# 2 Best Open Source Alternatives for SimpleBackups

Canonical: https://caniforkit.com/simplebackups
Last updated: 2026-11-07

Looking for the best open source alternative for SimpleBackups? Compare 2 verified free and open source alternatives to SimpleBackups (Plakar, Pluton) with license details, self-hosting requirements, and practical trade-offs.

## SimpleBackups Overview & Subscription Cost
- **Product**: SimpleBackups
- **Category**: [cloud storage](https://caniforkit.com/category/cloud-storage)
- **Paid Subscription Price**: $25/month per seat
- **1-Seat Annualized Cost**: $300/year
- **5-Person Team Annualized Cost**: $1,500/year
- **10-Person Team Annualized Cost**: $3,000/year
- **Can I Vibe-Code / Rebuild It Myself?**: NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens)
- **Rebuild Verdict**: Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for SimpleBackups or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 2 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Plakar.

## Verified Free & Open Source Alternatives

| Alternative | Type | License | Runs On | GitHub Stars | Head-to-Head |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Plakar](https://caniforkit.com/fork/plakar) | Open Source | Open Source | Local | ★ 2.1k | [Compare vs SimpleBackups](https://caniforkit.com/vs/simplebackups-vs-plakar) |
| [Pluton](https://caniforkit.com/fork/pluton) | Open Source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 874 | [Compare vs SimpleBackups](https://caniforkit.com/vs/simplebackups-vs-pluton) |

## In-Depth Alternative Profiles

### Plakar
- **Fork Page**: [Plakar Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/plakar)
- **Head-to-Head Comparison**: [SimpleBackups vs Plakar](https://caniforkit.com/vs/simplebackups-vs-plakar)
- **Official Website**: https://plakar.io/
- **Source Code Repository**: https://github.com/plakarkorp/plakar
- **License**: Open Source
- **Runs On**: Local
- **GitHub Stars**: 2.1k
- **Maintenance Activity**: nov 2026
- **Supported Platforms**: desktop, cross-platform, one-click install
- **Summary**: Backup solution with CLI, API and UI interfaces. Clean defaults, easy deployment. Encrypted, queryable backups with deduplication and compression.
- **The Catch vs SimpleBackups**: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
- **Installation**: Clone https://github.com/plakarkorp/plakar or deploy with Docker Compose
- **Setup**: Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- **Data Storage**: All application data lives locally on your own machine.

### Pluton
- **Fork Page**: [Pluton Profile](https://caniforkit.com/fork/pluton)
- **Head-to-Head Comparison**: [SimpleBackups vs Pluton](https://caniforkit.com/vs/simplebackups-vs-pluton)
- **Official Website**: https://usepluton.com/
- **Source Code Repository**: https://github.com/plutonhq/pluton
- **License**: Open Source
- **Runs On**: Self-host
- **GitHub Stars**: 874
- **Maintenance Activity**: nov 2026
- **Supported Platforms**: web, self-hosted, docker to self-host
- **Summary**: Free, open-source backup solution with end-to-end encryption. Self-hosted control, supports 70+ cloud providers, automated incremental backups, and zero vendor lock-in.
- **The Catch vs SimpleBackups**: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed SimpleBackups.
- **Installation**: Clone https://github.com/plutonhq/pluton or deploy with Docker Compose
- **Setup**: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- **Data Storage**: All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the best free alternative to SimpleBackups?
The top free alternative to SimpleBackups is Plakar (open source, Open Source). Backup solution with CLI, API and UI interfaces. Clean defaults, easy deployment. Encrypted, queryable backups with deduplication and compression. Other popular SimpleBackups replacements include Pluton.

### How much does switching from SimpleBackups to a free alternative save?
SimpleBackups starts at $25/month per seat ($300/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Plakar saves $1,500 per year in software subscription fees.

### What is the catch when switching away from SimpleBackups?
While Plakar replaces core SimpleBackups features without subscription fees, the real-world trade-off is: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.

## Related

- [cloud storage Software Category Hub](https://caniforkit.com/category/cloud-storage)
- [All Paid SaaS Alternatives Index](https://caniforkit.com/alternatives)
- [Self-Hosted Software Directory](https://caniforkit.com/self-hosted)
- [Homepage](https://caniforkit.com)