Back In Time

Spec sheet

Purpose

Back In Time is a graphical and command-line tool for incremental backups on GNU/Linux desktops.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Supported platforms

GNU/LinuxRead 23 Sep 2026 · github.com

Free plan

YesRead 23 Sep 2026 · github.com

Support

The project lists a mailing list, Mastodon, GitHub issues, and a project email for questions and bug reports.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Access limits

Back In Time runs as a user-mode tool, so it can restore only folders the user has write access to.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Backup destinations

Profiles support local storage, local encrypted storage, SSH remote storage, and encrypted SSH storage.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Backup scope

fileRead 23 Sep 2026 · github.com

Computer backup

YesRead 23 Sep 2026 · github.com

Encryption

Local encrypted and SSH encrypted profiles use gocryptfs to encrypt backup data.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Known issue

The project reports a stable-release issue where the files view may fail to display files or directories when a backup is selected in the timeline.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Maintenance

The project says it is actively developed by a volunteer team, with current work focused on major issues and stabilizing the codebase.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Mobile backup

NoRead 23 Sep 2026 · github.com

Password handling

Passwords can be stored in the desktop keyring or cached in memory for scheduled jobs, but a root user could read the cache daemon’s password.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Restore

Backups can be browsed with a file browser or terminal and restored without Back In Time, though permissions could be lost when restoring outside the application.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Restore modes

fileRead 23 Sep 2026 · github.com

Retention

Rules can retain or automatically delete backups based on age, retention periods, free storage, and free inodes.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Scheduling

Schedules include fixed time intervals, catch-up schedules, startup events, and backup-drive connection events.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Security configuration

Backup directory permissions depend on the system or user umask and the permissions of parent directories.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Server backup

NoRead 23 Sep 2026 · github.com

Storage efficiency

It uses rsync and hard links to reduce space used by unchanged files.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Storage requirements

The destination filesystem must support hard links, and mounted remote shares must support hard links and symlinks.Read 12 Oct 2026 · backintime.readthedocs.io

Plans and prices

Every Back In Time plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Backup software#87 of 1517.7