Vorta vs Kup
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted backup & recovery options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Vorta | Kup |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,505 | ★ 100 |
| First released | 2018 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Time Machine, CrashPlan | Time Machine |
What are Vorta and Kup?
Vorta
Vorta is a graphical desktop client for the BorgBackup deduplicating backup tool. It provides scheduling, profiles, and an easy way to manage encrypted, compressed backups.
- GUI for BorgBackup
- Scheduled backup profiles
- Encrypted and deduplicated archives
Kup
Kup is a backup scheduler for the KDE desktop that helps users keep their personal files backed up. It supports synchronized folders and incremental backups using the bup format.
- Integrated with KDE Plasma
- bup-based incremental backups
- Automatic scheduling
Vorta vs Kup: key differences
Vorta is written in Python, while Kup is built with C++. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Vorta versus GPL-2.0 for Kup. Kup is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Vorta. Kup is the more established project (first released 2012), while Vorta arrived in 2018. Vorta has the considerably larger community, at 2,505 GitHub stars versus 100.
Why pick each one
Choose Vorta if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Choose Kup if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Vorta or Kup better?
Neither is universally better. Vorta has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Vorta and Kup free and open-source?
Yes. Vorta is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Kup under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Vorta and Kup with Docker?
Vorta: check the project docs for container support. Kup: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Vorta or Kup?
Kup has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Vorta. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.