AvePoint Alternative for SharePoint Archiving. Squirrel by SmiKar
AvePoint Opus is a capable platform. Per AvePoint's own product documentation, Opus covers Microsoft 365 (SharePoint Online, OneDrive, Exchange Online, Teams, Groups), SharePoint On-Premises (2013, 2016, 2019, Subscription Edition), Azure File Share, Windows File System, Box, Google Drive (Preview), and physical records. If your organisation needs to archive across that full content estate, AvePoint Opus is worth evaluating.
But if your primary requirement is SharePoint Online storage cost reduction, and you want archived data stored in your own Azure Blob Storage account rather than a vendor-hosted environment, without a complex multi-module purchase, Squirrel is worth a serious look.
This page gives you an honest, factually-sourced comparison of both products so you can make the right decision for your organisation. Every claim about AvePoint Opus on this page links to AvePoint's own documentation or product pages so you can verify it yourself.
Three Reasons Enterprise IT Teams Choose Squirrel Over AvePoint for SharePoint Archiving
Your archived data lands in your own Azure Blob Storage as standard
Squirrel connects to your Microsoft 365 tenant and processes data through SmiKar's managed Squirrel layer. Archived documents are written directly into your own Azure Blob Storage account in your own Azure tenant. Your data never sits in SmiKar infrastructure - it goes straight into storage you own and control.
AvePoint Opus describes its storage model as "Flexible Cloud Storage" where you "align one or more cloud storage systems to support a cost-effective storage hierarchy." The architecture of where archived data physically resides, and the contractual model around it, is configurable per AvePoint's documentation - confirm with AvePoint directly which storage options apply to your specific deployment and how each is priced.
For organisations in financial services, healthcare, government, or any sector with data residency requirements, having archived data land in your own Azure tenant as the default - not as a configuration option to negotiate - is a simpler story to take to your compliance team.
Compatibility with active Microsoft 365 retention policies
A specific point that matters for any regulated organisation: AvePoint Opus's own documentation states that Opus cannot manage content protected by an active Microsoft 365 retention policy or retention label. Per AvePoint Learn: "Content protected by a retention policy or label. To manage this data, please remove or disable the retention policy or label first."
If your organisation runs active retention policies through Microsoft Purview (most regulated organisations do), this is a meaningful constraint. Disabling retention policies to enable archiving is rarely something a compliance team will sign off on without scrutiny. Squirrel operates alongside active Microsoft Purview retention policies and leaves retention labels intact through the archive and restore cycle.
Purpose-built for SharePoint, not a platform trying to do everything
AvePoint Opus is an information lifecycle management platform covering Microsoft 365 (SharePoint, OneDrive, Exchange, Teams, Groups), SharePoint On-Premises (2013-Subscription Edition), Azure File Share, Windows File System, Box, Google Drive (preview), and physical records. That breadth is genuinely useful if your problem set is broader than SharePoint Online - it is the right tool for an organisation needing one platform across multiple content sources.
Squirrel is purpose-built for one thing: SharePoint Online archiving. It does that one thing exceptionally well. The product is simpler to configure and easier for IT teams to manage on an ongoing basis. If your requirement is specifically SharePoint Online storage cost reduction, a specialist tool built for that exact problem will outperform a broad platform on the metrics that matter for that problem.
Squirrel vs AvePoint Opus: Feature Comparison
Every claim about AvePoint Opus links to AvePoint's own documentation. Click through any row to verify.
| Feature | Squirrel by SmiKar | AvePoint Opus |
|---|---|---|
| Product scope | Specialist - SharePoint Online archiving | Broad ILM platform - M365, SharePoint on-prem, Azure File Share, Windows file system, Box, Google Drive (preview), physical records |
| SharePoint Online archiving | Yes - core product | Yes - one of many supported sources |
| Archived data in customer's own Azure Blob Storage | Yes - standard default | Configurable - "Flexible Cloud Storage" model per AvePoint |
| Document-level stub / placeholder in SharePoint | Yes - native SharePoint stub | Yes - restore stubs feature |
| Self-service user restore | Single click in SharePoint UI | Via separate ReCenter portal |
| Works with active Microsoft Purview retention policies | Yes - retention labels preserved | No - AvePoint Opus docs require retention policies / labels to be removed or disabled first |
| AI engine | Nutshell AI - summaries embedded in stubs for Copilot grounding | AvePoint Maestro - Azure Machine Learning |
| Microsoft Copilot grounding on archived content | Yes - via Nutshell AI stub summaries | Not documented on Opus product pages |
| Departed user M365 archiving | Yes - separate Chipmunk product | Covered via Exchange Online and OneDrive support in Opus |
| Email / Exchange archiving | No | Yes |
| File server / Windows file system archiving | No | Yes |
| SharePoint on-premises archiving | No | Yes - 2013, 2016, 2019, Subscription Edition |
| Box / Google Drive archiving | No | Box: Yes. Google Drive: Preview |
| Microsoft Purview Information Protection sensitivity labels | Yes - preserved through archive | Yes - explicitly used for classification |
| Microsoft Partner | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Straightforward - platform fee plus per TB | Not published - contact AvePoint |
| Restore fees | None | Not published - contact AvePoint |
Which Solution is Right for Your Organisation?
