Flamingo Raises $4.5M to Get MSPs Out of the Ticket Queue

Skip to content
Macrium Reflect logo

Macrium Reflect

Backup and Disaster Recovery

Commercial Vendor
Paid Plans
Free Tier
OpenMSP Score
34
27
Reddit Impact Score

Alternative Vendors

Bareos GmbH & Co. KG
Bareos GmbH & Co. KG
UrBackup
UrBackup
Clonezilla
Clonezilla
Amanda Network Backup
Amanda Network Backup

Commercial Alternatives

Slide
Slide
MSP360
MSP360
Datto SIRIS
Datto SIRIS
Macrium Reflect is a Windows backup and disk imaging tool made by Paramount Software UK Ltd, based in Manchester. It's been around since 2006 and is one of the more trusted names in the imaging space – a lot of MSPs and IT pros have used it for years to handle full system images, differential and incremental backups, disk cloning, and bare-metal restores. The product line includes Reflect Home (personal use), Reflect Workstation (business endpoints), Reflect Server and Server Plus (for server environments), and SiteBackup (centralized management for larger deployments). There's also a Technician's License that runs off a USB stick – handy for field techs who need imaging tools on the go. Macrium recently launched Reflect X, a new engine with faster backup speeds, ARM architecture support, and expanded device compatibility. The free version of Reflect was discontinued in January 2024, which pushed some users toward alternatives like AOMEI Backupper, Clonezilla, and Veeam. Paid plans are subscription-based (1, 3, or 5-year terms), with an LTSC perpetual option available for regulated or mission-critical environments. Pricing starts at around $50/year for Home and $78/year per device for Workstation. Server versions run above $200/year. For MSPs managing multiple endpoints, per-device costs add up – SiteBackup with centralized management is the enterprise play, but it's a separate product with its own pricing. Macrium doesn't offer cloud backup natively. All backups go to local, network, or USB drives. If you need cloud destinations, you'll need to pair it with something else. The software is Windows-only – no macOS or Linux agents.
image media

Key Features

Full, Differential, and Incremental Imaging

Create complete disk images or run differential and incremental backups to save storage and time. Backups are compressed and mountable – you can browse files inside an image without doing a full restore.

Bare-Metal Restore with ReDeploy

Restore a full system image to the same or dissimilar hardware using Macrium ReDeploy. Useful for hardware failures, migrations, or swapping out machines without reinstalling everything from scratch.

Disk Cloning

Clone entire disks or individual partitions for hardware upgrades, SSD migrations, or creating identical machine setups. Works with both MBR and GPT partition styles.

Scheduled and Automated Backups

Set up automated backup schedules with retention policies that manage full, differential, and incremental sets. Macrium handles cleanup automatically so you don't run out of disk space.

SiteBackup Centralized Management

For larger deployments, SiteBackup provides a centralized console to manage backup agents across multiple machines. Designed for MSPs and IT teams managing fleets of endpoints and servers.

Ransomware Protection

Macrium Image Guardian restricts backup file access so only Macrium processes can write to backup destinations. Prevents ransomware from encrypting or deleting your backup images.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Fast and Reliable Imaging

Consistently one of the fastest backup tools in testing. Users report backing up and verifying a 100GB drive in under 5 minutes on USB4. Restores are equally fast – the reliability over years of use is the main reason people stick with it.

Proven Track Record

In production since 2006 with a large user base. Many MSPs and IT pros have used Macrium for 5–10+ years. Restore reliability is the standout – failed restores are extremely rare compared to competitors like Acronis.

Ransomware Protection Built In

Image Guardian locks down backup destinations at the file system level. Only Macrium processes can modify backup files, which prevents ransomware from encrypting or deleting your images.

Flexible Licensing Options

Subscription plans at 1, 3, and 5-year terms plus an LTSC perpetual option for regulated environments. Technician's License runs from USB for field work. Home users get a 4-pack deal at the price of 2 licenses.

Hyper-V Boot for DR Testing

Boot any backup image as a Hyper-V VM to verify restores or provide emergency system access while hardware is down. A real time-saver for disaster recovery testing.

Cons

No Cloud Backup Option

All backups go to local, network, or USB drives. No native cloud destinations. If you need offsite cloud backup, you'll need to pair Macrium with a separate tool like Backblaze B2 or a cloud sync utility.

Windows Only

No macOS or Linux agents. If you manage mixed-OS environments, Macrium only covers the Windows side of your fleet. You'll need a second tool for everything else.

Free Version Discontinued

Macrium ended the free edition in January 2024. The 30-day trial is now the only free option. This pushed a lot of users toward AOMEI Backupper and Clonezilla, and created frustration among long-time free-tier users.

Per-Device Pricing Adds Up for MSPs

At $78/year per workstation and $200+/year per server, costs scale linearly with endpoint count. MSPs managing hundreds of devices face significant licensing spend compared to per-tenant or unlimited-device alternatives.

SiteBackup Is a Separate Product

Centralized management isn't included in standard Reflect licenses. SiteBackup is a separate purchase with its own pricing, which means smaller MSPs may end up managing agents individually.

Feature Comparison

Comments

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience with Macrium Reflect.

Frequently Asked Questions

vendor

Getting Started

OpenMSP is The MSP Knowledge Hub & Community Platform designed specifically for Managed Service Providers seeking to optimize their technology stack, reduce vendor costs, and discover open-source alternatives. We combine a comprehensive vendor directory, open-source solution catalog, and integrated community discussions to help MSPs make informed decisions.
Yes, completely free. Browse vendors and tools, read comparisons, and join community discussions - no cost, no registration required. OpenMSP is community-supported and focused on empowering MSPs to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency through open-source technology.
We help MSPs identify cost-effective alternatives to expensive commercial solutions, provide transparent vendor information, and connect you with proven open-source alternatives. Our platform enables MSPs to make informed decisions about their technology investments.
No account required for browsing vendors, reading comparisons, or accessing community content. Creating a free account with SSO (Microsoft, Google, or Slack) allows you to participate in discussions and save your favorite tools.

Platform Information

OpenMSP is currently community-supported. We focus on providing value to the MSP community first. Any future monetization will keep the core platform free for MSPs while maintaining our independence and commitment to unbiased information.
We focus exclusively on MSP needs with transparent vendor information and open-source alternatives. No vendor partnerships or sponsored listings - just honest, community-driven information to help MSPs make better technology decisions. Our biggest value is our community where MSPs help each other with questions, setup guidance, and sharing real-world experiences.
Our community of MSP professionals helps verify and update information. We also maintain direct research on tools and vendors to ensure accuracy. Community members can report outdated information, and we work to keep everything current.
OpenMSP was founded by Michael Assraf, who has extensive experience in the MSP industry and product leadership. As the former CEO & Founder of Vicarius, Michael grew a startup from $0 to $9M ARR with 500+ customers and deep experience working with MSPs, partners, and fundraising. OpenMSP represents his commitment to empowering the MSP community through better technology decisions and cost optimization.

Open-Source Tools & Alternatives

We assess tools based on active development, community size, documentation quality, production deployments by MSPs, and available support options. Tools must meet strict criteria for reliability and enterprise readiness.
Many open-source projects offer multiple support options including community forums, commercial support from vendors, professional services, and our community discussions where experienced MSPs share implementation guidance.