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pgBackRest
What it is
pgBackRest is a free, open-source backup and restore solution for PostgreSQL, running on Linux in self-hosted deployments. It handles full, differential, and incremental backups at file or block level, with parallel processing and lz4 or zstd compression for backup and restore work. A custom protocol supports local and remote operations, including archiving through TLS or SSH. Repositories can use S3-, Azure-, or GCS-compatible object storage, and repository encryption protects stored backups. Checksums are calculated for every backup file and checked again during restore or verification. Versioned object storage can provide a point-in-time repository view, while listed S3 object locking and Azure or GCS soft delete add tampering protection. The project supports ten PostgreSQL versions, including five supported and five end-of-life releases. Installation guides cover Debian, Ubuntu, and RHEL. The current stable release is v2.59.2, released September 27, 2026. The MIT-licensed plan costs nothing for personal or commercial use.
For and against
For
- Full, differential, and incremental backup types
- Parallel processing with lz4 and zstd compression
- S3, Azure, and GCS-compatible repositories
- Checksums are rechecked during restore or verification
- Point-in-time recovery with versioned storage
Against
- Linux and self-hosted deployment only
- No free trial is listed
- Supports PostgreSQL rather than multiple database systems
The verdict
pgBackRest covers backup, restore, archiving, encryption, integrity checks, and point-in-time recovery for PostgreSQL. Its free MIT-licensed plan and broad storage options fit self-hosted Linux environments.
Who it suits
It suits PostgreSQL administrators managing large databases or workloads on Linux. It is also relevant for teams needing self-hosted, encrypted backups and point-in-time recovery.
Plans and prices
pgBackRest
Free and open source · MIT license · Personal or commercial use
Read 30 Sep 2026 · pgbackrest.org
On the record
- Backup types
- It supports full, differential, and incremental backups at file or block level.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Current release
- The site identifies v2.59.2 as the current stable release, released September 27, 2026.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Encryption
- pgBackRest can encrypt its repository to secure backups wherever they are stored.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Integrity
- It calculates checksums for every backup file and rechecks them during restore or verify.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Linux guides
- The user guide index lists installation guides for Debian and Ubuntu, and for RHEL.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Parallel processing
- Parallel processing and compression algorithms including lz4 and zstd are used for backup and restore operations.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- PostgreSQL compatibility
- The site says pgBackRest supports ten PostgreSQL versions: the five supported versions and the last five end-of-life versions.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- pgBackRest is a backup and restore solution for PostgreSQL designed to scale to large databases and workloads.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Remote operation
- A custom protocol supports local or remote backup, restore, and archiving via TLS or SSH.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Storage integrations
- Repositories can use S3, Azure, and GCS compatible object stores.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- Bug reports can be submitted, and the site says sponsors offer products and services that include pgBackRest support.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
- Tampering recovery
- With versioned object storage, it can read a repository as of a point in time; the page also mentions S3 object locking and Azure or GCS soft delete as additional tampering protection.pgbackrest.org · read 30 Sep 2026
