Tarsnap VS Bitwave CLI

• Security
  Tarsnap encrypts data on the client-side using strong encryption practices before it is uploaded to the cloud, ensuring that no unencrypted data is ever stored on their servers.
• Deduplication
  It implements an effective deduplication strategy to only store unique data, potentially reducing backup sizes and saving on storage costs.
• Incremental Backups
  Supports incremental backups, which means only new or changed data is uploaded after the initial backup, saving bandwidth and time.
• Cross-Platform
  Tarsnap is available for multiple operating systems, including various Unix-like systems, making it versatile for different environments.
• Open Source Client
  Tarsnap's client code is open-source, allowing users to review and modify the source code to meet their specific needs or security requirements.

Possible disadvantages

• Complexity
  The setup and operation require command-line skills, which can be intimidating for users who are not technically inclined or prefer graphical interfaces.
• Pricing
  Tarsnap charges based on data and bandwidth usage, which can become costly over time for users with large data storage or frequent backup needs.
• Documentation
  While thorough, some users find the documentation to be complex and challenging to navigate, making it harder to get started quickly.
• No Native Windows Support
  It does not natively support Windows, though workarounds exist, this can be a limitation for users who operate primarily on Windows systems.
• Manual Configuration
  Lacks an automated or guided setup wizard, requiring users to manually configure settings which can lead to user error if not carefully handled.

No features have been listed yet.

• Where do you store your backups? What Provider if any?

  Tarsnap for configs and critical stuff (password database, emails). Source: about 4 years ago

• 3,200-Year-Old Egyptian Tablet Records Excuses for Why People Missed Work

  Someone does :) https://tarsnap.com > Tarsnap uses a prepaid model based on actual usage: > Storage: 250 picodollars / byte-month of encoded data. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago

• What's your backup strategy?

  Each server also upload their configs and « important » data (my mails and git repos) to tarsnap 3. Tarsnap storage is not as cheap as B2, so I try not to upload too much data there, but it's reliable and easy to use. It was also my... Source: almost 5 years ago

Tracking Bitwave CLI since Jul 2026.