Comparison of file synchronization software

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/meaning of column names used in the tables that follow:

Name: Either just the product's name or, if part of a larger product line, the name of the product line and the specific offering. For example, the Dropbox product line includes free, pro, and for Business. Separate table rows for individual product offerings may be included where it helps clarify significant differences between offerings, but multiple offerings may be described in one table row if differences between offerings can be described clearly within one row.

Protocol: Protocols supported by the product.

Programming Language: What computer programming language was used to write the software, if known. For closed-source software this information may not be known.

Windows: Indicates whether the product runs under Windows operating systems. Yes/No, + supported versions (if known).

OS X: Indicates whether the product runs under Mac OS X. Yes/No, + supported versions (if known).

Linux: Indicates whether the product runs under Linux variants. Yes/No, + supported versions (if known).

Other OS: Indicates whether the product is supported under any other operating systems. Values should be No or the names of the other operating systems supported

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.

Sync to cloud: Is there a "cloud 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.

Open source

This is a comparison of free and open source software.

Name Protocol Programming language Windows Mac OS X Linux Other OS License Version Portable Detect conflict Renames
or moves
(talk)
Prior file versions, revision control Scheduling or Service Sync to Cloud Other information
CloudStore file system, REST (https) JavaYes Yes Yes Yes LGPL 0.9.2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Focus on security[1]
Conduit network/web app PythonNo No Yes No GPL 0.3.16 No Yes Synchronizes files, website, network apps
Create Synchronicity file system Visual Basic .NET Yes No Yes (using Mono) No GPL 2011-05-03 = 5.2.1 Yes Yes No Yes (native, via OS)
DirSync Pro file system JavaYes Yes Yes Yes cross-platform GPLv3 2014-07-01 = 1.49 Yes Yes No Yes (creates backup files) Yes (native + via OS) sym-links, filter, metadata, contents, auto-sync
Dsynchronize Visual Basic 6 Yes 2.30.2 Yes Yes Yes Real-Time sync supported
FreeFileSync file system C++ Yes Yes Yes Yes GPL + OpenCandy 2015-04-08 = 6.15 Yes (installer option) Yes Yes Yes (versioning + recycler) Yes Bundled with OpenCandy.[2]
iFolder file system C#, MonoYes (client software only) Yes (client software only) Yes No GPL 2010-7-19 = 3.8.0.3 No Yes (centralized database)Yes (files, not folders)
luckyBackup file system C++ Yes Yes Yes Yes GPLv3 2014-03-16 = 0.4.8 Yes Yes Uses rsync backend
OneSync file system C# Yes No No No GPL 2010-10-21 = 3.0 No Yes Yes No
ownCloud cloud PHP, Javascript Yes Yes (client software only)[3] Yes Yes Unixoid AGPLv3 7.0.4 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes iOS,Android, Win, Linux Client
PowerFolder peer-to-peer Java Yes Yes Yes Yes cross-platform GPL (core)[4] 2014-11-13 = 10.0.30[5] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes iOS, Android, Peer-to-Peer
Syncthing network (peer-to-peer) Go Yes Yes Yes Android, iOS, BSD, Solaris MPL v2 2015-03-18 = 0.10.27 Yes Yes Yes Yes No Distributed peer-to-peer sync
SyncToCloud file system Java Yes Yes Yes No GPL v3 2015-02-17 = 1.35 Yes Yes Yes Yes (creates backup files) Yes Yes Detect and launch apps
rsync file system or network C in a Unix-Linux shell Yes Yes Yes Yes GPL v3 2011-09-23 = 3.09 Yes No No No via OS client & server operation. Multiple comparison criteria (date, check-sum).
Seafile cloud C, Python Yes Yes Yes Yes GPLv3 (community edition) 3.1.6 No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Android and iOS mobile clients
SparkleShare file system C# Yes Yes Yes Android (On Hold), iOS (On Hold) Clients: GPL v3, Library: LGPL 0.8.4 Yes Yes No Yes Uses Git
SymmetricDS http/https JavaYes Yes Yes Yes GPL 3.5 Yes Yes Yes No Yes plug-in APIs for customization
Synkron file system C++ Yes Yes Yes No GPL v2 2011-01-25 = 1.6.2Yes Yes No Yes Yes no longer in active development
Synchronizer (krusader) file system No No Yes No GPL v2 2012-10-21 = 2.4.0-beta3 No Yes No No No Synchronizer no longer in active development
Toucan Yes 3.1.0 Yes No
LocalBox Yes No Yes Android, iOS EUPL 1.1.17b Yes Files can be shared but cannot be read by a server admin, because data is de/en-crypted on the client [6]
Unison similar to rsync, transfers over network socket, rsh, encrypted ssh, or file systems OCaml Yes Yes[7] Yes Yes[8][9] GPL 2011-05-11 = 2.40.63 Yes[10] Yes (centralized database) Yes (remote xferbycopying) Yes (backups) via OS or helper (sucsynct, fswatcher.py) best network efficiency, mature and stable; development reached active maintenance[11]
Name Protocol Programming language Windows Mac OS X Linux Other OS License Version Portable Detect conflict Renames
or moves
Undo Scheduling or Service Sync to Cloud Other information

