Comparison of file synchronization software

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This is a list of file synchronization software. File synchronization is a process of ensuring that files in two or more locations are updated via certain rules.

Definitions

The following definitions clarify the purpose of columns used in the tables that follow.

Name
It may contain a product name, or product name plus edition name, depending on what is discussed.
Operating system
Platform
An Operating system (OS) manages the other programs on a computer;[1] most personal computers have an OS installed. The operating system column lists the name of the operating systems on which the corresponding synchronization software runs. Platform is a broader term; it is used as the column name because some of the software in the table were OS-independent but required a certain software platform like Java SE or .NET Framework. (Note: OS X was rebranded macOS in 2016.)
Programming language
Programming language was used to write the software, if known. For closed-source software this information may not be known.
License
Indicates the licensing model under which the software is published. For open source systems this may be the specific license (i.e. GPL, LGPL, MIT, etc.), for closed source/proprietary/commercial software this may be the model (subscription per user, perpetual per device, etc.)
Portable
If yes, the program is designed to run without needing to modify the configuration of the computer it is run on. The name 'portable' comes from the fact that these applications are intended to be able to be carried with the user on a portable drive and run on any computer it was designed to run on, even if the user does not have administrative privileges on the computer. See Portable Applications.
Detect conflict
Indicates whether the software will detect if the requested operation may result in data loss. See File Synchronization
Renames/moves
When a file/directory in given side of the synchronization is renamed/moved, the program repeats renaming/moving the file/directory to the other side of the synchronization. This feature saves bandwidth when operating on remote systems but increases the analysis duration. Programs that support this feature commonly do so by calculating and storing hash values of each file so they can detect if two files with different names, modification dates, etc., are identical in terms of their content. Programs which do not support this feature, will behave as if the originally-named file/directory has been deleted and the newly named file/directory is brand new and transmit the "new" file over to the other side again.
Prior file versions, revision control
Indicates whether the software allows one to revert to an earlier version of a particular file/directory.
Scheduling or service
Indicates whether the software will run automatically either via a scheduler, or by running as a system service. If no, a user must invoke the software manually each time a synchronization is needed.
Online storage
Is there an online file storage option? If so, what type?
Other Information
Notes that help clarify features already covered in other columns, or additional information that differentiates this software from the competition.
NAS share mobilisation
Indicates whether the software allows mobile devices pass-through access to NAS shares.

Open-source

This is a comparison of the free and open-source file synchronization software.

Name Programming language Platform License Stable version Portable Detect conflict Renames or moves Propagate deletes Revision control Scheduling or service Other information
Conduit Python Linux, FreeBSD GPL 0.3.17 (2010-01-21) No Yes Synchronizes files, website, network apps
DirSync Pro Java Java SE GPLv3 1.53 (2018-03-07) Yes Yes No Yes (creates backup files) Yes (native + via OS) sym-links, filter, metadata, contents, auto-sync
FreeFileSync C++ Windows, OS X, Linux GPL 10.19 (2019-12-27) Yes (Donation Edition)[2] Yes[3] Yes[3] Yes[3] Yes (versioning + recycler)[3] Yes Older version had OpenCandy Adware/malware, but now funded by donations.[4][5]
iFolder C#, Mono Windows, OS X, Linux, Solaris GPL 3.8.0.3 (2010-07-19) No Yes (centralized database) Yes (files, not folders)
InterPlanetaryFileSystem Go Windows, OS X, Linux GPL 0.4.15 (2018-05-12) Yes No (Planned)[6]
luckyBackup C++ Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD GPLv3 0.4.9 (2017-10-17) Yes Yes Uses rsync backend
Nextcloud PHP, C++, JavaScript[7] Server: Linux
Clients: Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iOS		 AGPLv3 17.0.1 (2019-11-07) Yes Yes Yes Yes[8] Yes Yes Fork of ownCloud and actively maintained

