Features

Built on a zero-trust architecture, it ensures secure access by requiring authentication at each step, minimizing the attack surface. The platform is cloud-native, making it highly scalable and adaptable to modern business needs, which means it's not just a VPN client but a comprehensive security package aimed at businesses and organizations.

Twingate supports device authentication and integrates with single sign-on (SSO) providers like Okta and Azure AD, which simplifies identity management across distributed teams. Besides this, Twingate offers a range of integrations with mobile device management and endpoint protection vendors. You can find the list of their extensive integrations on their site.

Unlike traditional VPNs that rely on a single point of failure, Twingate separates identity, control, and data planes, ensuring higher resilience and security. All user connections are encrypted end-to-end, while user access is granted (or denied) in real-time based on contextual information such as user identity, device security status, time of login, and the user's or device's geolocation. This data is used in conjunction with admin-defined access policies to ensure secure and tailored access control policies.

Speaking of defining policies, all of this is done through the admin console, which is intuitive and features a modern UI. From this web-based management console, admins can get granular, viewing reports and resource usage, and add or remove users. The granularity extends to configuration on a per-use, per-device, and per-resource basis. This allows administrators to enforce strict access controls by applying the principle of least privilege, reducing the risk of unauthorized account access. It also ensures compliance with regulations that mandate higher levels of security for sensitive or privileged accounts.

Twingate tracks all network activity, logging each user's access attempts and providing detailed insights into which resources were targeted. For reporting and logging purposes you can also integrate with logging platforms like DataDog, Elastic, and Splunk for enhanced reporting capabilities. Yet, the platform itself has enough capability for reporting without a need for integrations, unless you have specific needs and requirements.

Pricing & Plans

Twingate offers flexible pricing plans with the entry-level Starter plan costing nothing and allowing up to 5 users and 10 remote networks, making it ideal for small teams or those wanting to explore the platform without a financial commitment. For growing teams, the Teams plan is priced at $5 per user per month, supporting up to 100 users and 20 networks, along with a 14-day free trial and a money-back guarantee.

For larger organizations, the Business plan is priced at $10 per user per month, offering support for up to 500 users and 100 networks. It includes more advanced features such as enhanced integrations and management options, making it suitable for companies with more complex security needs. This plan also ensures scalability, with options to expand as the organization grows.

Finally, the Enterprise plan offers tailored pricing and features based on specific business requirements. Companies interested in this plan will need to contact Twingate’s sales team to create a customized package. The Enterprise plan is designed for businesses with extensive remote access needs, offering the highest level of flexibility, support, and integration capabilities.

Note that if you opt to try out Twingate via the free plan, you will be limited in terms of integrations and DNS capabilities, but all of this is covered in paid plans.

Performance

Due to its design, Twingate offers faster average speeds compared to traditional business VPNs. The maximum and minimum speeds users experience primarily depend on their internet connection. Factors influencing performance include the type of traffic generated, with Twingate using split tunneling to route only business-related data through its network, encryption protocols, and overall network conditions. This ensures efficient data flow and minimizes latency for business activities.

Furthermore, the cloud-based admin console worked to perfection during our test, without any hiccups. We did not experience any slowdowns or crashes.

Privacy & Security

Twingate uses AES-256 encryption and SSL/TLS protocols to secure data transmissions, safeguarding business information from cyber threats. Additionally, it integrates multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO) capabilities. The aforementioned split tunneling feature routes business traffic through encrypted “tunnels” while keeping non-essential data flowing through the VPN. Moreover, the fact that Twingate utilizes the Zero Trust approach, means that strict verification protocols require verification of every user and device before granting access, ensuring that only verified entities can interact with sensitive resources.

What’s more, it enables companies to implement the necessary security controls to comply with various regulatory standards such as CPRA, GDPR, PCI DSS, and SOC 2.

Support

Twingate provides support through a ticketing system, messaging, and email. While assistance might not always be immediately available, their comprehensive guides and FAQs are particularly useful for addressing common issues. These resources offer detailed instructions, making it easier to troubleshoot independently. Overall, the written materials and support options can be helpful, but availability may vary depending on your needs and the timing of your request for assistance.

Alternatives

An equally attractive offering can be found with NordLayer Business VPN, which also offers a complete security package, complex security protocols, and a ZTNA approach. We enjoy the UI of NordLayer a bit more, but that is more of a personal preference. However, there are no free plans and you will have to pay a bit more per user. With that, you do get a bit more compared to Twingate though. Its proprietary VPN protocol is quick and secure and you can count on speeds of up to 1Gbs regardless of the pricing plan you go for. It is important to point out that additional features like auto-connect, ThreatBlock, and the Cloud Firewall do set a high bar for the competition, which is why you should consider it if you need more complex security.

Another potential alternative is the Check Point VPN Solution, which is geared more toward larger enterprises that are not afraid to break the bank to get premium solutions. Of course, to be fully covered here, we would recommend going with the hardware + software combo offered by Check Point, since this will ensure you get a ZTNA approach and have access to all of the bells and whistles. The admin console is powerful, with granularity extending from the setup into reporting and across all touch points. While it is powerful, for newer entrants into the field it can be a daunting task to set up the entire system. Pricing is not publicly available, as it depends on the size of your company and the specific needs that you have. But be sure it is not the cheapest solution in the market, but with the offering it has, it cannot be.

Final Verdict

With all that has been said, we can conclude that Twingate is an effective and efficient zero-trust network access solution. If you’re an organization or business looking to secure corporate resources, yet you want to have a remote workforce easily and securely access your resources without causing too much user friction, then Twingate may be the right tool for you.

High granularity, will surely expedite and secure work for organizations in highly regulated industries, which is one area that the company is aiming at. Another benefit is that this complexity doesn’t translate into a complex and clunky UI but an easy-to-use and highly intuitive cloud environment.

Sure, it is not the best option in the market, but it does tick most of the boxes while offering easy scaling which will not break the bank. What’s equally important, you can have your IT department spin up the free version, test out the performance, and see whether it is the right fit for you before deciding to scale up.

Features

NordLayer offers a massive list of features including DNS filtering, network segmentation, dedicated IP, browser extension, smart remote access, and a dedicated account manager - making it one of the most comprehensive business VPN solutions. This multi-layered security approach plays nicely with AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure if you’re looking to integrate it into one of these cloud services.

NordLayer's control panel is highly intuitive, featuring sections for organizing teams, managing servers and gateways, remote access settings, downloads, activity tracking, and device security alerts, making it one of the most beginner-friendly business VPN solutions. From this panel, you can also set permissions and allow network segmentation which is important if you’re looking to restrict access to sensitive data. Network segmentation divides the network into subsections for improved security and performance.

Its Cloud Firewall (FWaaS) offering, brings an additional layer of security, functioning as a cloud security service edge element. Unlike a traditional firewall, the maintenance requirements are low, while its scalability and adaptiveness allow you more flexibility in managing your company’s resources.

If you have a remote workforce, NordLayer has got you covered with a site-to-site networking connection, which basically functions like a secure VPN tunnel between two or multiple networks. There is also Smart Remote Access for the creation of a virtual LAN if you need to grant access to devices on an internal network. An additional interesting feature is the browser extension, which functions as a secure web gateway that allows access to resources exclusively via the browser that has the extension installed and enabled. Moreover, there are desktop and mobile, with both apps designed to be simple and intuitive.