Freeware

This is a comparison of proprietary software released as freeware or gratis.

Name OS Vendor Online cloud 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
FTP LiveSync Windows CodeStunts No No ? Focused to sync code and text files between pc and webserver Yes Yes Yes No
BitTorrent Sync Windows / Mac OS X / Linux / FreeBSD / Android / iOS BitTorrent, Inc No No Yes (previous versions moved to archive folder) Distributed peer-to-peer sync No Yes Yes No, syncs whenever it's online Yes
Briefcase in Microsoft Windows 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
Gbridge Windows Gbridge LLC No Yes, via VNC or RDP Sync folders, live web browsing, etc. No No Yes
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
Echosync Windows Lumisoft No No No Sync local and network folders Yes Yes Yes Yes, via OS (tasks scheduler) No
Magic Mirror Sync Windows SOB Soft No No Yes, via VNC or RDP Sync local and network folders Yes Yes Yes No, Monitoring synchronizing folder continuously (once a minute) Yes
Windows Live Mesh (discontinued 13 February 2013) Windows (Vista and greater), Windows Mobile, OSX Microsoft Yes Yes No, recycle bin only Sync folders, cloud storage No Yes ? No, syncs whenever it's 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 released under any type of license.

Name Windows Mac Linux Other OS Open source Online backup service 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 Sync any directory On-premise orchestration Cross Cloud Providers Closed Community File Level Distribution Control
Sercle.net Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iPhone Partial Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
@MAX SyncUp Yes No No No No via other providers Yes, with limits No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes
Acrosync (rsync client) Yes Yes No Yes, iOS, Android No No No No No No No Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
AeroFS Yes Yes Yes Yes, iPhone, Android No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Allway Sync Yes No No No No via other providers Yes, with limits Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
AIMstor Yes No No No No No Yes, with limits Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes through VSSYes Yes Yes Yes No case preserving
Argentum Backup Yes No No No No No No Yes No Yes Yes
BackupAssist Yes No No No No via Rsync No No Yes
Backup4all Yes No No No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
BatchSync Yes No No No No Yes, with limitsNo No Yes No No YesYes Yes Yes
BestSync Yes No No No No No Yes, with limits Yes Yes No Yes Yes through backup optionYes Yes Yes Yes NoYes Yes
Biscom Verosync Yes Yes No Yes, iPhone, Android No No No No Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes
BitTorrent Sync Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle Fire, FreeBSD No No Yes, with limits No Yes, optional No No No Yes (previous versions moved to archive folder) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Box Sync Yes[12] Yes[12] No[12] Yes, Android, BlackBerry, iOS[12] No Yes Yes, with limits Yes ? ? Yes ? ? ? Yes ? No
ChronoSync No Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Cloudike Yes Yes No Yes, iPhone, AndroidNo Yes Yes No Yes NoYes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
CloudMe Yes Yes Yes Yes, iPhone, Android, Google TV, Samsung TV No Yes Yes No Yes ? ? No Yes No ? ? Yes ? No Yes
Cubby - Free Yes Yes No native client, can access via WebDav No No Yes No No Yes Renames older and keeps both No Yes Yes Yes ? Yes No No Yes
Cubby - Pro Yes Yes No native client, can access via WebDav No No Yes No No Yes Renames older and keeps both No Yes Yes Yes ? Yes Only when using LAN Sync Yes Yes
Distributed Storage Yes No Yes No No via other providers No Yes Yes Yes
Dmailer Sync (discontinued) Yes No No No No Yes Yes
Dropbox Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry No Yes Yes No Yes ? ? Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes ? Yes No
Easy2Sync for Files Yes No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes, for folders
EDpCloud EnduraData Yes Yes Yes Yes, Solaris, Linux, UNIXNo Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, case preserving, meta data preserving YesYes Yes
Egnyte Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iPad, iPhone No Yes No No No, handled by versioning Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No, case preserving YesYes
FileRock Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No No No Yes Yes No NoNo
Gladinet Yes Yes Yes, with browser client Yes, Android, iPad, iPhone, Windows RT, Blackberry No Yes, with limits Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
GoodSync Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iPad, iPhone, USB flash drive Yes Yes, with limits Yes Yes Yes, beta Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Handy Backup Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No
HORNETDRIVE Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iOS No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
IBM Connections Yes Yes No, use CMIS plugins Yes, Android, iOS No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
