BackupPC vs UrBackup

BackupPC backs up Linux, Windows, and macOS computers to a server’s disk. It is open-source software distributed under the GPL, with a free plan. No software needs to be installed on each computer; its documentation describes backup methods using SMB, rsync, tar, and FTP. Identical files found in different backups are stored once, and optional compression can reduce storage use while compressing only new files. Administrators can use the web interface to check logs, configuration, and status. Users can start or cancel backups, browse files, and restore them directly or download them as ZIP or tar archives. Scheduling settings cover parallel backups, full and incremental backups, and system-wide or per-computer configuration. BackupPC also supports laptops that connect intermittently or use dynamic IP addresses, with configurable email reminders when a computer has not been backed up recently. The project lists announcement, user-support, and developer mailing lists. Its listed latest release is version 4.4.0, dated June 20, 2020. The documentation says it is not intended to recreate a failed disk exactly.

UrBackup is backup software from UrBackup in Ulm, Germany, covering computers, mobile devices and servers. It runs on Android, Linux, macOS and Windows. The listed backup scope combines file and image backups, while restore modes are mixed. Ransomware protection is included. UrBackup core is AGPLv3+ open-source software with a self-hosted server for file and image backups; no price is listed for that plan. A free plan is available, with paid options from €15.50. The Change block tracking option for the UrBackup Client on Windows costs €15.50 a month, billed per client excluding VAT. It speeds incremental image and file backups, includes 2.x updates and works with UrBackup Server 2.x. A separate client for Microsoft Hyper-V 2016 or later backs up virtual-machine disks as images and restores those images to VHD or VHDX files.