Compare Kopia vs. restic

Kopia features a robust and adaptable architecture, enabling it to back up a wide range of devices, from small laptops to extensive server systems. As a fast and secure open-source tool for backup and restoration, Kopia efficiently manages filesystem snapshots stored in a remote location. It uploads files and directories to a designated remote storage known as a Repository, while also keeping a historical record of snapshots at various points in time, all governed by user-defined policies. Each snapshot is generated incrementally, ensuring that data already captured in previous snapshots is not re-uploaded to the repository, thus optimizing storage efficiency. In fact, when files are moved or renamed, Kopia adeptly identifies that they contain the same data, eliminating the need for redundant uploads. Furthermore, multiple users or devices can access the same repository, ensuring that shared files are only uploaded once, conserving bandwidth and storage resources. For data restoration, Kopia allows users to mount the Repository's contents as a local disk, facilitating the use of standard file copy tools for either complete or selective restoration of data, making the process user-friendly and efficient. This unique approach to backup and restoration emphasizes both efficiency and ease of use across diverse computing environments.

Restic is a contemporary backup tool that allows you to securely back up files from various operating systems like Linux, BSD, Mac, and Windows to a wide range of storage options, including both self-hosted solutions and cloud services. It stands out for its simplicity, being a standalone executable that requires no complex server setup or extensive configuration to operate. The program is efficient, as it only uploads the changed portions of files during backup operations, and it prioritizes security by employing robust cryptographic techniques throughout the entire process. Additionally, it provides users with peace of mind by offering features that ensure the integrity and recoverability of backed-up data. Best of all, restic is completely free to use and fully open-source, making it accessible to everyone. To ensure that users can always access their saved data, backward compatibility for backups is a key feature, and restic adheres to semantic versioning to clarify which versions remain compatible. Furthermore, the repository and its associated data structures are treated as the “Public API” under the rules of semantic versioning, reinforcing the importance of consistent data management practices. This careful design allows users to confidently manage their backups without fear of losing access to critical information.