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Borg Backup vs Spanning Backup

Borg Backup logo

Borg Backup

Software

Deduplicating archiver with compression and encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spanning Backup logo

Spanning Backup

Software

SaaS backup for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

From
$4/month
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; Spanning Backup cloud-only deployment; no on-premise or self-hosted options available
  • They diverge on capability: Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking, Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Borg Backup and Spanning Backup differ
AttributeBorg BackupSpanning Backup
Starting priceFree$4/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, MacCloud SaaS
Founded20152010

Identical on both: 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 Borg Backup

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

Only in Spanning Backup

  • Automated daily backup
  • Point-in-time restore
  • Cross-user restore
  • eDiscovery
  • Unlimited storage
  • Admin delegation
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365

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

Spanning Backup

  • Cloud-to-cloud backup and disaster recovery for Microsoft 365 applicationsnot Borg Backup
  • Data protection and compliance management for Google Workspace and Salesforcenot 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

Spanning Backup

  • Cloud-only deployment; no on-premise or self-hosted options available

Pricing, plan by plan

Borg Backup

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Deduplication
    • Compression
    • Encryption

Spanning Backup

$4/month
  • Spanning Backup$4/month
    • Daily backup
    • Point-in-time restore
    • Unlimited storage

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 Spanning Backup if

  • You need automated daily backup.
  • You work on Cloud SaaS.
  • You also want point-in-time restore.
Spanning Backup review

Questions people ask

Is Borg Backup or Spanning Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Borg Backup starts at Free and Spanning Backup at $4/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Borg Backup or Spanning Backup?
Borg Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Borg Backup and $4/month for Spanning Backup.
Does Borg Backup or Spanning Backup run on more platforms?
Borg Backup runs on Linux, Mac. Spanning Backup runs on Cloud SaaS.
Can I use Borg Backup for free?
Yes. Borg Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Spanning Backup starts at $4/month.
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 Spanning Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Borg Backup do that Spanning Backup cannot?
Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking, Deduplication, Compression, Authenticated encryption. Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, Point-in-time restore, Cross-user restore, eDiscovery.
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