Note that we regularly update this document to compare the latest versions of
rustic and restic. Currently, we compare restic 0.18.0 with rustic 0.10.0.
resticrustic
programming language Go Rust development philosopy conservative with changes moving fast, add new features early test coverage ✅ ❌ (43% in rustic_core) returns error code ✅ (✅) only 0 or 1; not all commands support it available as library ❌ ✅ rustic_core
rustic’s goal is to implement all functionality/features restic offers - and
make some of them even better. It also implements new features which are missing
in restic.
This section is an advertisement of the most important features uniquely
introduced by rustic. Some have been already adopted by restic.
feature resticrustic
cold storage support ❌ (may work in special cases) ✅ (full support including warm-up of needed data) lock-free ❌ (roadmap: 0.19) ✅ (lock-free operations, two-phase pruning) in-place restore ✅ ✅ config profile support ❌ (wrapper tools available) ✅ hooks ❌ ✅ (at many points, configurable in config profile) additional snapshot information (✅) (partly added) ✅ (see below for details) in-repo config ❌ ✅ (see below for details) custom chunker config ❌ ✅ (min/max/average chunk size; fixed size chunker) <snapshot>:<path> syntax✅ (most commands) ✅ new command: merge ❌ ✅ new command: webdav ❌ ✅ diff with local files❌ ✅ backup can use .gitignore❌ (roadmap: 0.19) ✅ backup multiple snapshots at once❌ ✅ check uses existing cache❌ (roadmap: 0.19) ✅ show file history ❌ ✅ (rustic find --path) more snapshot filter options ❌ ✅ (see below for details) allow to log to file ❌ ✅ log verbosity -v or --quiet--log-leveltelemetry support ❌ ✅ (for backup, Prometheus and OpenTelemetry) interactive mode (TUI) ❌ ✅
backend resticrustic
local✅ (built-in) ✅ (built-in) sftp✅ (using external ssh command) ✅ (built-in using opendal, windows not supported) rest✅ (built-in) ✅ (built-in) s3✅ (built-in) ✅ (built-in using opendal) swift✅ (built-in) ✅ (built-in using opendal) b2✅ (built-in) ✅ (built-in using opendal) azure✅ (built-in) ✅ (built-in using opendal) gs✅ (built-in) ✅ (built-in using opendal) dropbox❌ ✅ (built-in using opendal) ftp❌ ✅ (built-in using opendal) gdrive❌ ✅ (built-in using opendal) onedrive❌ ✅ (built-in using opendal) webdav❌ ✅ (built-in using opendal) opendal (other services)❌ ✅ (built-in using opendal) (see here ) rclone✅ (via stdin, using external rclone command) ✅ (via http on localhost, using external rclone command)
command resticrustic
backup✅ ✅ cache✅ ❌ cat✅ ✅ config❌ (no in-repo config) ✅ check✅ ✅ copy✅ ✅ diff✅ ✅ dump✅ ✅ find✅ ✅ forget✅ ✅ generate✅ ✅ completions init✅ ✅ key list✅ ✅ key add✅ ✅ key remove✅ ✅ key passwd✅ ✅ list✅ ✅ ls✅ ✅ merge❌ ✅ migrate✅ ❌ (not needed; repo version migration via config) mount✅ ✅ (linux only) prune✅ ✅ recover✅ ❌ repair index✅ ✅ repair packs✅ ❌ repair snapshots✅ ✅ repoinfo❌ ✅ restore✅ ✅ rewrite✅ ❌ self-update✅ ✅ show-config❌ ✅ snapshots✅ ✅ stats✅ ❌ (but there is repoinfo) tag✅ ✅ unlock✅ lock-free webdav❌ ✅
information resticrustic
from repo design info ✅ ✅ program version used ✅ ✅ summary (size,…) ✅ ✅ used command ✅ ✅ label ❌ ✅ description ❌ ✅ delete (protection) ❌ ✅
option resticrustic
--cacert✅ ❌ --cache-dir✅ ✅ (or in config profile) --cleanup-cache✅ ❌ --compression✅ (auto,max,off); needed in every call ✅ (-7..22) configure once in in-repo config --dry-run✅ ✅ (or in config profile) --insecure-no-password✅ ✅ (empty passwords work without extra option) --insecure-tls✅ ❌ --json✅ ✅ --key-hint✅ ❌ --limit-download✅ (✅) (for opendal option trottle) --limit-upload✅ (✅) (for opendal option trottle) --log-file❌ ✅ (or in config profile) --no-cache✅ ✅ (or in config profile) --no-extra-verify✅ needed in every call ✅ configure once using config --no-lock✅ ✅ all operations are lock-free --no-progress❌ ✅ (or in config profile) --progress-intervall✅ (via env variable) ✅ (or in config profile) --option✅ as cmd arg or env variable ✅ via config profile or env variable --opentelemetry❌ ✅ (or in config profile, only for backup currently) --pack-size✅ fix limit; needed in every call ✅ fix or dynamic limit, configure once in in-repo config --password-command✅ ✅ (or in config profile) --password-file✅ ✅ (or in config profile) --prometheus❌ ✅ (or in config profile, only for backup currently) --prometheus-user❌ (no prometheus support) ✅ (or in config profile) --prometheus-pass❌ (no prometheus support) ✅ (or in config profile) --quiet✅ ✅ --repo✅ ✅ (or in config profile) --repo-hot❌ (no cold-storage support) ✅ (or in config profile) --repository-file✅ ❌ (use repository in config profile instead) --retry-lock✅ not needed; lock-free --tls-client-cert✅ ❌ --use-profile❌ (no config profile support) ✅ (or in config profile for recursively using profiles) --verbose (multiple times)✅ ✅ --log-level --warm-up❌ (no cold-storage support) ✅ (or in config profile) --warm-up-wait❌ (no cold-storage support) ✅ (or in config profile) --warm-up-wait-command❌ (no cold-storage support) ✅ (or in config profile)
option resticrustic
append_only❌ ✅ chunker❌ ✅ chunk-size❌ ✅ chunk-min-size❌ ✅ chunk-max-size❌ ✅ compression✅ (by --compression) ✅ treepack_size❌ (only all packs: --pack-size) ✅ treepack_growfactor❌ ✅ treepack_size_limit❌ ✅ datapack_size❌ (only all packs: --pack-size) ✅ datapack_growfactor❌ ✅ datapack_size_limit❌ ✅ min_packsize_tolerate_percent❌ (hardcoded 80% for prune --repack-small) ✅ max_packsize_tolerate_percent❌ ✅ extra_verify✅ (default, can be unset using --no-extra-verify) ✅ (default)
filter resticrustic (options also in config profile)
by host ✅ --host ✅ --filter-host by label ❌ ✅ --filter-label by paths ✅ --paths ✅ --filter-paths by exact pathlists ❌ ✅ --filter-paths-exact by tags ✅ --tags ✅ --filter-tags by exact tagists ❌ ✅ --filter-tags-exact by date/time ❌ ✅ --filter-before, filter-after by size ❌ ✅ --filter-size by size added to repo ❌ ✅ --filter-size-added custom jq syntax ❌ ✅ --filter-jq
option resticrustic
--copy-chunker-params✅ (not needed, use copy --init) --from-*✅ (not needed, see copy command) --hostname❌ (always sets hostname) ✅ --repository-version✅ ✅ (use --set-version) --set-*❌ (no in-repo config support) ✅ --username❌ (always sets username) ✅ --with-created❌ (always sets creation time) ✅
general resticrustic
allow to create multiple snapshot in single run ❌ ✅ allow to backup relative paths (✅) full path in snapshots ✅
option resticrustic (options also in config profile)
--as-path❌ ✅ --command❌ ✅ --custom-ignorefile❌ ✅ --description❌ ✅ --description-from❌ ✅ --delete-never❌ ✅ --delete-after❌ ✅ --exclude✅ ✅ --glob --exclude-file✅ ✅ --glob-file --exclude-caches✅ ❌ (use --exclude-if-present) --exclude-if-present✅ (+ support for header parsing) ✅ (but no header parsing) --exclude-larger-than✅ ✅ --files-from✅ ❌ --files-from-raw✅ ❌ --files-from-verbatim✅ ❌ --force✅ ✅ --git-ignore❌ (roadmap: 0.19) ✅ --group-by✅ (host/paths/tags) ✅ (host/label/paths/tags) --host✅ ✅ --iexclude✅ ✅ --iglob --iexclude-file✅ ✅ --iglob-file --ignore-ctime✅ ✅ --ignore-inode✅ ✅ --ignore-devid❌ ✅ --init❌ ✅ --label❌ ✅ --no-require-git❌ (no --git-ignore) ✅ --no-scan✅ ✅ --one-file-system✅ ✅ --parent✅ ✅ --read-concurrency✅ ❌ (hardcoded) --skip-if-unchanged✅ ✅ --stdin✅ ✅ (use - as backup source) --stdin-filename✅ ✅ --stdin-from-command✅ ✅ --tag✅ ✅ --time✅ ✅ --with-atime✅ ✅
general resticrustic
scan and use already existing files ✅ ✅ resumable restore ✅ ✅ restore hard links ✅ ❌ <snapshotID>:<subfolder> syntax✅ ✅ <snapshotID>:<subfolder>/file syntax❌ ✅ dry run support ✅ ✅
option resticrustic
filtering options for latest ✅ ✅ --delete✅ ✅ --exclude✅ ✅ --glob --iexclude✅ ✅ --iglob --iinclude✅ ✅ --iglob --include✅ ✅ --glob --no-ownership❌ ✅ --numeric-id❌ ✅ --overwrite✅ ❌ (missing functionality: if-newer, never) --sparse✅ ❌ --target✅ ✅ (give target as second CLI argument) --verify✅ ❌ (but diff can be used to verify after) --verify-existing✅ --overwrite always ✅
