Bareos
Open-source, client-server enterprise backup to disk, tape or cloud.
Open source Desktop download
- Platforms
- Linux server; clients for Linux/Windows/macOS/BSD/Solaris/AIX; web UI
- Licence
- Open source — AGPLv3
- Price
- Free; optional subscription / support
- Category
- Backup & disaster recovery
- Updated
- 2026-11-05
What it is
Bareos (a fork of Bacula) is an open-source, client-server backup system at enterprise scale. It centralises backup of dozens of machines to disk, tape or cloud, with a web interface and flexible retention policies.
Problems it removes
- You want open-source, enterprise-grade backup with no per-client licence fees.
- Backups must land on disk, tape and cloud under one policy engine.
- Dozens of mixed Linux and Windows clients need backing up centrally.
How administrators use it
- Run the director and storage daemon on Linux and deploy a file daemon to each client.
- Define job, schedule and retention policies in configuration.
- Manage and monitor jobs from the web UI.
Strengths & trade-offs
Strengths
- Free and open source (a maintained fork of Bacula).
- Disk, tape and cloud targets.
- Scales to many clients across operating systems.
Trade-offs
- Configuration is involved — there is a real learning curve.
- Tape and large deployments need planning.
Common questions
How is Bareos different from Bacula?
It is a community fork of Bacula with open development, added features and a web UI.
Is commercial support available?
Yes — the software is free, with optional paid subscription and support.
Alternatives
Duplicati
Free, encrypted, incremental backup to almost any cloud storage.
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desktop download