bup vs Magic Wormhole
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted apps from related categories — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
bup
Efficient backup system based on the git packfile format
VS
Magic Wormhole
Get things from one computer to another, safely
| Feature | bup | Magic Wormhole |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backup & Recovery | File Sync & Storage |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | MIT |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 32 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,337 | ★ 22,792 |
| First released | 2010 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Time Machine | WeTransfer, AirDrop |
Why pick each one
Choose bup if…
- Released under the LGPL-2.1 license
- Mature project with 7.3k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Magic Wormhole if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Mature project with 22.8k GitHub stars
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is bup or Magic Wormhole better?
Magic Wormhole is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider bup if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are bup and Magic Wormhole free and open-source?
Yes. bup is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and Magic Wormhole under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run bup and Magic Wormhole with Docker?
bup: check the project docs for container support. Magic Wormhole: check the project docs for container support.