Restic vs Arq
Linux servers vs Mac & Windows desktops

Restic is an open-source command-line backup tool written in Go. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, FreeBSD, and OpenBSD, supports a long list of storage backends, and is the de-facto choice for sysadmins, homelabbers, and anyone backing up servers. Arq is a closed-source desktop application for macOS and Windows, with a polished GUI, perpetual-license pricing or a Premium subscription that bundles software with 1 TB of cloud storage. Both are zero-knowledge encrypted. Both are good at their job. The choice between them is rarely about which is better in the abstract, and almost always about whether you are backing up a server or a desktop.

Quick comparison: where each tool naturally fits

Both tools claim broad compatibility, but in practice each has a clear sweet spot. Here is where they actually shine and where the gap is small enough to not matter:

When Arq is genuinely the better choice

This is a competitor doing real work. There are real scenarios where Arq is the right answer and we will not pretend otherwise:

• You back up a Mac and you care about APFS-aware snapshots.Arq worked directly with Apple to integrate native APFS snapshot support. The result is consistent, point-in-time backups even of files that are open and changing. Restic on macOS works fine, but does not have the same level of filesystem-aware integration.
• You want a polished GUI you do not have to think about.Arq's interface is genuinely good. Set up backup destinations, choose folders, set a schedule, and forget. The status menu shows you the last run and any errors. For a non-technical user or anyone who just wants the laptop backed up without writing a config file, this is real value.
• You want one product that includes both software and storage.Arq Premium at $59.99 per year covers up to 5 computers and includes 1 TB of cloud storage. If you have a household of Macs and PCs that fit under 1 TB combined, that bundled price is hard to beat with any combination of separate software and storage.
• You want to back up to multiple destinations from the same client.Arq lets you configure multiple backup plans, each pointing at a different storage backend. You can run a local NAS backup and a cloud backup from the same UI. Restic supports this too, but you orchestrate it yourself with separate environment variables and cron entries.
• You want a perpetual-license desktop app, not a subscription.Arq still sells a one-time perpetual license for $49.99 in 2026. That is unusual and welcome. You bring your own storage, run the app forever, and pay only for major version updates if you want them.

When ServerCrate (Restic over SFTP) is the better choice

This is where the conversation gets one-sided, because Arq simply does not address these use cases:

• You are backing up Linux servers, VMs, containers, or a homelab.Arq does not run on Linux. There is no headless mode, no daemon, no Linux client. If you have a Proxmox cluster, an Unraid box, a TrueNAS server, a NAS running anything Unix-flavored, or a stack of Docker hosts, Arq is not in the conversation. Restic plus hosted SFTP is. ServerCrate is built for exactly this audience.
• You want headless, scriptable backups with predictable exit codes.Restic is a single static binary. Drop it on a server, set environment variables, write a systemd timer with the retention rules you want, and the rest is automation. Monitor it through journald, Prometheus, or whatever your stack already uses. There is no GUI assumption baked into the design.
• You want flat-rate hosted SFTP storage instead of bring-your-own-cloud.Arq pushes you to bring an S3, B2, or similar account, or to use Arq Premium's bundled storage. ServerCrate gives you a dedicated vault on ZFS at a flat monthly price - 100 GB on Starter, 500 GB on Standard, 1 TB on Pro - with no per-GB fees, no egress charges, and no surprise bills.
• You want open-source backup software you can audit and outlive any single vendor.Restic is BSD-licensed, the code is on GitHub, and the repository format is documented. If we vanished tomorrow, you could pull your repository to any other SFTP host and keep restoring. Arq is closed-source. The format is documented but the client is not.
• You want to pay with Bitcoin and avoid third-party processors entirely.ServerCrate accepts on-chain Bitcoin through self-hosted BTCPay. No Stripe, no PayPal, no card-network in the loop. Arq Premium is a Stripe transaction like any other SaaS. For privacy-conscious customers this is a real differentiator and one that aligns with the rest of the ServerCrate brand.
• You already use restic and just need a good place to put the repository.If you are a current restic user looking for hosted SFTP, the question is not "should I switch to Arq" - it is which restic-friendly host gives you the best mix of price, reliability, and trust. ServerCrate competes on flat pricing, ZFS data integrity, zero-knowledge guarantees, and Bitcoin payments.

Pricing reality, side by side

Both products price honestly, but the shapes are different and a direct dollar comparison can mislead. Here is what each actually costs in 2026:

The honest take: Arq Premium at 1 TB across 5 desktops is a great deal if your workload fits that exact shape. ServerCrate is built around per-vault hosted SFTP for restic users who already know they want restic - often for servers Arq cannot touch. The two products are not really priced against each other; they target different buyers.

One last thing - you can run both. Plenty of people run Arq on the family Mac for photos and documents, and restic on their homelab Proxmox host or Linux servers pointed at a ServerCrate vault. Different tools, different jobs, both encrypted client-side. If your environment is mixed, the cleanest answer is often to use the right tool for each: Arq where its desktop polish matters, restic where Arq cannot run.