Docker Volume Backup vs ZFS Autobackup
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted backup & recovery options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Docker Volume Backup
Backup tool for Docker volumes to local or remote storage
VS
ZFS Autobackup
Automated ZFS snapshot and replication tool
| Feature | Docker Volume Backup | ZFS Autobackup |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 65 · Good |
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | MPL-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,017 | ★ 794 |
| First released | 2021 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Veeam | Veeam |
What are Docker Volume Backup and ZFS Autobackup?
Docker Volume Backup
Docker Volume Backup is a small companion container that periodically archives Docker volumes and uploads them to local, S3, or WebDAV destinations. It can stop and restart containers cleanly during backup.
- Docker volume archiving
- S3 and WebDAV targets
- Container stop hooks
- Encryption support
ZFS Autobackup
zfs-autobackup is a tool for automatically creating and replicating ZFS snapshots between hosts and pools. It handles retention thinning and supports encrypted transfers.
- Automated ZFS snapshots
- Cross-host replication
- Retention thinning
- Encrypted sends
Docker Volume Backup vs ZFS Autobackup: key differences
Docker Volume Backup is written in Go, while ZFS Autobackup is built with Python. Licensing differs — MPL-2.0 for Docker Volume Backup versus GPL-2.0 for ZFS Autobackup. Docker Volume Backup is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for ZFS Autobackup. ZFS Autobackup is the more established project (first released 2012), while Docker Volume Backup arrived in 2021. Docker Volume Backup has the considerably larger community, at 4,017 GitHub stars versus 794. Docker Volume Backup lists first-class Docker deployment; ZFS Autobackup does not.
Why pick each one
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 (4k GitHub stars)
Choose ZFS Autobackup if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Volume Backup or ZFS Autobackup better?
Docker Volume Backup is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider ZFS Autobackup if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Docker Volume Backup and ZFS Autobackup free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Volume Backup is licensed under MPL-2.0 and ZFS Autobackup under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Volume Backup and ZFS Autobackup with Docker?
Docker Volume Backup: yes. ZFS Autobackup: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Docker Volume Backup or ZFS Autobackup?
Docker Volume Backup has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for ZFS Autobackup. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.