Choose Squirrel if:
- Your primary requirement is reducing SharePoint Online storage costs
- You need archived data stored in your own Azure Blob Storage with no third-party data retention
- You run active Microsoft Purview retention policies that must remain in place during archiving
- You need departed user Microsoft 365 data archiving alongside SharePoint archiving
- Your environment is Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online focused
- You want predictable straightforward pricing without multiple module purchases
- You need Microsoft Copilot to remain effective across archived content via Nutshell AI stub summaries
AvePoint Opus may be a better fit if:
- You need to archive email, file servers, on-premises SharePoint, Box, Google Drive, or physical records alongside SharePoint Online
- You need a single platform vendor that also covers backup, migration, and governance across multiple content sources
- You already use AvePoint for backup or migration and want a single vendor relationship
- You do not currently run active Microsoft Purview retention policies on the content you plan to archive (or you are willing to disable them per AvePoint Opus documentation requirements)
We would rather help you make the right decision than win a deal that is not the right fit. If your requirement is specifically SharePoint Online archiving with data sovereignty, retention-policy-compatible operation, and straightforward pricing, request a Squirrel demo and we will walk you through exactly how it works and where your data goes.
Built for SharePoint. Not Bolted On.
Squirrel is purpose-built for SharePoint Online archiving - not one module inside a platform trying to do everything.
If your problem is SharePoint storage costs, a product built exclusively for that problem will always outperform a broad platform with SharePoint as one of many features.
A Specialist Tool for a Specific Problem
Ready for a Demo?
DISCLAIMER: All information about AvePoint Opus on this page is sourced from AvePoint's own product pages and AvePoint Learn documentation as of June 2026, and every claim links to the original source so you can verify it. Product features may change. If you believe any information is inaccurate or out of date please contact us and we will update it promptly. AvePoint and AvePoint Opus are trademarks of AvePoint Inc. SmiKar Software is not affiliated with or endorsed by AvePoint.
Frequently Asked Questions About SharePoint Archiving Alternatives
What is the best AvePoint alternative for SharePoint archiving? Squirrel is a purpose-built SharePoint Online archiving tool that archives inactive documents to Azure Blob Storage in the customer's own subscription. Compared to AvePoint Cloud Backup, Squirrel focuses specifically on the storage-cost reduction angle rather than full backup.
How does Squirrel compare to AvePoint's archiving offering? Squirrel runs as a dedicated per-customer deployment, archives to the customer's own Azure tenant (not a vendor cloud), and leaves stub files in SharePoint for transparent user access. The deployment model and "your tenant, your data" positioning are the main differences buyers cite.
Where does Squirrel store archived data? In the customer's own Azure Blob Storage account, in the customer's Azure subscription, in the region the customer chooses. SmiKar does not hold a copy of customer data. Archives are compressed before upload and encrypted at rest.
Can users still find and restore archived SharePoint documents? Yes. Squirrel leaves a stub file in SharePoint with the original document name and metadata. Users see the file in its original location, search still finds it, and one click triggers a rehydration that opens the actual content. No portal, no IT ticket.
Does Squirrel preserve metadata when archiving? Yes. File name, modified date, author, version history, and SharePoint-specific metadata are preserved with the archive and restored when the file is rehydrated. Sensitivity labels, retention labels, and permissions all carry through.
Does Squirrel support enterprise compliance requirements? Yes. Squirrel produces a full audit trail of every archive and restore event, supports immutable Azure Blob Storage tiers, and operates under existing Microsoft Purview retention policies. Speak to the SmiKar team about specific compliance frameworks.
