BackupOnShutdown is a paid Macrium Reflect® Free alternative for backing up selected folders on Windows, with an option to shut down after a successful run. It's suited to documents and photos; if you need a disk image or recovery of a PC that won't boot, an imaging tool such as Veeam® Agent is the better fit.
Do you need your files back, or the whole PC?
If you usually restore a document, a photo folder, or files from your desktop, a file backup may be all you need. BackupOnShutdown lets you choose those folders and save them to an external drive or a network folder your PC can already access. Later runs save changes without storing another full copy of unchanged data. You can use several backup locations, such as a USB drive and a NAS share; see backup locations.
The default Keep old versions setting is 1 year. It keeps a selection of older versions rather than every backup run, and the newest backup is always kept. Password protection is optional and off by default. If you enable it, save the password somewhere safe — we can't recover it if you lose it.
Macrium Reflect and Veeam Agent can also back up entire disks or system volumes and recover a computer that no longer starts. BackupOnShutdown doesn't create disk images or provide bare-metal recovery. After a system failure, you'll need a working Windows installation before you can restore your files.
Which free imaging option is still available?
Macrium has retired Reflect Free: existing installations remain usable, but there are no more updates or official downloads.
Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows still has a Free edition, limited to one backup job. It offers daily and event-based scheduling and recovery media for restoring a PC that won't boot. If you're replacing Reflect Free because you need system recovery without paying for another program, that makes Veeam a closer match.
Would a backup before shutdown suit your routine?
With BackupOnShutdown, you start each run using Back up, Back up & shut down, or the optional desktop shortcut. There's no schedule, and shutting down from the Windows Start menu doesn't trigger a backup.
Save your work in other programs first: Windows forcibly closes them during shutdown, so unsaved changes can be lost. If the backup fails, you cancel it, or unreadable files are skipped, the PC stays on so you can review the result. Files open in another program are included only when BackupOnShutdown is started as administrator; otherwise they're skipped and listed. The backup and shutdown guide explains the workflow and how to enable the shortcut, which skips the button's confirmation dialog.
What does BackupOnShutdown cost?
As of October 2026, BackupOnShutdown costs 39 EUR, 34 GBP, or 39 CHF, paid once, with no subscription. The pricing page shows current prices. Licenses are sold only to customers in the EEA, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. The free trial works everywhere. One license covers one named person on any number of their own computers; two people need two licenses. Updates within your license are included, while a future major version may be sold separately. Your existing license remains valid for the last version you're entitled to use.
You can try it for 14 days without an account or credit card. After the trial, new backups need a license, but restoring files still works. Purchases have a 14-day money-back guarantee: email office@spqrk.net from your checkout address within 14 days of purchase for a full refund.
BackupOnShutdown runs on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit, and on macOS 13 or later with Apple Silicon. For a small office, the end-of-day backup routine offers practical steps for making it a habit.
Download BackupOnShutdown and try backing up and restoring the folders you care about during the 14-day free trial.
Macrium Reflect® and Veeam® are trademarks of their respective owners. BackupOnShutdown is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.