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File Storage & Backup · head to head

Arq Backup vs TrueNAS

Arq Backup logo

Arq Backup

File Storage & Backup

Mac and Windows backup to your own cloud storage

From
$50/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TrueNAS logo

TrueNAS

File Storage & Backup

Open-source ZFS storage operating system for network-attached storage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TrueNAS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Arq Backup runs on Mac and Windows only; TrueNAS requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Arq Backup and TrueNAS differ
AttributeArq BackupTrueNAS
Starting price$50/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, MacSelf-hosted, Linux, Web, API
Founded2009Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (File Storage & Backup).

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
  • Deduplication
  • Immutable backups
  • Budget controls
  • AWS S3
  • Google Cloud

Only in TrueNAS

Nothing recorded that Arq Backup does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Arq Backup

  • Data protectionnot TrueNAS
  • Disaster recoverynot TrueNAS
  • Business continuitynot TrueNAS
  • Ransomware protectionnot TrueNAS
  • Compliancenot TrueNAS

TrueNAS

  • On-premises backup and archival storage for enterprisesnot Arq Backup
  • Home lab and small business network-attached storagenot Arq Backup
  • Media server storage for video, photo, and document librariesnot Arq Backup
  • Disaster recovery and business continuity replicationnot Arq Backup
  • S3-compatible object storage for cloud-native applicationsnot Arq Backup
  • High-availability storage clusters for datacentresnot 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

TrueNAS

  • Requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure
  • ZFS filesystem entails high memory requirements (1 GB RAM per 1 TB of storage recommended), increasing costs for large deployments
  • Limited ARM/embedded support; Community Edition is primarily x86-64, reducing deployment options for edge installations
  • Clustering and replication setup requires operational expertise; misconfiguration can lead to data loss
  • Enterprise support and SLA guarantees require paid subscriptions; Community Edition relies on peer-based forums

Pricing, plan by plan

Arq Backup

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

TrueNAS

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the TrueNAS review.

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 TrueNAS if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API.
TrueNAS review

Questions people ask

Is Arq Backup or TrueNAS better?
Neither clearly leads. Arq Backup starts at $50/year and TrueNAS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arq Backup or TrueNAS?
TrueNAS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $50/year for Arq Backup and Free for TrueNAS.
Does Arq Backup or TrueNAS run on more platforms?
Arq Backup runs on Windows, Mac. TrueNAS runs on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API.
Can I use TrueNAS for free?
Yes. TrueNAS 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 TrueNAS is typically brought in for.
What can Arq Backup do that TrueNAS cannot?
Arq Backup covers Client-side encryption, Hourly backups, Network backup, Deduplication.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

TrueNAS: What is the cost of TrueNAS Community Edition?

TrueNAS Community Edition is free and open-source. There are no licensing fees, but organisations must purchase and maintain their own x86 hardware. Enterprise Edition requires paid support contracts for production environments.

Source
TrueNAS: Can I replicate TrueNAS data between sites?

Yes. TrueNAS supports snapshot-based replication over network links, enabling disaster recovery and business continuity. Replication can occur between Community Edition systems or between Enterprise Appliances.

Source
TrueNAS: What storage protocols does TrueNAS support?

TrueNAS simultaneously supports NFS (network file system), SMB (Windows file sharing), iSCSI (block storage), and S3-compatible object storage, all from the same storage pool.

Source
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Related pages

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