Upon opening, the app presents a list of available servers, allowing you to connect with a single click (though more servers would be a welcome addition). Users can choose between OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, and customize features like the kill switch, auto-connect, and ThreatBlock based on their preferences. You can also set up a list of trusted Wi-Fi networks that don't require a VPN. The mobile app offers similar functionality, with the added convenience of automatic server connection. The app’s user-friendly layout and customization options make it adaptable for different preferences and needs, ensuring a smooth experience across both desktop and mobile platforms.

Activity Monitoring reports allow you to get granular with user-level connections that pass through gateways giving you details such as names of the members, devices, and source IP addresses, with activity history and date and time of a particular connection. Device Posture Monitoring further enhances security, where administrators can predefine security rules, and all non-compliant devices are then flagged and removed.

ThreatBlock provides an essential layer of protection by automatically blocking access to malicious websites and ads, shielding employees from phishing attempts and malware. It also filters out intrusive pop-ups and autoplay ads, creating a safer and more productive browsing experience for users.

To round out the feature list, Auto-connect is another feature we found useful. It allows you to set up the VPN to automatically activate as soon as an internet connection is activated. This is often found in personal VPNs, but often rare in business environments, but it can reduce the hassle and worry of employees forgetting to use a VPN.

Pricing & Plans

While not the cheapest option in the market, NordLayer does offer reasonable pricing for the amount of functionality and security you end up getting. The pricing plans are based on a per-user model, with the lowest tier Lite going for $8 per user (yearly subscription option), with a minimum requirement of 5 users which is standard across all plans except the Enterprise offer plan. All pricing plans come with a 14-day money-back guarantee which is great if you’re on the fence and just want to test the product.

The next plan, Core, is $11 per user and comes with a dedicated server with a fixed IP, but also a $40 a month surcharge for this service. The next tier is Premium at $14 per user and also the same offer for the server. Finally, the Enterprise plan starts from $7 per user, but you will have to reach out to NordLayer to get your custom offer, as it depends on your organization’s needs. Core seems to be the best buy plan covering advanced security such as Biometrics, 2MFA, SSO, and enough bandwidth for small to medium organizations.

Performance

NordLynx tunneling protocol allows NordLayer to deliver fast and stable speeds across their VPN service. In terms of VPN protocols, it supports IKEv2, OpenVPN (both UDP and TCP), and the aforementioned NordLynx which is a fork of the open-source Wireguard protocol. Note that all pricing plans offer up to 1Gbs server performance, which of course will vary depending on the server country you’re using. While mostly equal, there can be some drops in Asian countries, at least during our demo test.

Privacy & Security

The logging policy is right up the alley of any corporate VPN, which means that it does not log visited websites but does log each employee's email address, IP address bandwidth usage, and connection timestamps. The platform complies with GDPR and other major privacy regulations, ensuring data security for businesses operating in sensitive industries.

NordLayer secures internet traffic with modern encryption, offers 2FA via SMS or TOTP, and provides SSO options like Azure AD, Google, JumpCloud, Okta, and OneLogin for employee access, enhancing data breach prevention. In terms of encryption, it uses AES 256-bit and ChaCha20 encryption ciphers, which are fairly robust protocols. Most of the protocol settings are set up as default and we would recommend leaving them as is unless you’re an advanced administrator who wishes to set up a more granular policy. Furthermore, there is a kill switch, which acts as a fail-safe mechanism that prevents data leakage in instances where a VPN disconnects.

Support

NordLayer offers 24/7 customer support through both email and live chat on their website. For self-service, users can access a comprehensive knowledge base that includes guides for setup and troubleshooting. These resources are particularly helpful for first-time configurations. Subscribers to the Custom plan with 30 or more active licenses also benefit from a dedicated account manager, providing personalized assistance tailored to their specific needs. This support structure ensures that users have ample help, whether through self-guided resources or direct communication with NordLayer experts.

Alternatives

Twingate is a competitively priced business VPN solution that, like NordLayer, goes beyond basic VPN functionality to include advanced security features. Although its setup process is slightly more complex, Twingate compensates with a free plan for up to 5 users and 1 admin, making it an ideal choice for small teams wanting to test its capabilities before committing to a paid plan.

Perimeter 81, with its Secure Network as a Service model, offers a cloud-based alternative to traditional hardware firewalls and VPNs. It provides robust security features, including network segmentation and zero-trust access, at a comparable price point. This makes it a compelling choice for businesses seeking flexible, scalable security solutions without the need for on-premise hardware.

Final Verdict

NordLayer is quickly becoming a top choice for businesses with remote and hybrid workforces due to its comprehensive security features. The platform offers military-grade encryption, a robust firewall, and a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) model to minimize risks from malicious actors. We also admire its clean, user-friendly interface, making setup and management intuitive. While it’s not the most budget-friendly option—especially when compared to competitors offering free plans—NordLayer’s pricing is competitive given the advanced security it provides. It's an ideal solution for businesses looking for reliable, scalable protection in a remote-work era, with a robust and secure VPN.

As a premium VPN solution, it supports a variety of clients covering Windows, MacOS, and mobile platforms ensuring easy access for remote workforces across all of their devices. Additionally, we should note here that the VPN is tightly integrated with Check Point’s security management platform, tied to other advanced threat detection and prevention tools that the company offers. In simpler terms, the best comprehensive solution can be gained if the entire Check Point package is chosen, since you can get hardware security solutions from Check Point and can easily integrate them into their powerful SmartConsole, an admin dashboard solution.

Features like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Single Sign-On (SSO), and Identity Awareness improve security and ease of use. Furthermore, the Always-ON VPN feature ensures constant security by keeping users connected securely to corporate networks at all times. If you have a need to create temporary users who will be able to access your VPN for a set period of time, you can do so as well. This is ideal for customers visiting your site and needing access to some resources for a few hours or days.

Check Point offers a variety of remote access VPN solutions tailored to different business needs. These include Harmony Endpoint for comprehensive endpoint protection, Endpoint Security VPN for IPsec-based connectivity, and Mobile Access Web Portal for clientless SSL VPN access. Additional options include Check Point Mobile for Windows, SecuRemote, and Capsule VPN for iOS and Android, each designed to provide secure connectivity for remote users.

Pricing & Plans

Though we’re used to enterprise solutions hiding their pricing behind a “must-attend demo session” or directly contacting sales for company pricing, we’re really not fond of this practice. Depending on the number of users you have, you will probably have to choose between one of the mobile access blade tiers. The MOB-U is an unlimited access for unlimited users. The other license levels are MOB-50 and MOB-200 for 50 or 200 concurrent users respectively. The licenses do not stack, complicating the choice.

Recently, the company introduced a cloud comprehensive solution named Harmony Endpoint which among other things, under Access Control offers VPN. The advantage here is that you will not have to worry about licensing or the number of users, and could potentially present a better solution if you need comprehensive security and not just a VPN solution.

