Minarca
Minarca is a free, open-source backup solution that uses an agent on computers and a central server for management.
What Minarca is
Minarca is a free, open-source backup solution that uses an agent on computers and a central server for management. It supports file-based backups from Linux, Windows, and macOS systems to destinations such as remote servers and external disks. Its web interface provides a dashboard, logs, and statistics for monitoring backups, while the server can keep separate repositories and disk quotas for multiple users. Minarca uses rdiff-backup for incremental backups; its maker says the reverse incremental differential method helps resist data corruption. Users can restore large amounts of data with the local agent or smaller datasets through the web interface. The software also creates a mirror of backed-up directories that can be accessed and restored from the filesystem with or without the application. A central Minarca server is required to back up a desktop computer. Listed agents support Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit), macOS Catalina 10.15 and later, and 64-bit Linux, Ubuntu, and Debian. Apple Silicon support is described as coming soon on the macOS package page. Minarca is self-hosted, and its listed plan costs nothing.
Good
- Backs up Linux, Windows, and macOS systems.
- Supports remote servers and external disks as destinations.
- Central dashboard includes logs and statistics.
- Multiple users can have separate repositories and quotas.
- Directory mirrors can be restored without the application.
Watch out
- A central server is required for desktop backups.
- Mobile backup is not supported.
- Apple Silicon support is listed as coming soon.
Who it suits
Minarca suits system administrators, service providers, small and medium-sized businesses, and individuals who can manage a self-hosted backup server. Its multi-user repositories and quotas are relevant for shared administration.
Verdict
Minarca offers self-hosted computer backups with centralized monitoring and more than one restore route. The central-server requirement is important to account for before setting it up.
Plans and prices
From Minarca's own pricing page, checked 12 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Minarca | Free | Self-hosted; server required for desktop backups; storage quotas can be configured per user |
The facts
Each one read from Minarca's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- Agent platforms
- The download page lists agents for Windows 10 and 11, macOS Catalina 10.15 and later, and 64-bit Linux, Ubuntu, and Debian.checked 12 Oct 2026
What it does
- Backup and restore
- Minarca supports file-based backups, multiple destinations including remote servers or external disks, and restores through either the local agent or web interface.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Backup destinations
- Minarca can back up to multiple destinations, including remote servers and external disks.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Backup scope
- mixedchecked 19 Sep 2026
- Backup technology
- Minarca uses rdiff-backup for incremental backups.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Business support
- Businesses can contact Minarca for help setting up or maintaining the software, and the maker says it works with businesses in Canada, the United States, and Europe.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Central management
- Its web interface provides a dashboard, logs, and statistics for centralized backup management.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Community support
- The maker lists a Google Group for discussions and support and a Discourse forum for the Minarca community.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Computer backup
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
- Data access
- The site says Minarca creates a mirror of backed-up directories that can be accessed from the filesystem and restored with or without the application.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Download compatibility
- The download page lists Windows 10 and 11 (64-bit), macOS Catalina 10.15 and later, and Linux packages; the macOS package page says Apple Silicon support is coming soon.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Download requirements
- A central Minarca server is required to back up a desktop computer.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Independent recovery
- Minarca creates a mirror version of directories that the maker says can be accessed and restored without the application.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The site describes Minarca as suited to service providers, professional system administrators, and IT enthusiasts.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Mobile backup
- Nochecked 19 Sep 2026
- Multi-tenancy
- The server supports multiple users with separate repositories and disk quotas.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Multi-tenant management
- Minarca supports multiple users with separate repositories and disk quotas.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- Minarca supports backing up Linux, Windows, and macOS systems.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- Company and founding
- Minarca’s about page says it was founded in 2014 by Patrik Dufresne, and that the company later took the name IKUS Software in 2020.checked 12 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 2014checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- St-Colomban, Quebec, Canadachecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free and self-hosted
- The maker describes Minarca as free, open-source, and self-hosted.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
- Open source and free
- Minarca’s about page describes the software as open-source and free to use and modify.checked 12 Oct 2026
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