Kopia

Open source alternative to Veeam Data Platform

14.5K stars
Apache-2.0
Active this week
Last commit 1 day ago

Last verified Oct 31, 2026

Secure your files with end-to-end encrypted, deduplicated backups to S3, Azure, GCS, Backblaze, or local storage. Apache-2.0 licensed.

Visit website GitHub14.5K Deploy on Hostinger

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Kopia is for#

Developers and sysadmins automating server backups

Kopia's CLI and S3-compatible storage make it well-suited for scripted, automated server backups. One command initializes the repository; subsequent runs snapshot only changed data. A Kopia Repository Server can centralize backups from multiple hosts into a single S3 bucket without giving each host direct cloud credentials.

Skip if:

If you need full disk imaging or bootable recovery snapshots, Kopia backs up files and directories only. Use a separate disk imaging tool for bare-metal system recovery.

Homelabbers with NAS and multiple machines

KopiaUI's desktop GUI lets users configure scheduled backups to a local NAS, a Backblaze B2 bucket, or other backends without writing scripts. Multiple machines can back up to the same repository, and deduplication keeps storage growth in check even when machines share common files.

Skip if:

If your primary backup destination is Dropbox or OneDrive, Kopia's Rclone integration for those backends is experimental and may require troubleshooting.

Privacy-conscious individuals and small teams

Client-side encryption means your backup provider never holds your decryption keys. Combined with Apache-2.0 licensing and self-hosting, this removes two common privacy risks in managed backup services: vendor key custody and service-level data retention policies you cannot audit.

Skip if:

If you need a fully managed backup service with guaranteed SLAs, phone support, and no infrastructure to maintain, Kopia does not offer a managed tier. You are responsible for monitoring and recovery testing.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Reliable file backups require solving three problems at once: where to store the data, how to protect it in transit and at rest, and how to keep storage costs from growing as your data grows. Managed backup services handle all three but at the cost of per-GB fees, vendor-controlled encryption keys, and lock-in to a single storage backend.

Self-hosted backup tools have historically required either a dedicated backup server with significant setup overhead, or accepting a tool tied to a single cloud provider. Teams with files across multiple machines often end up with a fragmented approach: one script for the NAS, another for laptops, and manual checks that anything ran at all.

how Kopia solves it

How it solves it#

Client-side end-to-end encryption

Kopia encrypts each snapshot before data leaves your machine using user-controlled keys. The storage backend never receives your plaintext data and cannot decrypt your backups. This means a storage provider breach does not expose your backup contents.

Content-defined deduplication

Kopia splits files into variable-size content blocks and stores only unique blocks in the repository. Duplicate content across multiple files or multiple machines backing up to the same repository is stored once. This reduces storage costs for incremental backups with overlapping content.

Multi-backend storage support

Kopia stores repositories to Amazon S3 and any S3-compatible provider, Azure Blob Storage, Backblaze B2, Google Cloud Storage, WebDAV, SFTP, and Rclone (which adds experimental support for Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive). Local disk and NAS are fully supported. You can run multiple repositories across different backends.

KopiaUI desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux

A graphical desktop app lets you create snapshots, configure backup policies, and restore files without the command line. The GUI and CLI share the same repository format, so you can mix KopiaUI on desktop machines with CLI-driven server backups in the same repository.

Kopia Repository Server

A server mode that centralizes backup storage: multiple client machines connect to a single Kopia Repository Server, which proxies access to the shared backend. Clients do not need direct cloud credentials; they authenticate through the server. This suits small team and homelab setups backing up several hosts to one storage location.

Incremental snapshots with compression

After the first full backup, subsequent snapshots capture only changed content blocks. Compression is applied on top of deduplication, reducing the on-disk footprint further. Both deduplication and compression are applied before encryption, so the stored data is space-efficient and private.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Apache-2.0 license with no per-machine feesKopia is free to run on any number of machines under the Apache-2.0 license. There are no per-machine, per-seat, or per-GB fees for the backup tool itself. You pay only for the storage backend you provision, which separates infrastructure costs from software costs.
True client-side encryptionEncryption keys are generated and stored locally and never transmitted to the storage backend. If the storage provider is breached, backup data remains unreadable. This is a meaningful architectural advantage over backup services where the vendor holds keys and could be compelled to decrypt data.
Storage backend flexibilityKopia works with seven distinct storage provider categories, from major cloud providers to local NAS. You can run different repositories on different backends simultaneously, and no proprietary storage format locks you to a single provider.
Active development since 2015The kopia/kopia repository has been in active development for over a decade, with the last commit pushed on 2026-10-29. With 14,537 GitHub stars and 782 forks, it reflects sustained community interest and ongoing maintenance rather than an abandoned proof of concept.