Configuration

If you have a Check Point appliance in your company as part of the package, such as the 1530 Appliance, then the configuration of the VPN can be done using the SmartConsole for users accessing resources through the company network. On the left side menu, you will need to navigate to the VPN tab and then, under Blade Control, enable Remote Control and enable SSL VPN. Before you can actually access SSL VPN services you will have to configure them under the SSL Bookmarks section and then add and define the users. Here you can define permanent or temporary users, with the process being manual and time-intensive if you have numerous users to add, as you have to define the user names and passwords yourself.

For PC client configuration, there is a wizard once the package has been downloaded that leads you through the setup. You will have to make sure you know all of the details of your network as there is no auto-filling option, even if the PC is in the business network, which unnecessarily complicates the installation process.

All in all, we would have liked the setup to be more in line with the modern standards set by commercial clients targeting wider audiences; though we do understand that this is a more complex solution that requires comprehensive networking knowledge and experts who are used to setting up corporate networks and protecting resources.

Performance

Quantum VPN excels in speed and stability, ensuring uninterrupted access to business resources thanks to the powerful hardware in the background. The more powerful the gateway hardware, the better it handles increased remote access users. But that’s not the whole story. Both AMD and Intel have added AES encryption features directly into their CPUs, which helps boost VPN performance.

This technology, known as AES New Instructions (AES-NI), allows hardware to handle many encryption tasks more efficiently, reducing the load on software and significantly improving speed and security. This means businesses can support more users with better performance, thanks to these built-in capabilities. Check Point promises AES-NI compatibility (AES-128, AES-256) to be supported by default, ensuring the highest possible performance gains without any hick-ups.

Despite all of this, users should note to optimize the interface affinity by enabling multi-queuing, and check that you have no or low fragmented packet rate to ensure the best performance. Finally, despite the powerful hardware and protocols you still need to ensure that you utilize configuration best practices to guarantee the best performance. With all of that being said, Check Point ranks in the top five enterprise VPNs when it comes to performance.

Privacy & Security

One of the standout features is the IPsec suite. It provides robust security by encrypting data, ensuring that sensitive information is shielded from man-in-the-middle attacks or unauthorized decryption. By leveraging advanced mathematical algorithms and end-to-end encryption, IPsec effectively blocks hacking attempts, keeping data transmissions secure from start to finish.

This powerful combination of security protocols makes it an essential tool for protecting business communications and maintaining privacy in enterprise environments. For the mobile app, this feature is available only on Check Point Capsule VPN for Android or Check Point Capsule Connect for iOS.

Overall, it offers industry-leading encryption, compliance with GDPR, and no-logging policies. Advanced encryption methods protect sensitive data, and integration with Check Point’s broader security suite enhances overall business security.

Check Point actively monitors and addresses emerging VPN threats. In a recent advisory, they urged users to review VPN configurations, highlighting an increase in attacks using weak, password-only authentication. The company swiftly mobilized teams to investigate incidents where outdated login methods were targeted. To enhance security, Check Point recommends disabling unnecessary local accounts and implementing stronger multi-factor authentication methods. They also released a solution to automatically prevent unauthorized access through weak authentication, ensuring customers’ VPNs are better protected against evolving threats.

Alternatives

If you’re shopping for an enterprise-wide solution but are not ready to pay the top dollar, then the first alternative could be Fortinet. FortiClient functions as both a firewall and a secure solution for connecting your devices to a VPN. It allows you to link your entire office on a secure VPN, enabling easy and safe data sharing. With FortiClient, you can access office archives and files remotely, providing flexibility for on-the-go work. It’s a fast and reliable network with minimal maintenance needs, making it a great choice for businesses looking to streamline their remote access and security.

An additional alternative is Cisco’s AnyConnect; which offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that your data stays protected, while its adaptive security policies help guard against threats. With support for multiple devices and platforms, AnyConnect makes it easy to connect teams and manage remote access securely. Its user-friendly interface and seamless integration with other Cisco security tools make it a versatile alternative thanks to a more streamlined setup process and a clearer pricing structure.

Final Verdict

Check Point Quantum VPN is a high-end solution for enterprises that are best utilized as the entire package combining hardware and software to provide comprehensive, company-wide security. With that being said, you will have to pay much more for such an approach, but you can then be sure you have one of the best solutions on the market. Set up is a bit more complex, but the client-side software (mobile apps) have clean UI’s and are logically laid out and easy to use overall. Moreover, if you’re in charge of backend maintenance through the admin console, you will also be greeted by a modern UI that seamlessly transitions between tabs and provides single-click solutions for most of the configurations.

While it may be overkill for small businesses, it’s a worthy investment for large-scale operations prioritizing security, knowing that you have a reliable partner for company cyber security that stays abreast of new threat development. If you’re on a tighter budget then one of the suggested alternatives could be a solid choice as they provide solid features for less money.

When you need to convert between video file formats, you require software that is fast, efficient, accurate and robust. And there are plenty of options out there, such as XMedia Recode.

We’ve tested the best free video converters, but how does XMedia Recode in the field? We took the software for a test run to find out.

XMedia Recode: Pricing & plans

• You can’t argue with free, so we won’t. Instead, we’ll lament the fact this software is Windows only

Good news, especially if you’re on a tight budget: XMedia Recode is free. You won’t be charged to use it, nor will you be charged on a regular basis to rent it. It’s free to download, and free to use.

The bad news is that it’s Windows only, preventing conversion possibilities for those who prefer a different type of operating system (if you’re looking for similar software that’s more multi-platform-friendly, take a look at Handbrake).

You can download XMedia Recode by clicking here.

• Score: 4.5/5

XMedia Recode: How it works

• XMedia Recode is essentially a one-trick pony: it’s designed to convert video files to other formats. This may sound quite limiting, but there are so many formats out there, it’s great that some software has been created to tackle this task

XMedia Recode supports hardware acceleration using various Nvidia and AMD cards, and is capable of handling a myriad of different file formats, including unprotected DVDs and Blu-rays. It can take chapter markers directly from a DVD or Blu-ray, or allows you to import chapter files, just like it can import subtitle tracks. You’re able to edit the ID3 tag as well as adding album covers, and to finish off, it’s designed for batch processing.

That’s quite an arsenal, so let’s head over to the XMedia Recode page to download the latest version. Make sure you ignore the overwhelming number of ads on the page that entice you to download whatever it is they’re selling - those are not what you’re looking for. Instead, mouse over the ‘Download’ menu at the top of the page, to choose the version that best suits your PC.

• Score: 4.5/5

XMedia Recode: Interface

• This is definitely XMedia Recode’s weakest point: the interface is sparse, not immediately clear, and doesn’t have the aesthetic you'd expect from modern apps. Still, it does what it does well, so is it really that important that it’s not much to look at?

If you get something that’s open source or free, chances are the interface won’t be high on the list of priorities, and the best thing we could say about XMedia Recode is that it’s functional but not that much to look at.

You’ll find a handful of icons at the top of the software’s window designed to initiate the most common functions, such as opening a disk, a converted disk now available as a file on your hard drive) or any other kind of compatible video files. You can also add what you want to the batch processor, start the encoding process, check for updates and access the community for help, among others.

Beneath that would be a menu giving you access to various parameters, broken down by specific categories, such as format, video, audio, filters, tags, and so on.

