bup vs MySQL backup XtraBackup
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?
bup
Efficient backup system based on the git packfile format
VS
MySQL backup XtraBackup
Hot online backup for MySQL and MariaDB
| Feature | bup | MySQL backup XtraBackup |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,337 | ★ 1,545 |
| First released | 2010 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Time Machine | MySQL Enterprise Backup |
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 MySQL backup XtraBackup if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Active community (1.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is bup or MySQL backup XtraBackup better?
bup is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider MySQL backup XtraBackup if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are bup and MySQL backup XtraBackup free and open-source?
Yes. bup is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and MySQL backup XtraBackup under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run bup and MySQL backup XtraBackup with Docker?
bup: check the project docs for container support. MySQL backup XtraBackup: check the project docs for container support.