted backups | Not published | 0/7 | Backups can be encrypted with a password you set [9]; the cipher is not published in the current guide. | | Safety and recovery | Backups shielded from ransomware | No | 0/6 | Immutability works only on object storage, which the Free edition lacks [10][3]; it can only eject a USB drive after backup [6]. | | Safety and recovery | Restore to different hardware | Yes | 6/6 | Bare-metal recovery restores the entire system on new or existing hardware [11]. | | Safety and recovery | Versions and retention rules | Yes | 6/6 | Short-term retention keeps restore points for a set number of days [12]; only GFS retention is excluded from Free [3]. | | Price | Free edition | Yes | 10/10 | The Free edition needs no licence and protects Windows desktops and laptops [1][2]. | | Price | First-year price, one PC | $0 | 8/8 | The Free edition costs nothing [1][2]. | | Price | One-time licence | Yes | 7/7 | Entirely free; no subscription is needed [1][2]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [1][2][3] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free, with no licence to install [2]. - Backs up the entire computer, chosen volumes or chosen folders [4]. - Bare-metal recovery restores the whole system on new or existing hardware [11]. - Backups can start when you lock the PC, log off or connect the backup drive [6]. - Short-term retention keeps restore points for a number of days you choose [12]. ## Limits - Only one backup job to a local drive, shared folder or Veeam repository in the Free edition [3]. - No object storage or cloud destination in the Free edition [8]. - Immutable backups need object storage, which the Free edition cannot use [3][10]. - The user guide does not name the encryption cipher [9]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - Veeam says the Free edition is built on the same technology as Veeam Backup & Replication [1]. ## Sources 1. [Free Windows Backup Solution for PCs and Endpoints](https://www.veeam.com/products/free/microsoft-windows.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Licensing - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/licensing.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Product Editions - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/license_editions.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Step 3. Select Backup Mode - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/backup_job_mode.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Backup Chain - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/backup_chain.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Scheduling Settings in Free and Workstation Editions - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/backup_job_schedule_free_desktop.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Creating Veeam Recovery Media - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/image_create.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Step 5. Select Backup Destination - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/backup_job_target.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [Data Encryption - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/data_encryption.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Backup Immutability - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/backup_immutability.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [How to Perform Bare Metal Recovery - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/howto_baremetal_recovery.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Short-Term Retention Policy - Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows User Guide](https://helpcenter.veeam.com/docs/agentforwindows/userguide/retention.html), Veeam, accessed 2026-10-08