Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Duplicity VS Bacula

Compare Duplicity VS Bacula and see what are their differences

Duplicity logo Duplicity

Duplicity backs directories by producing encrypted tar-format volumes and uploading them to a remote or local file server.

Bacula logo Bacula

Bacula is a set of Open Source, enterprise ready, computer programs that permit you (or the system...
  • Duplicity Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • Bacula Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-24

Duplicity features and specs

  • Encrypted Backups
    Duplicity uses GnuPG to encrypt and sign backups, ensuring that data is secure and protected from unauthorized access.
  • Incremental Backups
    Supports incremental backups which only save the changes made since the last backup, reducing storage requirements and speeding up the backup process.
  • Storage Flexibility
    Supports various backends for backup storage including local files, FTP, SCP, Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, and others, giving users flexible storage options.
  • Bandwidth Efficiency
    Uploads bandwidth-efficient tar-format volumes using rsync or ssh+rsync, optimizing network usage.
  • Open Source
    Duplicity is open source software, meaning it is free to use and the codebase can be reviewed and modified by the community.
  • Cross-Platform
    Available on various operating systems including Unix-like systems (Linux, macOS) and Windows, making it versatile for different user environments.

Possible disadvantages of Duplicity

  • Complex Configuration
    Has a steep learning curve and complex configuration setup which may be challenging for non-technical users or those new to backup management.
  • Dependency on External Libraries
    Relies on several external libraries such as GnuPG and Python, which may complicate installation and maintenance.
  • Command Line Interface
    Lacks a graphical user interface (GUI), requiring users to operate through a command line, potentially limiting its usability for those unfamiliar with command-line operations.
  • Backup Speed
    Incremental backups can still be relatively slow, especially for large datasets or when using certain storage backends.
  • Restoration Time
    Restoring data can be time-consuming, particularly if multiple incremental backups need to be reassembled to recover the most recent version of files.
  • Limited Community Support
    Though it is open source, the community around Duplicity is smaller compared to more mainstream backup solutions, potentially leading to slower support and fewer third-party resources.

Bacula features and specs

  • Open-Source
    Bacula is an open-source backup solution, which means it is free to use and can be modified to fit specific needs without any licensing costs.
  • Highly Configurable
    Bacula offers extensive configuration options, allowing users to tailor the backup process to their specific requirements and accommodate unique infrastructure setups.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    Bacula supports a wide range of platforms, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, enabling a unified backup strategy across different operating systems.
  • Scalability
    Bacula is designed to scale easily from small environments to large enterprises, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes.
  • Strong Community and Support
    Being an established open-source project, Bacula has a large and active community that offers extensive documentation, forums, and third-party support.

Possible disadvantages of Bacula

  • Complex Setup
    Bacula requires a substantial amount of time and expertise to set up and configure correctly, which can be daunting for beginners or those without in-depth technical knowledge.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The extensive configuration options and flexibility come with a steep learning curve, requiring significant effort to master and fully utilize the system's capabilities.
  • Limited GUI
    Bacula’s graphical user interface (GUI) options are not as comprehensive or user-friendly as some commercial backup solutions, making management tasks more challenging.
  • Performance Overheads
    Bacula's performance can be impacted by its extensive feature set and configuration options, which may lead to higher resource consumption and longer backup windows.
  • Complex Recovery Process
    Restoring data with Bacula can be complex and may require a detailed understanding of its configuration and operations, potentially extending recovery times in critical situations.

Analysis of Duplicity

Overall verdict

  • Duplicity is considered a highly capable backup software, especially appreciated for its encryption and compatibility with multiple storage solutions. However, its command-line nature might present a learning curve for those unfamiliar with terminal operations. Overall, it is well-regarded in tech communities for its flexibility and security features.

Why this product is good

  • Duplicity is a reliable and versatile backup solution that supports encrypted, versioned, and incremental backups. It utilizes the rsync algorithm and supports a wide range of backends, offering secure and confidential data storage over various protocols like FTP, SSH, and cloud services. Its robust encryption ensures data security during transfer and storage. Additionally, it provides command-line functionality, allowing advanced users to automate and customize their backup operations effectively.

Recommended for

  • Tech-savvy users comfortable with command-line interfaces
  • Individuals or organizations needing encrypted backups
  • Users requiring incremental backups and version control
  • Linux users seeking open-source backup solutions

Analysis of Bacula

Overall verdict

  • Bacula is a good choice for organizations looking for a comprehensive, reliable, and customizable backup solution. Its open-source nature and wide range of features make it an attractive option for businesses that prefer open-source software and have the technical expertise to configure it to meet their specific requirements.

Why this product is good

  • Bacula is highly regarded for its robustness and flexibility as a backup solution. It is open-source, which ensures transparency and the ability for businesses to customize it according to their needs. Bacula supports a wide range of operating systems and offers features such as network backup, scheduling, and the ability to manage large data sets efficiently. Additionally, its modular design allows for scalable and distributed backups, making it suitable for complex environments.

