Softwr

Backup · head to head

Datto SIRIS vs rustic

Datto SIRIS logo

Datto SIRIS

Backup

All-in-one business continuity and disaster recovery

From
$1095/one-time + recurring
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
rustic logo

rustic

Backup

Rust reimplementation of restic that reads and writes the same repository format

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only rustic has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Datto SIRIS requires on-premises appliance, not purely cloud-native; rustic the project is small with a short list of active maintainers, so bus factor is a genuine consideration for software whose job is to still work in five years.
  • They diverge on capability: Datto SIRIS covers Instant virtualization, rustic covers restic format compatibility.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Datto SIRIS and rustic actually diverge.

Attributes where Datto SIRIS and rustic differ
AttributeDatto SIRISrustic
Starting price$1095/one-time + recurringFree
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsLinux, Virtual EnvironmentsLinux, macOS, Windows
Founded2011Unknown

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 Datto SIRIS

  • Instant virtualization
  • Screenshot verification
  • Ransomware detection
  • Inverse chain technology
  • Cloud-first architecture
  • Automated DR testing
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

Only in rustic

  • restic format compatibility
  • Configuration profiles
  • Deduplicated encrypted backups
  • Cold and append only storage support
  • Multiple back ends
  • Library crates

What people use each for

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

Datto SIRIS

  • Data protectionnot rustic
  • Disaster recoverynot rustic
  • Business continuitynot rustic
  • Ransomware protectionnot rustic
  • Compliancenot rustic

rustic

  • An existing restic user who wants configuration files rather than long command lines in cronnot Datto SIRIS
  • Backing up a memory constrained machine where the reference implementation is uncomfortably heavynot Datto SIRIS
  • Writing to append only or cold object storage where the default tooling assumes rewritable bucketsnot Datto SIRIS
  • Keeping a second implementation available so a long lived archive does not depend on one codebasenot Datto SIRIS

Where each one falls short

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

Datto SIRIS

  • Requires on-premises appliance, not purely cloud-native
  • Initial setup and hardware costs can be substantial for smaller MSPs

rustic

  • The project is small with a short list of active maintainers, so bus factor is a genuine consideration for software whose job is to still work in five years.
  • It inherits the restic repository format, so design limits in that format, including the cost of pruning large repositories, are inherited rather than fixed.
  • Command names, flags and behaviour do not map one to one onto restic, so scripts and runbooks need rewriting rather than a binary swap.
  • Far fewer people have performed a real restore from it under pressure, and backup software is one of the few categories where being second most used is itself a risk.
  • Alternating between rustic and restic against one repository works but doubles the surface for a version incompatibility to corrupt state, so most operators should pick one and stay with it.

Pricing, plan by plan

Datto SIRIS

$1095/one-time + recurring

No published plan breakdown. See the Datto SIRIS review.

rustic

Free
  • rusticFree
    • Full functionality, no data limit
    • All supported storage back ends
    • Community support via GitHub

Which should you pick?

Choose Datto SIRIS if

  • You need instant virtualization.
  • You work on Linux, Virtual Environments.
  • You also want screenshot verification.
Datto SIRIS review

Choose rustic if

  • You need restic format compatibility.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want configuration profiles.
rustic review

Questions people ask

Is Datto SIRIS or rustic better?
Neither clearly leads. Datto SIRIS starts at $1095/one-time + recurring and rustic at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Datto SIRIS or rustic?
rustic has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1095/one-time + recurring for Datto SIRIS and Free for rustic.
Does Datto SIRIS or rustic run on more platforms?
Datto SIRIS runs on Linux, Virtual Environments. rustic runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
Can I use rustic for free?
Yes. rustic has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Datto SIRIS starts at $1095/one-time + recurring.
What is Datto SIRIS best used for?
Datto SIRIS is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what rustic is typically brought in for.
What can Datto SIRIS do that rustic cannot?
Datto SIRIS covers Instant virtualization, Screenshot verification, Ransomware detection, Inverse chain technology. rustic covers restic format compatibility, Configuration profiles, Deduplicated encrypted backups, Cold and append only storage support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Datto SIRIS: What does SIRIS protect against?

Datto SIRIS includes immutable cloud backups, automated recovery verification, and integrated ransomware detection through Cloud Deletion Defense which undoes accidental or malicious backup deletion.

Source
rustic: Can it read my existing restic repository?

Yes, that is the point of the project. Take a copy and verify before you rely on it, as with any change to backup tooling.

Datto SIRIS: What's the pricing model?

Datto SIRIS uses flat-rate pricing starting at $1,095, which includes installation, storage, VIP support, recoveries, two annual DR tests, and five-year warranty.

Source
rustic: Should I switch from restic?

Only for a specific reason such as configuration profiles, memory use or cold storage handling. Compatibility means there is no cost to trying and no cost to going back.

Datto SIRIS: What integrations does SIRIS have?

Datto SIRIS integrates natively with Autotask PSA, Datto RMM, ConnectWise Automate, and ConnectWise PSA. It also supports virtualization platforms like vSphere and CentOS Linux.

Source
rustic: Is it production ready?

It is used in production by a small community, but it is younger and less exercised than the implementation it is compatible with. Test restores accordingly.

Datto SIRIS: Is SIRIS cloud-only or appliance-based?

Datto SIRIS is an on-premises appliance that backs up data to Datto's cloud. You do not need to maintain your own physical server infrastructure for the core SIRIS functionality.

Source
rustic: Does it support the same back ends?

The common ones, including local, SFTP, S3 compatible storage and rclone. Check the current list before committing to an unusual target.

Share

Related pages

More on Datto SIRIS

More on rustic

Keep looking

Other head to heads