Windows Phone App

OneSync C# Windows GPL 4.0 (2012-02-19) No Yes Yes No
ownCloud community edition PHP, C++, JavaScript[9] Server: Linux, FreeBSD
Clients: Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, Android, iOS		 AGPLv3 (Server Edition) / proprietary (Enterprise Edition) 4.0.0 [±][10] Yes Yes Yes Yes[11] Yes Yes iOS, Android, Blackberry, Win, Mac, Linux Client; external storage support; encryption app; app framework
Pydio Open source home Server: PHP, Python, C++
Clients: JS, C#, Swift, Java 		Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iOS AGPLv3 8.0.2 (2017-12-13) Yes Yes Yes Yes (Git[12]) Yes
rsync C in a Unix-Linux shell Windows, OS X,[13] Linux,[14][15] BSD GPL v3 Template:Latest stable software release/rsync Yes No No Yes using the --backup flag and a time-stamped --suffix Yes (via OS) client & server operation. Multiple comparison criteria (date, check-sum).
Seafile community edition C99, Python[16] Server: Linux, Raspbian, Windows
Clients: Linux, OS X, Windows, Android, iOS.[17]		 AGPLv3 (Server) + Apache License 2.0 (Client) 11.0.8 (22 April 2024; 23 days ago (2024-04-22)[18]) [±] No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (via Seafile Client) Android and iOS mobile clients
SparkleShare C# Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iOS GPL v3 and LGPL 2.0.1 (2017-12-22) Yes Yes No Yes (Git[19])
SymmetricDS Java Java SE GPL 3.9.4 (2018-02-16) Yes Yes Yes No Yes plug-in APIs for customization
Synchronizer (krusader) Windows, OS X, Linux GPL v2 2.6.0 (2017-04-12) No Yes No No No Synchronizer no longer in active development
Syncthing Go Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, BSD, Solaris MPL v2 1.3.2 (2019-12-3) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Distributed peer-to-peer sync
Synkron C++ Windows, OS X, Linux GPL v2 1.6.2 (2011-01-25){[20]} Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes no longer in active development
Unison (file synchronizer) Ocaml Windows, OS X, Linux GPL v3 2.51.2 (2018-01-28)[21] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes with -backups option Yes (native watcher + scheduling via OS) no longer in active development
Name Programming language Platform License Stable version Portable Detect conflict Renames or moves Propagate deletes Revision control Scheduling or service Other information

Freeware

This is a comparison of the freeware (proprietary software release free of charge) file synchronization software.

Name Operating system Vendor Online storage Remote desktop Prior file versions, revision control Comments Portable Detect rename Detect move Scheduling Full duplex transfer
Microsoft ActiveSync Windows Microsoft No No ? Syncs mobile devices
Resilio Sync Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, Android, iOS Resilio, Inc. No No Yes (previous versions moved to archive folder) Distributed peer-to-peer sync No Yes Yes Pro only[22] Yes
Briefcase (part of Windows) (removed in Windows 10 build 14942[23]) Windows Microsoft No No ?
Cobian Backup Windows CobianSoft No No Yes, trash folder Backup software with folder synchronization feature; remote management; Shadow Copy No No No Yes
Windows Mobile Device Center Windows Microsoft No No ? Syncs mobile devices; successor to Microsoft ActiveSync
Microsoft Sync Framework Windows Microsoft ? No ? Syncs files, data, services; a framework, not a tool Yes Yes -
Microsoft SyncToy Windows Microsoft No No No, recycle bin only Sync local folders No Yes Yes via OS No
Windows Live Mesh (discontinued 13 February 2013) Windows (Vista and greater), Windows Mobile, OSX Microsoft Yes Yes No, recycle bin only Sync folders, online storage No Yes ? No, syncs whenever it is online Yes
OmniGroup OmniPresence OSX, OmniGroup software for iOS, open source framework available OmniGroup No No No, via local Time Machine backup only Sync local folders via OmniSync or WebDAV server but not to the server itself No ? ? No, syncs whenever it's online and not paused Yes
Windows Live Sync (discontinued 31 March 2011) Windows, OSX Microsoft No, browsing only No No, recycle bin only Sync folders, browse devices from website, remote access; was Microsoft FolderShare, 20,000 file limit No Yes Yes No, syncs whenever it's online ?

Commercial

This is a comparison of commercial software in the field of file synchronization. These programs only provide full functionality with a payment. As indicated, some are trialware and provide functionality during a trial period; some are freemium, meaning that they have freeware editions.

Name Operating system Freeware version Portable Encrypts files Detect conflict File lock Open file support Revision control Detect rename Detect move Full duplex transfer Propagate deletes Case sensitive Delta copying (block level transfer) LAN Sync
@MAX SyncUp Windows Limited No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Allway Sync Windows Limited Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
AIMstor

(discontinued)

Windows Limited Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes through VSS Yes Yes Yes Yes Case
preserving
only
Argentum Backup Windows No Yes No Yes Yes
BackupAssist Windows No No Yes
Backup4all Windows Limited Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Beyond Compare Windows, OS X, Linux Limited Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Box Sync Windows,[24] OS X,[24] Android, BlackBerry, iOS[24] Limited Yes ? ? Yes ? ? ? Yes ? No
ChronoSync OS X No No Yes Yes Yes Yes (only with APFS) Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Cloudike Windows, OS X, iPhone, Android Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CloudMe Windows, OS X, Linux, iPhone, Android, Google TV, Samsung TV Yes No Yes ? ? No Yes No ? ? Yes ? No
Cubby - Free

(discontinued)

Windows, OS X No No Renames older and keeps both No Yes Yes Yes ? Yes No No
Cubby - Pro

(discontinued)

