Software · head to head
Bacula vs Apple Time Machine
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Bacula the community edition has no vendor support contract; bacula.org directs support and paid deployments toward the separate commercial Bacula Enterprise product instead.; Apple Time Machine apple states the Time Machine backup disk should be used only for Time Machine backups and not for storing other files, unless you split it into a separate APFS volume
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bacula and Apple Time Machine actually diverge.
| Attribute | Bacula | Apple Time Machine |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | open-source | free |
| Platforms | Web | Mac |
| Founded | Unknown | 1976 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Bacula
Nothing recorded that Apple Time Machine does not also cover.
Only in Apple Time Machine
- Automatic backup
- Hourly snapshots
- Visual restore interface
- Network backup
- Encryption
- System restore
- macOS
- AirPort Time Capsule
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bacula
No use cases recorded yet. See the Bacula review.
Apple Time Machine
- Automatic versioned local backups of a Mac to an external drivenot Bacula
- Restoring a Mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup historynot Bacula
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Bacula
- The community edition has no vendor support contract; bacula.org directs support and paid deployments toward the separate commercial Bacula Enterprise product instead.
Apple Time Machine
- Apple states the Time Machine backup disk should be used only for Time Machine backups and not for storing other files, unless you split it into a separate APFS volume
- Apple recommends the Time Machine volume be twice the storage capacity of the Mac being backed up
- It requires an attached external storage device or network disk; there is no built-in cloud destination
- It backs up Macs only
Pricing, plan by plan
Bacula
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Bacula review.
Apple Time Machine
Free- Built-inFree
- Automatic backup
- Visual restore
- Network backup
Which should you pick?
Choose Apple Time Machine if
- You need automatic backup.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Mac.
- You also want hourly snapshots.
Questions people ask
- Is Bacula or Apple Time Machine better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bacula starts at Free and Apple Time Machine at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bacula or Apple Time Machine?
- Bacula starts at Free and Apple Time Machine at Free.
- Does Bacula or Apple Time Machine run on more platforms?
- Bacula runs on Web. Apple Time Machine runs on Mac.
- Can I use Bacula for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Bacula do that Apple Time Machine cannot?
- Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup.