rdiff-backup vs Restic Browser
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?
rdiff-backup
Reverse-incremental backups preserving file history
VS
Restic Browser
Desktop app to browse and restore Restic snapshots
| Feature | rdiff-backup | Restic Browser |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,264 | ★ 1,275 |
| First released | 2001 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Time Machine | Time Machine |
Why pick each one
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
Choose Restic Browser if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is rdiff-backup or Restic Browser better?
Restic Browser 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 rdiff-backup and Restic Browser free and open-source?
Yes. rdiff-backup is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Restic Browser under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run rdiff-backup and Restic Browser with Docker?
rdiff-backup: check the project docs for container support. Restic Browser: check the project docs for container support.