Barman vs Docker Volume Backup
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted backup & recovery options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Docker Volume Backup
Backup tool for Docker volumes to local or remote storage
| Feature | Barman | Docker Volume Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 88 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,244 | ★ 4,017 |
| First released | 2012 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Veeam | Veeam |
What are Barman and Docker Volume Backup?
Barman
Barman is a disaster recovery tool for PostgreSQL servers that manages backups and point-in-time recovery. It supports remote backups, retention policies, and WAL archiving.
- Point-in-time recovery
- Retention policy management
- Remote backup support
Docker Volume Backup
Docker Volume Backup is a small companion container that periodically archives Docker volumes and uploads them to local, S3, or WebDAV destinations. It can stop and restart containers cleanly during backup.
- Docker volume archiving
- S3 and WebDAV targets
- Container stop hooks
- Encryption support
Barman vs Docker Volume Backup: key differences
Barman is written in Python, while Docker Volume Backup is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Barman versus MPL-2.0 for Docker Volume Backup. Docker Volume Backup is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Barman. Barman is the more established project (first released 2012), while Docker Volume Backup arrived in 2021. Docker Volume Backup lists first-class Docker deployment; Barman does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Barman if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Active community (3.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Docker Volume Backup if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (4k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Barman or Docker Volume Backup better?
Docker Volume Backup is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Barman if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Barman and Docker Volume Backup free and open-source?
Yes. Barman is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Docker Volume Backup under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Barman and Docker Volume Backup with Docker?
Barman: check the project docs for container support. Docker Volume Backup: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Barman or Docker Volume Backup?
Docker Volume Backup has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Barman. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.