Command your backups
from anywhere.
BBS Manager App for iOS — the smartest way to monitor, manage, and respond to backup issues and requests directly from your iPhone or iPad.
BBS Manager connects to your self-managed or hosted Borg Backup Server through its API. Perform 95% of what the web app offers in a clean, native interface, and get additional perks such as real-time push notifications about backup events, errors, and more. Plus, you’ll get instant, free OTA updates so you always have access to the latest features.
Secure by design • Connects directly to your self-hosted BBS instance
*Android version coming early Q4 2026.
Everything you need. Right in your pocket.
Native Performance
Fast, responsive iPhone experience that talks directly to your BBS server.
Instant Push Alerts
Get real-time notifications for failures, warnings, and backup events, with deep links to act fast.
Full Mobile Control
Handle most of the same daily tasks as the web app, including monitoring clients, queues, and settings.
Restore on the Go
Launch backups, trigger updates, and restore files or databases in seconds from your phone.
BBS Manager is an optional mobile add-on
Your self-hosted BBS software remains separate — the app adds improved mobile access, push notifications, and on-the-go management.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the iOS app cost money?
Borg Backup Server is free and always will be. The app is a different kind of project: roughly 800 hours of design, engineering, and App Store polish went into making it feel truly native — and the push-notification relay, build pipeline, and support that keep it running cost real money and real time every month. $3.99/mo keeps BBS Manager maintained, tested against every new iOS release, and improving, rather than quietly abandoned.
Don’t need the app? You can get a similar experience at no cost by combining the mobile-friendly web interface with Apprise notifications.
Can I use my subscription on multiple devices?
Yes. Your subscription is tied to your Apple Account, so an iPhone and an iPad share the same one — install it on both and sign in. We also support Family Sharing at no additional cost, so everyone in your household can use BBS Manager under a single subscription. Great for home labs with more than one person keeping an eye on things.
Will the app work if my BBS is on an internal network?
Yes. On your home or office Wi-Fi the app talks to your BBS directly. To manage it while you’re away, you’ll need a way back into that network — a VPN or something like Tailscale works great — and then everything works exactly as it does at home.
Push notifications don’t need any of that. Alerts for failures, warnings, and completed backups still arrive on your phone even when you’re not connected to your network.
How do I know if this will work for me?
That’s exactly why we give you a 7-day free trial. Connect it to your own BBS, get a few real notifications, run a restore — and make sure you’re satisfied before committing. After that it’s a simple month-to-month subscription with no contract, and you can cancel anytime from your Apple Account.
Push notifications aren’t working!
Tip: make sure the push service is enabled on your server. In BBS, go to Settings › Push Service, turn it on, and register with our push notification server. Until that’s done, your BBS has no way to reach your phone.
A note on privacy: the push notification server never stores your data. It only relays each notification to Apple’s APNs service, and then it’s gone.