SqlBak

SqlBak is a database backup service for automating jobs and managing backups across servers, with a web interface and server-side app. It is best suited to administrators who need several database types and storage destinations; SQL Server users get the clearest set of recovery controls.

Its appeal is operational flexibility, but the free tier is small and paid prices are per server, so costs can rise as deployments grow.

Overview

SqlBak supports Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Azure SQL, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and MongoDB. Backup frequency is customizable, and the service can manage backups from multiple servers. This breadth makes it a plausible fit for mixed database environments, although the most detailed backup features are specifically described for SQL Server.

The app runs as a background service on Windows or Linux servers. Docker and Raspberry Pi installation are also described, while management is provided through a web service. SqlBak was founded in 2003 and is based in Hawthorne, New Jersey.

Key features

SQL Server backups can be full, differential, or transaction-log based, with point-in-time recovery, automatic verification, compression, health monitoring, and one-click restore. Together these controls make SqlBak more useful for recovery planning than a service focused only on creating backup copies. Users of other supported databases should not assume they receive the same documented set of controls.

Destinations span Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Microsoft Azure, S3-compatible storage, Backblaze B2, Box, Wasabi, Google Cloud, Aruba Cloud, Yandex Disk, FTP, local or network folders, and SSH. That range can help teams keep backups in an existing storage environment rather than being confined to one provider.

SqlBak says backups are encrypted and move directly from the server to the user's storage, bypassing SqlBak.com; database credentials are encrypted and stored on the server. All plans include SSL encryption, while paid plans also include AES encryption. SqlBak says it is PCI DSS compliant, has no access to credit-card data, and has compliance validated annually by Stripe.

A REST API can check backup status, and a command-line interface can connect servers and configure jobs. These options suit administrators who want to work with the service programmatically. Point-in-time recovery and restore verification are also supported.

Pricing

The free plan costs nothing and allows one server, two databases, one-month backup history, and server-down alerts every 60 minutes. It is useful for a small setup or initial evaluation, but the server and database caps make it a poor fit for a larger estate.

Standard costs $6 a month, billed per server if you start now. It raises backup history to six months and sends server-down alerts every 10 minutes. That is the lower-cost paid step for users who need longer retention and more timely alerts, but it offers less history and slower alerts than Professional.

Professional costs $9 a month, billed per server if you start now, and includes 12-month backup history and server-down alerts every five minutes. It is the stronger choice for users who value longer retention or faster notification. Extended support is listed for both Standard and Professional.

A 30-day trial provides Professional features and requires no credit card to start. The service is pay-as-you-go: users can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time, and prepaying for a year earns an additional 10% off.

Platforms

SqlBak supports API, Linux, self-hosted, web, and Windows environments. The background service runs on Windows or Linux servers, with Docker and Raspberry Pi installation also described. This hybrid arrangement keeps backup jobs near the servers while providing web-based management.

Who it's for

SqlBak is a strong candidate for administrators managing backups across multiple servers, especially when they need a choice of database engines and destinations or SQL Server recovery controls. The free tier is suited to very small setups; teams with more servers or databases should compare the per-server paid cost against their deployment size.

It is less compelling for anyone seeking a generous free allowance or uniform, detailed backup controls across every supported database. The specific recovery capabilities are clearest for SQL Server.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Broad database support and a long list of storage destinations give administrators flexibility to fit backups into existing environments.
• Pros: SQL Server point-in-time recovery, multiple backup types, verification, and one-click restore provide meaningful recovery options.
• Pros: The no-card 30-day Professional trial lets users evaluate the higher tier before committing.
• Cons: The free plan's one-server and two-database caps limit its usefulness beyond a small deployment.
• Cons: Paid plans are billed per server, so the monthly cost scales with the number of servers.
• Cons: The strongest feature detail is for SQL Server, leaving less certainty for teams evaluating other supported databases.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Database Backup Software.

• MySQL is worth considering for users who want a freemium option with a free plan and a Community Edition that includes SQL and NoSQL applications, replication and high-availability components, and connectors.
• DBAegis offers a free Community plan capped at one admin, three connections, and three schedules, making it an alternative to compare for a small PostgreSQL setup.
• Barman is a free, self-hosted Linux PostgreSQL disaster-recovery tool for readers who want that narrower focus.
• Databasus is free, open-source software with all described product features, for users who prefer that model.
• pg_probackup is a free backup and recovery utility for PostgreSQL clusters, suited to readers focused on that task.
• Database Vault has a free plan with weekly automated backups, seven-day retention, 1 GB of storage, a low-priority queue, and basic email notifications; compare it if that allowance fits your needs.
• Percona XtraDB Cluster is free, open-source database clustering software, with paid support and services offered separately.
• pgBackRest is free, open-source software under the MIT license for personal or commercial use.

Verdict

Choose SqlBak if you need to coordinate database backups across servers, value broad destination support, or need SQL Server recovery controls such as point-in-time restore and verification. Its main reason to reconsider is scale: the free tier is tightly capped and paid plans charge per server. For small deployments, start with the free plan or no-card trial; for larger ones, check the total server count against the paid tiers before settling on it.