Open Archiver vs Timeshift
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted backup & recovery options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Open Archiver
Email archiving solution with full-text search and eDiscovery search
VS
Timeshift
System restore tool for Linux using snapshots
| Feature | Open Archiver | Timeshift |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | AGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | Vala |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,224 | ★ 4,219 |
| First released | 2026 | 2014 |
| Replaces | — | Time Machine, System Restore |
Why pick each one
Choose Open Archiver if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Choose Timeshift if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (4.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in Vala
Frequently asked questions
Is Open Archiver or Timeshift better?
Timeshift is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Open Archiver if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Open Archiver and Timeshift free and open-source?
Yes. Open Archiver is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and Timeshift under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Open Archiver and Timeshift with Docker?
Open Archiver: yes. Timeshift: check the project docs for container support.