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.
restic is a fast, secure, and efficient backup program that is designed to be easy to use and highly customizable. It supports multiple storage backends, including local directories, SFTP servers, and cloud storage services like Amazon S3 and Google Cloud Storage.
- Highly efficient and scalable
- Strong encryption and data integrity features
- Wide range of storage backend support
- Free and open-source
- Fast and efficient backup performance
- Highly customizable to meet specific backup needs
- Supports multiple storage backends and protocols
- Free and open-source software
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Limited support for Windows and macOS
- Not suitable for real-time backup and recovery
- Steep learning curve due to complex configuration options
- Limited support for certain storage backends and protocols
- No built-in support for backup scheduling or automation
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Borg
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth Borg and restic are free, open‑source backup tools; Borg is the safer default thanks to explicit AES‑256‑CBC encryption and proven scalability, while restic offers faster performance and broader backend flexibility at the cost of similar learning complexity.
Key differences
- •Encryption: Borg specifies AES‑256‑CBC; restic just mentions encryption without algorithm detail.
- •Implementation language: Borg is written in Python, restic in Go, affecting performance and ecosystem.
- •Community size: restic has ~35k GitHub stars vs Borg's ~13.5k, indicating larger user base.
- •Support channels: Borg offers email and documentation; restic adds GitHub Issues for community troubleshooting.
- •Platform coverage: Borg notes limited Windows/macOS support; restic’s multi‑platform tag suggests broader OS compatibility.
Pricing & value
Both are free and open‑source, offering comparable cost‑benefit.
Ease of use / learning curve
Both have steep learning curves for beginners per their listed cons.
Features & depth
Each provides deduplication, compression, encryption, incremental backups, and integrity checks.
Integrations & ecosystem
Both support SSH/SFTP and major cloud storage services; restic also lists local directories.
Scalability
Borg is described as "highly scalable" for large, complex environments.
Support
Restic adds GitHub Issues to email support, offering a more interactive troubleshooting channel.
Security & privacy
Borg explicitly uses AES‑256‑CBC encryption; restic’s encryption method is not specified.
Choose Borg if…
Linux‑only admins needing strong AES‑256 encryption and enterprise‑scale backup.
Choose restic if…
Teams prioritizing speed, broader backend options, and community issue tracking.
Common questions
Is there any cost difference between Borg and restic?
Both are free, open‑source tools with no licensing fees.
Can I run Borg on Windows or macOS?
Limited support for Windows and macOS is noted for Borg; restic is marketed as multi‑platform.
Which tool provides built‑in scheduling for backups?
Neither Borg nor restic includes built‑in scheduling; external schedulers must be used.