Affordable Cloud-Managed PC Disk Imaging & Backup with Exclusions

The user highlights a significant gap in the market due to Macrium Reflect discontinuing its free version and explicitly asks for a cheap/free alternative that supports exceptions for disk imaging. This indicates a strong demand for an accessible yet powerful backup solution for Windows users (individuals and small businesses) who are not IT professionals but need more granular control than basic file backups.

Product Form: A SaaS solution where users pay a recurring fee for a desktop application that performs disk imaging and file-level backups. Key features would include: an intuitive interface, flexible scheduling, the crucial ability to exclude specific files/folders from disk images/backups, incremental/differential backups, integration with popular cloud storage (e.g., Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, S3-compatible storage), and potentially an option for local network storage. A web dashboard could manage licenses, view backup status, and facilitate recovery.

Expected Revenue: Tiered subscription model. For individual users, $5-$15/month depending on storage and features. For small businesses, $20-$50/month per workstation/server. Given the large user base of Windows and the ongoing critical need for robust yet user-friendly backup, this could be a significant market.