#4 of 16 open-source backup tools · Updated October 2026
pgBackRest review 2026
pgBackRest · Single-maintainer reference tool
pgBackRest ranks #4 of 16 open-source backup tools in the Open-Source Backup Ledger 2026, with a Ledger Index of 63.9 out of 100. pgBackRest is the reference open-source PostgreSQL backup tool: parallel, incremental, encrypted, multi-repository. Its real risk is a single maintainer.
Scores
Source: Open-Source Backup Ledger 2026, edition 2026-10-02. How each score works: methodology.
Pros
- Databases and applications4.5/5
- Recovery4/5
- Storage efficiency and targets4/5
- Replication and DR4/5
Cons
- Virtual and physical servers0.5/5
- New-platform support (VMware exit)0.5/5
What the Ledger says
pgBackRest is the reference open-source backup tool for PostgreSQL: parallel, incremental, encrypted, multi-repository and fast to adopt new PostgreSQL versions. Its one real risk is that a single maintainer writes almost all of it.
No AI features.
Capability by area
Buying, lock-in and release record
Buying and licence (sustainability risk)(lower is better)
- Maintainer concentration4.5
- Lead maintainer writes 86 to 97% of commits
- Backer health2
- Funded by Crunchy Data
- Licence-change risk1
- MIT
- Abandonment signs0.5
- Very active
- Security response1.5
- Active fixes
Technical lock-in(lower is better)
- Formats0.5
- Restores a standard PostgreSQL data directory
- Export path0.5
- Standard data files
- Stack coupling0.5
- Single C binary
- Hardware / cloud coupling0
- Any POSIX or cloud target
- Skills and tooling coupling1
- PostgreSQL skills
Release credibility
- Cadence5
- 8 to 13 releases a year
- Roadmap transparency4
- Public issues; no formal roadmap
- Say-do4.5
- 5 of 5 shipped within 2 to 5 months
- Velocity4.5
- Every PostgreSQL release supported promptly
- Lifecycle stability4.5
- Broad PostgreSQL version support, stable upgrades
Partners and services
- Paid support4
- Crunchy Data 24/7
- Consultants and partners4
- Supported by PostgreSQL consultancies worldwide
- Documentation4
- Detailed user guide
- Community and packaging4
- In PGDG repositories; default recommendation in the community
Alternatives to pgBackRest
Questions about pgBackRest
Is pgBackRest any good?
pgBackRest ranks #4 of 16 open-source backup tools in the Open-Source Backup Ledger 2026, with a Ledger Index of 63.9 out of 100. Its strongest areas are databases and applications, recovery, storage efficiency and targets. Its weakest are virtual and physical servers, new-platform support (vmware exit).
What are the best alternatives to pgBackRest?
The closest by Ledger Index are Barman (62.6), PBS (66.2), WAL-G (61.3), XtraBackup (61.3).
How is pgBackRest licensed and sold?
Lead maintainer writes 86 to 97% of commits.
How much lock-in does pgBackRest bring?
pgBackRest scores 2.5 out of 25 on technical lock-in (lower is better). Export path: Standard data files.
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