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Backup · head to head

Bacula Enterprise vs Borg Backup

Bacula Enterprise logo

Bacula Enterprise

Backup

Open-source enterprise backup solution

From
$500/year
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Borg Backup logo

Borg Backup

Backup

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: Bacula Enterprise pricing is not published; the vendor asks for a request rather than listing rates; Borg Backup linux, macOS and BSD only; Windows is not a supported platform
  • They diverge on capability: Bacula Enterprise covers Modular architecture, Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bacula Enterprise and Borg Backup actually diverge.

Attributes where Bacula Enterprise and Borg Backup differ
AttributeBacula EnterpriseBorg Backup
Starting price$500/yearFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Linux, WebLinux, Mac
Founded20092015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (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 Bacula Enterprise

  • Modular architecture
  • Plugin framework
  • Cloud storage
  • Encryption
  • Automated recovery testing
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V
  • AWS

Only in Borg Backup

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

Both cover

  • Deduplication
  • Linux support

What people use each for

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

Bacula Enterprise

  • Enterprise backup across virtual machines, databases and containersnot Borg Backup
  • Multi-cloud and hybrid backup from one systemnot Borg Backup
  • Backup where licensing by data volume would be prohibitive, since Bacula does not charge by capacitynot Borg Backup
  • Long-retention archival for regulated environmentsnot Borg Backup

Borg Backup

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

Where each one falls short

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

Bacula Enterprise

  • Pricing is not published; the vendor asks for a request rather than listing rates
  • The differences between Enterprise and the open source Community edition are not set out on the product pages, so what the licence buys is unclear until you talk to sales
  • Aimed at data centre and enterprise environments rather than small deployments

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

Bacula Enterprise

$500/year
  • Bacula Enterprise$500/year
    • Unlimited data
    • Plugin support
    • Enterprise support

Borg Backup

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Deduplication
    • Compression
    • Encryption

Which should you pick?

Choose Bacula Enterprise if

  • You need modular architecture.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want plugin framework.
Bacula Enterprise 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 Bacula Enterprise or Borg Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Bacula Enterprise starts at $500/year and Borg Backup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bacula Enterprise or Borg Backup?
Borg Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $500/year for Bacula Enterprise and Free for Borg Backup.
Does Bacula Enterprise or Borg Backup run on more platforms?
Bacula Enterprise runs on Windows, Linux, Web. 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. Bacula Enterprise starts at $500/year.
What is Bacula Enterprise best used for?
Bacula Enterprise is most often used for enterprise backup across virtual machines, databases and containers, multi-cloud and hybrid backup from one system, backup where licensing by data volume would be prohibitive, since bacula does not charge by capacity, long-retention archival for regulated environments. Of those, enterprise backup across virtual machines, databases and containers and multi-cloud and hybrid backup from one system are not what Borg Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Bacula Enterprise do that Borg Backup cannot?
Bacula Enterprise covers Modular architecture, Plugin framework, Cloud storage, Encryption. Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking, Compression, Authenticated encryption, Pruning. Both handle Deduplication, Linux support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bacula Enterprise: Does Bacula Enterprise offer a trial?

Yes. Bacula offers a trial that provides 'a streamlined version of Bacula Enterprise' with 'rapid access to an online, hosted environment'. However, no specific trial period duration is stated on the page.

Source
Borg Backup: What is the cost of BorgBackup?

BorgBackup is completely free and open source under the BSD license with no mandatory costs for the core software.

Source
Bacula Enterprise: Is there a free trial available, or does it require contacting sales?

The trial is available directly online without needing to contact sales first. The page provides streamlined access to test the service with Global Endpoint Deduplication and cloud storage capabilities.

Source
Borg Backup: Are there paid services available for BorgBackup?

Yes, optional third-party services are available: BorgBase for specialized Borg repository hosting, Hetzner Storage Box with Borg support, and rsync.net cloud storage integration.

Source
Bacula Enterprise: Does Bacula charge by data volume?

No. One customer testimonial states 'we are not charged by data volume or hardware', indicating that Bacula does not use capacity-based pricing like some competitors.

Source
Borg Backup: How can I support the BorgBackup project?

BorgBackup accepts voluntary contributions through Open Collective, GitHub Sponsors, Liberapay, and PayPal, though donations are optional.

Source
Bacula Enterprise: How can I get Bacula pricing information?

Bacula directs interested parties to Request Pricing through their contact page rather than displaying rates publicly.

Source
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