Everything is very utilitarian. It does the job, but even finding your way around at first can be a tad tricky. For instance there is no ‘Start’ button. It didn’t take long to realise we needed to add our file to the queue and then click on the Encode button to get the process started, which tells us this software is designed more for those who wish to convert many files in one go, than those more casual users who just need the odd one done now and then. Still, once you know the intricacies of the software and understand how it likes to do things, it becomes a simple matter to use it to its full potential.

• Score: 3.5/5

XMedia Recode: Tools

• The number of parameters you can change is impressive, letting you customize settings without having to learn the intricacies of file format management and customization

XMedia Recode’s main purpose is to convert video files between formats, and it certainly does not disappoint. The list of available formats that you can access via the ‘Format’ drop down menu, located in the ‘Format’ tab, is impressively long. There are dozens there which are bound to meet your requirements. Heck, there were some on that list we hadn’t even heard of, and others we hadn’t seen in a very long time.

In order to check the process we tried it on some footage taken from an old camcorder, as well as a personal DVD (XMedia Recode cannot read protected discs, which are the overwhelming majority of commercial media, so you’ll either have to find a way to strip those discs of their protection, or just restrict your conversion process to discs you burnt yourself). XMedia Recode will happily read off of a disc or of the relevant folder, saved to a hard drive. Either way, the process is the same, if a little tricky to get started (we’re back to issues with the overly spartan and utilitarian interface).

The ability to add subtitles and chapter markers is most useful (or rip them if they are already present in the video file you’re converting), but we’re not too sure about the usefulness of being able to apply filters to the output. Still, it’s there if you want it, although we suspect not many will.

Once you get used to working with XMedia Recode you’ll find you can whizz through the formatting process. We found the results, even using the default settings, to be fast, and of great quality. In addition, a huge advantage is the ability to save custom settings, enabling you to set the exact format, bit rate, size, frame rate, etc. for each and every file you put it through. To quote a scruffy looking nerf herder we know, “she may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts”.

• Score: 4/5

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want a program that's free, fast, and can convert to and from loads of formats.

Don't buy it if...

You need a modern, intuitively designed interface to navigate your preferred software.

We tested the best photo editing PCs and the best laptops for photo editing and these are the machines we recommend.

Wondershare’s UniConverter is a bit of a misnomer. Yes of course, you can convert video formats into others, but UniConverter can do a lot more than that. Here, you can download videos, compress files, edit projects, record your screen, and more. Is it a jack-of-all-trades, or a master of none? Let’s find out.

Wondershare UniConverter: Pricing & plans

• With subscription plans, a perpetual licence, and a free trial - Wondershare offers you many choices to try out their wares and buy them as you prefer

As you might expect in today’s market, you’ll find subscription options, with a one-year plan for $50, and a two-year plan for $70.

But those of us who prefer to own what we work with haven’t been forgotten for once, and a perpetual licence is also available for $80. On top of that, if you’d rather try before you buy, Wondershare lets you download a free version, which you’ll be able to explore for 7 days. For more like that, we’ve also reviewed the best free video converters.

Not all features are unlocked for free, though. The most glaring restriction is the fact that UniConverter limits your conversion to a third of the original video’s length; for instance, you can only record up to a minute of video, and you’ll have no GPU acceleration. On the plus side, you’re offered 50 AI credits to explore UniConverter’s more advanced features.

As you’d expect, all those limitations are removed when you start paying. The subscription model offers you 600 AI credits, and the perpetual licence comes with 1,000.

So if you’re curious about UniConverter, you can get it for Windows and Mac by clicking here.

• Pricing & plans: 4.5/5

Wondershare UniConverter: Interface

• A simple, well-designed interface, giving you various options to navigate through all available tools, and select the one you’re interested in

The interface is well managed, with a small sidebar on the left giving you access to any files you’ve worked on or imported, and all available tools. However, the Home menu is by far the best place to start. From there, you’ll see tools divided into categories such as ‘Converter’, ‘Downloader’, and ‘Compressor’.

Beneath these, are a series of commonly used tools: Video Editor, Screen Recorder, DVD Burner, Player and Image Converter. Clicking on ‘More Tools’ is the same as clicking on ‘Tools’ in the sidebar.

And finally there’s the ‘AI Lab’, highlighting 12 popular ones split into three menus: Hot, Video and Image. Clicking on any one of the non-AI options changes the sidebar to showcase the same tools displayed in ‘Home’, only this time, as a list. It’s all very straightforward and well managed, making it pretty much impossible to get lost, and very easy to get back to the Home page should you do.

• Score: 4.5/5

Wondershare UniConverter: Tools

• A good list of tools that are easy to use, and allow you to perform many different actions that go far beyond simply converting file formats - so long as you don’t expect too much from the ‘Video Editing’ side

Most tools offer a similar looking interface: any file you might wish to ‘Convert’, ’Compress’, ‘Burn’ or ‘Merge’ for instance, can simply be dragged onto the window from your computer’s file system.

‘Downloader’ obviously needs the URL of the file you wish to download. You can even add multiple URLs in one go (as long as you’ve paid Wondershare), and UniConverter will get on with the job, once you’ve set some simple resolution parameters.

Some tools have to be different, like ’Screen Recorder’. As with any of the best screen recorders, you’ll have to grant UniConverter permission to access your webcam, microphone, and the right to record your screen, but the necessarily tedious process, is very easy to get through, with the software automatically opening the right settings on your machine to grant the right permissions. It’s then a simple matter of choosing which part of the screen to record, whether to activate your webcam or not, which mic to turn on, and you’re set.

Technically speaking, the recording was flawless, however, everything is burned into the video. You can’t for instance edit the recording to remove the webcam footage, or make it fade in or out as needed. It’s where you put it when you were recording and that’s it. Great if you’re a one-shot wonder, and don’t expect too much.

Speaking of editing, there are video editing capabilities… but calling it a ‘video editor’ is a bit of a stretch, especially if you’re an experienced editor yourself. The best video editing software, this is not. Selecting ‘Video Editor’ brings up seven tools, to crop, trim, add a watermark, effects, subtitles, work on the audio or alter the speed… and that’s it.

Trim and Crop are self-explanatory, the Effects are pretty basic and are essentially just some basic colour correction tools along with a range of simple Instagram-like filters. But we did appreciate the ability to work with most tools at once, as once you’ve opened a clip, they’re available through a menu at the top of the window (aside from Trim). It definitely won’t blow the competition out of the water, but if you’re looking to make some simple changes to a recording, you can do it all without leaving UniConverter.

• Score: 4/5

Wondershare UniConverter: AI tools

• A great assortment of tools designed to improve your videos. But there’s one glaring flaw: you have to spend AI Credits to use them, yet there’s no way to buy more when you run out

We’ve tested quite a few of the best AI tools, and here, we were pleased to see the AI selection surprisingly broad. You’ll have many that can be seen to fit within the workflow of the previously explored tools, such as enhancing video, auto-generating subtitles, stabilize footage, etc. Those actually comprise the bulk of what’s available. But you also get AI options that go beyond what’s expected, such as using ChatGPT 4.0 to generate a script for you.

