#13 of 16 open-source backup tools · Updated October 2026
UrBackup review 2026
UrBackup · Founder-led niche platform
UrBackup ranks #13 of 16 open-source backup tools in the Open-Source Backup Ledger 2026, with a Ledger Index of 46.7 out of 100. UrBackup is the simplest route to image and file backup of Windows and Linux machines and easy to leave, but has no tape, object storage or VM integration.
Scores
Source: Open-Source Backup Ledger 2026, edition 2026-10-02. How each score works: methodology.
Pros
No domain scores 4 or higher out of 5.
Cons
- Replication and DR1/5
- New-platform support (VMware exit)1.5/5
- Databases and applications2/5
What the Ledger says
UrBackup is the simplest way here to get image and file backup of Windows and Linux machines with a web console, and its plain file and VHD formats make leaving easy. It has no tape, no object storage, no replication and no hypervisor integration in the open-source edition, and development has been mostly maintenance since 2019. A good fit for small server fleets and PCs, not for data-centre VM estates.
No AI features.
Capability by area
Buying, lock-in and release record
Buying and licence (sustainability risk)(lower is better)
- Maintainer concentration4
- Founder plus one main committer (Kazi 2024-2025)
- Backer health3
- Small company selling appliances
- Licence-change risk2.5
- AGPLv3, single main copyright holder
- Abandonment signs2
- Quiet 2022-2023, active again 2024-2026
- Security response2.5
- No advisory process found
Technical lock-in(lower is better)
- Formats0.5
- Plain file trees and VHD/raw images
- Export path0.5
- Files readable directly; images import into hypervisors
- Stack coupling1
- Self-contained server with embedded SQLite
- Hardware / cloud coupling0.5
- Btrfs or ZFS strongly recommended
- Skills and tooling coupling1
- Simple to run
Release credibility
- Cadence2.5
- Sporadic: one server release in 2023, none in 2024, several in 2025-2026
- Roadmap transparency2.5
- Code on GitHub with issues disabled; announcements on the forum
- Say-do3.5
- 7 of 7 maintenance items shipped
- Velocity2.5
- Mostly maintenance; few new capabilities since 2019
- Lifecycle stability3
- 2.5.x line maintained since 2022
Partners and services
- Paid support2.5
- Appliance support only
- Consultants and partners1.5
- Few partners
- Documentation3
- Complete admin manual
- Community and packaging2.5
- Vendor packages and forum; little distribution packaging
Alternatives to UrBackup
Questions about UrBackup
Is UrBackup any good?
UrBackup ranks #13 of 16 open-source backup tools in the Open-Source Backup Ledger 2026, with a Ledger Index of 46.7 out of 100. Its weakest are replication and dr, new-platform support (vmware exit), databases and applications.
What are the best alternatives to UrBackup?
The closest by Ledger Index are Bacula (51.8), ReaR (54.2), Borg (54.4), restic (58.1).
How is UrBackup licensed and sold?
Founder plus one main committer (Kazi 2024-2025).
How much lock-in does UrBackup bring?
UrBackup scores 3.5 out of 25 on technical lock-in (lower is better). Export path: Files readable directly; images import into hypervisors.
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