Arq Backup vs BorgBase
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Arq Backup and BorgBase.
Quick Verdict
4.0/5
Arq Backup
0 reviews
4.1/5
BorgBase
0 reviews
BorgBase is rated higher (4.1 vs 4.0). Arq Backup sends encrypted backups to your own S3, B2, Wasabi, or Google Drive. No subscription to Arq cloud — you own the destination. One-time purchase for macOS and Windows. BorgBase provides managed backup repositories specifically designed for BorgBackup and Restic. Append-only repos, alerting for missed backups, and EU/US storage options.
Arq Backup Mac and Windows backup to your own cloud | BorgBase Managed backup repositories for BorgBackup and Restic | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.0 (0 reviews) | 4.1 (0 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | one-time purchase + optional subscription (Arq Premium is subscription) | freemium |
| Starting price | From $59.99/mo | Free tier available✓ |
| Best for | Mac and Windows users who want a one-time-purchase backup app sending encrypted, versioned backups to their own cloud or NAS storage | Sysadmins, freelancers, and homelabbers running BorgBackup or Restic who want append-only offsite repositories with missed-backup alerting and honest per-GB billing. |
| Features | ||
| IPv6 | ||
| DDoS protection | ||
| Automated backups | ||
| Snapshots | ||
| Managed option | ||
| Bare metal | ||
| GPU available | ||
| S3-compatible | ||
| Hourly billing | ||
| Free tier | ✓ | |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | encryptedself hosted | free tiereu datacenterus datacenter |
| Visit Arq Backup → | Visit BorgBase → | |
Arq Backup
Pros
- + One-time $59.99 per-computer license with an optional, genuinely optional updates subscription
- + Backs up to storage you own — S3, B2, Wasabi, Google Drive, SFTP, NAS and other S3-compatible targets
- + End-to-end encryption with keys that never leave your machine
- + Open, documented backup format — restores do not depend on the vendor existing
Cons
- - macOS and Windows desktops only — no Linux or server agent
- - Destination storage, request and egress costs are separate and ongoing
- - File backup only: no disk imaging or bare-metal recovery
- - Small-company support with no published SLA
BorgBase
Pros
- + Purpose-built for BorgBackup and Restic with append-only mode and end-to-end encryption
- + Free forever tier: 10 GB across 2 repositories with no card and no transfer charges
- + Billed after compression and deduplication; restores and API calls are free
- + Stale-backup alerting (email, Pushover, webhook), quotas, and a full automation API
- + EU and US regions mixable per repository; supports Borg, Borgmatic, and its own Vorta GUI
Cons
- - Only supports Borg and Restic — no image backups, Windows agents, or S3-compatible access
- - No geographic redundancy by design (no backup of your backup) and no published SLA
- - Email-only support from a small company; large custom volumes are an email conversation
- - Requires comfort with command-line backup tooling and manual restore verification
- - Third-party price listings disagree with vendor pages — confirm at checkout
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