Duplicity vs Rdiffweb
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted backup & recovery options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Duplicity | Rdiffweb |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 300 | ★ 200 |
| First released | 2002 | 2014 |
| Replaces | CrashPlan, Backblaze | CrashPlan |
What are Duplicity and Rdiffweb?
Duplicity
Duplicity backs up directories by producing encrypted, signed tar-format volumes and uploading them to a remote or local file server. It uses the rsync algorithm for incremental archives.
- GPG-encrypted archives
- Many remote storage backends
- Incremental rsync deltas
Rdiffweb
Rdiffweb is a web application used to browse and restore data from rdiff-backup repositories. It provides email notifications, quota management, and multi-user access.
- Browse rdiff-backup repos
- Email notifications
- Per-user quotas
Duplicity vs Rdiffweb: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Duplicity versus GPL-3.0 for Rdiffweb. Duplicity is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Rdiffweb. Duplicity is the more established project (first released 2002), while Rdiffweb arrived in 2014. Rdiffweb lists first-class Docker deployment; Duplicity does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Duplicity if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Rdiffweb if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Duplicity or Rdiffweb better?
Neither is universally better. Duplicity has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Duplicity and Rdiffweb free and open-source?
Yes. Duplicity is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Rdiffweb under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Duplicity and Rdiffweb with Docker?
Duplicity: check the project docs for container support. Rdiffweb: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Duplicity or Rdiffweb?
Duplicity has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Rdiffweb. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.