nxs-backup 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.
Docker Volume Backup
Backup tool for Docker volumes to local or remote storage
| Feature | nxs-backup | Docker Volume Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 74 · Good | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 276 | ★ 4,017 |
| First released | 2022 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Veeam | Veeam |
What are nxs-backup and Docker Volume Backup?
nxs-backup
Nxs-backup is an open-source backup solution that simplifies the backup of files and databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. It supports incremental backups and remote storage.
- File and database backups
- Incremental support
- Remote storage targets
Docker Volume Backup
Docker Volume Backup is a small companion container that periodically archives Docker volumes and uploads them to local, S3, or WebDAV destinations. It can stop and restart containers cleanly during backup.
- Docker volume archiving
- S3 and WebDAV targets
- Container stop hooks
- Encryption support
nxs-backup vs Docker Volume Backup: key differences
Both projects are written in Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for nxs-backup versus MPL-2.0 for Docker Volume Backup. Docker Volume Backup is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for nxs-backup. Docker Volume Backup has the considerably larger community, at 4,017 GitHub stars versus 276.
Why pick each one
Choose nxs-backup if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Go
- 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 (4k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is nxs-backup or Docker Volume Backup better?
Docker Volume Backup is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider nxs-backup if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are nxs-backup and Docker Volume Backup free and open-source?
Yes. nxs-backup is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Docker Volume Backup under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run nxs-backup and Docker Volume Backup with Docker?
nxs-backup: yes. Docker Volume Backup: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, nxs-backup or Docker Volume Backup?
Docker Volume Backup has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for nxs-backup. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.