#KopiaLens vs BlinkDisk

BlinkDisk is a simple desktop backup app built on Kopia. KopiaLens opens the same vault and shows what is inside it: per-folder sizes after deduplication, what is safe to remove, and what is not backed up. You do not have to choose between them. BlinkDisk can keep running the backups while KopiaLens gives you the view.

	KopiaLens	BlinkDisk
What it is	A backup app that shows what is inside your backups	A simple backup app for non-technical users
Works with	Kopia repositories, including BlinkDisk vaults	BlinkDisk vaults, which are standard Kopia repositories
Platforms	Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker and NAS, Home Assistant, browser	Windows, macOS, Linux
Scheduled backups	Yes	Yes
Browse and restore	Yes	Yes
Per-folder size after dedup	Yes	No
Reclaimable space and removal previews	Yes	No
Remove files from old snapshots	Pro	Snapshot-level delete only
Price (November 2026)	Free; Pro $20/year or $50 lifetime at launch pricing	App free; CloudBlink storage from $3/month for 200 GB

#What KopiaLens adds

• See inside the same vault. BlinkDisk vaults are standard Kopia repositories, and KopiaLens opens them without a migration. What each folder really costs after deduplication, in the Dashboard and the Tree.
• Reclaimable space. See what removing a folder or pruning old versions would free, before you do it.
• Search across every snapshot. Find any version of any file, not just inside one folder.
• Churn. See which files keep adding data every night.
• Guided removal (Pro). Take one folder out of every snapshot that holds it, with a preview, instead of deleting whole snapshots.
• What is not backed up. See folders on your disks that no backup covers.

#What BlinkDisk does well

BlinkDisk is built for people who want backups to be simple. Pick folders, it backs up in the background, and restoring a file is a few clicks. It handles schedules, retention, browse, search within a folder, mount, and restore as files or a ZIP. It is free, open source, and runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.

It also offers CloudBlink, its managed storage: a 30-day, 100 GB trial, then $3/month for 200 GB, with yearly billing 25% off. That removes the setup step for people who do not want to create a bucket or configure a NAS.

If the goal is "set it up and never think about backups again", BlinkDisk is a good fit.

#Use both

KopiaLens detects BlinkDisk vaults on the computer and labels them. Pick the vault, enter its password once, and index it. BlinkDisk keeps its own schedules and maintenance while it is open, and KopiaLens shows Backups: BlinkDisk on the Dashboard.

Two apps must never run backups for the same vault at once. If you want KopiaLens to take over, choose it in Who runs backups... and quit BlinkDisk. Maintenance stays with BlinkDisk's connection unless you change it. Do not upgrade the vault's repository format, because BlinkDisk may run an older Kopia and may not be able to open it afterwards.

BlinkDisk re-reads the vault every few hours, so a change made in KopiaLens appears after you restart BlinkDisk. Space is freed after BlinkDisk's next full maintenance. The full steps are in Using KopiaLens with BlinkDisk.

#Who should pick which

Pick BlinkDisk for the easiest possible setup, especially if you do not want to learn what a repository or a snapshot is. Its managed storage is convenient, though it costs more than B2 for the same space.

Pick KopiaLens when you want to know why the vault is large, find an old file quickly, or remove one folder from every backup. It can be the only app, or the view on top of BlinkDisk.

The backup app is free. Pro, for cleanup, costs $20 a year or $50 lifetime at launch pricing. Download KopiaLens or see the plans.

Prices and product facts checked November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email support@kopialens.com and we'll fix it.