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Backup · head to head

Borg Backup vs Cohesity

Borg Backup logo

Borg Backup

Backup

Deduplicating archiver with compression and encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cohesity logo

Cohesity

Backup

Protect, secure, and gain insights into your enterprise data

From
On request
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: Borg Backup linux, macOS and BSD only; Windows is not a supported platform; Cohesity no pricing details published on website
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Borg Backup and Cohesity differ
AttributeBorg BackupCohesity
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreequote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, MacWeb
Founded2015Unknown

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 Borg Backup

  • Content-defined chunking
  • Deduplication
  • Compression
  • Authenticated encryption
  • Pruning
  • Mount archives
  • SSH
  • BorgBase

Only in Cohesity

Nothing recorded that Borg Backup does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Borg Backup

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

Cohesity

  • Data protection and ransomware defensenot Borg Backup
  • Cloud backup and recovery across hybrid environmentsnot Borg Backup
  • Instant recovery from 1,000 VMs simultaneouslynot Borg Backup
  • Multi-cloud data management and securitynot Borg Backup
  • AI-powered threat detection and anomaly detectionnot Borg Backup

Where each one falls short

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

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

Cohesity

  • No pricing details published on website
  • Advanced edition status listed as coming soon
  • Requires contacting sales team for quotes
  • No self-service pricing tiers or calculator available

Pricing, plan by plan

Borg Backup

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Deduplication
    • Compression
    • Encryption

Cohesity

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Cohesity review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Borg Backup if

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

Choose Cohesity if

Nothing in the data separates Cohesity from Borg Backup on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Cohesity review

Questions people ask

Is Borg Backup or Cohesity better?
Neither clearly leads. Borg Backup starts at Free and Cohesity at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Borg Backup or Cohesity?
Borg Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Borg Backup and On request for Cohesity.
Does Borg Backup or Cohesity run on more platforms?
Borg Backup runs on Linux, Mac. Cohesity runs on Web.
Can I use Borg Backup for free?
Yes. Borg Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Cohesity starts at On request.
What is Borg Backup best used for?
Borg Backup is most often used for deduplicated backups where daily full snapshots would otherwise be expensive, encrypted backup to a server you do not fully trust, since the server never sees plaintext, browsing previous versions by mounting an archive over fuse, scripted server backups with no agent or daemon to run. Of those, deduplicated backups where daily full snapshots would otherwise be expensive and encrypted backup to a server you do not fully trust, since the server never sees plaintext are not what Cohesity is typically brought in for.
What can Borg Backup do that Cohesity cannot?
Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking, Deduplication, Compression, Authenticated encryption.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Cohesity: How much does Cohesity cost?

Cohesity does not publish specific pricing on their website. Customers must request a demo, contact the sales team, or initiate a 30-day free trial to discuss pricing options.

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
Cohesity: What editions does Cohesity offer?

Cohesity Data Cloud offers three editions: Core for entry-level, Enterprise for mid-tier, and Advanced (coming soon). Each includes varying Data Insights, Security, Protection, and Platform capabilities.

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
Cohesity: Is there a free trial for Cohesity?

Yes, Cohesity offers a 30-day free trial without requiring a credit card. No credit card is needed to get started with the trial.

Source
Cohesity: What performance benefits does Cohesity claim?

Cohesity claims 18x faster backups, 2x faster restores, instant recovery of 1000 VMs, and 50% lower total cost of ownership to secure and manage data.

Source
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