We tried a few tools, such as the Auto Subtitle, and were very impressed by the results. Even a recording that wasn’t designed to be shared, so we didn’t pay particular attention to diction, was flawlessly subtitled. But even if there were mistakes, you can edit the results, both the text and the timecode. Finally, you have the ability to save the file as a new video, extract the subtitle as an SRT file to use elsewhere (such as YouTube for instance), save it as a work in progress, or all three in one go.

The only drawback to these intriguing tools is your allowance. Subscribing or getting a perpetual licence isn’t enough: you’re given an allotment of credits to use on those AI tools, and once they’re gone, they’re gone! As of this writing, not only do your credits not renew when you renew your subscription, but you can’t even purchase additional ones. Wondershare tell us they’re planning on “launching an AI Credits Plan soon”, but as of right now, be sure to use them sparingly, no matter how cool they might work.

• Score: 2.5/5

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You want to perform a lot of changes and improvements to your video files, and are looking to do it all in one place.

Don't buy it if...

You don’t like the idea of software that can do so many different things, and you’re not a fan of AI tools, especially those based on credits that you can’t replenish.

We tested the best photo editing PCs and the best laptops for photo editing and these are the machines we recommend.

Digital photography means we don’t have to restrain our itchy trigger finger, and we’re able to take hundreds, even thousands of photos per assignment, project, trip or event. However, that also means we need the best photo editor software to organize and edit these shots. Most computers come bundled with these apps, but is it worth paying a little extra to access even more tools for editing and managing photos?

CyberLink PhotoDirector is one such tool, expanding photo editing capabilities for professionals and beginners alike. We’ve long been fans of the company’s content creation suite, and when we last reviewed the software, we praised it for providing one of the best Photoshop alternatives and best alternatives to Lightroom. So, how does CyberLink’s latest version compare to the competition? We put PhotoDirector to the test.

CyberLink PhotoDirector: Pricing & plans

• The price alone makes PhotoDirector extremely competitive, compared to Lightroom, and the fact you can opt for subscription or perpetual license is the icing on the cake

CyberLink is a rare beast: in a world increasingly dominated by subscription packages, this company still offers you the choice of purchasing a perpetual license. The version known as Ultra can be yours for $100, which is less than one year of renting Adobe Lightroom. A subscription is also available of course - for those who enjoy not owning their software - and the price here is also very competitive: it usually costs $60 a year to get PhotoDirector 365, but as of this writing, you can get it for $40.

The main advantage of subscribing to any software is the constant regular updates you get, and CyberLink releases fixes, new features, and new media each and every month.

If you’re curious about this software, you’re encouraged to download the free trial by clicking here.

• Pricing & plans: 5/5

CyberLink PhotoDirector: Launcher

• The Launcher is where you choose which tool to use - and which interface to open. This way of working isn’t as intuitive as having everything in one window, but it doesn’t take long to get used to it

Launch PhotoDirector and you’ll be faced with a simple launcher, prominently featuring an animated advert at the top for some of its latest features. Beneath this distracting 40% of the interface are the main icons in yellow. Some open a floating window onto which you’ll drop an image to perform the required action, while others open up a whole new interface. The various icons that do this present you with a different yet similar interface, offering unique tools for the job at hand. It can get a little confusing navigating through this way of working, but the more we used PhotoDirector, the more we got used to it.

Further down the launcher window are more icons. These offer quick links to regularly used tools, and this section is customisable, letting you choose which of these icons to display or hide. There’s also a link to CyberLink’s tutorial page, which offers over a hundred how-tos to help you understand the software better.

• Score: 3.5/5

CyberLink PhotoDirector: Library & Adjust

• Library and Adjust lets you organize your shots and alter them to look their best. The ability to switch between Guided, Manual, Presets and Expert modes gives you a lot of flexibility, depending on your skill level

The ‘Library and Adjust’ module is likely the one most get PhotoDirector for: a place to organize your shots, and use various tools to improve the quality of your photographs. When selected, you’re confronted with a very traditional interface, with a sidebar on the left containing various categories for the ‘Library’ section, or tools while in ‘Adjust’ mode.

In either case, most of the interface on the right is taken over by your selected photo, while thumbnails at the bottom help you see other shots in the same category.

Using the available tools is as easy as any image editing app you’ve likely used before, with a generous number of sliders to make the necessary alterations. Be aware though that if you’re using the free version, the vast majority of these tools are premium only. You can use them, but if and when you do, the image will be prominently watermarked, until you undo the change, or pay for the proper version.

You’ll find Manual and Preset options, and to the right is a drop down menu offering you Guided and Expert interfaces. As its title implies, Guided is a simplified version, whereas Expert opens up a multi-layered interface, giving you more free reign over your modifications. There’s also a third option in that menu, the Generative AI Studio, but we’ll be exploring that part of the software a little later on.

As for the library section, it’s pretty standard actually. You can organize your shots into albums, with tags, by faces, there’s also a calendar view, and you can set up various smart collections to atomically organize your photos based on set criteria. There’s nothing drastically new here that we haven’t seen many times before. Still, it works, and works well.

There is however a third section: Create. This is where you get to transform your stills into something potentially more interesting, such as a slideshow, or an animated GIF. You have the ability to create panoramas, perform digital witchcraft with ‘Face Swap’, merge photos with different exposures to get the best out of them, and there’s even a section turning video clips into photos. Interesting though all of this is, these tools are only available to paying customers.

• Score: 4/5

CyberLink PhotoDirector: Editing

• PhotoDirector has extensive edit features which go well beyond image editing, and comfortably enter the image compositing. The list of tools is vast, and are incredibly easy to use

The Edit module takes more of a leaf from Photoshop, expanding from the ‘Create’ section we looked at just before, and allowing you to create complete image composites. With it you’re able to add multiple text layers, perform some basic actions like cropping, resizing and rotating, you’ll find some animation effects, you’ll be able to apply lens effects, modify the shape of faces, remove backgrounds, add stickers, frames, and overlays, the versatility is quite extensive, and oh so easy to use; you’ll find it’s pretty effortless to just dabble and experiment until you reach the look you’re after.

Regretfully, as with the premium alteration we explored in ‘Library and Adjust’ you cannot save any changes you’ve made which contain premium effects. We understand the watermarking and the restriction when exporting, but being unable to save changes does restrict the amount of experimentation you can perform without getting a plan or a perpetual license (and that’s likely the reason).

• Editing: 4/5

CyberLink PhotoDirector: AI tools

• The AI tools can be found throughout the PhotoDirector interface, and they work as you would expect them to - although you’re given as set number of credits each month with your subscription

There’s no escaping artificial intelligence - we’ve even reviewed the best AI tools, and PhotoDirector has a wealth of them that can be accessed from various parts of the interface. By now you should know how this works: you type in a description of what you’re after, select an aspect ratio, style, and away you go. But here PhotoDirector goes beyond that: you can import a photo and transform it based on specific criteria, such as changing the clothing someone wears or the background they’re shot in front of, or replacing an object with another, expanding an image beyond its borders, do a spot of interior redesigning of an existing shot, turn a photo into an anime drawing, and much more.

This all sounds great, but there’s a catch, which is the same for other software offering such services: PhotoDirector’s generative AI feature works on a credit system, which you spend each time you create a new AI image. You get 100 credits a month with a basic subscription. If you need more you need to pay for those separately, from 50 to 500 credits a pop, and the more you buy in one go, the cheaper each credit becomes (from $6 for 50 to $35 for 500).

