Arq
Backs up to your own bucket — S3, B2, Wasabi, a NAS, a folder — encrypted before it leaves.
What it does
Schedules deduplicated, client-side-encrypted backups to almost any destination: object storage, SFTP, SMB, a local disk, or Arq’s own hosted storage. Keeps versions, restores single files or whole folders, and can back up to several destinations at once.
The appeal over a subscription service is that the destination is yours. Cancel the software and the data is still readable with Arq’s documented, open format and a restore tool.
Notes
- Sold as a one-off licence with a year of updates, or as a subscription that bundles storage. The licence does not expire when updates do.
- Does not make a bootable copy. Pair it with Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! if you want one.
Alternative to
| Alternative | Type | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Backblaze Personal Backup | Subscription | Unlimited storage for a flat fee, but only their cloud |
| restic | Open source | Same model from the command line, free, no scheduler of its own |
| Kopia | Open source | Comparable features with a GUI, less polished |
| Duplicati | Open source | Free and cross-platform; slower, and the web UI is an acquired taste |
| Time Machine | Built in | Local and effortless, but not off-site |
Install
brew install --cask arq