Trade-offs

-Rclone integration is experimentalStorage backends accessed through Rclone, including Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive, are marked experimental. Not all Rclone providers have been tested with Kopia, and some may not work. You must also install and configure Rclone separately before Kopia can use it.
-783 open issues in the trackerThe GitHub issue tracker has 783 open issues (pull requests excluded). For a backup tool where reliability is the primary concern, this is worth reviewing before committing, particularly for edge-case storage configurations or less common operating system setups.
-File-level backups only, no disk imagingKopia backs up files and directories you specify; it does not create full disk images or bootable recovery snapshots. Users who need bare-metal system recovery after a catastrophic failure will need a separate disk imaging tool. Kopia protects data, not the operating system state.

versus alternatives

Kopia vs alternatives#

Kopia vs Veeam Data Platform

Kopia and Veeam Data Platform both address data protection, but at very different price and complexity tiers. Veeam is a commercial backup product targeting enterprise environments with workload-specific licensing and paid support contracts. Kopia is Apache-2.0 licensed, free to run, and manages only the backup and restore workflow, leaving storage provisioning to you.

Feature	Kopia	Veeam Data Platform
License	Apache-2.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	Yes
Cost	Free (storage costs only)	Per-workload licensing
Encryption	Client-side, user-controlled	Yes
GUI	KopiaUI desktop app	Management console
Primary target	Developers, small teams, homelabs	Enterprise IT

Kopia is the stronger choice when cost, data sovereignty, and storage flexibility are the deciding factors. Its client-side encryption model ensures the storage backend never holds decryption keys, and its support for S3, Azure, GCS, Backblaze B2, and WebDAV lets you pick the cheapest or most appropriate backend without retooling. Apache-2.0 licensing means no per-workload audit risk as your backup scope grows.

Veeam Data Platform is still the better fit for large enterprise environments that need broad workload coverage across VMware, Hyper-V, SQL Server, and cloud-native workloads, along with centralized management, compliance reporting, and vendor-backed SLA guarantees. Organizations where backup policies must meet regulatory requirements with documented evidence are the core Veeam use case.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash

Download KopiaUI (the desktop app) or the Kopia CLI binary from GitHub Releases: https://github.com/kopia/kopia/releases/latest

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: GoJavaScript
Frameworks: Electron

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is Kopia free to use?

Kopia is Apache-2.0 licensed and free to run on any number of machines. You pay only for the cloud storage backend you use, such as S3 or Backblaze B2. There is no hosted service, managed tier, or per-machine fee for Kopia itself.

Does Kopia encrypt my backups?

Yes. Kopia applies client-side end-to-end encryption before data leaves your machine. Encryption keys are user-controlled and never transmitted to the storage backend, so the storage provider cannot read your backup data.

What cloud storage providers does Kopia support?

Kopia supports Amazon S3 and S3-compatible providers, Azure Blob Storage, Backblaze B2, Google Cloud Storage, WebDAV, SFTP, and providers accessible through Rclone (Dropbox, OneDrive, and Google Drive are tested, though Rclone support is experimental). Local disk and NAS are fully supported.

Can I back up multiple machines to the same repository?

Yes. A Kopia Repository Server lets multiple client machines connect to and back up to a single storage location. Clients authenticate through the server rather than holding direct cloud credentials, which simplifies access management for small teams and homelabs.

Can Kopia do full disk imaging or bare-metal recovery?

No. Kopia backs up files and directories you specify; it does not create full disk images or bootable recovery snapshots. For bare-metal recovery, you would need a separate disk imaging tool. Kopia's strength is incremental, encrypted, deduplicated data backups, not system state recovery.

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by category

Self-host Kopia on a Hostinger VPS

Keep it running 24/7, even when your laptop is off. A Hostinger VPS gives it a server of its own.

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Apply
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On a server that stays on
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Focus on the app, not the server

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Kopia vs Veeam Data Platform

Feature	Kopia	Veeam Data Platform
License	Apache-2.0	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	Yes
Cost	Free (storage costs only)	Per-workload licensing
Encryption	Client-side, user-controlled	Yes
GUI	KopiaUI desktop app	Management console
Primary target	Developers, small teams, homelabs	Enterprise IT

Who Kopia is for#

Developers and sysadmins automating server backups

Skip if:

Homelabbers with NAS and multiple machines

Skip if:

Privacy-conscious individuals and small teams

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Client-side end-to-end encryption

Content-defined deduplication

Multi-backend storage support

KopiaUI desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Kopia Repository Server

Incremental snapshots with compression

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Kopia vs alternatives#

Kopia vs Veeam Data Platform

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Similar open-source tools#

Open source tools in these categories#

Databases & Storage

Security & Monitoring

DevOps & CI/CD

Find open source alternatives to paid software

Who Kopia is for#

Developers and sysadmins automating server backups

Skip if:

Homelabbers with NAS and multiple machines

Skip if:

Privacy-conscious individuals and small teams

Skip if:

The problem it solves#

How it solves it#

Client-side end-to-end encryption

Content-defined deduplication

Multi-backend storage support

KopiaUI desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Kopia Repository Server

Incremental snapshots with compression

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Trade-offs

Kopia vs alternatives#

Kopia vs Veeam Data Platform

Quick start#

What it's built on#

FAQ#

Similar open-source tools#

Open source tools in these categories#

Databases & Storage

Security & Monitoring

DevOps & CI/CD

Find open source alternatives to paid software