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

You need an app that’s a mixture of a photo organizer and a powerful image compositor, with an increasing number of AI tools thrown in for good measure, and you appreciate having a choice between subscribing to the service or buying the software outright.

Don't buy it if...

Your needs are more modest, you might be better off sticking to the photo organizing software that’s bundled with your computer, or you’re not a fan of the extensive AI tools here.

We tested out the best photo editing PCs and the best laptops for photo editing and these are our top picks.

Most of the backup software we review are paid products – at best, they offer a free version with fewer features – but that’s not the case with UrBackup.

UrBackup is free backup software, open-source and with a client/server backup system, that works in the background while your PC is motoring through other tasks, so you won’t even notice it.

It has a very minimal footprint on your PC because much of the management is handled by a web interface, and it works on a host of alternative platforms too.

We've also highlighted the best disk cloning software right now.

Urbackup: Plans and pricing

Urbackup is open source, meaning that it’s functionally free as long as you adhere to its terms and conditions in both personal and commercial settings, so it could be a viable option if you want basic small business backup without having to pay.

It’s not just for Windows, either. The client application works on MacOS and a variety of Linux systems, and on the server side, it supports Windows, Debian, Ubuntu, RedHat, several other Linux versions and systems like FreeNAS, QNAP NAS and other NAS systems.

Features

UrBackup uses image and file backups to deliver fast, unintrusive, complete file preservation in the background while your system runs. It also keeps a continuous watch on folders and systems to ensure faster incremental backups, so you don’t have to make a fresh start each time you want to preserve files or folders.

File backup, management, and restoration are possible through the web interface, and backups can be configured, started, restored and logged using the small client installed on your home system.

Because this app largely uses a web interface, it’s mostly designed for web and NAS-based backups rather than local backups.

Restoration is also possible if you download a version of UrBackup that can be used to create a bootable USB stick – handy if you need to restore a system that has encountered technical difficulties and so won’t boot.

Backups can be made to the standard Microsoft VHD format or as a file-by-file replication, and the same files on different computers are only saved once – a handy move to preserve space.

The app’s logging and reporting options are extensive, and you can send backups anywhere, from local destinations and external hard disks to network and NAS-connected locations.

It’s certainly ideal if you want a simple and lightweight app to send backups to network and NAS locations, and UrBackup’s open-source status is a boon for people on a budget or those who want to use Linux distributions.

Delve into the options in the web interface and plenty of customisation is available. You can restrict the maximum number of backups and how much bandwidth is used, tweak permissions, back up mail servers, view extensive logs and monitor the status of your various backup locations.

This free app is missing many features compared to commercial backup apps, though. You’ll find more encryption and scheduling options elsewhere and a more comprehensive range of cloud options on many other tools. Many other backup apps also have additional modules for verifying backups, cleaning up and wiping files and other sundry computing tasks.

Interface and use

UrBackup is a free and focused app with a narrow remit, which is fine if you just need core backup functionality without an intrusive app.

It’s pretty quick to get started, too. Download the Server app, configure the network location where your backup will be stored, specify what you want to back up and let the app work.

Anyone who uses this tool, though, does need to have plenty of computing experience to get the most out of it. The tiny downloadable client is easily navigable for experienced users, but it makes nothing easy for beginners and is quite basic.

The web interface is similarly complicated, but it is packed with options – dozens, if not hundreds, that allow you to tweak virtually every aspect of your backup regime.

As before, though, you’ll need to be a pretty experienced PC or Linux user to get the most out of this app, even if there’s loads of potential here for creating unintrusive and personalised backup schedules and regimes.

UrBackup is certainly not the only app out there with this level of customization, and if you opt for systems from Macrium or EaseUS, or enterprise systems from Veeam or Acronis, you’ll find those options crammed into a far more accessible and understandable interface.

And because UrBackup is primarily an online tool, its performance will largely depend on your internet connection.

It took just over ten minutes to preserve our document and Excel folders and nearly twenty to handle our media and mixed file folders. Those are results that put it into the mid-table in our latest selection of backup tools, which is undoubtedly a decent result for a free piece of software.

Support

You won’t get the support system here that you will with commercial apps that have dedicated teams.

The best option for support with UrBackup is to head to the forums – UrBackup has an active and helpful community that can help with most issues. It’s also worth checking out the developer blog to see if extra features or fixes are coming in future updates to the app.

Elsewhere, there’s an issue tracker, FAQ, online manuals, and server support, but that’s all.

Competition

Any of the big commercial options will outmatch UrBackup in te, so we’d advise you to look to faster tools from big names like Acronis Cyber Protect, EaseUS Todo Backup, and Macrium if you need any level of backup.

If you want a free product, then Uranium, FBackup, Hasleo and Cobian tools do the job without asking you to spend a penny. And if you don’t like those, even more free versions are available elsewhere.

Be aware, though, that many of those free versions – while more accessible and competent – include adverts that try to upsell you to paid products. You won’t find that in UrBackup.

Verdict

This free, open-source app is a very niche and particular bit of software – an ideal backup option for anyone experienced with networks, interfaces and navigating tricky apps or anyone who wants to support open-source software or backup on Linux.

Beyond that, though, it’s tricky to recommend this tool unless you really know what you’re doing and have security measures incorporated into your systems elsewhere. Other apps are easier to use, faster, or have more support options. There’s also no encryption built-in to UrBackup, which is a huge risk to any home or business user.

UrBackup is an admirably open-source option that will sate some people who want a low-key, low-resource “send and forget” backup tool, but it’s hard to recommend for most people beyond those technically-minded few who will be comfortable with this kind of software.

Uranium Backup is a broad and effective backup software solution for small businesses, and it combines well with another product called Supremo Console to offer backup and management for larger enterprises – and there’s even a free version, too.

On paper, then, Uranium Backup tries to be all things to all people – even to those who don’t want to pay for their backup products. But can it compete with similarly versatile rivals, like EaseUS Todo Backup or Acronis Cyber Protect?

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Uranium Backup: Plans and pricing

The first Uranium tier after the free version is the Base product, which adds features like drive image and FTP support alongside backup synchronization.

Nanosystems, the company behind Uranium, is based in Italy and only offers pricing in Euros, so we’ve converted here.

The Base version of Uranium costs €80, which converts to $90, and that’s for a lifetime licence – the same price as EaseUS ToDo Backup Home.

The Pro version is available in a few variations depending on what you need: there are specific options for tape backup, SQL and Exchange support and Shadow Copy (VSS) support. It’s €150 or $168 for a lifetime licence.

The Pro Virtual edition costs €229 or $256 and adds all of the aforementioned features alongside Hyper-V and VMWare support.

If you need all that functionality alongside the ability to manage and monitor endpoints from a single interface, there’s a Professional product that costs €216 or $241 – and that one is also available on a subscription for €18 or $20 per month.

At the top of the tree is Uranium Backup Gold, which includes every possible feature for €290 or $324. If you want more management options for backup across a business, then Supremo Console is a web management interface that’s available on a monthly subscription with pricing that varies based on how many devices you need to monitor.

