Velero vs Docker Volume Backup
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?
Velero
Backup and migrate Kubernetes cluster resources
VS
Docker Volume Backup
Backup tool for Docker volumes to local or remote storage
| Feature | Velero | Docker Volume Backup |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | kubernetes, helm | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,187 | ★ 3,944 |
| First released | 2017 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Kasten K10 | Veeam |
Why pick each one
Choose Velero if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 10.2k GitHub stars
- Written in Go
Choose Docker Volume Backup if…
- Released under the MPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.9k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Velero or Docker Volume Backup better?
Neither is universally better. Velero has the larger community, while Docker Volume Backup is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Velero and Docker Volume Backup free and open-source?
Yes. Velero is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Docker Volume Backup under MPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Velero and Docker Volume Backup with Docker?
Velero: check the project docs for container support. Docker Volume Backup: yes.