general resticrustic
dump files ✅ ✅ dump dirs ✅ ✅ allow auto-detection of used format ❌ ✅
option resticrustic
snapshot filtering options for latest ✅ ✅ --archive✅ (tar,zip) ✅ (tar,targz,zip,content,auto) --target✅ ✅ --file
general resticrustic
allow to keep all XXX ✅ ✅ respect “no delete” options in snapshot ❌ ✅
option resticrustic (options also in config profile)
snapshot filtering options ✅ ✅ --keep-last✅ ✅ --keep-minutely❌ ✅ --keep-hourly✅ ✅ --keep-daily✅ ✅ --keep-daily✅ ✅ --keep-weekly✅ ✅ --keep-monthly✅ ✅ --keep-quarter-yearly❌ ✅ --keep-half-yearly❌ ✅ --keep-yearly✅ ✅ --keep-within✅ ✅ --keep-within-minutely❌ ✅ --keep-within-hourly✅ ✅ --keep-within-daily✅ ✅ --keep-within-weekly✅ ✅ --keep-within-monthly✅ ✅ --keep-within-quarter-yearly❌ ✅ --keep-within-half-yearly❌ ✅ --keep-within-yearly✅ ✅ --keep-tag✅ ✅ --usafe-allow-remove-all✅ ✅ --keep-none --delete-unchanged❌ ✅ --compact✅ ❌ --group-by✅ (host/paths/tags) ✅ (host/label/paths/tags) --prune✅ ✅
general resticrustic
prune plan without reading pack files ✅ ✅ prune parallel to backup (two-phase prune) ❌ (roadmap: 0.19) ✅ different pack sizes for tree/data packs ❌ ✅ resumable prune ✅ ✅ (option to) resize packs ✅ ✅
option resticrustic
--fast-repack❌ ✅ --instant-delete✅ (default, no two-phase) ✅ --keep-pack❌ ✅ --keep-delete❌ (no two-phase) ✅ --max-repack-size✅ ✅ --max-repack (size/%/unlimited) --max-unused✅ ✅ --repack-all❌ ✅ --repack-cacheable-only✅ ✅ --repack-small✅ ✅ (default behavior; to unset use --no-resize) --repack-uncompressed✅ ✅ --unsafe-recover-no-free-space✅ ✅ --early-delete-index
general resticrustic
check index files ✅ ✅ check index vs packs ✅ ✅ check snapshot files ✅ ✅ (optionally) check pack files ✅ ✅ only check given snapshots ❌ ✅ cache policy create temporary (use existing: roadmap 0.18) use existing check cache integrity ❌ ✅ check hot/cold integrity ❌ (no cold storage support) ✅
option resticrustic
--read-data✅ ✅ --read-data-subset✅ ✅ --trust-cache❌ (no cache integrity check) ✅ --with-cache✅ ✅ (default behavior)
general resticrustic
source/target given by CLI options in config profile multiple targets ❌ ✅ check for matching chunker parameters ❌ ✅
option resticrustic
snapshot filtering options ✅ ✅ --from-*✅ (target is --repository) ✅ (source is --repository, target in config profile) --init❌ (extra run of init --copy-chunker-params) ✅
general resticrustic
summarize identical snapshots (like +3) ❌ ✅ show summary information (sizes) ✅ ✅
option resticrustic
snapshot filtering options ✅ ✅ --all❌ ✅ --compact✅ ❌ --group-by✅ (host/paths/tags) ✅ (host/label/paths/tags) --latest✅ ❌ --long❌ ✅
option resticrustic
snapshot filtering options for latest ✅ ✅ --glob❌ ✅ --glob-file❌ ✅ --human-readable✅ ❌ --iglob❌ ✅ --iglob-file❌ ✅ --long✅ ✅ --numeric-uid-gid❌ ✅ --summary❌ ✅ --recursive✅ ✅
general resticrustic
group and sort snapshots by date before finding ❌ ✅ summarize snapshots with identical result (like +3) ❌ ✅ fast searching for given full paths ❌ ✅
option resticrustic
--all❌ (no summarizing) ✅ --blob✅ ❌ --glob✅ (give patterns as args) ✅ --group-by❌ ✅ --ignore-case✅ ✅ (--iglob) --long✅ ❌ (default: long output) --newest✅ ✅ use --filter-before --numeric-uid-gid❌ (default: numeric ids) ✅ --oldest✅ ✅ use --filter-after --pack✅ ❌ --path (filter snapshots)✅ ✅ --filter-path --path (full path to search)❌ ✅ --show-pack-id✅ ❌ --show-misses❌ ✅ --snapshot✅ ✅ (give ids as args) --tag✅ ✅ --filter-tags --tree✅ ❌
general resticrustic
allow latest ❌ ✅ diff with local files ❌ ✅ <snapshotID>:<subfolder> syntax✅ ✅ <snapshotID>:<subfolder>/file syntax❌ ✅
option resticrustic
snapshot filtering options for latest ❌ (no latest support) ✅ --glob❌ ✅ --glob-file❌ ✅ --iglob❌ ✅ --iglob-file❌ ✅ --metadata✅ ✅ --no-content❌ ✅ exclude options for local files ❌ (no diff with local files) ✅
simple comparison of borg, restic and rustic blogpost .