rdiff-backup vs ZnapZend
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 | ZnapZend |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 65 · Good | 76 · Good |
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Perl |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,267 | ★ 669 |
| First released | 2001 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Time Machine | Time Machine |
What are rdiff-backup and ZnapZend?
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
ZnapZend
ZnapZend is a ZFS backup tool that automates the creation, retention, and replication of ZFS snapshots. It runs as a daemon and supports compressed transfers over SSH.
- Automated ZFS snapshot retention
- SSH replication
- Runs as a background daemon
rdiff-backup vs ZnapZend: key differences
Rdiff-backup is written in Python, while ZnapZend is built with Perl. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for rdiff-backup versus GPL-3.0 for ZnapZend. Rdiff-backup is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for ZnapZend. Rdiff-backup is the more established project (first released 2001), while ZnapZend arrived in 2014.
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 ZnapZend if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in Perl
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is rdiff-backup or ZnapZend better?
rdiff-backup is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider ZnapZend if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are rdiff-backup and ZnapZend free and open-source?
Yes. rdiff-backup is licensed under GPL-2.0 and ZnapZend under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run rdiff-backup and ZnapZend with Docker?
rdiff-backup: check the project docs for container support. ZnapZend: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, rdiff-backup or ZnapZend?
rdiff-backup has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for ZnapZend. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.