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Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head

Borg Backup vs Datto Backup

Borg Backup logo

Borg Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Deduplicating archiver with compression and encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
D

Datto Backup

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Business continuity without compromise

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; Datto Backup no pricing figures are shown on the product page; buyers must request a demo or contact sales, with a separate FLEXspend for Datto Backup consumption option referenced but not priced, per datto.com, August 2026

Where they differ

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

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

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

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 Datto Backup

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 Datto Backup
  • Encrypted backup to a server you do not fully trust, since the server never sees plaintextnot Datto Backup
  • Browsing previous versions by mounting an archive over FUSEnot Datto Backup
  • Scripted server backups with no agent or daemon to runnot Datto Backup

Datto Backup

No use cases recorded yet. See the Datto Backup review.

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

Datto Backup

  • No pricing figures are shown on the product page; buyers must request a demo or contact sales, with a separate FLEXspend for Datto Backup consumption option referenced but not priced, per datto.com, August 2026

Pricing, plan by plan

Borg Backup

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Deduplication
    • Compression
    • Encryption

Datto Backup

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Datto Backup 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 Datto Backup if

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

Datto Backup review

Questions people ask

Is Borg Backup or Datto Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Borg Backup starts at Free and Datto Backup at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Borg Backup or Datto Backup?
Borg Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Borg Backup and On request for Datto Backup.
Does Borg Backup or Datto Backup run on more platforms?
Borg Backup runs on Linux, Mac. Datto Backup runs on Web.
Can I use Borg Backup for free?
Yes. Borg Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datto Backup 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 Datto Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Borg Backup do that Datto Backup cannot?
Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking, Deduplication, Compression, Authenticated encryption.
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