Borg
Borg combines compression and authenticated encryption in a deduplicating archiver; this repository identifies its README as Borg 2.
About Borg
BorgBackup (short: Borg) is a deduplicating backup program with optional compression and authenticated encryption. It splits files into variable-length chunks and stores only chunks not already in the repository, so only changes are stored, and it can store data on remote hosts for off-site backups.
This repository describes unstable Borg 2 / master branch, which is in beta testing. It may have major or breaking changes between beta releases with no beta-to-beta upgrade path, requiring repositories to be deleted and re-created, and should not be used for production backups.
Key features
- Content-defined chunking deduplication across machines and backups
- Client-side 256-bit authenticated encryption with AES-OCB or ChaCha20-Poly1305
- Optional compression using lz4, zstd, zlib, or lzma
- Authentication-only modes and choice of HMAC-SHA256 or Blake3
- Off-site backup storage over ssh and http(s) protocols
- Quick detection of unmodified files with local caching
Best for: People who need daily backups that store only changes, including to remote targets they do not fully trust.
Good for
- Stores only new chunks, reducing bytes kept for repeated or daily backups
- Deduplication does not depend on filenames, timestamps, or chunk position
- Client-side authenticated encryption covers confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity
Watch out for
- Borg 2 branch is in beta and should not be used for production backups
- Beta releases have no upgrade path and require deleting and re-creating repositories
Borg at a glance
- Website
- github.com/borgbackup/borg
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Backup & Recovery
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Backup & Recovery
Borg alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
BorgBackup is a deduplicating backup program with compression and authenticated encryption, described as free software.
Kopia backs up data across Windows, macOS, and Linux with incremental backups, client-side encryption, compression, and deduplication.
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Borg FAQ
What is BorgBackup?
A deduplicating backup program that optionally supports compression and authenticated encryption.
Can this Borg 2 branch be used for production backups?
No. It is unstable beta testing software and may have major or breaking changes between releases.
How does Borg deduplication work?
Each file is split into variable-length chunks and only chunks not already in the repository are added, considering all chunks in the same repository.
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