Vorta vs rdiff-backup
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted backup & recovery options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Vorta | rdiff-backup |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 86 · Excellent | 65 · Good |
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,505 | ★ 1,267 |
| First released | 2018 | 2001 |
| Replaces | Time Machine, CrashPlan | Time Machine |
What are Vorta and rdiff-backup?
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
rdiff-backup
rdiff-backup backs up one directory to another, keeping the latest copy plus reverse diffs for older versions. It preserves permissions, ownership, and special files while working over SSH.
- Reverse-incremental storage
- Preserves file metadata
- Works over SSH
Vorta vs rdiff-backup: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Vorta versus GPL-2.0 for rdiff-backup. Rdiff-backup is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Vorta. Rdiff-backup is the more established project (first released 2001), while Vorta arrived in 2018.
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 rdiff-backup if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Active community (1.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Vorta or rdiff-backup better?
Vorta is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider rdiff-backup if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Vorta and rdiff-backup free and open-source?
Yes. Vorta is licensed under GPL-3.0 and rdiff-backup under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Vorta and rdiff-backup with Docker?
Vorta: check the project docs for container support. rdiff-backup: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Vorta or rdiff-backup?
rdiff-backup has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Vorta. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.