BackupPC vs Timeshift
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted backup & recovery options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
BackupPC
High-performance backup system for PCs and servers
VS
Timeshift
System restore tool for Linux using snapshots
| Feature | BackupPC | Timeshift |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Perl | Vala |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,621 | ★ 4,219 |
| First released | 2001 | 2014 |
| Replaces | CrashPlan, Time Machine | Time Machine, System Restore |
Why pick each one
Choose BackupPC if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.6k GitHub stars)
- Written in Perl
Choose Timeshift if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (4.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in Vala
Frequently asked questions
Is BackupPC or Timeshift better?
Timeshift is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider BackupPC if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are BackupPC and Timeshift free and open-source?
Yes. BackupPC is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Timeshift under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run BackupPC and Timeshift with Docker?
BackupPC: yes. Timeshift: check the project docs for container support.