There’s lots going on with the different options, but the pricing is reasonable. At the lower end, Uranium’s costs tally well with rival products from companies like EaseUS, and at the top end Uranium is more affordable than many enterprise options from rivals such as Acronis.

Features

The free version of Uranium is relatively basic, but it’s fine if you want to preserve files and folders.

Using the free product you can back up to local or network destinations. You can specify how many copies you want to keep – handy if you don’t want your backups to overwhelm your disk space – and you get basic scheduling options, too.

There are plenty of options for tweaking your backups, too, if you want to tweak exactly what files and folders are in your backups.

It’s an entry-level array of features for a free product, and it’s well-suited to sole traders who need to preserve files and folders – but the lack of encryption and synchronization in the free version means that the Base product is more suitable for any kind of professional backup, even in the smallest organizations.

Step up to the Base product, and you do get synchronization and 256-bit encryption alongside password protection and loads of extra features, like the option to backup Exchange mailboxes.

You can run Uranium as a Windows service, employ differential or incremental backups, send files to FTP destinations and use Backup Drive Images and cloud backups, with loads of different cloud services supported.

Step up to one of the Pro products and you add Backup to Tape functionality alongside the SQL and Shadow Copy options if you’ve picked that product, and at the top level there’s Hyper-V and VMWare support. And then the Gold version gets everything – you don’t have to pick a Pro product that suits you.

It’s a good range of features, although having a web console locked away behind the Supremo Console product is a bit restrictive. If you want an enterprise-level offering like that, backup options from companies like Veeam and Acronis include web consoles as part of the offering.

Interface & Use

Uranium’s interface is straightforward, if a bit busy. Open the app, and you’re greeted with a list of your existing backup sets on the left-hand side, and in the main window, there’s a list of common tasks, like starting a new backup to a litany of potential destinations or configuring a new destination.

It can look a bit confusing at first, but the interface is saved by a row of larger icons at the top of the window. These open wizards for common tasks like creating a new backup or restoring an existing backup, and one of them allows you to run a pre-configured backup. These buttons are large and well-labelled, and they’re the easiest way to get to your backup jobs quickly.

Handily, one of the large buttons at the top of the window opens the options menu, and another loads Uranium’s web console if your version includes that module.

We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

Uranium’s best results came when working with documents and our folder of media files. When working with both tests, it returned averages just above fourteen minutes – times that just crept into the top half of our results tables.

That’s a reasonable pace, but lots of other apps were much faster. Acronis, Macrium, and EaseUS were notable speedsters when backing up files and folders, and were several times faster than Uranium in those tests. It’s no disaster, though – other apps, like those from Cobian, Genie and Retrospect, were much slower too.

When working with our spreadsheets folder, Uranium’s average of thirty-five minutes was poor – only two other apps in our slate of nearly twenty were slower. And that result cascaded into a near hour-long backup average when working with our folder of mixed files. That, again, is one of the slowest results in our tests.

It’s a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to speed. If you need to preserve documents or media files, then Uranium is reasonable, but it struggled with more complex tasks.

Support

Uranium has the usual offering of a knowledge base, video tutorials and manuals online, but technical support is restricted to a web form with no indication of how long you’ll have to wait for a response.

Some rivals offer phone support and there’s no sign of a forum on Uranium’s website, either, so it’s quite a barebone offering. If you’re protecting mission-critical data and may need fast support, this may not quite cut it.

Competition

Indeed, you’ll get more support from EaseUS, Acronis and many other products, especially if you pay for one of the higher-tier versions.

Elsewhere, Uranium competes reasonably well with rivals in terms of features, especially if you upgrade to one of the enterprise-level products, and we like the fact you can choose which version you need for your business.

The only real downside is that Uranium can’t compete on speed. As we’ve seen, it’s a reasonably sluggish and inconsistent product in this area, and many of its rivals are much faster.

Verdict

Uranium may not be the fastest, but it does compete well in other areas. It has a good range of features, including cloud support and lots of versatility when it comes to backup sources and destinations. It also has flexible options for buying products and subscriptions.

Value is important with Uranium, too, and it either competes with its rivals or undercuts them, with the differences becoming more stark as you scale up through the products.

As a good value business and enterprise option, then, there’s plenty to like about Uranium, but look elsewhere if you need speed or extensive support.

Retrospect Solo is one of the relatively rare backup software tools available on both Windows and Mac. As the name suggests, this product is designed for individual systems rather than organisational use. For business, Retrospect is an ideal option for sole traders or small companies that need to protect individual PCs.

It’s certainly not your only choice if that’s what you need, though, with individual products from EaseUS and Macrium leading the charge when it comes to individual system protection.

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Retrospect Solo: Plans and pricing

Retrospect Solo for Windows costs $49 for a lifetime licence, with that price rising to $129 if you want a year of email and phone support and maintenance included. The Mac version mirrors those prices.

Those standalone figures are a mixed bag: that lifetime licence is cheaper than either equivalent EaseUS or Macrium option, but Retrospect’s one-year support and maintenance upgrade, called ASM, makes the product more expensive.

Retrospect is also available in several different versions. The Desktop product covers five systems and prices start at $116 for a lifetime licence and $159 for a premium version, or from $10 per month if you buy a subscription. Server options rise in price accordingly.

The product can be customized with add-ons to support additional servers, PCs and email accounts.

If you’re in business and want to protect individual systems, though, the Desktop product looks like the best value – that lifetime subscription might be more expensive than the Solo product, but it protects five systems and so is capable of handling your business by adding some extra PCs.

Features

If you want to stick with Solo, though, then don’t worry – you’re still getting a good set of features.

It handles full, incremental and differential backups. You can preserve entire drives, entire PCs, computers on your network and your documents and settings, and you can specify if you only want to backup pictures, music, movie files or documents – handy if you're going to preserve a particular type of file.

In terms of backup destinations, you can choose from removable drives, local drives, and cloud storage, with support included for more than twenty cloud providers, including Amazon S3, Dropbox, Google Cloud Storage, Microsoft Azure, and more. There’s also support here for NAS systems from Synology, QNAP and others. That’s impressive because lots of backup apps include limited cloud support, and it’s especially useful in a business setting.

Once you’ve configured your settings there’s a one-click backup option if you want to use them again, and a wizard guides users through the entire process.

You can schedule backups for specific days of the week, repeating intervals or a single date – a reasonable selection although you will find more scheduling ability elsewhere. Delve into the backup options and you can opt for verification, data compression, anomaly detection and more, with a broad array of options available for anyone who wants to delve into some trickier menus.

Elsewhere there are extensive restoration options, a file-finding option, disaster recovery and an option to recover mailboxes from backups. The reporting is particularly extensive. There are additional modules for repairing backups, verifying media and transferring your backups to other destinations.

Combine these options together and you’ve got a powerful backup tool. You can protect and migrate your online mailboxes between providers, use the cloud for extra protection, write scripts for specific tasks, and secure your backups with encryption and multi-factor authentication.

Switch over to the Mac version and you’ll find similar features. Retrospect on Apple’s platform supports complete data protection, cloud backup, email protection, scripting, anomaly checking and most of the other features that make Retrospect Solo such a fully-featured product for individual systems.

Interface & Use

Retrospect Solo might be packed with features, but the core application is not attractive – it looks old-fashioned and intimidating, at least initially.

