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Arq Backup vs Borg Backup

Arq Backup logo

Arq Backup

Software

Mac and Windows backup to your own cloud storage

From
$50/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Borg Backup logo

Borg Backup

Software

Deduplicating archiver with compression and encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Borg Backup has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Arq Backup runs on Mac and Windows only; Borg Backup linux, macOS and BSD only; Windows is not a supported platform
  • They diverge on capability: Arq Backup covers Client-side encryption, Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arq Backup and Borg Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Arq Backup and Borg Backup differ
AttributeArq BackupBorg Backup
Starting price$50/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacLinux, Mac
Founded20092015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Arq Backup

  • Client-side encryption
  • Hourly backups
  • Network backup
  • Immutable backups
  • Budget controls
  • AWS S3
  • Google Cloud
  • Azure

Only in Borg Backup

  • Content-defined chunking
  • Compression
  • Authenticated encryption
  • Pruning
  • Mount archives
  • SSH
  • BorgBase
  • rsync.net

Both cover

  • Deduplication
  • Mac support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Arq Backup

  • Data protectionnot Borg Backup
  • Disaster recoverynot Borg Backup
  • Business continuitynot Borg Backup
  • Ransomware protectionnot Borg Backup
  • Compliancenot Borg Backup

Borg Backup

  • Deduplicated backups where daily full snapshots would otherwise be expensivenot Arq Backup
  • Encrypted backup to a server you do not fully trust, since the server never sees plaintextnot Arq Backup
  • Browsing previous versions by mounting an archive over FUSEnot Arq Backup
  • Scripted server backups with no agent or daemon to runnot Arq Backup

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Arq Backup

  • Runs on Mac and Windows only
  • Arq 7 is licensed per computer, and continuing to receive updates after the first year costs $25 per year per computer
  • Arq Premium covers up to 5 computers, so larger households or teams need more than one subscription
  • Arq Premium includes 1TB of storage and charges $0.0059 per GB per month beyond it

Borg Backup

  • Linux, macOS and BSD only; Windows is not a supported platform
  • Command-line only, with no graphical interface in the project itself
  • Version 2.0 is still in beta, so production use means staying on the 1.4 line
  • Restoring requires the Borg tooling, since archives are a deduplicated chunk store rather than plain files

Pricing, plan by plan

Arq Backup

$50/year
  • Arq Premium$50/year
    • 5 computers
    • Arq Cloud storage option
    • Email support

Borg Backup

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Deduplication
    • Compression
    • Encryption

Which should you pick?

Choose Arq Backup if

  • You need client-side encryption.
  • You work on Windows, Mac.
  • You also want hourly backups.
Arq Backup review

Choose Borg Backup if

  • You need content-defined chunking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Mac.
  • You also want compression.
Borg Backup review

Questions people ask

Is Arq Backup or Borg Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Arq Backup starts at $50/year and Borg Backup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arq Backup or Borg Backup?
Borg Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $50/year for Arq Backup and Free for Borg Backup.
Does Arq Backup or Borg Backup run on more platforms?
Arq Backup runs on Windows, Mac. Borg Backup runs on Linux, Mac.
Can I use Borg Backup for free?
Yes. Borg Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arq Backup starts at $50/year.
What is Arq Backup best used for?
Arq Backup is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Borg Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Arq Backup do that Borg Backup cannot?
Arq Backup covers Client-side encryption, Hourly backups, Network backup, Immutable backups. Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking, Compression, Authenticated encryption, Pruning. Both handle Deduplication, Mac support.
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