Bnkr vs Cohesity Kubernetes Backup and Recovery

Bnkr is a free, open-source Kubernetes backup and migration application focused on valuable data inside a cluster rather than the whole cluster. It backs up files in Pods, Deployments, and StatefulSets, plus MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB databases. Schedules can run hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or through a cron formula, and manual backup and restore are available. Email notifications report successful or failed backups and migrations to multiple recipients. Bnkr describes bidirectional migration of files and supported databases between Kubernetes, servers, and S3. The project runs as a single-binary web server and can be deployed in Kubernetes with a service account able to access backup data. Its README recommends the official image because some dependencies are external tools. Bnkr is available on the web or for self-hosting, uses the MIT license, and lists more than 20 themes. The free plan is listed at free, with no usage limit stated.

Cohesity Kubernetes Backup and Recovery protects Kubernetes operational metadata and application persistent state. It uses policy-based, application-tier-specific incremental-forever backups with scheduled frequency and custom retention. Snapshots can be restored to alternate on-premises or public-cloud locations, including cross-cluster and point-in-time recovery. Cohesity recommends backing up both the cluster control plane and application data. Native Kubernetes integration works with container-clustering and orchestration tools, while supported environments include Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, on-premises systems, and Cohesity-powered service-provider clouds. Zero-cost clones can support application development without performance impact. Helios uses segregated tenants, dedicated repositories, and Zero Trust controls. Cohesity states that data is encrypted with TLS 1.2 and mTLS in transit and AES-256 at rest. Pricing is on request; a 30-day trial costs nothing.