Top 10 Best Free and Open-Source Backup Software | Handpicked for 2024

What is open source backup software?

Open-source backup software is a tool that anyone can use, modify, and distribute. Its source code is usually available free of charge.

Advantages of Using Open-Source Backup Software:

• Gives you full control over backup operations
• Can be tailored to your specific needs and requirements
• Is more reliable and stable than closed-source alternatives

Not to mention that the most popular reason for open-source software is that it's free. Therefore, it can save you a lot of money, especially when backing up large amounts of data. If you're looking for a viable solution for data or disk backup, open-source backup software might be an excellent choice. In this article, we'll show you the top 10 free open-source backup software for Windows 10.

1. Clonezilla - Open Source Cloning Software 2. Duplicati - Open Source Backup Software 3. Amanda - Open Source Network Backup 4. Cobian Backup - Open Source Backup Software 5. Casync - Open Source Synchronization Software 6. rdiff-backup - Open Source Backup Utility 7. Syncthing - Open Source Synchronization Software 8. UrBackup - Open Source Backup Software 9. BackupPC - Open Source Backup System 10. Bareos - Open Source Backup Solution

Please read carefully to find the software option that best suits your needs.

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Best Open Source Backup Software Alternatives - Automated File Backup Solutions

While there are many advantages to open-source backup software, there are also several disadvantages and security concerns. For instance, installing and using open-source software requires more technical expertise and the ability to compile source code, which is not feasible for most regular users. Furthermore, the open-source nature of the software makes its code accessible to the public, potentially compromising its security.

For these reasons, if you need a reliable and user-friendly backup software, the Todo Backup tool is an excellent choice. It supports disk/partition backup, system backup & restore, file backup & restore, and more.

It's also one of the best server backup software options for backing up and restoring files on Windows Server, MS SQL servers, cloud services, and MS Exchange servers.

Here are the top 10 open-source backup software options for Windows 10/11: 1. Bacula: A powerful network backup solution offering enterprise-level data protection. It supports multiple operating systems and file systems. 2. Amanda (Advanced Maryland Automatic Network Disk Archiver): A widely used backup tool in the open-source community, capable of backing up multiple servers and workstations to a central storage device. 3. UrBackup: An easy-to-use backup software that provides continuous data protection with support for file, folder, system state, and image backups. It also features automatic verification of backup integrity. 4. FreeNAS: Primarily a Network Attached Storage (NAS) system, FreeNAS includes backup and recovery features for the ZFS file system, allowing for snapshots and data replication. 5. Duplicati: A cross-platform backup tool that encrypts and stores data on cloud services or local devices. It supports various cloud storage providers like Google Drive and Amazon S3. 6. FOG Project: Mainly focused on computer deployment and management, it also offers backup functionality. Ideal for IT administrators in schools, businesses, and organizations. 7. Veeam Backup & Replication: While there is a commercial version, Veeam offers a free edition suitable for small environments. It specializes in virtual machine backup and disaster recovery. 8. Bareos: Formerly the Bacula Community Edition, Bareos provides comprehensive data protection, including backup for files, databases, and mail servers. 9. Rsync: Not specifically a backup software, rsync is a powerful and flexible file synchronization tool often used for creating backup copies. 10. Clonezilla: An open-source disk cloning and partition backup tool, ideal for large-scale deployments and data recovery. Please note that these software's features, compatibility, and user interfaces may vary. Evaluate them according to your specific requirements before choosing.

Now that you know what open-source backup software is and the best alternatives, let's get started with the ten best open-source backup software.

1. Clonezilla is an open-source disk cloning and system recovery software similar to Norton Ghost. It enables users to back up, restore, or clone entire hard drives, partitions, or multiple systems. Clonezilla comes in two editions: Clonezilla Live and Clonezilla SE (Server Edition), tailored for personal and enterprise environments, respectively.

Supported systems: Windows, macOS, Linux

Product overview: Clonezilla is an open-source backup tool that lets you back up and clone hard drives or partitions.

Clonezilla supports various file systems, such as NTFS, FAT32, EXT2, EXT3, and EXT4. It has two modes: live mode and server mode. The live mode lets you use Clonezilla without installing it on a hard drive. The server mode enables you to use Clonezilla over the network. Additionally, Clonezilla supports LVM2 (Logical Volume Manager 2), RAID, and UEFI boot.

Clonezilla is also praised for its reliability, flexibility, and ease of use. However, some users have reported issues with Clonezilla, such as crashes and errors. Overall, Clonezilla is a reliable and powerful backup tool suitable for both personal and business use.

