Obnam2 vs Tarsnap GUI
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted backup & recovery options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Obnam2 | Tarsnap GUI |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | BSD-2-Clause |
| Language | Rust | C++ |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, bare-metal | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 200 | ★ 251 |
| First released | 2020 | 2016 |
| Replaces | Backblaze | Backblaze |
What are Obnam2 and Tarsnap GUI?
Obnam2
Obnam2 is a backup program that splits files into chunks for deduplicated, encrypted storage to a backup server. It is built with a focus on simplicity and verifiable correctness.
- Chunk-based deduplication
- Encrypted storage
- Backup server model
- Simplicity focused
Tarsnap GUI
Tarsnap GUI is a cross-platform graphical client for the Tarsnap secure online backup service, making encrypted deduplicated backups accessible without the command line. It manages archives, scheduling, and restores through a desktop interface.
- Tarsnap archive management
- Scheduling support
- Encrypted deduplicated backups
- Cross-platform UI
Obnam2 vs Tarsnap GUI: key differences
Obnam2 is written in Rust, while Tarsnap GUI is built with C++. Licensing differs — AGPL-3.0 for Obnam2 versus BSD-2-Clause for Tarsnap GUI. Tarsnap GUI is the more established project (first released 2016), while Obnam2 arrived in 2020.
Why pick each one
Choose Obnam2 if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- Written in Rust
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Choose Tarsnap GUI if…
- Released under the BSD-2-Clause license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in C++
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Tarsnap service is paid
- Requires Tarsnap CLI
Frequently asked questions
Is Obnam2 or Tarsnap GUI better?
Tarsnap GUI is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Obnam2 if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Obnam2 and Tarsnap GUI free and open-source?
Yes. Obnam2 is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Tarsnap GUI under BSD-2-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Obnam2 and Tarsnap GUI with Docker?
Obnam2: check the project docs for container support. Tarsnap GUI: check the project docs for container support.