Inbox Storage Yes No No Yes, Android, iPhone, Windows Phone No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No
MediaFire Yes Yes Native uploader Only, SDK available Yes, Android, iOS No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No
Mega Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
ownCloud Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, but not supported Yes, with limits Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No NoYes
PowerFolder file system / network / cloud JavaYes Yes Yes Yes GPL (Free Version) 2014-01-01 = 9.1.54 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes[13] Yes
RepliWeb Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes, partial Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Robocopy Yes No No No No No Yes No No
SecureSafe Yes Yes No Yes, Android, iOS No No Yes Yes No Yes, previous versions moved to trash folder No No No Yes Yes No No Yes
SecuriSync Yes Yes No Yes, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry No Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes
SpiderOak Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iPhone Partial Yes Yes No Yes[14] No No, one-way sharing only Yes[15] Yes Yes
ShareFile Yes Yes No Yes, Android, iPhone No Yes Yes Yes Yes[16] Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
SugarSync Yes Yes No Yes, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Mobile No Yes No No Yes Yes[17] Yes Yes Yes Yes
Syncovery(SuperFlexible) Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes, Linux only Yes, manual install Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
SyncBack Yes No No No No No Yes Yes Yes
Syncdocs Yes No No No, Google Docs web interface only No Yes Yes, beta only Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes for MS Word only[18] Yes
Synchronize It! Yes No No No No No No No
Syncplicity Yes Yes No Yes, Android, iPhone, Windows Mobile No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No[19] No
TeamDrive Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iOS No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
Tonido Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Phone No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ubuntu One (discontinued 2 April 2014) Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iPhone, iPad[20] Partial Yes Yes
vBoxxCloud Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iOS, Windows Phone No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Wuala Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android Partial Yes Yes Yes
ZumoDrive Yes Yes Yes Yes, Android, iPhone, Palm webOS No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Zetta.net Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes, Preserve file name case & file metadataYes Yes Yes
Name Windows Mac Linux Other OS Open source Online backup service Freeware version Portable Encrypts files Detect conflict File lock Open file support Revision control Detect rename Detect move Full duplex transfer, collaborative Propagate deletes Case sensitive Delta copying (block level transfer) LAN Sync Sync any directory On-premise orchestration Cross Cloud Providers Closed Community File Level Distribution Control

See also

References

  1. http://cloudstore.codewizards.co/0.9.2/documentation/security.html
  2. https://sourceforge.net/p/freefilesync/discussion/open-discussion/thread/6a33c920/
  3. ownCloud Administrators Manual, Release 7.0, "Due to an issue with Mac OS Unicode support, installing ownCloud Server 7.0 on Mac OS is currently not supported."
  4. According to the company website: “The core source is licensed under the GPL license and hosted on GitHub and sourceforge.net.“
  5. https://indico.cern.ch/event/336753/session/4/contribution/9/material/slides/3.pdf
  6. LocalBox on wijdelenveilig.org
  7. No way to edit jobs via GUI, CLI version just starts GUI
  8. "Unison File Synchronizer". Cis.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  9. unison on Android
  10. "The Portable Freeware Collection - Portable Unison". Portablefreeware.com. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  11. "Unison File Synchronizer". Cis.upenn.edu. Retrieved 2013-06-14.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "What Is the Box Policy for Browser and OS Support? – Box Help". Box. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
  13. "Configuring delta-sync".
  14. Susie Ochs (2009-06-11). "Online Storage Battle: Which Cloud Back-Up Service Reigns Supreme?". MacLife. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  15. "Does SpiderOak backup the whole file every time it changes?". SpiderOak. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  16. Citrix ShareFile. "File Versioning". Citrix ShareFile.
  17. "See How SugarSync Stacks up to the Competition". SugarSync (formerly called SharpCast). Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  18. "Syncdocs feature list". Syncdocs Web. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  19. "Why Delta Sync Doesn't Matter". 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  20. "Ubuntu One:Downloads". Ubuntu One. Retrieved 14 April 2013.