Docker Volume Backup vs zrepl
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?
Docker Volume Backup
Backup tool for Docker volumes to local or remote storage
VS
zrepl
Automated ZFS snapshot replication and pruning
| Feature | Docker Volume Backup | zrepl |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Backup & Recovery | Backup & Recovery |
| License | MPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Go | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker | binary, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,944 | ★ 1,151 |
| First released | 2021 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Veeam | Veeam |
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 (3.9k GitHub stars)
Choose zrepl if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Active community (1.2k GitHub stars)
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 128 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Docker Volume Backup or zrepl better?
Docker Volume Backup is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider zrepl if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Docker Volume Backup and zrepl free and open-source?
Yes. Docker Volume Backup is licensed under MPL-2.0 and zrepl under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Docker Volume Backup and zrepl with Docker?
Docker Volume Backup: yes. zrepl: check the project docs for container support.