DigitalOcean Backups

Announcing general availability of usage-based backups

Now, you can schedule backups every 4, 6, or 12 hours to meet aggressive RPOs and compliance standards. Our new usage-based billing means you only pay for the backup data you retain.

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Key features

Ensure business continuity with daily, fully-automated backups.

Read the docs

Backups as frequently as Intra-Daily, Daily, and Weekly

Gain the flexibility to meet compliance and data protection standards. Choose your ideal frequency from weekly to daily, or intra-daily options every 12, 6, or 4 hours and set custom retention periods from 3 days up to 6 months. All backups are automated and scheduled without requiring manual intervention.

Choose between fixed percentage or Usage-based pricing

Manage costs with two simple models. Opt for fixed percentage pricing (a set percentage of the monthly Droplet cost) or select our usage-based model. Usage-based pricing is calculated based on the size of your restorable data, allowing you to pay only for what you use and providing transparent cost management.

Reliable backups and fast droplet recovery

Restore your entire Droplet quickly and reliably along with all files, applications, and databases. Backups safeguard against accidental deletion, failure, or data loss. Manage your backup schedules, frequencies, and retention policies easily via the Cloud Console or API.

Quick backups with modern, secure infrastructure

Our new backup storage infrastructure uses intelligent backup technology to quickly save only what has changed. Your data is stored redundantly, reliably, and securely within DigitalOcean's global infrastructure, ensuring high availability and protection.

Learn about if backups are accessible in your area by viewing our regional availability.

Pricing

Frequency	No. of backups	Retention	Price
Daily	7	7 days	30% of Droplet cost	Get Started
Weekly	4	4 weeks	20% of Droplet cost	Get Started

See how easy it is to set up DigitalOcean Backups

Boost your data protection strategy with on-demand snapshots of Droplets.

Checkout Snapshots

Looking to back up Kubernetes clusters, databases, files, apps and more, with advanced retention policies?

Try SnapShooter!

Learn more about DigitalOcean data centers and product availability

Regional availability

Frequently asked questions about Backups

What are DigitalOcean Backups?

They are automated, system-level backups of your Droplets (virtual machines) on DigitalOcean, featuring modern storage infrastructure for quick, reliable restoration or cloning. You can choose flexible backup frequencies, ranging from weekly down to every 4 hours, and set custom retention periods from 3 days up to 6 months to safeguard against data loss.

Are these backups full or incremental?

They’re incremental backups. The first backup is a full copy; all subsequent backups only capture changed data, resulting in faster operations and lower storage overhead.

How much do DigitalOcean Backups cost?

DigitalOcean Backups cost either a fixed percentage of your Droplet's monthly price (20% for weekly and 30% for daily backups) or a usage-based rate charged by the restorable GiB of data. The usage-based option is required for newer, more frequent intra-daily schedules (every 4, 6, or 12 hours) and allows for custom retention periods up to six months. This choice provides flexibility between predictable monthly costs and paying only for the backup storage you use.

How fast and reliable is restoration?

Restores are fast thanks to the incremental backup infrastructure. You can recover your Droplet—including files, apps, and databases—in just a few clicks, making it effective for rapid recovery.

Can I control when backups happen?

Yes, you have control over the timing. For Daily and Weekly plans, you can select a 4-hour backup window that best suits your schedule to avoid impacting peak usage times. For intra-daily backup frequencies (every 4, 6, or 12 hours), the automated system runs much more frequently to meet tighter recovery point objectives (RPOs) without manual intervention.

Where are backups available globally?

Backups are available in all regions where Droplets (virtual machines) are offered. For the exact, up-to-date regional availability of Droplets, Backups and other services, please visit theRegional availability page.

How do Backups differ from Snapshots?

Backups are automatic, incremental, and retain recent copies for you.

Snapshots are manual, full-disk point-in-time images that you control and retain indefinitely unless you delete them.

Can I automate or customize backup workflows?

Yes. You can manage backups via DigitalOcean’s GUI, CLI (doctl), or API. For advanced control—like offsite storage, custom schedules, or combined backups for Droplets, Kubernetes, Databases—use SnapShooter or write scripts leveraging DO’s API.

What should devs and startups know about backup strategy?

Start fast: Enable daily backups to stay protected from data loss or user error.

Test recoveries: Run a restore periodically to validate your process.

Add Snapshots for flexibility: Use them for QA, migrations, or pre-upgrade checkpoints.

Scale smarter: If you need multi-product backups, try SnapShooter for centralized control.