Overview

GBM is a free, open-source utility for automating local save backups. It watches running programs, applies per-game settings, and creates a backup after play ends. Because the monitored-game allowance is unlimited, it can cover a large library without forcing users to choose which titles matter most.

The project is considered complete, with maintenance updates promised but no major changes planned. That makes it a sensible choice for a focused, stable workflow, but a poor fit for readers expecting a rapidly expanding feature set. Cloud protection is possible, but only by pairing GBM with a separate storage provider and folder-synchronization client.

Key features

Automatic detection and post-session backup remove the easy-to-forget step of copying save files. Each game can have its own settings, while optional version history and restore functions provide a way back to earlier saves when a newer one is damaged or unwanted. Scheduled backups are also supported.

GBM can monitor any PC application, not just games. It recognizes titles launched through DOSBox, ScummVM, and Wine, extending its usefulness to classic games and compatibility-layer installations. Optional tracking records total play time and individual sessions, and direct launching lets users start monitored titles from GBM when they want one central workflow.

Importing configurations from the Ludusavi Manifest can reduce setup for a library: the manifest contains thousands of community-created configurations. They are unofficial, so users who need authoritative configuration data should review entries rather than treating every import as guaranteed.

Privacy is a notable strength. GBM says it connects to the internet only when the user requests configuration imports and does not upload computer information. The security trade-off is practical: the application is not digitally signed, so Microsoft may flag its installer or executable as unsafe.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Game Backup Monitor	Free	Open source, unlimited games, 7-Zip compression; cloud requires a provider and sync client

There is no paid tier, seat charge, quota, trial period, or renewal to manage. The free plan is therefore appropriate for individual users and large personal libraries. Its limitation is not a cap inside GBM but the additional account, storage, and synchronization setup required if backups must leave the local machine.

Platforms

GBM supports Windows and Linux. Windows requires .NET Framework 4.8; Linux requires Mono plus additional packages including SQLite3 and 7-Zip. Development testing verifies Windows 11 and Linux Mint 21, giving those users the clearest baseline. Sharing one backup folder between Linux and Windows is technically possible but explicitly unsupported, so a mixed-system workflow should not rely on that arrangement.

Who it's for

Choose GBM if you want automatic, local save protection across an unlimited number of games, need support for DOSBox, ScummVM, or Wine, or value optional play-time records. It also suits users who are comfortable selecting their own cloud provider and configuring folder synchronization.

Look elsewhere if you need a signed Windows installer, a built-in cloud service, officially maintained game definitions, or supported sharing of one backup folder across operating systems.

Pros and cons

Pros

Unlimited monitored games: large libraries can be covered without a stated game-count ceiling.
Broad application and compatibility support: monitoring extends beyond games and includes DOSBox, ScummVM, and Wine.
Flexible recovery: 7-Zip compression, version history, scheduled backups, and restore options support a repeatable backup routine.
Limited network activity: internet connections are described as user-requested configuration imports, with no computer-information uploads.

Cons

Cloud setup is external: users must supply both a storage provider and synchronization client.
Unsigned Windows software: Microsoft may warn about the installer or executable.
Maintenance-only direction: no major changes are planned.
Mixed-OS folder sharing is unsupported: technically possible does not mean a dependable cross-platform setup.

Alternatives

Browse the Game Save Managers directory for a wider comparison. Pick SaveState instead when Android or macOS support, no account requirement, or optional cloud sync matters alongside Windows and Linux coverage.

Ludusavi is the better choice for a portable, MIT-licensed executable that runs on Windows, Linux, or Mac. Choose Playnite Save Manager when you specifically want a Playnite plugin, accepting that cloud sync is experimental.

QSave suits macOS and Windows users who want backups sent to their own Google Drive. Gamekeeper is worth considering for Windows users needing local, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV, SMB/CIFS, or S3 storage, with its free Multi-Space limit of three per game.

GSM is another free, open-source option for Linux and Windows. Checkpoint64 is a different fit for teams: its free plan allows 20 MiB per space, one team, joining three friends’ teams, and three read-only fans; Pro costs 5.00 EUR per month, billed monthly and cancellable anytime.

Game Save Genie fits users who want a free, subscription-free workflow based on their own cloud storage.

Verdict

Game Backup Monitor is a strong recommendation for Windows and Linux players who want unlimited, automatic save backups with per-game control and support for older or compatibility-layer games. Choose it for its broad coverage, local-first privacy posture, and zero price. Look elsewhere if a signed installer, integrated cloud service, supported cross-platform backup folder, or active feature development is more important than that focused design.

	Game Backup Monitor	Gamekeeper
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	Free	Free
Platforms	Linux, Windows	Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Automatic backup	Yes	Yes
Cloud synchronization	Yes	Yes
Scheduled backups	Yes	Yes
Version history	Yes	Yes
Game detection	both	both
Supported platforms	multi-platform	windows
Restore options	both	manual

Game Backup Monitor vs Gamekeeper

Game Backup Monitor

Gamekeeper