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.
BackupPC
High-performance backup system for PCs and servers
VS
Timeshift
System restore tool for Linux using snapshots
| Feature | BackupPC | Timeshift |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 57 · Fair | 89 · Excellent |
| 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 | ★ 1,626 | ★ 4,286 |
| First released | 2001 | 2014 |
| Replaces | CrashPlan, Time Machine | Time Machine, System Restore |
What are BackupPC and Timeshift?
BackupPC
BackupPC is a high-performance system for backing up Linux, Windows, and macOS PCs to a server's disk. It uses pooling and compression to minimize disk usage, with a full web interface.
- File pooling deduplication
- Web management interface
- No client software required
Timeshift
Timeshift creates incremental snapshots of the Linux filesystem at regular intervals, allowing the system to be restored to an earlier state. It supports both rsync and Btrfs snapshot modes.
- Incremental system snapshots
- rsync and Btrfs modes
- Easy full-system restore
BackupPC vs Timeshift: key differences
BackupPC is written in Perl, while Timeshift is built with Vala. Timeshift is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for BackupPC. BackupPC is the more established project (first released 2001), while Timeshift arrived in 2014. Timeshift has the considerably larger community, at 4,286 GitHub stars versus 1,626. BackupPC lists first-class Docker deployment; Timeshift does not.
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 (4.3k 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.
Which is lighter on resources, BackupPC or Timeshift?
Timeshift has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for BackupPC. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.