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Comparison · Infra & APIs

BorgBackup vs Hanko

A side-by-side editorial comparison of BorgBackup and Hanko — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.

BorgBackup vs Hanko: at a glance

FeatureBorgBackupHanko
SectorInfra & APIsInfra & APIs
Velocity score0.00.0
Sparks · 30d00
Top themesbackup, deduplication, storage, encryptionauthentication, passkeys, enterprise-sso, identity
Last editorial update19h ago3h ago
WebsiteVisit →Visit →

What is BorgBackup?

Borg 2.0 beta 25 breaks repositories to swap its hash and repository format.

BorgBackup's 2.0 beta line is still making breaking format changes. Beta 25 requires new repositories: it moves store object names to blake3, replaces several repository objects with an ini-style config, removes the none-sha256 and none-blake3 modes in favor of authenticated ones, and protects lock, index and cache objects with the repository key. The stable 1.4 line remains the production track.

Read the full BorgBackup trajectory →

What is Hanko?

Hanko maps SAML and OIDC attributes into custom claims, a step toward enterprise SSO.

Hanko is a passkey-first authentication platform, open source or cloud-hosted. October's update lets teams bring attributes from SAML and custom OIDC connections into Hanko as custom claims, configured in the Cloud Console. Earlier 2026 releases added Firebase password hash import, inactivity logouts, session transparency and stronger passcode policies.

Read the full Hanko trajectory →

BorgBackup vs Hanko: editorial side-by-side

B
BorgBackup
INFRA · APIS
0.0

Borg 2.0 beta 25 breaks repositories to swap its hash and repository format.

◆ Current state

BorgBackup's 2.0 beta line is still making breaking format changes. Beta 25 requires new repositories: it moves store object names to blake3, replaces several repository objects with an ini-style config, removes the none-sha256 and none-blake3 modes in favor of authenticated ones, and protects lock, index and cache objects with the repository key. The stable 1.4 line remains the production track.

◆ Where it's heading

Twenty-five betas in, the format is not settled, but this beta is decisive: it removes old modes and object types, which narrows what 2.0 has to support. Treating lock and cache objects as keyed data also extends the security model beyond archive contents.

◆ Prediction

Further betas are likely to keep requiring new repositories until the format freezes, so a release candidate should not be assumed soon. The 1.4 line stays the safe choice until then.

H
Hanko
INFRA · APIS
0.0

Hanko maps SAML and OIDC attributes into custom claims, a step toward enterprise SSO.

◆ Current state

Hanko is a passkey-first authentication platform, open source or cloud-hosted. October's update lets teams bring attributes from SAML and custom OIDC connections into Hanko as custom claims, configured in the Cloud Console. Earlier 2026 releases added Firebase password hash import, inactivity logouts, session transparency and stronger passcode policies.

◆ Where it's heading

Hanko is filling in what enterprise customers expect from an identity provider: SSO attribute mapping, session controls and migration paths from incumbents. Releases arrive monthly or less, each with a narrow feature.

◆ Prediction

More enterprise SSO features, such as directory sync or role mapping from claims, are the likely next additions; the entries do not confirm a timeline.

Alternatives to BorgBackup and Hanko

Other Infra & APIs products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either BorgBackup or Hanko.

See all BorgBackup alternatives → · See all Hanko alternatives →

Recent activity from BorgBackup and Hanko

Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.

  1. 1mo agoHankoHanko maps SAML and OIDC attributes to custom claims
  2. 1mo agoBorgBackupBeta 25 moves to blake3 and requires new repositories
  3. 2mo agoBorgBackupBorgBackup 2.0.0b24
  4. 2mo agoBorgBackupBorgBackup 2.0.0b23
  5. 3mo agoBorgBackupBorgBackup 1.4.5 — security fix and new features
  6. 3mo agoBorgBackupBorgBackup 2.0.0b22 — PACKS storage format debuts ⚡
  7. 5mo agoHankoJune 2026 Updates
  8. 6mo agoHankoApril 2026 Updates
  9. 7mo agoBorgBackupBorgBackup 1.4.4
  10. 8mo agoHankoMarch 2026 Updates
  11. 9mo agoHankoJanuary 2026 Updates
  12. 11mo agoHankoDecember 2025 Updates

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between BorgBackup and Hanko?

They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. BorgBackup and Hanko are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.

Is BorgBackup better than Hanko?

Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. BorgBackup and Hanko are shipping at a similar cadence (velocity 0.0 vs 0.0, both within Sparkpulse's "active" band). For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Infra & APIs products to evaluate alongside.

What are the best alternatives to BorgBackup?

Top BorgBackup alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "BorgBackup alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/borgbackup for the full list with editorial commentary on each.

What are the best alternatives to Hanko?

Top Hanko alternatives in Infra & APIs are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Hanko alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/hanko for the full list with editorial commentary on each.