GSB vs SideSave
GSB
openbagtwo.github.ioSideSave
github.comSide by side
| Figure | GSB | SideSave |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Save Managers | 7.4 (#19) | 7.9 (#12) |
| Install options | The installation guide describes installing GSB with pipx or pip, including within a conda or other virtual environment. | The repository documents building a CLI and daemon, a desktop app, a relay server, and a Steam Deck Flatpak and Decky plugin. |
| Purpose | GSB manages incremental backups of game save states using Git. | SideSave syncs save data for non-Steam games added to Steam as shortcuts between two specific machines, peer-to-peer. |
| Support | The contribution guide directs users to open a GitHub issue to report bugs or propose features. | The user guide directs users to the SideSave Discord for help and GitHub Issues for bug reports. |
Plans
In their own words
SideSave
SideSave is free, open-source software that synchronizes save data for non-Steam games added to Steam as shortcuts. It pairs two approved machines and transfers tracked saves over a local network or an internet relay, sending only changed content blocks. Versioned snapshots and branches preserve history, while lineage-based conflict detection asks whether to keep the local copy, remote copy, or both. Saves can be restored individually or as complete versions. Detection reads Steam’s shortcuts.vdf file and offers Proton save locations for tracking. The scan excludes real Steam Cloud games, emulator saves, repack-wrapper detection, and portable installs. Optional backups can mirror snapshots to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, a webhook, or local/NAS storage. SideSave has no accounts or telemetry; relay traffic is encrypted but not end-to-end. The project publishes no releases, so users build the CLI, desktop app, relay, or Steam Deck components from source.