WAL-G
What it is
WAL-G is an open-source archival and restoration tool for databases in cloud environments. It supports continuous backups and point-in-time recovery for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MS SQL Server, and additional targets including MongoDB, Redis, Greenplum, Cloudberry, FoundationDB and ETCD; MongoDB and Redis are marked beta in the README. Compression options include LZ4, LZMA, ZSTD and Brotli, using multiple processors. PostgreSQL deployments can make non-exclusive base backups. Operators configure backup storage and use storage tools commands, with settings supplied through environment variables or JSON, YAML or envfile formats. Encryption options use libsodium, OpenPGP or Yandex Cloud KMS, but encryption is off by default. Metrics can be sent to statsd or statsd_exporter over UDP on a best-effort basis. Deletion starts as a dry run and needs --confirm to execute. Installation guidance covers Linux and macOS, with Windows builds described for development. The project uses Apache License 2.0; LZO support uses GPL 3.0+.
For and against
For
- Open-source and free
- Continuous backups with point-in-time recovery
- Supports multiple database engines
- Several compression formats
- Self-hosted deployment
Against
- Encryption is disabled by default
- Envelope PGP keys support only Yandex Cloud KMS
- MongoDB and Redis are marked beta
- Metrics delivery is best effort
The verdict
WAL-G provides broad, self-hosted database backup and restoration capabilities with configurable compression, storage and encryption. Its open-source licensing and point-in-time recovery suit operators who manage their own infrastructure.
Who it suits
WAL-G suits database operators who want self-hosted archival and recovery across several database systems. It is relevant when continuous backup, point-in-time recovery and configurable storage are required.
Plans and prices
WAL-G
Open-source database archiving and restoration tool · Apache License 2.0; LZO support uses GPL 3.0+
Read 9 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Backup deletion
- The delete command performs a dry run by default and requires a --confirm flag to execute deletion.wal-g.readthedocs.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Backup storage
- WAL-G documentation describes configuring where backups are stored and provides a storage tools command for interacting with configured storage.wal-g.readthedocs.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Compression
- WAL-G supports LZ4, LZMA, ZSTD, and Brotli compression, and uses multiple processors.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Configuration
- WAL-G can be configured with environment variables or a config file, including JSON, YAML, and envfile formats.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Database support
- The README lists PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, and MS SQL Server, with MongoDB and Redis marked beta.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Development support
- The README says WAL-G development is supported by Yandex Cloud.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- The documentation describes encryption options using libsodium, OpenPGP, and Yandex Cloud KMS; encryption is disabled by default.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- KMS limitation
- Envelope PGP key configuration currently supports only Yandex Cloud Key Management Service.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under Apache License 2.0, while LZO support is licensed under GPL 3.0+.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Linux binary
- The installation section says a precompiled binary is available for Linux AMD 64 through the Releases tab.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- WAL-G can publish metrics to statsd or statsd_exporter over UDP on a best-effort basis.wal-g.readthedocs.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Platform support
- The README gives installation instructions for Linux and macOS and describes building on Windows in its development section.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- PostgreSQL backups
- For Postgres, WAL-G supports non-exclusive base backups.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- WAL-G is an archival and restoration tool for databases in the cloud.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
- Support channels
- The project README lists a Slack group and Telegram chat for discussing WAL-G usage and development.github.com · read 9 Oct 2026
