Plakar

Plakar is a computer backup product for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with file restores and ransomware protection. It is best suited to people who want a free allowance and the option to run its control plane on infrastructure they own. Its 500 GB free cap is a clear starting point; growing beyond it means moving to a plan with custom pricing.

Overview

Plakar combines computer backup with a choice of deployment approach: its Free plan puts the Plakar Control Plane on infrastructure you own, while supported platforms also include self-hosted deployment and an API. That makes it a credible fit for users who want control over where the service runs. The core trade-off is scale: Free stops at 500 GB of managed data, and the paid Enterprise plan is priced through sales.

File restore gives users a way to recover individual items rather than treating every recovery as an all-or-nothing computer restore. Ransomware protection is another practical reason to consider it. The published feature set does not describe recovery workflows or protection details, so buyers who need those specifics should settle them before committing.

Key features

• Computer backup: Plakar covers computer backup across Linux, macOS, and Windows, making it relevant to mixed desktop environments.
• File restore: Restoring individual files is useful when only a small part of a backup needs recovery.
• Ransomware protection: This is a meaningful part of the product’s appeal for backup buyers concerned about malicious changes to their data.
• Self-hosted deployment and API: These expand the deployment choices beyond the three desktop operating systems.

Pricing

Free — free. The plan covers up to 500 GB of managed data with no time limit, and includes Plakar Control Plane deployment on infrastructure you own. It is a strong way to begin without a recurring bill, provided the cap suits your backup needs.

Community — custom pricing. This plan is available to qualifying nonprofits, startups, war-zone organizations, and other eligible groups. It is aimed at organizations that meet those criteria; it is not a general low-cost upgrade for everyone.

Enterprise — custom pricing. This consumption-based plan includes premium support and requires contacting sales for pricing. It is the relevant route for needs beyond Free, but buyers must speak with sales to understand the cost.

Platforms

Plakar supports Linux, macOS, and Windows for computer backup. Its supported platform set also includes self-hosted deployment and API access, giving technically oriented users additional ways to work with it.

Who it's for

Plakar is a good fit for individuals and organizations backing up computers across multiple operating systems, especially when file-level recovery, ransomware protection, or self-hosting matters. The Free plan suits users who can stay within 500 GB and want an ongoing option without a time limit. Organizations that qualify for Community may have another route, while larger or support-sensitive deployments should assess Enterprise pricing directly.

It is less suitable for buyers who need more than 500 GB at a published free price, or who require a known Enterprise budget before speaking with sales.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The Free plan has no time limit, so the 500 GB allowance can serve as a lasting option rather than a short trial.
• Pro: Computer backup spans Linux, macOS, and Windows, which suits households or teams with mixed systems.
• Pro: File restores and ransomware protection address practical recovery concerns.
• Pro: The Free plan includes deployment on infrastructure the user owns, supporting a self-hosted setup.
• Con: Free is capped at 500 GB, limiting its fit for larger backup sets.
• Con: Enterprise uses custom, consumption-based pricing, so cost requires a sales conversation.
• Con: Community eligibility is restricted to qualifying organizations, leaving most buyers with Free or Enterprise.

Alternatives

For computer backup, Backup software is the broader category to compare. If your needs center on container workloads, browse Container Backup Software; for Kubernetes environments, see Kubernetes Backup Software.

Velero is a free alternative described as an open-source tool for cloud or on-premises use. Consider it when that deployment focus fits your needs better than Plakar’s computer backup.

Google Kubernetes Engine has a free tier with $74.40 in monthly credits per billing account, applied to zonal and Autopilot clusters. It is the alternative to consider when those Kubernetes cluster credits suit the intended use.

KubeSphere Backup offers a free plan for 2 protected applications, 3 days of retention, and a 10 GB hosted repository. Its defined application and repository limits may suit a small, short-retention backup need.

Rancher offers a free, open-source platform experience with community support. Choose it when that platform and support model is the priority.

Storware Backup & Recovery offers a free license without technical support and a 60-day trial covering up to 20 virtual environments. It may fit buyers looking for those license or trial terms.

Veeam Agent for Mac is limited to macOS and its free edition allows one backup job, with no direct backup to object storage. It is a narrower option for Mac-only users whose needs fit those limits.

Vinchin Backup & Recovery has a permanent free edition that protects up to 3 virtual machines. Consider it when that virtual machine allowance matches the workload.

Afi Kubernetes Backup offers free licenses by request for environments protecting fewer than 10 nodes. It is an option for qualifying small Kubernetes environments.

Verdict

Choose Plakar if you need computer backup across Linux, macOS, or Windows and value file restores, ransomware protection, or self-hosted deployment. Its no-time-limit Free plan makes a useful starting point for up to 500 GB. Look elsewhere if you need a larger free allowance or want Enterprise pricing without contacting sales.