Duplicity

Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted

What Duplicity is

Duplicity is free GPL software for backing up directories from a command-line interface. It creates encrypted GNU tar volumes and sends them to local or remote file servers. After the first full archive, incremental archives contain only changed file parts, using rsync-style deltas to reduce transferred and stored data. GnuPG can encrypt and sign archives, and restore detects changes made to remote archives. Listed backends include Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft Azure, rclone, rsync, SSH/SCP, Tahoe-LAFS, and WebDAV. Backups preserve deleted files, Unix permissions, directories, symbolic links, FIFOs, and device files, but not hard links. Duplicity supports file backup and restore on Linux and macOS, while requiring a POSIX-like operating system and being recommended for GNU/Linux. Installation options include Snap, pip3, PPAs, and Git. Version 3.2.1 is listed as released September 28, 2026. Long incremental chains make recovery inefficient, so the FAQ recommends a full backup after no more than one month of incrementals.

Who it suits

Duplicity suits users comfortable with command-line backup on Linux, macOS, or another POSIX-like system. It is useful when encrypted incremental archives and varied remote storage backends are needed.

What it does well

Free GPL software with no subscription
Incrementals store only changed file parts
GnuPG encryption and signing are supported
Many cloud and file-server backends are listed
Preserves permissions, links, and device files

What to know first

Command-line utility requires technical operation
Hard links are not supported
POSIX-like operating system is required
Long incremental chains hinder recovery

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Duplicity	GPL free software · POSIX-like operating system required	Free

As duplicity.gitlab.io lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

Duplicity provides scriptable, encrypted directory backups with efficient incremental storage and broad backend support. Plan regular full backups and ensure your operating system and file requirements fit its limits.

Facts from Duplicity's own pages

Archive format: Backup data uses GNU tar format and deltas use the format produced by librsync's rdiff utility. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Availability and license: The project says its code is GPL free software and that Duplicity is included in Fedora, Debian, and Ubuntu distributions of GNU/Linux. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Backup scope: file · duplicity.gitlab.io, 20 Sept 2026
Command line: Duplicity is a command-line utility, with documented commands for backup, restore, and excluding directories. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Command-line interface: Duplicity is a command-line utility, with examples for backing up over SSH/SCP and FTP and restoring from a remote backup. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Computer backup: Yes · duplicity.gitlab.io, 20 Sept 2026
Current release: The site lists version 3.2.1, released September 28, 2026, with installation options including snap, pip, PPA, and Git. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Encryption and signing: Duplicity can encrypt and sign archives with GnuPG, and changes to archives on the remote side are detected during restore. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
File support: Duplicity supports deleted files, Unix permissions, directories, symbolic links, FIFOs, and device files, but not hard links. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Free plan: No · duplicity.gitlab.io, 20 Sept 2026
Incremental backups: After the initial full archive, incremental archives record only file parts changed since the last backup. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Installation: The site lists installation through stable or edge Snap builds, pip3, PPAs, or the Git repository. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
License: The site says all Duplicity code is GPL free software and notes inclusion in Fedora, Debian, and Ubuntu distributions. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Operating system: Duplicity requires a POSIX-like operating system and the maker says it is best used under GNU/Linux. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Supported platforms: macos,linux · duplicity.gitlab.io, 20 Sept 2026
Purpose: Duplicity backs directories by producing encrypted tar-format volumes and uploading them to a remote or local file server. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Recovery limit: The FAQ says recovery becomes inefficient over long incremental chains and recommends keeping incrementals to a maximum of one month before a full backup. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Recovery tradeoff: The FAQ says recovery is inefficient over long incremental chains and recommends keeping incrementals to a maximum of one month before a full backup. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Release: The site identifies version 3.2.1, released September 28, 2026, as the current release. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Restore modes: file · duplicity.gitlab.io, 20 Sept 2026
Storage backends: The project lists backends including Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft Azure, rclone, rsync, SSH/SCP, Tahoe-LAFS, and WebDAV. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Storage efficiency: Using the rsync algorithm, incremental backups send and store only changed parts of files. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Support: The site directs questions to its mailing list and bug reports or fixes to the GitLab project. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026
Support and development: The maker directs users with questions to its mailing list and accepts bug reports and fixes through its GitLab project. · duplicity.gitlab.io, 12 Oct 2026

Where Duplicity stands on Freedom251

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