Recommended for

  • Businesses with complex IT environments that require scalable and flexible backup solutions.
  • Organizations that value open-source software and have the technical capability to manage and customize it.
  • IT departments looking to implement comprehensive data backup strategies for various operating systems.
  • Enterprises that need to ensure data recovery and protection across multiple networked machines.

Duplicity videos

Duplicity Movie Review: Beyond The Trailer

More videos:

  • Review - "Duplicity" (Funny Movie Review)
  • Review - Duplicity Spill Review

Bacula videos

how bacula works -Good For Linux Interviews

More videos:

  • Review - Bacula Backup Software on NAS (Network Attached Storage)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Duplicity and Bacula)
Cloud Storage
67 67%
33% 33
File Sharing And Backup
36 36%
64% 64
File Sharing
56 56%
44% 44
Backup & Restore
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Duplicity and Bacula. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Duplicity and Bacula

Duplicity Reviews

25 Outstanding Backup Utilities for Linux Systems in 2020
Duplicity is a free open source, secure and bandwidth-efficient backup tool based on rsync. It creates encrypted backups of directories in tar-format archives and backs them on the local or remote machine over SSH. When launched for the first time, it performs a full backup, and in subsequent backups in the future, it only records parts of files that have changed.
Source: www.tecmint.com

Bacula Reviews

Linux File Backup - 5 Best Softeware for Linux Desktop and Server
Though the market offers tons of Linux file backup software, the above write-up contains the top 5 recommendations based on their wide usage. For Linux desktop backup, Timeshift and Back in Time are the most valuable, while Bacula is specialized for those managing the backups of the server.
Source: www.easeus.com
The Best Free Backup Software and Why it is Difficult to Find One
This is why this part of our article focuses on the best free backup software that can be used specifically in commercial environments. However, these solutions are at their best when interacting with smaller or middle-sized companies and systems, meaning that it is highly recommended to look for a full-fledged premium enterprise-level backup solution if your company is big...
Source: www.bacula.org
The Top 17 Free and Open Source Backup Solutions
Bacula is an enterprise level computer backup system that can work in a range of networks, which offers an open source option. The provider supports Linux, UNIX, FreeBSD, MacOS, OpenBSD, Solaris, and Windows backup users. Administrators and operators can configure the system through a command line console, GUI or web interface. The majority of Bacula’s source code is...
15 Best Acronis Alternatives 2022
Bacula Enterprise has been adopted by many large organizations around the world, including NASA, Bank of Austria, Swisscom, and Sky PLC, due to its advanced feature set, exceptional reliability, and ability to handle large volumes of data at a low-cost point.
Top 5 System Backup Tools for the Linux Desktop (Updated 2020)
It is the complete backup solution needed for a small or even a large enterprise to maintain and secure their data. Bacula comes with two versions, the Basic and Enterprise version. The basic version comes with all the basic features needed in a backup and recovery solution and the enterprise version comes with a lot of advanced features including Metal backup, cloud back...
Source: zcom.tech

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Duplicity seems to be a lot more popular than Bacula. While we know about 12 links to Duplicity, we've tracked only 1 mention of Bacula. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Duplicity mentions (12)

  • Restic: Backups Done Right
    Other popular choices include borg, duplicity, and duplicati. After evaluating these and others mentioned in the comments, I ended up using borg with borgmatic to define homelab backups with yaml files that are version controlled in gitea and deployed using ansible. I also use duplicity to back up my sister in laws storefront website to backblaze. I've been quite happy with both.... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Are small ceph clusters viable?
    Overbuilt and OTT? Sure... But this works fantastically for my use case. I have current backups of everything except my media library because of the size of it; my VM's are all backed up to my Synology nightly using Backy2, my application data gets dumped to that same Synology NAS nightly as well, and all of that also gets synced to Glacier deep storage once a week using Duplicity. I'm going to be adding a new ZFS... Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Most used selfhosted services in 2022?
    There are some backup tools in this thread. Duplicati, rsync, restic, Duplicity, Syncthing. Source: over 2 years ago
  • reposting help with bash script
    Here are a couple of projects that implement what you seem to be trying to do: https://duplicity.gitlab.io , https://borgbackup.readthedocs.io/en/stable/index.html# . You could either use them or just look at the scripts for ideas Writing your own script is a great exercise but a robust, historical and conveniently accessible backup system is more complicated. (I personally use rsnapshot to an encrypted drive... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Simple backup tools for Fedora?
    GUI based on https://duplicity.gitlab.io/. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Bacula mentions (1)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Duplicity and Bacula, you can also consider the following products

Duplicati - Free backup software to store backups online with strong encryption. Works with FTP, SSH, WebDAV, OneDrive, Amazon S3, Google Drive and many others.

SpiderOak - SpiderOak makes it possible for you to privately store, sync, share & access your data from everywhere.

UrBackup - UrBackup is a open source client/server backup system, that through a combination of image and file...

rsync - rsync is a file transfer program for Unix systems. rsync uses the "rsync algorithm" which provides a very fast method for bringing remote files into sync.

Borg Backup - Deduplicating backup program with compression and authenticated encryption

FreeFileSync - FreeFileSync is a free open source data backup software that helps you synchronize files and folders on Windows, Linux and macOS.