bup 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.
Not the right match-up?
bup
Efficient backup system based on the git packfile format
VS
Docker Volume Backup
Backup tool for Docker volumes to local or remote storage
| Feature | bup | Docker Volume Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | LGPL-2.1 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,337 | ★ 3,944 |
| First released | 2010 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Time Machine | Veeam |
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 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 (3.9k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is bup or Docker Volume Backup better?
Neither is universally better. bup has the larger community, while Docker Volume Backup is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are bup and Docker Volume Backup free and open-source?
Yes. bup is licensed under LGPL-2.1 and Docker Volume Backup under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run bup and Docker Volume Backup with Docker?
bup: check the project docs for container support. Docker Volume Backup: yes.