2. Duplicati is a free, open-source backup software that enables users to securely store their data locally or remotely. The software employs encryption and compression techniques to protect your files and supports various storage services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. Duplicati facilitates regular automatic backups of important files and offers a user-friendly interface for managing and monitoring the backup process.

Supported operating systems: Windows, macOS, and Linux

The app: Duplicati is backup software that stores backups online or locally.

?More reading: Offline Backup Software [2024's Top Picks]

Duplicati has several appealing backup features, including its ability to encrypt backups and perform incremental backups. It can also back up files from various devices to a range of storage providers, including Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, and Microsoft Azure.

It also has a web interface for managing backups. Some users have reported problems with Duplicati, but these seem relatively few and far between. All in all, Duplicati is a very promising backup option.

3. Amanda Backup System

Supported systems: Windows, Linux, or Unix

Product Review: Amanda Network Backup is a sleek and easy-to-configure solution that offers comprehensive data protection for businesses, safeguarding their valuable information.

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Amanda Network Backup is a tool designed to assist users in backing up and protecting their data. Key features include the ability to back up multiple machines simultaneously, support for various backup media such as tape and hard drives, and the provision of comprehensive reporting. Amanda also offers optional modules that can extend its functionality, such as the ability to back up databases or virtual machines.

Amanda (Advanced Maryland Automatic Network Disk Archiver) is a tool designed for backing up data to protect against loss due to hardware failures, software corruption, user errors, or other unforeseen circumstances. Additionally, it helps minimize downtime resulting from data loss by providing a fast and convenient method for data recovery.

Cobian Backup is a free backup software designed to create backup copies of data on Windows operating systems. It offers various backup options, such as full, incremental, and differential backups, and allows users to store the backed-up data on local hard drives, network locations, or external devices. Cobian Backup also features a scheduling tool, enabling users to set up automatic backup plans to ensure the safety of essential files.

Supported systems: Windows

Product review: Cobian Backup is an open-source software that allows you to back up your files to various locations, such as local drives, network services, or FTP servers.

Cobian Backup is equipped with various features to ensure your backups are complete and reliable. One key feature of Cobian Backup is its ability to compress and encrypt your backup files. This ensures the security and confidentiality of your backed-up data while occupying less space on your hard drive. Another crucial characteristic is its capability to create incremental backups, which means it only backs up new or modified files, saving both time and disk space.

Most importantly, Cobian Backup is free for both personal and commercial use, making it an excellent option for those looking for backup software that won't break the bank. If you're seeking a reliable and feature-rich backup solution, Cobian Backup is certainly worth considering.

5. Casync is a file synchronization software, known in Chinese as "Kuai Synchronization." It is primarily used for synchronizing and backing up files and data across different devices. Casync supports incremental synchronization, which means it only syncs the parts of files that have changed since the last synchronization, thus saving time and bandwidth. Furthermore, it features a decentralized architecture, eliminating the need for a central server, allowing file transfers to occur directly between peer networks.

Supported systems: Linux

Product Review: The open-source backup software Casync offers a range of customization options, making it a flexible solution for both home and business users.

Casync is a versatile backup software solution that offers a range of features and functions to help users back up their files, including incremental backups, version control, and encryption, providing comprehensive protection for your data.

This open-source backup software has garnered praise from users for its comprehensive data protection capabilities. Some have also applauded its fast backup and recovery speed. Overall, Casync is a reliable and efficient backup solution that offers crucial protection for users' data.

6. rdiff-backup

Supported systems: Linux

Product Overview: rdiff-backup is a very flexible and efficient open-source backup tool for creating reliable backups of files and directories.

rdiff-backup uses a synchronization algorithm to create compressed and incremental backups, meaning it only backs up the differences between the source and the target. This makes it very efficient in terms of both storage space and bandwidth usage.

The software also supports data deduplication, meaning that identical files, even if they exist in multiple locations, are backed up only once, thereby reducing the storage space required for backups. In addition, rdiff-backup offers features such as e-mail notifications, encryption, and support for multiple protocols, including ssh.

"Syncthing" translates to "Synchronizing thing" in Chinese, and it is an open-source file synchronization software that enables users to securely sync and share files across multiple devices.

Supported systems: macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and OpenBSD.

Product Review: Syncthing is a dependable and free open-source backup software that lets you sync and back up files between devices.

