Self-hosted backup vs cloud backup
Self-hosted backup keeps your data, keys, and pipeline entirely on infrastructure you own — no recurring per-source fee and no third party in the data path. Cloud backup SaaS trades that sovereignty for a hands-off managed service. Dockstash is self-hosted: backups run on your VPS and land on your storage as encrypted Restic repos.
Side by side
| Dimension | Self-hosted (Dockstash) | Cloud backup SaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Data sovereignty | You hold the repos and keys; nothing transits a vendor | Backup pipeline and credentials flow through a third-party SaaS |
| Cost model | Free self-host tier; flat paid tiers for scale | Recurring subscription that scales with sources |
| Control | Runs on your VPS → your storage VPS over SSH | Orchestrated by the provider’s platform |
| Restore verification | Automated restore-drill diff against source | Backup monitoring and notifications |
| Setup effort | Self-host the agent, then auto-scan and confirm | No self-hosting — sign up and connect |
| Vendor continuity risk | Standard Restic repos restore without any vendor | You depend on the service staying online and in business |
When to pick each
Pick self-hosted backup
You want backups that stay entirely on your own infrastructure, with no recurring per-source fee and no third party in the data path — and you run your workloads in Docker.
Pick cloud backup SaaS
Teams that want a hands-off managed service and are happy to pay a subscription and route backups through a third-party platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is self-hosted backup safer than cloud backup?
Safer for data sovereignty: with self-hosted backup your keys and repositories never leave infrastructure you control, so no third party sits in the data path. Cloud backup is safer in the sense that a team operates it for you — the tradeoff is control versus convenience.
Does self-hosted backup cost less than cloud backup SaaS?
Usually, over time. A self-hosted tool like Dockstash has a free tier and stores to a storage VPS you already pay for, avoiding per-source SaaS fees that grow with usage. You trade recurring subscription cost for a little setup effort.
Can I restore if my backup vendor disappears?
With self-hosted Restic repositories, yes — point the restic CLI at your storage VPS and restore with no vendor involved. With a cloud SaaS, restore typically depends on the provider’s platform being available.
When does cloud backup SaaS make more sense?
When you want a fully managed service with support, need broad non-Docker source coverage, and are happy to pay a subscription and route backups through a third-party platform. Teams that want everything on their own infrastructure should self-host.