Many of the icons are tiny and not labelled; it’s sometimes hard to find the options you need, and you’ll have to delve through nests of menus to find your way.

There are two saving graces: the presence of some helpful wizards to guide newer users through common processes, like setting up backups, and an app called Retrospect Dashboard that presents key information, like scheduled backups, recent tasks and storage capacities, in a friendlier visual format.

Still, the main app is not particularly accessible, particularly to those who don’t know their way around software.

We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

Retrospect proved itself a mediocre performer in our tests. Its best result came with our folder of spreadsheets, where it took five minutes and ten seconds to back up the files – but the best apps we’ve tested, including EaseUS and O&O DiskImage, took two and three minutes respectively.

Retrospect took twenty-seven minutes to back up our folder of documents, twenty-three minutes when handling media, and thirty minutes with a mixed folder. The Mac version returned similar results.

When it comes to speed, this is a mediocre app, and if pace is a priority, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Support

Instead of taking the lead in the results tables, NovaBACKUP makes a big deal of its support offering – and rightly so.

You can submit support tickets, call a phone line that’s open between 9 am and 5 pm, and consult an extensive knowledge base. You can schedule appointments with the support team, dive into a forum, watch webinars, and get setup assistance depending on the product you’ve purchased.

Competition

EaseUS’s app is much faster than Retrospect in every category, and single-PC versions of apps from Macrium, Paragon and O&O are faster, too.

So if you’re chasing speed and those options are available at comparable prices – and they often are – they’re all going to be better options. For the most part they’ve got more up-to-date interfaces, too.

That said, Retrospect fights back in other areas. Its cloud options are virtually unmatched, for instance, and its range of add-ons adds flexibility, admittedly for an extra price. And when it comes to core backup options, it has a good range of features once you get beyond the interface.

Verdict

Retrospect is an intriguing app that will successfully serve the needs of many home users and small businesses.

Positively, it has good core features, excellent cloud ability and great support, so if you need an app for cloud backup this should be at the top of your list.

Negatively, though, it’s not particularly fast and it suffers with an ageing interface, so it’s not the best option for anyone who needs speed or a beginner who may need more signposting in the interface.

If you’re aware of those foibles, though, then Retrospect could still do the job for lots of people – especially if you want to use the cloud for your backup.

NovaBACKUP is a serious bit of backup software for businesses of all sizes as well as home users, and its German coders specialize in enterprise-level data protection – so we’ve got high hopes for this particular bit of software.

Indeed, if you head to NovaBACKUP’s website you’ll see products for specific tasks, like disaster recovery or Microsoft 365 backups, and even areas where the company caters to particular industries, from dentistry to accountancy.

At first glance, then, there’s plenty to like – but should you deploy NovaBACKUP in your business?

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NovaBACKUP: Plans and pricing

It may be good news that NovaBACKUP is a high-end backup solution designed for enterprise, but brace yourself for the pricing – because this app is not cheap.

A one-PC licence for NovaBACKUP costs €100, which at the time of writing converts to $110, including an admittedly generous 1TB of cloud storage. A single-server licence costs €400 – or about $443 – and includes 250GB of cloud storage.

If you need a bespoke solution for your business, then you’ll need to talk to NovaBACKUP to work on a solution together – which makes sense, because then you should get a backup deployment that works for you and maximises value.

NovaBACKUP offers products for companies that need endpoint protection for remote workers, for businesses that need centrally-managed local and cloud backup for PCs, laptops and servers, and even packages for managed services providers who want to provide Backup-as-a-Service to other organisations.

Features

It’s expensive, yes, but NovaBACKUP is absolutely packed with features. You can preserve any files or folders, local or external drives, operating systems and send them to local drives, external drives, your 1TB of NovaBACKUP cloud storage space or any S3 compatible storage. Network-attached locations are also supported.

Additionally, NovaBACKUP now includes hybrid backup, which ensures more robust data protection by storing your data in three places, on two different types of media and with one copy stored offsite – what’s often referred to as a “3-2-1 backup strategy”. That’s important if you preserve mission-critical information in a commercial or healthcare environment.

It’s a comprehensive start, and NovaBACKUP also includes image backups for disaster recovery, VHD and VHDx backups, incremental backups, bare metal restoration and strong compression and encryption settings, including 256-bit AES and Blowfish encryption.

You can enjoy email notifications about your backup jobs – particularly helpful if you’re handling data in a business – and flexible file restoration means you can recover backups from any location.

NovaBACKUP offers extensive scheduling options, backup verification, custom commands to be performed around your backups, and there are extensive filtering options. In terms of core backup features, NovaBACKUP is excellent – there is nothing missing.

Opt for the Server product and you get support for Microsoft Hyper-V and VMWare backups and Microsoft SQL and Exchange support. Both apps include optional central management and monitoring features – ideal for businesses.

Upgrade to a Server Provider version – or another customised NovaBACKUP solution – and you can also add user account management, unlimited cloud storage, self-hosted cloud storage, and setup assistance.

Interface & Use

NovaBACKUP has every backup option that home and business users could possibly need, even if you wouldn’t know it from the aesthetic. The app looks decidedly old school, with old-fashioned fonts and graphics used throughout.

Still, if you get beyond the visuals then it’s pretty easy to use. Large icons on the home screen represent key backup options, and if you delve into the settings then it’s the usual list of backup sources on the left-hand side with more advanced options in a central window.

Backup logs and schedules are in their own tabs. And while there aren’t many easy wizard options for creating backup jobs, this enterprise-level app provides plenty of granularity that professionals will surely appreciate.

We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

And while NovaBACKUP was never slow, its results slipped consistently into the mid-table when stacked up with almost twenty other backup tools.

Its best results came when working with our Excel folder and our selection of mixed media files – it returned averages of four minutes and eighteen minutes respectively. Both of those numbers crept into the top half of our results tables.

Nova averaged sixteen minutes with our folder of documents, and seven minutes with our media files.

None of those results are slow, but lots of other apps are quicker – tools like Acronis Cyber Protect, EaseUS ToDo Backup and Macrium Reflect are notable options that easily outpace NovaBACKUP.

Support

Instead of taking the lead in the results tables, NovaBACKUP makes a big deal of its support offering – and rightly so.

You can submit support tickets, call a phone line that’s open between 9 am and 5 pm, and consult an extensive knowledge base. You can schedule appointments with the support team, dive into a forum, watch webinars, and get setup assistance depending on the product you’ve purchased.

Competition

NovaBACKUP jumps ahead of rivals like EaseUS Todo Backup and Macrium Reflect when it comes to support and sits alongside other enterprise-level offerings from products like Acronis Cyber Protect.

Verdict

Indeed, it’s probably the pricing that restricts NovaBACKUP’s appeal. While this is a fantastic tool for any business that wants to take backup seriously, especially if you want to build a bespoke package or protect servers, it’s probably overkill for home and small business users.

It’s got every feature you could possibly need, though, alongside excellent support options – there’s no doubt it earns its keep. And while it’s not the fastest, that is moot if you’re backing up to servers, network or cloud destinations.

NovaBACKUP is an excellent preservation option for businesses – expensive, sure, but you get what you pay for.