Linode Backup Service vs Arq Backup
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Linode Backup Service and Arq Backup.
Quick Verdict
3.3/5
Linode Backup Service
0 reviews
4.0/5
Arq Backup
0 reviews
Arq Backup is rated higher (4.0 vs 3.3). Linode's managed backup service creates automatic daily, weekly, and biweekly backups of your Linode VPS. Stored for 2 or 4 weeks. Simple restore via Linode dashboard. 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.
Linode Backup Service Automatic backups for Linode VPS | Arq Backup Mac and Windows backup to your own cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.3 (0 reviews) | 4.0 (0 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | paid | one-time purchase + optional subscription (Arq Premium is subscription) |
| Starting price | From $2/mo✓ | From $59.99/mo |
| Best for | Akamai Cloud (Linode) users wanting a zero-maintenance restore safety net for single instances — especially as one layer alongside off-site storage. | Mac and Windows users who want a one-time-purchase backup app sending encrypted, versioned backups to their own cloud or NAS storage |
| Features | ||
| IPv6 | ||
| DDoS protection | ||
| Automated backups | ✓ | |
| Snapshots | ✓ | |
| Managed option | ||
| Bare metal | ||
| GPU available | ||
| S3-compatible | ||
| Hourly billing | ✓ | |
| Free tier | ||
| Tags | ||
| Tags | backups includedeu datacenterus datacenterapac datacenter | encryptedself hosted |
| Visit Linode Backup Service → | Visit Arq Backup → | |
Linode Backup Service
Pros
- + Cheap and effortless: from $2/month, one-click enable, no software to install
- + Live full-disk snapshots taken while the instance runs — no downtime
- + Four restore points including a persistent manual snapshot slot
- + Managed via Cloud Manager, Linode CLI, and REST API for fleet scripting
- + Free with Linode Managed ($100/instance/month)
Cons
- - Automated retention capped at 14 days — shallow for compliance or ransomware scenarios
- - Stored in the same data center as the instance — off-host but not off-site
- - Excludes attached Volumes and encrypted disks (unencrypted ext3/ext4 only)
- - Backups are deleted together with the instance; not an archive
- - Not available in distributed compute regions; priced per instance
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
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