#3 of 16 open-source backup tools · Updated October 2026
PBS review 2026
Proxmox Backup Server · Ecosystem-bound platform, dependable builder
PBS ranks #3 of 16 open-source backup tools in the Open-Source Backup Ledger 2026, with a Ledger Index of 66.2 out of 100. PBS is the most polished open-source backup product here, with live-restore, global dedupe, tape and S3, and a public roadmap it delivers on.
Scores
Source: Open-Source Backup Ledger 2026, edition 2026-10-02. How each score works: methodology.
Pros
- Long-term retention and tape4.5/5
- Security and compliance4.5/5
- Management at scale and automation4.5/5
- Recovery4/5
Cons
- Databases and applications1.5/5
What the Ledger says
PBS is the most polished open-source backup product here, with live-restore, global dedupe, tape and S3, and a public roadmap it delivers on. Its limit is scope: agentless VM backup works only for Proxmox VE, and there are no Windows or database agents. For a Proxmox estate it is the natural choice; outside one, it covers Linux file backup only.
No AI or machine-learning feature, and none on the roadmap.
Capability by area
Buying, lock-in and release record
Buying and licence (sustainability risk)(lower is better)
- Maintainer concentration3.5
- Effectively all commits by Proxmox staff
- Backer health1
- Profitable, privately held company with a large installed base
- Licence-change risk1.5
- AGPLv3; no relicensing history
- Abandonment signs0
- Active development and releases
- Security response1
- Active maintenance with public bug tracker
Technical lock-in(lower is better)
- Formats2
- Proprietary chunk and index format, readable by the open-source client
- Export path1
- Static client restores or mounts backups on any Linux
- Stack coupling2.5
- Debian-based server; VM backup tied to Proxmox VE
- Hardware / cloud coupling0
- Any x86 server; offline mirror for air gaps
- Skills and tooling coupling1.5
- Proxmox skills
Release credibility
- Cadence4.5
- Two to three releases a year, aligned with Proxmox VE
- Roadmap transparency4.5
- Public roadmap wiki with history, git and Bugzilla
- Say-do4
- 10 of 10 roadmap items shipped; S3 took 34 months from first listing
- Velocity4
- Several substantive features per release
- Lifecycle stability4
- Major per Debian release, in-place upgrades
Partners and services
- Paid support4.5
- Published prices, four tiers, 24/7 from October 2026
- Consultants and partners4
- More than 200 listed partners; training
- Documentation4
- Full admin guide and built-in API viewer
- Community and packaging4
- Very active forum; own Debian repositories
Alternatives to PBS
Questions about PBS
Is PBS any good?
PBS ranks #3 of 16 open-source backup tools in the Open-Source Backup Ledger 2026, with a Ledger Index of 66.2 out of 100. Its strongest areas are long-term retention and tape, security and compliance, management at scale and automation. Its weakest are databases and applications.
What are the best alternatives to PBS?
The closest by Ledger Index are Xen Orchestra (67), Bareos (67.7), pgBackRest (63.9), Barman (62.6).
How is PBS licensed and sold?
Effectively all commits by Proxmox staff.
How much lock-in does PBS bring?
PBS scores 7 out of 25 on technical lock-in (lower is better). Export path: Static client restores or mounts backups on any Linux.
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