Borg is a free and open-source deduplicating backup program. It is designed to be highly efficient and secure, with features such as encryption, compression, and data deduplication. Borg is widely used for backing up data on Linux and other Unix-like systems.
Kopia is a fast and secure backup and versioning system for files and directories. It provides a simple and efficient way to manage backups and versions of your data. Kopia is designed to be highly scalable and can handle large amounts of data with ease.
- Highly efficient and scalable
- Strong encryption and data integrity features
- Wide range of storage backend support
- Free and open-source
- Fast and efficient backup and versioning
- Secure encryption to protect data
- Highly scalable and can handle large amounts of data
- Cross-platform and open-source
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Limited support for Windows and macOS
- Not suitable for real-time backup and recovery
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Limited user interface options
- May require additional setup and configuration
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Borg
View all →
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth Borg and Kopia are free, open‑source, self‑hosted backup tools with strong encryption and scalability; choose Borg for Linux‑centric, deduplication‑heavy environments, or Kopia for cross‑platform needs and built‑in versioning.
Key differences
- •Deduplication: Borg explicitly uses a deduplication algorithm; Kopia does not mention deduplication.
- •Versioning: Kopia offers built‑in file versioning; Borg focuses on incremental backups without versioning.
- •Cross‑platform support: Kopia is designed for multiple OSes; Borg has limited Windows/macOS support.
- •Primary language & ecosystem: Borg is Python‑based with SSH/SFTP integrations; Kopia is Go‑based with broader OS compatibility.
- •Support channels: Borg offers email and documentation; Kopia adds GitHub Issues for community support.
Pricing & value
Both are free and open‑source, offering comparable cost‑free value.
Ease of use / learning curve
Both have a steep learning curve for beginners per their cons.
Features & depth
Borg provides deduplication, AES‑256‑CBC encryption, compression, and checksum integrity; Kopia lacks deduplication.
Integrations & ecosystem
Borg lists specific integrations (SSH, SFTP, cloud storage); Kopia’s integrations are not detailed.
Collaboration
Kopia’s cross‑platform design enables teams on varied OSes to share backups more easily.
Scalability
Both claim high scalability for large data sets.
Support
Kopia offers GitHub Issues in addition to email, providing a more interactive community channel.
Security & privacy
Borg specifies AES‑256‑CBC encryption and checksum signatures; Kopia mentions secure encryption but no algorithm.
Migration / lock‑in
Kopia’s cross‑platform nature eases migration between OSes; Borg is Linux‑focused.
Choose Borg if…
Linux sysadmins needing deduplication and strong integrity for large backup sets.
Choose Kopia if…
Teams requiring cross‑platform backups with built‑in versioning.
Common questions
Is there any cost difference between Borg and Kopia?
Both are free and open‑source, so there is no licensing cost.
Which tool supports versioning of files?
Kopia provides built‑in versioning; Borg focuses on incremental backups without versioning.
Can I run these tools on Windows?
Kopia is cross‑platform and supports Windows; Borg has limited Windows and macOS support.