Software · head to head
TrueNAS vs Arq Backup
TrueNAS
Software
Open-source ZFS storage operating system for network-attached storage
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Arq Backup
Software
Mac and Windows backup to your own cloud storage
- From
- $50/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only TrueNAS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: TrueNAS requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure; Arq Backup runs on Mac and Windows only
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which TrueNAS and Arq Backup actually diverge.
| Attribute | TrueNAS | Arq Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $50/year |
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API | Windows, Mac |
| Founded | Unknown | 2009 |
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 TrueNAS
Nothing recorded that Arq Backup does not also cover.
Only in Arq Backup
- Client-side encryption
- Hourly backups
- Network backup
- Deduplication
- Immutable backups
- Budget controls
- AWS S3
- Google Cloud
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
TrueNAS
- On-premises backup and archival storage for enterprisesnot Arq Backup
- Home lab and small business network-attached storagenot Arq Backup
- Media server storage for video, photo, and document librariesnot Arq Backup
- Disaster recovery and business continuity replicationnot Arq Backup
- S3-compatible object storage for cloud-native applicationsnot Arq Backup
- High-availability storage clusters for datacentresnot Arq Backup
Arq Backup
- Data protectionnot TrueNAS
- Disaster recoverynot TrueNAS
- Business continuitynot TrueNAS
- Ransomware protectionnot TrueNAS
- Compliancenot TrueNAS
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
TrueNAS
- Requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure
- ZFS filesystem entails high memory requirements (1 GB RAM per 1 TB of storage recommended), increasing costs for large deployments
- Limited ARM/embedded support; Community Edition is primarily x86-64, reducing deployment options for edge installations
- Clustering and replication setup requires operational expertise; misconfiguration can lead to data loss
- Enterprise support and SLA guarantees require paid subscriptions; Community Edition relies on peer-based forums
Arq Backup
- Runs on Mac and Windows only
- Arq 7 is licensed per computer, and continuing to receive updates after the first year costs $25 per year per computer
- Arq Premium covers up to 5 computers, so larger households or teams need more than one subscription
- Arq Premium includes 1TB of storage and charges $0.0059 per GB per month beyond it
Pricing, plan by plan
TrueNAS
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the TrueNAS review.
Arq Backup
$50/year- Arq Premium$50/year
- 5 computers
- Arq Cloud storage option
- Email support
Which should you pick?
Choose TrueNAS if
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API.
Choose Arq Backup if
- You need client-side encryption.
- You work on Windows, Mac.
- You also want hourly backups.
Questions people ask
- Is TrueNAS or Arq Backup better?
- Neither clearly leads. TrueNAS starts at Free and Arq Backup at $50/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, TrueNAS or Arq Backup?
- TrueNAS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for TrueNAS and $50/year for Arq Backup.
- Does TrueNAS or Arq Backup run on more platforms?
- TrueNAS runs on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API. Arq Backup runs on Windows, Mac.
- Can I use TrueNAS for free?
- Yes. TrueNAS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arq Backup starts at $50/year.
- What is TrueNAS best used for?
- TrueNAS is most often used for on-premises backup and archival storage for enterprises, home lab and small business network-attached storage, media server storage for video, photo, and document libraries, disaster recovery and business continuity replication. Of those, on-premises backup and archival storage for enterprises and home lab and small business network-attached storage are not what Arq Backup is typically brought in for.
- What can TrueNAS do that Arq Backup cannot?
- Arq Backup covers Client-side encryption, Hourly backups, Network backup, Deduplication.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
TrueNAS: What is the cost of TrueNAS Community Edition?
TrueNAS Community Edition is free and open-source. There are no licensing fees, but organisations must purchase and maintain their own x86 hardware. Enterprise Edition requires paid support contracts for production environments.
SourceTrueNAS: Can I replicate TrueNAS data between sites?
Yes. TrueNAS supports snapshot-based replication over network links, enabling disaster recovery and business continuity. Replication can occur between Community Edition systems or between Enterprise Appliances.
SourceTrueNAS: What storage protocols does TrueNAS support?
TrueNAS simultaneously supports NFS (network file system), SMB (Windows file sharing), iSCSI (block storage), and S3-compatible object storage, all from the same storage pool.
Source