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Spanning Backup vs Borg Backup

Spanning Backup logo

Spanning Backup

Software

SaaS backup for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Borg Backup logo

Borg Backup

Software

Deduplicating archiver with compression and encryption

From
Free
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: Spanning Backup cloud-only deployment; no on-premise or self-hosted options available; Borg Backup linux, macOS and BSD only; Windows is not a supported platform
  • They diverge on capability: Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Spanning Backup and Borg Backup differ
AttributeSpanning BackupBorg Backup
Starting price$4/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud SaaSLinux, Mac
Founded20102015

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 Spanning Backup

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

Only in Borg Backup

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

What people use each for

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

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

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

Where each one falls short

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

Spanning Backup

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

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Spanning Backup

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

Borg Backup

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Deduplication
    • Compression
    • Encryption

Which should you pick?

Choose Spanning Backup if

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

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

Questions people ask

Is Spanning Backup or Borg Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Spanning Backup starts at $4/month and Borg Backup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Spanning Backup or Borg Backup?
Borg Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $4/month for Spanning Backup and Free for Borg Backup.
Does Spanning Backup or Borg Backup run on more platforms?
Spanning Backup runs on Cloud SaaS. Borg Backup runs on Linux, Mac.
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 Spanning Backup best used for?
Spanning Backup is most often used for cloud-to-cloud backup and disaster recovery for microsoft 365 applications, data protection and compliance management for google workspace and salesforce. Of those, cloud-to-cloud backup and disaster recovery for microsoft 365 applications and data protection and compliance management for google workspace and salesforce are not what Borg Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Spanning Backup do that Borg Backup cannot?
Spanning Backup covers Automated daily backup, Point-in-time restore, Cross-user restore, eDiscovery. Borg Backup covers Content-defined chunking, Deduplication, Compression, Authenticated encryption.
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