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Syncthing is an easy-to-use software with a straightforward user interface that enables file backup and synchronization between computers, laptops, smartphones, and servers. Notably, Syncthing offers fast backup speeds, as it employs peer-to-peer technology for data transfer between devices. Moreover, with the integration of the BitTorrent Sync algorithm and encryption options, it ensures secure and reliable data backups.

8. UrBackup

Supported systems: Windows, Linux, and macOS

Product review: UrBackup () is easy to set up, and novices as well as experienced users can use it to back up Windows desktops or servers.

UrBackup is an easy-to-setup open-source client-server backup system that ensures data safety and fast recovery times by combining image and file backups. Its high degree of customization makes it popular among both home and enterprise users.

UrBackup is an open-source backup software that automatically and on-demand backs up files and folders. Other notable features include incremental backups to save time and storage space, block-level backups to ensure only changed blocks are backed up for faster backup, encryption for added security, and more.

9. BackupPC in Chinese translates to "备份PC," which literally means "Backup Personal Computer."

Supported systems: Linux, Windows, and macOS

Product Review: BackupPC is a highly flexible open-source backup software with great features, making it an ideal choice for businesses and individuals needing to back up large amounts of data.

One of BackupPC's key features is its ability to compress and encrypt backup data, ensuring the safety of your information and its recoverability in case of disaster. Another notable aspect is its incremental backup capability, which backs up only changed files, saving time and storage space.

All in all, BackupPC is a high-performance, enterprise-class backup software that is easy to install and maintain.

10. Bareos is an open-source network backup solution designed to protect your data from accidental loss. It offers comprehensive features for data backup, recovery, and verification, supporting various operating systems and databases. Bareos can operate in diverse environments, ranging from enterprises to small offices and personal use, ensuring your crucial information is securely stored.

Supported systems: Linux, Windows, and macOS

Product review: Bareos is an open-source backup and recovery program that offers enterprise-class features while remaining user-friendly.

Key features of Bareos include support for various backup devices such as tape drives and hard disks, a centralized management console, and a flexible scheduling system. It also offers encryption and compression, making it well-suited for businesses that need to protect sensitive data.

In addition, Bareos can back up virtual machines, making it a versatile tool for organizations of all sizes.

Conclusions

There are many open-source backup software programs to choose from, each with its pros and cons. Whatever backup software you opt for, having a plan in place to protect your data is crucial. Make sure to evaluate your needs and select the solution that best suits you.

If command-line tools are too difficult to use, try a graphical interface backup program like Todo Backup, which offers a more intuitive interface and smoother process for backing up files, disks, and systems.

More frequently asked questions about open-source backup software

Get more information about open source backup software.

**What is the best open-source backup software for Windows 10?**

Here are eight open source backup tools to help you protect your files on Windows 10:

• Clonezilla
• Duplicati
• Amanda Network Backup
• Cobian Backup
• Syncthing
• UrBackup
• BackupPC
• Bareos
These are all names of backup software tools: 1. Clonezilla - a disk cloning and imaging utility. 2. Duplicati - a free, open-source backup software with encryption capabilities. 3. Amanda Network Backup - a network backup solution for multiple servers and workstations. 4. Cobian Backup - a free, personal backup software for Windows. 5. Syncthing - a peer-to-peer file synchronization tool. 6. UrBackup - an easy to set up server-based backup system. 7. BackupPC - a high-performance, enterprise-grade backup software for Linux, Windows, and macOS. 8. Bareos - an open-source network backup solution that provides backup and recovery for various operating systems.

**What's the best free online backup service?**

Duplicati is a secure and free online backup service that creates encrypted backups on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It supports standard protocols like FTP, SSH, and WebDAV. Additionally, this open-source backup tool offers robust AES-256 encryption and Zip/Deflate or 7z/LZMA2 compression for enhanced data security during backups.

How do I back up my files on Windows 10?

Download and use Todo Backup to easily back up your files, partitions, disks, and even your system.

Step 1: Launch the backup tool. Choose to back up files, disks, operating systems, or email.

Step 2. Choose the location where you want to save the backup. You can store the backup file on your local drive, an online service, a cloud drive, or a NAS.

Step 3: Once the setup is complete, start the backup process.

**What are the three types of backups?**

On a computer, you can perform three main types of backups: full, incremental, and differential. A full backup copies all files in a specified directory to the backup location. An incremental backup only backs up files that have been added or modified since the last backup. A differential backup, on the other hand, copies all files that have been added or modified since the last full backup.