Time Machine Alternatives for Linux

Time Machine is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Duplicati, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Time Machine and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Time Machine are Timeshift, Restic, UrBackup and Déjà Dup.

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Alternatives
Time Machine alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Duplicati icon
     356 likes

    Duplicati stores encrypted, incremental backups with AES-256 encryption and GPG, compatible with Windows, Linux, MacOS. Supports cloud services like OneDrive, Google Drive, and includes a built-in scheduler, auto-updater. Run backups through a web interface or command line.

    159 Duplicati alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    Good alternative?
     
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  2. Timeshift icon
     89 likes

    Enables regular incremental snapshots of Linux systems, preserving system files and settings. Snapshots can be restored for system recovery, use minimal disk space, exclude user files, and are managed with a user-friendly interface for reliable protection.

    35 Timeshift alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2013

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
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  3. Restic icon
     71 likes

    restic is a program that does backups right. The design goals are: Easy, Fast, Verifiable, Secure, Efficient, Free.

    77 Restic alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2017

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • FreeBSD
    • Arch Linux
    • OpenBSD
    Good alternative?
     
  4. UrBackup icon
     40 likes

    UrBackup is a open source client/server backup system, that through a combination of image and file backups accomplishes both data safety and a fast restoration time.

    61 UrBackup alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2013

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    • FreeBSD
    Good alternative?
     
  5. Déjà Dup icon
     80 likes

    Déjà Dup is a simple backup tool. It hides the complexity of doing backups the Right Way (encrypted, off-site, and regularly) and uses Restic behind the scenes.

    94 Déjà Dup alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2011

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • GNOME
    • Linux Mobile
    • Flathub
    Good alternative?
     
  6. Back In Time icon
     53 likes

    Back In Time is a simple backup tool for Linux, inspired by "FlyBack project".

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2009

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  7. Veeam Agent icon
     21 likes

    Veeam Agent for Microsoft Windows and Veeam Agent for Linux work with Veeam Availability Suite to deliver Availability for ALL workloads — virtual, physical and cloud — from a single management console, extending Veeam’s leadership position from being the best for VMware vSphere...

    54 Veeam Agent alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Since

    • Since 2015

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  8. Duplicacy icon
     16 likes

    Duplicacy is a new generation local and cloud backup tool that supports cross-computer deduplication. It is free for personal use and source code is available to commercial users.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Since

    • Since 2016

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  9. Plakar icon
     6 likes

    An open-source backup and restore platform built for modern workloads. It offers encrypted, deduplicated, and instantly recoverable snapshots across file systems, object stores and cloud environments.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (ISC)

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2025

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    • FreeBSD
    • Debian
    • Ubuntu
    • OpenBSD
    Good alternative?
     
  10. ShadowProtect icon
     16 likes

    Fast and reliable disk-based backup that captures full, differential and incremental point-in-time backup images of your entire system. This includes the operating system, applications, configuration settings and data.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Since

    • Since 2011

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  11. Rsnapshot icon
     15 likes

    rsnapshot is a rsync based backup utillity, providing filesystem snapshot functionality. It can take incremental snapshots of local and remote filesystems for any number of machines.

    42 Rsnapshot alternatives

    Cost / License

    Since

    • Since 2010

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
  12. Use Time Machine to automatically back up your personal data, including apps, music, photos and documents. Having a backup allows you to recover files that you later delete or can't access.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Since

    • Since 2023

    Platforms

    • Linux
    Good alternative?
     
12 of 40 Time Machine alternatives