Softwr

File Storage · head to head

Duplicati vs Kap

Duplicati logo

Duplicati

File Storage

Free open-source backup with encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kap logo

Kap

Utilities

Free open source screen recorder for macOS, focused on video and GIF capture rather than annotation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Duplicati no managed service or commercial support; Kap it has no annotation tools at all, so any still-image markup work needs a separate app such as Shottr or CleanShot X.
  • They diverge on capability: Duplicati covers AES-256 encryption, Kap covers Multi-format export.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Duplicati and Kap actually diverge.

Attributes where Duplicati and Kap differ
AttributeDuplicatiKap
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxMac
CategoryFile StorageUtilities
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Duplicati

  • AES-256 encryption
  • Incremental backup
  • Deduplication
  • Multiple cloud backends
  • Compression
  • Web interface
  • AWS S3
  • Azure

Only in Kap

  • Multi-format export
  • Area, window or display capture
  • Plugin system
  • Basic trimming
  • Menu bar operation
  • Open source

What people use each for

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

Duplicati

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

Kap

  • A developer recording a demo GIF for a README or documentation pagenot Duplicati
  • A marketer capturing a quick product walkthrough clip without buying screen recording softwarenot Duplicati
  • Someone creating App Store style device-framed screenshots for a listingnot Duplicati
  • A user who only needs video capture and does not want to pay for a suite of annotation features they will not usenot Duplicati

Where each one falls short

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

Duplicati

  • No managed service or commercial support
  • Relies on community support
  • No enterprise features

Kap

  • It has no annotation tools at all, so any still-image markup work needs a separate app such as Shottr or CleanShot X.
  • There is no scrolling capture or OCR, features both Shottr and CleanShot X include.
  • Editing is limited to basic trimming, so anything beyond a simple cut needs a dedicated video editor afterward.
  • It is Mac only, offering nothing for screen recording needs on Windows.
  • As a volunteer-maintained open source project, updates and bug fixes depend on community contribution rather than a company with paid support obligations.

Pricing, plan by plan

Duplicati

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Duplicati review.

Kap

Free
  • KapFree
    • Free and open source under the MIT licence
    • MP4, WebM, GIF and device frame export
    • Plugin system for extended workflows

Which should you pick?

Choose Duplicati if

  • You need aes-256 encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want incremental backup.
Duplicati review

Choose Kap if

  • You need multi-format export.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want area, window or display capture.
Kap review

Questions people ask

Is Duplicati or Kap better?
Neither clearly leads. Duplicati starts at Free and Kap at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Duplicati or Kap?
Duplicati starts at Free and Kap at Free.
Does Duplicati or Kap run on more platforms?
Duplicati runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Kap runs on Mac.
Can I use Duplicati for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Duplicati best used for?
Duplicati is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Kap is typically brought in for.
What can Duplicati do that Kap cannot?
Duplicati covers AES-256 encryption, Incremental backup, Deduplication, Multiple cloud backends. Kap covers Multi-format export, Area, window or display capture, Plugin system, Basic trimming.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Duplicati: Is Duplicati free?

Yes. Duplicati is completely free and open-source under the LGPL license. There are no premium tiers, trials, or limitations.

Source
Kap: Is Kap free?

Yes, entirely. It is open source under the MIT licence with no paid tier.

Duplicati: What does Duplicati support?

Duplicati supports zero-trust, fully encrypted backups to local storage, network drives, and cloud services. It includes deduplication and incremental backups.

Source
Kap: Does Kap do screenshots or only video?

It is focused on video and GIF recording. For still screenshots with annotation, pair it with Shottr or CleanShot X.

Duplicati: What are the platforms?

Duplicati runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It can back up data to local storage, network drives, or cloud providers.

Source
Kap: Can Kap export directly to GIF?

Yes, GIF is one of its native export formats alongside MP4, WebM and Apple device frames.

Share

Related pages

More on Duplicati

More on Kap

Keep looking

Other head to heads