No. 19 of 36 ·Data Version Control Tools

git-annex

Web · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · Self-hosted

Freedom report

Two barsScore 5.5

Free tierA free tier is on its own pricing page
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely5 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedThinly documented

git-annex is ranked #19 of 36 in data version control tools on Freedom251. It runs on Android, Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web, Windows. There is a free plan.

git-annex plans and pricing

All plans

git-annex Free Free Software · manages large files without storing file contents in git git-annex.branchable.com · 4 Oct 2026

Compared on data version control tools

Data scope: files
Dataset branching: Yes
Point-in-time rollback: Yes
Snapshot granularity: file
Storage backend: both
Deployment model: self_hosted

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The record

Purpose: git-annex manages large files with git while keeping their contents outside git.
Data workflows: It can sync, back up, and archive data both offline and online.
Audience: The project describes git-annex as designed for git users who love the command line.
Assistant: The git-annex assistant creates a synchronized folder across computers, Android devices, removable drives, NAS appliances, and cloud services.
Storage model: Git stores filenames and metadata while git-annex stores annexed file contents in a distributed store across repository clones.
Remote integrations: Built-in special remotes include S3, Glacier, rclone, rsync, web, WebDAV, and Android adb.
Encryption: Encrypted special remotes can encrypt file contents and use HMAC hashing for filenames; the site says git-annex mostly does not use encryption by default.
Security disclosure: The security page lists known vulnerabilities and fixes, and directs private vulnerability reports to the contact page.
Scale: The project says file size is limited by the filesystem, while repositories with hundreds of thousands of files are supported and larger repositories may slow down due to git limitations.
Transfers: git-annex can resume interrupted file transfers.
Limitations: The project says git-annex is not a backup system, though it may be part of an archival system or deliver files to a backup system.
Install options: Official install instructions list Linux distributions, macOS, Android, and Windows, with package and other install methods.
Related tools: The site says DataLad uses git-annex to provide access to scientific data from various sources.
Support: The official site provides a user forum and a contact page.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best Data Version Control Tools in 2026#19 of 36

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Sources

git-annex.branchable.com· checked 4 Oct 2026
git-annex.branchable.com/assistant/· checked 4 Oct 2026
git-annex.branchable.com/how_it_works/· checked 4 Oct 2026
git-annex.branchable.com/special_remotes/· checked 4 Oct 2026
git-annex.branchable.com/encryption/· checked 4 Oct 2026
git-annex.branchable.com/security/· checked 4 Oct 2026
git-annex.branchable.com/scalability/· checked 4 Oct 2026
git-annex.branchable.com/not/· checked 4 Oct 2026
git-annex.branchable.com/install/· checked 4 Oct 2026
git-annex.branchable.com/related_software/· checked 4 Oct 2026