Bareos

Bareos is backup software for computers and servers, combining broad platform coverage with ransomware protection. It suits organizations and technically capable users that need mixed backup and restore workflows, particularly when an open-source edition is preferable. The main decision is whether the free Community edition meets your support needs or a 10-unit paid subscription is justified.

Overview

Bareos covers Linux, macOS, Windows and web access, with deployment options that include self-hosted environments. Its mixed backup scope makes it relevant when one system must protect both workstations and servers rather than a single device type. Mixed restore modes likewise support varied recovery requirements, while ransomware protection addresses a major reason to maintain recoverable backups.

The project comes from Bareos, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Cologne, Germany. The product's open-source foundation is central to its appeal: the Community edition exposes the complete source code and a public repository, avoiding a subscription for users willing to operate with community resources.

Key features

• Computer and server backup: Supporting both endpoints and servers makes Bareos a sensible candidate for mixed estates, not just personal-computer protection.
• Mixed backup and restore: Varied modes accommodate different data-protection and recovery workflows. That breadth is useful in heterogeneous environments, although buyers needing a particular mode should confirm it fits their process.
• Ransomware protection: Protection against ransomware-related loss strengthens Bareos's role in a broader resilience plan and is especially relevant for servers holding operational data.
• Open-source Community edition: Public repository access and complete source code provide a no-subscription route. This favors administrators who can manage an open-source deployment and do not require the paid plan's commercial subscription arrangement.
• Broad access and deployment: Linux, macOS, Windows, web and self-hosted support let teams align the software with varied infrastructure instead of adopting a platform-specific backup product.

Pricing

Bareos uses a freemium model with two defined plans.

Community

The Community edition costs €0.00 per free and requires no subscription. It includes the open-source community edition, public repository access and complete source code. This is the right choice for individuals, labs and organizations with the technical capacity to run community software and accept that the plan is centered on the open-source edition.

Subscription

The Subscription plan starts at €480 per year and requires a minimum of 10 units. That annual commitment can make sense for a team protecting a qualifying multi-unit environment that wants a paid subscription, but it is poorly matched to a single workstation, a small home setup or any deployment below the 10-unit threshold. The free plan removes subscription cost, while the paid tier's published minimum raises the entry price substantially for smaller buyers.

Platforms

Bareos supports Linux, macOS, Windows and web access, with self-hosted deployment also supported. That combination suits mixed operating-system estates and teams that want browser-based access alongside installed infrastructure. Buyers limited to one desktop platform may find this breadth unnecessary, but organizations consolidating computer and server backup can use it to avoid separate platform-specific tools.

Who it's for

Bareos is best for administrators protecting both computers and servers, especially where ransomware protection and varied recovery modes matter. The Community edition is attractive to open-source users who value source visibility and can operate without a paid subscription. The Subscription plan is aimed at deployments of at least 10 units; it is not a natural fit for a one-device buyer or a small subscription seeking a lower commitment.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free, no-subscription Community edition: Removes recurring license cost and includes the complete source code.
• Computer and server coverage: One product can address mixed endpoint and server backup requirements.
• Ransomware protection: Adds a relevant safeguard to the backup offering.
• Wide platform support: Linux, macOS, Windows, web and self-hosted options accommodate varied infrastructures.

Cons

• 10-unit paid minimum: The €480-per-year Subscription starts at 10 units, excluding very small deployments.
• Community edition favors technical users: Its value depends on being comfortable with an open-source, community-oriented approach.
• Mixed modes may require validation: Bareos supports varied backup and restore modes, but the specific modes needed by a particular workflow should be checked before committing.

Alternatives

Choose MSP360 Backup instead for a free personal workstation plan with file- and image-based backup on Linux, macOS and Windows; its Pro macOS/Linux plan costs $19.99 per year.

Amanda is the simpler alternative when you want a free, open-source, self-hosted project provided as-is across Linux, macOS and Windows.

Pick Storware Backup & Recovery when a free license, technical-support-free edition or a 60-day trial for up to 20 virtual environments better matches your evaluation.

Veeam Agent for Mac suits macOS-only users who can work within a free edition limited to one backup job and without direct object-storage backup.

Choose Veeam Backup & Replication for a broader platform product sold in five-license increments and supporting up to 50 workloads.

Acronis Cyber Disaster Recovery Cloud is a paid, trial-available option billed by used disaster-recovery cloud storage and compute.

Cove Data Protection offers paid protection with a flat rate per server or workstation and a per-user Microsoft 365 price.

Datto Endpoint Backup for Windows is a paid alternative using consumption-based pricing tied to storage used.

For broader category comparisons, see Backup and Disaster Recovery Software, Backup software, NAS Backup Software and Cloud Backup Services.

Verdict

Choose Bareos if you need computer and server backup across mixed platforms, want ransomware protection, and value a complete-source open-source edition. Look elsewhere if you protect fewer than 10 units and want a paid subscription, or if you prefer a more narrowly targeted backup product over a broad, community-oriented platform.