Windows, OS X No No Renames older and keeps both No Yes Yes Yes ? Yes LAN Sync only Yes
Distributed Storage Windows, Linux No Yes Yes Yes
Dmailer Sync (discontinued) Windows Yes
Dropbox Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry Yes No Yes ? ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Easy2Sync for Files Windows Yes Yes Yes Yes, for folders
Egnyte Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iPad, iPhone No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Case
preserving
only		 Yes Yes
Gladinet Windows, OS X, Android, iPad, iPhone, Windows RT, Blackberry Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GoDrive Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOS Limited Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Yes Yes ? Yes
GoodSync Windows, OS X, Android, iPad, iPhone, USB flash drive Yes Yes Yes, beta Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GS RichCopy 360 Windows Limited No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Enterprise
version
only		 Yes
IBM Connections Windows, OS X, Android, iOS No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
MediaFire Windows, OS X, Android, iOS Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Name Operating system Freeware version Portable Encrypts files Detect conflict File lock Open file support Revision control Detect rename Detect move Full duplex transfer Propagate deletes Case sensitive Delta copying (block level transfer) LAN Sync
Mega Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No[25] Yes
RepliWeb Windows, Linux No Partial Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Resilio Sync (ex. BitTorrent Sync) Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle Fire, FreeBSD Limited No Yes, optional No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Robocopy Windows Yes No No
SecureSafe Windows, OS X, Android, iOS Yes Yes No No No No No Yes Yes No No
SpiderOak Windows, OS X, Debian, Fedora, Slackware, Android, iOS No No Yes[26] No No Yes[27] Yes
ShareFile Windows, OS X, Android, iPhone Yes Yes Yes[28] Yes Yes Yes Yes
SugarSync Windows, OS X, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Mobile No No Yes Yes[29] Yes Yes Yes
Syncdocs Windows, web app Beta
versions
only		 Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Microsoft Word only[30] Yes
Synchronize It! Windows No No
Syncplicity Windows, OS X, Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No[31] No
Tonido Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Phone Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Tresorit Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Phone Limited Yes Yes Yes Yes, for Windows Yes Yes Yes No
Ubuntu One (discontinued 2 April 2014) Windows, OS X, Ubuntu, iOS, Android[32] Yes
Wuala (discontinued) Windows, OS X, Debian, Ubuntu, Android, iOS Yes Yes
ZumoDrive (discontinued) Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iPhone, Palm webOS Yes Yes Yes
Zetta.net Windows, OS X, Linux No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, Preserve file name case & file metadata Yes Yes
Name Operating system Freeware version Portable Encrypts files Detect conflict File lock Open file support Revision control Detect rename Detect move Full duplex transfer Propagate deletes Case sensitive Delta copying (block level transfer) LAN Sync

See also

References

  1. ^ "Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces". pages.cs.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  2. ^ "Free File Sync Software". Portable Edition. Retrieved 11 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b c d "Frequently Asked Questions - FreeFileSync". Features. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  4. ^ Akerlund, Geoff (June 2014), FreeFileSync comes bundled with the OpenCandy malware., Backup Review, retrieved 2 February 2018
  5. ^ FFS FAQ, retrieved 27 June 2018
  6. ^ "Versioning: Commit + Repo Datastructures · Issue #23 · ipfs/notes". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  7. ^ "Nextcloud". GitHub. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  8. ^ "Yes on desktop, but NO on mobile - Issue 19".
  9. ^ "ownCloud". GitHub. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  10. ^ "Maintenance and Release Schedule". Retrieved 2021-12-23 – via GitHub.
  11. ^ "The synchronization process".
  12. ^ "Files versionning". Pydio. 2017-05-14. Archived from the original on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  13. ^ "rsync Backups on a Mac". Retrieved 2016-01-24.
  14. ^ "Arch Linux packages". archlinux. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  15. ^ "Software packages in "vivid"". ubuntu. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  16. ^ "haiwen/seafile". GitHub. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  17. ^ "Seafile clients". Seafile. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  18. ^ "Releases". Seafile Server Changelog. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  19. ^ Bons, Hylke (2019-02-12), Share and collaborate by syncing with any Git repository instantly. Linux, macOS, and Windows.: hbons/SparkleShare, archived from the original on 2019-02-14, retrieved 2019-02-14
  20. ^ https://sites.google.com/site/synkrondocumentation/news/synkron162
  21. ^ https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases
  22. ^ "Sync 2.x change log".
  23. ^ "Briefcase - Add to New Context Menu in Windows 10". tenforums.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  24. ^ a b c "What Is the Box Policy for Browser and OS Support? – Box Help". Box. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
  25. ^ "MEGA - Developers - Documentation".
  26. ^ Susie Ochs (2009-06-11). "Online Storage Battle: Which Cloud Back-Up Service Reigns Supreme?". MacLife. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  27. ^ "Does SpiderOak backup the whole file every time it changes?". SpiderOak. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  28. ^ Citrix ShareFile. "File Versioning". Citrix ShareFile.
  29. ^ "See How SugarSync Stacks up to the Competition". SugarSync (formerly called SharpCast). Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  30. ^ "Syncdocs feature list". Syncdocs Web. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  31. ^ "Why Delta Sync Doesn't Matter". 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  32. ^ "Ubuntu One:Downloads". Ubuntu One. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2013.

Further reading

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