BackupPC

BackupPC is a free, open-source server system that backs up files from Linux, Windows, and macOS computers. It suits administrators managing several PCs or laptops, especially machines that connect only occasionally. The central storage, deduplication, and scheduling are compelling; readers needing exact disk recovery should choose another category of tool.

Overview

BackupPC keeps computer backups on a server's disk and manages them through a web interface. Administrators can review configuration, logs, and current status, while users can start or cancel jobs and browse or restore their own files. Because laptops may have intermittent connections and changing IP addresses, the design works for mobile workforces without requiring every machine to remain permanently reachable.

No client-side application is required. The documented approaches include SMB, rsync, tar, and FTP, so an administrator can accommodate different operating systems and existing file-sharing arrangements. BackupPC is distributed under the GPL license. The project identifies version 4.4.0, released June 20, 2020, as its latest release, with announcement, user-support, and developer mailing lists for project communication.

Key features

Deduplicated storage: Identical files appearing in multiple backups are stored once. This reduces server disk consumption and disk I/O, particularly when several computers share common documents or system files.

Optional compression: Compression lowers storage use further, while only newly encountered files need to be compressed. That avoids repeatedly spending compression effort on unchanged content.

Flexible schedules: Administrators can run parallel backups and define full and incremental schedules. Settings can apply globally or to an individual PC, allowing tighter control for different machines and workloads.

File restoration: Files can be restored directly or downloaded as ZIP or tar archives. This is well suited to recovering selected documents, folders, or earlier file versions rather than rebuilding an entire computer.

Backup controls and reminders: Users can initiate or cancel backups, and configurable email reminders can flag computers that have not checked in recently. These controls help expose neglected laptops before a data-loss incident.

Integrity checks: Backup files use full-file MD5 digests. The documentation acknowledges that MD5 collisions remain possible, so this should not be treated as a modern collision-proof security guarantee.

Pricing

BackupPC costs nothing. The free BackupPC plan is the GPL-licensed open-source software itself, backing up PCs and laptops to a server's disk. There is no per-seat or storage subscription in the stated plan, but the server hardware and disk capacity are your responsibility. It is therefore most attractive to organizations that already operate suitable infrastructure and can administer it; readers wanting hosted storage or a packaged service should compare commercial alternatives.

Platforms

The software supports Linux, Windows, and macOS computers, with a web interface and self-hosted deployment. BackupPC is designed for computer file backup, not mobile backup, and its storage target is a server's disk. That broad desktop coverage is useful in mixed fleets, while the self-hosted requirement rules it out for readers seeking a cloud-only setup.

Who it's for

Choose BackupPC when you need centralized protection for files on multiple desktops or laptops, want control over backup methods and schedules, and can maintain a server. It is particularly suitable for intermittently connected machines and environments where avoiding client installation matters. It is a poor fit when the recovery objective is an exact image of a failed disk: the documentation explicitly excludes that use.

Pros and cons

Pros

Free and open source: GPL licensing avoids recurring software charges and permits self-managed deployment.

Efficient shared storage: Cross-backup deduplication and optional compression limit repeated data on the server.

Broad, agentless coverage: Linux, Windows, and macOS systems can use documented SMB, rsync, tar, or FTP methods without client software.

Useful administration: Web-based logs, status, per-PC settings, and missed-backup reminders support managed fleets.

Cons

No mobile backup: Phones and tablets are outside its stated scope.

File restore only: It cannot provide exact disk re-imaging after a drive failure.

Self-hosting burden: You must supply and maintain the server disk and administration expertise.

MD5 caveat: Collision possibilities mean the documented digest mechanism is not a contemporary cryptographic integrity assurance.

Alternatives

NAS Backup Software is the broader category to review when your priority is backing up to network-attached storage. For a wider product comparison, see Backup software.

IDrive is a better direction for hosted, cross-platform storage with Android and iOS support, a free tier, and paid capacities including 100 GB for $0.25 a month. Duplicacy suits users wanting a freemium, self-hosted-capable tool with a personal license priced at 20.00 USD for the first year and $5 a year afterward.

Choose Acronis Cyber Disaster Recovery Cloud when paid disaster-recovery services and broad platform coverage matter more than a free self-hosted system. Duplicati offers a free plan monitoring up to two machines and the last 200 backups, with a Pro plan at $2 a month. ElephantDrive is a paid hosted option with a Solo plan at $10 a month and 1,000 GB included storage.

Kopia is another free, open-source choice, but storage must be provisioned and paid for separately. Storware Backup & Recovery provides a free license without technical support and a 60-day trial for up to 20 virtual environments. Synology Photos is free for users who already require a Synology NAS.

Verdict

BackupPC is a strong choice for technically capable administrators who want free, centralized file backups across Linux, Windows, and macOS without installing agents, especially where deduplication and intermittent laptop connections matter. Look elsewhere if you need mobile coverage, hosted storage, or exact bare-metal disk restoration.