Introduction
When protecting critical data on your VPS infrastructure, choosing the right backup solution can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a catastrophic data loss. As we enter 2025, three standout backup solutions dominate the landscape: Restic, BorgBackup, and Kopia. Each tool brings unique strengths to the table, from advanced deduplication algorithms to robust encryption schemes.
This comprehensive comparison examines these backup solutions across critical performance metrics: deduplication efficiency, backup and restore speeds, S3-compatible storage support, encryption capabilities, and real-world use cases. Whether you’re running a single Ubuntu server or managing a fleet of cloud instances, understanding these differences will help you make an informed decision for your backup strategy.
Deduplication Performance Comparison
Restic implements content-defined chunking with variable-length segments, typically achieving 60-80% deduplication ratios on typical server workloads. Its approach creates chunks based on content boundaries rather than fixed sizes, making it particularly effective for databases and frequently modified files.
BorgBackup excels with its sophisticated deduplication algorithm that operates at both file and chunk levels. In benchmark tests, Borg consistently achieves 70-85% deduplication ratios, especially impressive with system backups containing similar directory structures across snapshots.
Kopia takes a hybrid approach, combining content-defined chunking with advanced compression algorithms. Its deduplication performance ranges from 65-82%, with particularly strong results when backing up containerized applications and development environments.
Memory Usage During Deduplication
- Restic: 100-200 MB RAM for typical operations
- BorgBackup: 50-150 MB RAM, most memory-efficient
- Kopia: 200-400 MB RAM, higher due to advanced indexing
Backup and Restore Speed Analysis
Performance varies significantly based on data types, network conditions, and storage backends. In standardized tests using 100GB datasets on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS systems:
Backup Speeds (to local storage):
- BorgBackup: 180-220 MB/s (fastest)
- Restic: 120-160 MB/s
- Kopia: 100-140 MB/s
Restore Speeds:
- Kopia: 200-250 MB/s (fastest restore)
- BorgBackup: 160-200 MB/s
- Restic: 140-180 MB/s
When backing up to S3-compatible storage, network latency becomes the primary bottleneck. Kopia’s parallel chunk uploads often provide the best performance for cloud storage scenarios, making it particularly suitable for modern object storage solutions.
S3-Compatible Storage Support
All three solutions support S3-compatible storage, but with different implementation approaches:
Restic S3 Integration
Restic offers native S3 support with excellent compatibility across providers. It supports server-side encryption, custom endpoints, and works seamlessly with Cloudflare R2, Backblaze B2, and traditional Amazon S3. The implementation is mature and handles network interruptions gracefully with automatic retry mechanisms.
BorgBackup Limitations
BorgBackup doesn’t natively support S3 storage, requiring additional tools like rclone or borgmatic for cloud integration. While this adds complexity, it provides flexibility in choosing storage backends and often results in better performance through specialized transfer tools.
Kopia Cloud-Native Approach
Kopia was designed with cloud storage in mind, offering the most comprehensive S3 support. It includes advanced features like parallel uploads, configurable chunk sizes for optimal cloud performance, and built-in support for storage classes and lifecycle policies.
Encryption and Security Features
Security remains paramount for VPS backups, especially when storing data off-site.
Restic uses AES-256 encryption in counter mode with Poly1305 authentication. Keys are derived using scrypt, providing strong protection against brute-force attacks. All metadata, including file names and directory structures, is encrypted.
BorgBackup implements AES-256 encryption with HMAC-SHA256 authentication. It offers multiple encryption modes, including authenticated encryption and key-based encryption. Borg’s approach to key management is particularly robust, with options for both passphrase and key file authentication.
Kopia supports multiple encryption algorithms including AES-256-GCM and ChaCha20-Poly1305. It provides the most flexible key management system, supporting master keys, derived keys, and integration with external key management systems.
Use-Case Recommendations
Choose Restic When:
- You need reliable S3-compatible storage integration
- Cross-platform compatibility is essential (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- You want a balance of features and simplicity
- Following our automated VPS backup guide
Choose BorgBackup When:
- Maximum backup speed is critical
- You prefer local or network-attached storage
- Memory efficiency is a primary concern
- Working with traditional Linux server environments
Choose Kopia When:
- Cloud-native backup strategy is preferred
- You need advanced compression and parallel processing
- Modern web-based management interface is valuable
- Working with containerized environments and modern development stacks
Performance Considerations for VPS Environments
When selecting a backup solution for VPS infrastructure, consider your server specifications. For instances with limited RAM (2GB or less), BorgBackup’s memory efficiency makes it the clear choice. For high-performance setups with dedicated resources, Kopia’s advanced features and parallel processing capabilities shine.
Network bandwidth also plays a crucial role. If you’re using modern web servers with high-throughput requirements, ensure your backup solution can operate efficiently without impacting production workloads.
Conclusion
Each backup solution serves distinct use cases in 2025’s cloud infrastructure landscape. Restic provides the best balance of features and ecosystem compatibility, making it ideal for mixed environments and S3-based workflows. BorgBackup excels in performance-critical scenarios where local storage is preferred. Kopia represents the future of cloud-native backup solutions with advanced web interfaces and comprehensive cloud integration.
Your choice should align with your specific infrastructure requirements, storage preferences, and operational complexity tolerance. Consider starting with Restic for most general-purpose VPS backup needs, then evaluate alternatives based on specific performance or feature requirements.
For comprehensive VPS solutions that complement these backup strategies, explore our high-performance cloud infrastructure designed to support demanding backup and recovery workloads.
