Alternatives to Bacula

Enterprise network backup system with director, storage and client daemons. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Bacula.

  • Bareos

    Network backup system that archives and restores data across mixed server fleets.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsLinuxSelf-hosted

    Bareos is a Bacula-style AGPL-3.0 client-server system with no open-core restrictions, so there is no separate enterprise feature set to buy.

  • Amanda

    Long-running network backup system for disk and tape.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted

    Amanda writes archives in standard tar or dump formats readable without the tool, and balances full and incremental runs automatically.

  • BURP

    Network backup and restore server with deduplication and encryption.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted

    BURP is a lighter AGPL-3.0 network backup server with deduplication, encryption and Windows VSS support, configured through files.

  • UrBackup

    Manage file and image backups through a client-server system.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinux

    UrBackup is an AGPL-3.0 client-server system for file and image backups with centralized administration, without tape library focus.

  • BackupPC

    Back up computers to a centrally managed server.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    BackupPC is a GPL-3.0 centrally managed server with a web interface for backing up network computers, requiring Perl dependencies.

  • Veeam Backup & Replication

    Windows backup server that protects virtual machines, physical machines, NAS shares and cloud workloads.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindows

    Veeam Backup & Replication is closed-source freemium software whose backup server runs on Windows only, covering virtual, physical, NAS and cloud workloads.

  • NAKIVO Backup & Replication

    Backup and replication for virtual machines, physical servers and Microsoft 365.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindowsLinuxSelf-hosted

    NAKIVO Backup & Replication is closed source with per-workload licensing, focusing on virtual machines, physical servers and Microsoft 365 from one console.

Also worth comparing

These listings name Bacula as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.

  • Minarca

    An open-source, self-hosted backup system with desktop agents and a central server for managing backups.

    FreeOpen sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    Bacula is an open source enterprise network backup system that scales to tape libraries and many clients, with extensive and unforgiving configuration.

  • Proxmox Backup Server

    Backup server for virtual machines, containers and physical hosts with deduplication.

    FreemiumOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    Bacula is AGPL-3.0 network backup built around director, storage and client daemons with tape library support, though its configuration is extensive and unforgiving.

  • Retrospect Backup

    Commercial backup and recovery software for Windows and Mac servers, endpoints and virtual environments.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOS

    Bacula is a free AGPL-3.0 network backup system with Linux support and tape libraries, but its configuration is extensive and some features sit in the Enterprise edition.

  • Veeam Backup & Replication Community Edition

    A free edition of Veeam Backup & Replication for backing up virtual machines and physical servers.

    FreemiumProprietaryWindows

    Bacula is open source and scales to many clients and tape libraries without an instance cap, though configuration is unforgiving and some features sit in the Enterprise edition.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.