So, snapshots are not backups because they are not copies. They don't take up much space individually, but their total volume can grow, especially if there are lots of deleted blocks/files, and so suppliers usually limit the amount of snapshots that can be retained.

Why VMware snapshots are not backups?

VMware Snapshots must also not be used as a backup because users cannot restore a Virtual machine from a VMware Snapshot in case the original disk gets deleted. When you plan to utilize a Snapshot, make sure it is used only for a short-term purpose such as patchwork and roll back.

Can snapshot be used as a backup?

It is important to note that the snapshot by itself is not a backup – but it can be used as a critical part of the backup process. This is because the snapshot is used as part of the data movement process to a backup file or a replicated VM. The snapshot is removed when the backup job is complete.