Amanda

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Score6.9

Rank#73 of 151

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Self-hosted, Windows

Summary

Amanda is a free, open-source backup system for administrators who need one master server to protect multiple networked hosts. It can send backups to disk, tape drives or changers, and cloud storage, with drivers for DVD-RW, RAIT, and Amazon S3. Amanda schedules full and incremental runs and spreads work across the backup cycle. Its catalog tracks backed-up files and media locations, helping identify the tapes needed for a restore and avoid overwriting the wrong tape. Archives can be compressed before or after transfer, and communication and archives can be protected with OpenSSH, GPG or another encryption program, and Kerberos 5. The Application API supports custom handling for applications such as relational databases and special file systems. A native Windows client is provided, alongside client support for Linux, macOS, and Unix systems. Amanda Community is supplied as-is; the project says it continues to receive critical security updates. Without a holding disk, backups run sequentially to tape.

Who it is for

Amanda suits administrators of Linux, Unix, and Windows hosts who want centralized, self-managed backups. The project identifies its community edition as best suited to labs and testing.

What is good

One master server can back up multiple networked hosts.
Supports disk, tape, and cloud destinations.
Catalogs files and media locations for restores.
Offers full and incremental backup scheduling.
Free and open-source under the Community edition.

What to know first

Works best with one or more large holding-disk partitions.
Without a holding disk, backups run sequentially to tape.
Free support is unavailable; community help is through lists and forums.
Community edition is provided as-is.

Verdict

Amanda combines centralized backups, media cataloging, and support for several storage destinations. Its holding-disk preference and as-is support model are important considerations for deployment.

Amanda plans and pricing

All plans

Amanda Community Edition Free Free open-source project · provided as-is amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026

Compared on backup software

Free plan: Yesamanda.org

Facts

Computer backup: Yesamanda.org · 20 Sept 2026
Backup scope: mixedamanda.org · 20 Sept 2026
Restore modes: fileamanda.org · 20 Sept 2026
Supported platforms: Windows, macOS, Linuxamanda.org · 20 Sept 2026
Purpose: Amanda lets an administrator use one master backup server to back up multiple networked hosts.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Backup destinations: It can back up to disk, tape changers or drives, and cloud storage, with bundled device drivers for DVD-RW, RAIT, and Amazon S3.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Backup scheduling: Amanda schedules full and incremental backups and adjusts the schedule to spread work across the backup cycle.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Restore and media management: It catalogs backed-up files and their media locations, identifies the tapes needed for a restore, and manages tapes to avoid overwriting the wrong one.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Security: Amanda supports secure server-client communication using OpenSSH, archive encryption using GPG or another encryption program, and Kerberos 5 security.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Compression: Backup archives can be compressed before or after network transfer using compress, gzip, or a custom program.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Application integrations: Its Application API supports custom backups for applications such as relational databases and for special file systems.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Windows support: Amanda provides a native Windows client and the README says it backs up 32-bit and 64-bit Windows machines.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Operating systems: The README lists Linux, Mac OS X, and multiple Unix systems among tested client platforms; it says Amanda should run on modern Unix systems meeting its stated requirements.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Support: The project says free support is unavailable; users can seek help through mailing lists and forums, while formal or commercial support may be available from vendors.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Notable limit: Amanda works best with one or more large holding-disk partitions for buffering; without a holding disk, backups run sequentially to the tape drive.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Intended users: The project describes Amanda Community as a free, open-source backup option for Linux and Unix, and says it is best suited to labs and testing in its comparison with Zmanda Pro.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026
Maintenance: Amanda is maintained by Zmanda, which the project identifies as a BETSOL company; the community edition continues to receive critical security updates.amanda.org · 2 Oct 2026