SqlBak

Overview

SqlBak is a service for automating database backups and managing jobs across multiple servers. It is a strong fit for administrators working across different database engines or storage providers, especially where SQL Server recovery controls matter. Its central trade-off is scale: the free plan covers just one server and two databases.

The service supports Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Azure SQL, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and MongoDB. A background app runs on Windows or Linux servers, while a web service provides management; Docker and Raspberry Pi installations are also described. That hybrid approach gives server operators a way to keep backup activity close to their systems while managing it remotely.

Key features

SQL Server receives the most specifically described backup controls: full, differential, and transaction-log backups, point-in-time recovery, automatic verification, compression, health monitoring, and one-click restore. Together, these make SqlBak more relevant to operators concerned with recoverability than a scheduler limited to creating backup copies. The listed controls are specific to SQL Server, so the same depth should not be assumed for every supported database.

Backup frequency is custom, and destinations range from Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Backblaze B2 to S3-compatible storage, Box, Wasabi, Aruba Cloud, Yandex Disk, FTP, local or network folders, and SSH. This breadth is useful when a team already has a storage policy or needs to choose different destinations. It also makes SqlBak a more flexible option than a service centered on a single storage provider.

Backups are encrypted and uploaded directly from the server to the user's storage, bypassing SqlBak.com; database credentials are encrypted and stored on the server. All plans include SSL encryption, while paid plans also include AES encryption. SqlBak says it is PCI DSS compliant, does not have access to credit-card data, and has compliance validated annually by Stripe. These are meaningful safeguards, though they do not replace a user's own review of storage access and security requirements.

A REST API can check backup status, and a command-line interface can connect servers and configure jobs. Those options suit teams that want to incorporate setup or monitoring into existing workflows. Standard and Professional include extended support.

Pricing

SqlBak is freemium, with a 30-day trial of Professional features that requires no credit card to start. Plans are pay-as-you-go: users can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time, and prepaying for a year earns an additional 10% off.

• Free: free. It covers one server and two databases, with one-month backup history and server-down alerts every 60 minutes. This is a sensible starting point for a small setup, but the caps make it a poor fit for larger environments or longer retention needs.
• Standard: $6 a month, billed per server if you start now. It extends backup history to six months and checks server-down status every 10 minutes. Choose it when those increases are enough; it does not provide the 12-month history or five-minute alerts of Professional.
• Professional: $9 a month, billed per server if you start now. It provides 12-month history and server-down alerts every five minutes, alongside the Professional features available during the trial. It is the stronger fit for teams that need longer retention or faster outage alerts.

Both paid prices are per server, so costs rise with the number of servers. The free tier's server, database, and history limits are the main constraint for growing deployments.

Platforms

SqlBak lists API, Linux, self-hosted, web, and Windows support. The Windows and Linux background service, plus Docker and Raspberry Pi installation options, give operators several deployment routes; the web service provides a separate management layer.

Who it's for

SqlBak is best suited to database administrators and teams responsible for backups across more than one database type or storage destination. It is particularly compelling for SQL Server environments that need point-in-time recovery and verification. A small deployment can begin on the free tier, while organizations requiring longer history or quicker server-down alerts have a clear paid-plan path. It is less attractive when one server and two databases are not enough but the per-server paid pricing is hard to justify.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Support for six named database types gives teams with mixed environments a single service to consider.
• Pro: A wide choice of cloud, file, and network destinations can accommodate existing storage arrangements.
• Pro: SQL Server backups include point-in-time recovery, automatic verification, and one-click restore, not just backup scheduling.
• Pro: The no-card 30-day Professional trial lets users evaluate paid-plan features before committing.
• Con: Free use is capped at one server, two databases, and one month of history, limiting its usefulness beyond small deployments.
• Con: Paid plans are priced per server, so the bill grows with deployment size.
• Con: Backup controls are most fully described for SQL Server, leaving less basis to judge the feature depth for other database types.

Alternatives

For a broader database-backup shortlist, see Database Backup Software.

• MySQL is a freemium alternative with a free plan and trial, and its listed Community Edition covers SQL and NoSQL applications with replication and high-availability components. Consider it when those broader database capabilities matter more than SqlBak's backup-focused scope.
• Databasus is free, open-source software under Apache 2.0, with all described product features in its free plan. It may suit readers who prioritize an open-source, no-cost option.
• DBAegis offers a free Community plan capped at one admin, three connections, and three schedules. It is worth considering when that bounded community setup fits the workload.
• pg_probackup is a free backup and recovery utility for PostgreSQL clusters. Choose it when the need is specifically PostgreSQL cluster backup rather than SqlBak's multi-database service.
• Barman is a free, open-source PostgreSQL disaster-recovery tool for Linux and self-hosted deployments. It is the more focused alternative for that environment.
• Database Vault has a free web plan with weekly backups, seven-day retention, and 1 GB of total storage. That limited allowance may suit users whose priority is a small amount of managed backup storage.
• Percona XtraDB Cluster is free, open-source database clustering software, with paid support and services offered separately. Consider it for clustering rather than SqlBak's backup management.
• pgBackRest is a free, open-source PostgreSQL backup tool under the MIT license, for personal or commercial use. It is a focused option for PostgreSQL deployments.

Verdict

SqlBak is a solid choice for administrators who need automated backups across multiple database types and storage destinations, with especially useful recovery controls for SQL Server. Its no-card trial and flexible cancellation lower the barrier to trying paid features. Look elsewhere if the free caps are too restrictive, per-server pricing does not suit a larger deployment, or the requirement is a focused open-source PostgreSQL tool.