pgBackRest

C
C tier on Database Backup SoftwareScore 6.5 · #11 of 25
Android app
Not listed
Free plan
Yes
Runs on
Linux, self-hosted
pgbackrest.org
The pgBackRest homepage

Summary

pgBackRest is a free, open-source backup and restore solution for PostgreSQL, designed for large databases and workloads. It supports full, differential and incremental backups at file or block level, with parallel processing and compression options such as lz4 and zstd. A custom protocol handles local or remote backup, restore and archiving through TLS or SSH. Repositories can use S3-, Azure- and GCS-compatible object storage, and the repository can be encrypted wherever stored. pgBackRest calculates checksums for backup files and checks them again during restore or verification. With versioned object storage, users can view a repository as it existed at a point in time; S3 object locking and Azure or GCS soft delete are also described as tampering protections. The project supports ten PostgreSQL versions, including the five currently supported versions and the last five end-of-life versions. It runs on Linux as self-hosted software, with installation guides for Debian, Ubuntu and RHEL. Bug reports can be submitted, and sponsors offer products and services that include pgBackRest support. The plan is free under the MIT license for personal or commercial use.

Who it is for

pgBackRest suits PostgreSQL users who need self-hosted backup and restore for large databases or workloads. It may fit teams using Linux and local or compatible object-store repositories.

What is good

  • Supports full, differential and incremental backups.
  • Can use parallel processing and lz4 or zstd compression.
  • Remote operations can use TLS or SSH.
  • Repositories can be encrypted and checked with checksums.
  • Free under the MIT license for personal or commercial use.

What to know first

  • Runs on Linux and is self-hosted.
  • It supports PostgreSQL, not other listed databases.
  • No free trial is listed.

Verdict

pgBackRest offers a broad set of PostgreSQL backup and restore options, including encryption and verification. It is a fit to consider when Linux self-hosting is suitable.

pgBackRest plans and pricing

All plans
pgBackRest Free Free and open source · MIT license · Personal or commercial use pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on database backup software

Free plan
Yespgbackrest.org
Point-in-time recovery
Yespgbackrest.org
Restore verification
Yespgbackrest.org
Deployment model
self_hostedpgbackrest.org
Supported databases
PostgreSQLpgbackrest.org

Facts

Purpose
pgBackRest is a backup and restore solution for PostgreSQL designed to scale to large databases and workloads.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Backup types
It supports full, differential, and incremental backups at file or block level.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Parallel processing
Parallel processing and compression algorithms including lz4 and zstd are used for backup and restore operations.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Remote operation
A custom protocol supports local or remote backup, restore, and archiving via TLS or SSH.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Storage integrations
Repositories can use S3, Azure, and GCS compatible object stores.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Encryption
pgBackRest can encrypt its repository to secure backups wherever they are stored.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Integrity
It calculates checksums for every backup file and rechecks them during restore or verify.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Tampering recovery
With versioned object storage, it can read a repository as of a point in time; the page also mentions S3 object locking and Azure or GCS soft delete as additional tampering protection.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
PostgreSQL compatibility
The site says pgBackRest supports ten PostgreSQL versions: the five supported versions and the last five end-of-life versions.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Linux guides
The user guide index lists installation guides for Debian and Ubuntu, and for RHEL.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Support
Bug reports can be submitted, and the site says sponsors offer products and services that include pgBackRest support.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026
Current release
The site identifies v2.59.2 as the current stable release, released September 27, 2026.pgbackrest.org · 30 Sept 2026

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Sources