Overview

Cove brings backups for local devices, physical and virtual servers, and SaaS workloads into one web dashboard, with primary backup storage in N-able data centers included. That breadth can simplify oversight for teams with mixed environments. Pooled storage can help providers manage capacity across customers, but the allowance is defined per license; Microsoft 365 storage pools within each tenant, so capacity needs careful planning.

N-able says its TrueDelta architecture moves up to 60 times less data than traditional image backup products. Backups can run as often as every 15 minutes, which can reduce the interval between changes and protected copies. Those capabilities suit organizations that need frequent protection without managing separate backup consoles for each workload.

Key features

Recovery ranges from individual files and folders to bare-metal restores and local or cloud server recovery. Standby Image can stage a bootable virtual machine in VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, or Microsoft Azure, giving administrators another route to restore server operations. Optional LocalSpeedVault recovery provides LAN-speed access, a practical option when local recovery matters.

Microsoft 365 protection covers Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams from the same dashboard as device and server backups. Cove’s Google Workspace coverage includes Gmail, Calendar, My Drive, Shared drives, and Contacts. Bringing these workloads together is useful for organizations that want one service for endpoint, server, and SaaS protection rather than a collection of separate tools.

N-able describes Cove backups as encrypted, immutable, and isolated from the local network by default. It cites AES-256 encryption at rest and in transit, mutual TLS authentication to its data centers, and mandatory two-factor authentication. Its compliance credentials include ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certification, PCI-DSS and HIPAA compliance, and SOC 1 and SOC 2 compliant data centers. These measures address important security and compliance needs, though organizations should still confirm that the service fits their own requirements.

RMM integrations support deployment and monitoring, while PSA integration supports billing and ticketing. Support cases can be submitted around the clock by live chat, web form, or phone, with premium support included at no extra charge. That combination is especially relevant to service providers handling multiple customer environments.

Pricing

Cove Data Protection uses custom pricing. The stated model is a flat rate per server or workstation and a flat per-user price for Microsoft 365, with cloud storage included. Storage is defined per license and pooled across customers; Microsoft 365 storage pools within each tenant. Device counts can be adjusted, making it important to clarify how licenses, pooled capacity, and workload growth affect the quote.

There is no free plan. N-able offers a free trial with all features and no credit card required. Retention can be configured for up to 10 years; Microsoft 365 retention is listed for up to seven years. Organizations with long retention requirements should establish which workloads and license allowances those terms cover.

Platforms

Cove supports Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux, and is managed through a web dashboard. Its coverage spans computers, servers, and cloud workloads, including Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. This makes it a better fit for mixed estates than a tool focused on one device type or a single SaaS service.

Who it's for

Cove is a strong candidate for managed service providers and IT departments that protect several customer environments or a mix of servers, workstations, and SaaS data. Included cloud storage, pooled capacity, RMM and PSA integrations, and broad recovery choices all support centralized operations. Smaller teams with a single narrow backup need may prefer a more focused product, particularly if they need a published price or a free tier.

Pros and cons

Broad workload coverage: One dashboard covers computers, servers, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace, reducing the need to manage separate backup services for those workloads.
Flexible recovery: File-level, bare-metal, local, cloud, and staged virtual-machine recovery give administrators several ways to respond to data loss or server disruption.
Provider-oriented operations: Pooled storage, RMM and PSA integrations, and round-the-clock support suit teams managing multiple customers.
Custom pricing requires a quote: Without a published price, it is harder to compare costs before discussing workload counts and storage needs.
Storage is license-bound: Allowances are defined per license, and Microsoft 365 storage pools within each tenant, so capacity planning is part of deployment rather than an afterthought.

Alternatives

For a free option limited to two virtual machines per host, consider VM Backup. Choose MSP360 Backup if a free personal workstation plan with file- and image-based backup is a better match. Aryson Email Backup Wizard is an alternative for buyers looking for a per-user email-backup plan. DRS Softech Microsoft 365 Backup Tool is another option for Microsoft 365 backup, with home and administrator licenses.

GMvault offers a free, open-source option. Mac users seeking a free edition limited to one backup job can consider Veeam Agent for Mac. SysTools Email Backup Wizard is an alternative for email backup and export, while Mail Backup X offers a paid option with a personal edition.

Verdict

Choose Cove Data Protection if you need centralized backup and recovery across servers, workstations, and SaaS workloads, especially as an MSP or IT team managing multiple environments. Its standout case is the combination of broad recovery paths, pooled cloud storage, and provider-focused integrations. Look elsewhere if you need transparent pricing or a free plan; custom quotes and per-license storage allowances make cost and capacity an essential part of the decision.

	Cove Data Protection	Relax-and-Recover
Free plan		Yes
Free trial	Yes	No
Paid from		Free
Platforms	Linux, macOS, Web, Windows	Linux, self-hosted
Free plan	No	Yes
Computer backup	Yes	Yes
Server backup	Yes	Yes
Backup scope	mixed	mixed
Restore modes	mixed	mixed
Ransomware protection	Yes
Supported platforms	web, windows, macos, linux	Linux

Cove Data Protection vs Relax-and-Recover

Cove Data Protection

Relax-and-Recover