bup 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?
bup
Efficient backup system based on the git packfile format
VS
Timeshift
System restore tool for Linux using snapshots
| Feature | bup | Timeshift |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Vala |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,337 | ★ 4,219 |
| First released | 2010 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Time Machine | Time Machine, System Restore |
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 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 bup or Timeshift better?
Neither is universally better. bup has the larger community, while Timeshift is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are bup and Timeshift free and open-source?
Yes. bup is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and Timeshift under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run bup and Timeshift with Docker?
bup: check the project docs for container support. Timeshift: check the project docs for container support.