rdiff-backup vs Timeshift
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted backup & recovery options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | rdiff-backup | Timeshift |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 65 · Good | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Vala |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,267 | ★ 4,286 |
| First released | 2001 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Time Machine | Time Machine, System Restore |
What are rdiff-backup and Timeshift?
rdiff-backup
rdiff-backup backs up one directory to another, keeping the latest copy plus reverse diffs for older versions. It preserves permissions, ownership, and special files while working over SSH.
- Reverse-incremental storage
- Preserves file metadata
- Works over SSH
Timeshift
Timeshift creates incremental snapshots of the Linux filesystem at regular intervals, allowing the system to be restored to an earlier state. It supports both rsync and Btrfs snapshot modes.
- Incremental system snapshots
- rsync and Btrfs modes
- Easy full-system restore
rdiff-backup vs Timeshift: key differences
Rdiff-backup is written in Python, while Timeshift is built with Vala. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for rdiff-backup versus GPL-3.0 for Timeshift. Rdiff-backup is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Timeshift. Rdiff-backup is the more established project (first released 2001), while Timeshift arrived in 2014. Timeshift has the considerably larger community, at 4,286 GitHub stars versus 1,267.
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 Timeshift if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (4.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in Vala
Frequently asked questions
Is rdiff-backup or Timeshift better?
Timeshift 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 Timeshift free and open-source?
Yes. rdiff-backup is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Timeshift under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run rdiff-backup and Timeshift with Docker?
rdiff-backup: check the project docs for container support. Timeshift: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, rdiff-backup or Timeshift?
rdiff-backup has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Timeshift. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.