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Comparison of file synchronization software

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This is a list of file synchronization software for which there are Wikipedia articles.

Free and open-source

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Name Programming languagePlatform License Last version PortableDetect conflict Renames or moves Propagate deletes Version controlScheduling or service Other Bidirectional Only client needed Protocol layerApplication layerDelta copying
ConduitPythonLinux, FreeBSDGPL2010[1]NoYesSynchronizes files, website, network apps
DirSync ProJavaWindows, macOS, LinuxGPLv32018[2]YesYesNoYes (creates backup files)Yes (native + via OS)sym-links, filter, metadata, contents, auto-sync
FreeFileSyncC++Windows, macOS, LinuxGPL (up to version 12.5) last GPL version 12.5 Jul 21, 2023[3][4]Yes (donation edition)[5]Yes[6]Yes[6]Yes[6]Yes (versioning, recycler)[6]YesOlder version had OpenCandy adware/malware, but now funded by donations.[7][8] Since Version 13 license for business usage neededYes (two-way, mirror, update, custom)Yes
iFolderC#, MonoWindows, macOS, Linux, SolarisGPL2010NoYes (centralized database)Yes (files, not folders)
Kubo (IPFS)Go Windows, macOS, Linux GPL 2022[9]Yes No (planned)[10]Noise/TCP and QUIC/UDP Libp2pYes (network-wide de-duplication)
luckyBackupC++ Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSDGPLv32018[11]YesYesUses rsync backend
NextcloudJavaScript, PHP, Shell, Python, Vue[12]Server: Linux, FreeBSD
Clients: Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Android, iOS, Windows Phone		AGPLv32023YesYesYesYes[13]YesYesFork of ownCloudYesNo
ownCloud community editionPHP, Go, JavaScript, Starlark, Shell[14]Server: Linux, FreeBSD
Clients: Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, Android, iOS, Blackberry		AGPLv3 (server edition) / proprietary (enterprise edition)2021YesYesYesYes[15]YesYesExternal storage support; encryptionYesNo
Pydio open source home Server: PHP, Python, C++
Clients: JS, C#, Swift, Java 		Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS AGPLv3 2017YesYesYesYes (Git[16])Yes
rcloneGoLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, Plan9, Solaris - Intel/AMD-64, Intel/AMD-32, ARM-32, ARM-64, MIPS-Big-Endian, MIPS-Little-EndianMIT2023YesYesYesYesYesYes (via OS)Supports over 50 cloud, protocol and virtual backends including S3 buckets, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and other high-latency file storage. Capabilities include sync, cache, encrypt, compress and mount.In alpha version since 2021[citation needed]Yes
rsyncC in a Unix-Linux shell Windows, macOS,[17] Linux,[18][19] BSDGPL v32022YesNo[20]NoYes using --deleteYes using --backup and a time-stamped --suffixYes (via OS)Client and server operation. Multiple comparison criteria (date, check-sum).No, but can run in either directionYesTCPSSH, RshYes
Seafile community editionC99, Python[21]Server: Linux, Raspbian, Windows
Clients: Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS.[22]		AGPLv3 (Server) + Apache License 2.0 (Client)2020NoYesYesYesYesYes (via Seafile Client)Android and iOS mobile clients
SparkleShareC# Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOSGPL v3 and LGPL2017YesYesNoYes (Git[23])
SymmetricDSJava Java SEGPL2018YesYesYesNoYesPlug-in APIs for customization
Synchronizer (krusader)Windows, macOS, LinuxGPL v22017NoYesNoNoNo
SyncthingGoWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, BSD, Solaris, 3rd party app for IPhone[24]MPL v22023YesYesYesYesYesYesDistributed peer-to-peer sync with automatic NAT traversal. Custom topology (star, full-mesh, mixed). Encryption.YesYesTCP, QUIC over UDPYes, block-based copying
SynkronC++ Windows, macOS, LinuxGPL v22011[25]YesYesNoYesYesYes
UnisonMainly OCaml[26]Windows, macOS, LinuxGPL2024[27]YesYesYesYesYesYesUses rsync backendYesNoTCPSSH, socketYes
NameProgramming language PlatformLicenseLast versionPortableDetect conflictRenames or movesPropagate deletesVersion controlScheduling or serviceOther infoBidirectionalOnly client neededProtocol layerApplication layerDelta copying

Freeware

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

NameOperating systemVendorOnline storage
Remote desktop
Prior file versions, revision controlComments
Portable
Detect rename
Detect move
Scheduling
Full duplex
transfer
Microsoft ActiveSyncWindowsMicrosoftNoNo?Syncs mobile devices
Resilio Sync (formerly BitTorrent Sync)Windows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, Android, iOSResilio, Inc.NoNoYes (via archive folder)Distributed peer-to-peer sync., working also offline in a LANNoYesYesPro only[28]Yes
Briefcase (part of Windows) (removed in Windows 10 build 14942[29])WindowsMicrosoftNoNo?
Cobian BackupWindowsCobianSoftNoNoYes, trash folderBackup software with folder synchronization feature; remote management; Shadow CopyNoNoNoYes
Windows Mobile Device CenterWindowsMicrosoftNoNo?Syncs mobile devices; successor to Microsoft ActiveSync
Microsoft Sync FrameworkWindowsMicrosoft?No?Syncs files, data, services; a framework, not a toolYesYes—
Microsoft SyncToy (discontinued January 2021)WindowsMicrosoftNoNoNo, recycle bin onlySync. local foldersNoYesYesvia OSNo
Windows Live Mesh (discontinued 13 February 2013)Windows (Vista and greater), Windows Mobile, OSXMicrosoftYesYesNo, recycle bin onlySync. folders, online storageNoYes?No, syncs whenever it is onlineYes
OmniGroup OmniPresenceOSX, OmniGroup software for iOS, open source framework availableOmniGroupNoNoNo, via local Time Machine backup onlySync. local folders via OmniSync or WebDAV server but not to the server itselfNo??No, syncs whenever it's online and not pausedYes
Windows Live Sync (discontinued 31 March 2011)Windows, OSXMicrosoftNo, browsing onlyNoNo, recycle bin onlySync. folders, browse devices from website, remote access; was Microsoft FolderShare, 20,000 file limitNoYesYesNo, syncs whenever it's online?

Commercial

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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 controlDetect rename Detect move Full duplex transfer Propagate deletes Case sensitive Delta transferLAN sync. P2P sync.
@MAX SyncUpWindowsLimitedNoYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYes
Allway SyncWindowsLimitedYesYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYes
AIMstor (discontinued) WindowsLimitedYesYesYesYesYes through VSSYesYesYesYesCase
preserving
only
Argentum BackupWindowsNoYesNoYesYes
BackupAssistWindowsNoNoYes
Beyond CompareWindows, OS X, LinuxLimitedYesNoYesYesYesYes
Box SyncWindows,[30] OS X,[30] Android, BlackBerry, iOS[30]LimitedYes??Yes???Yes?No
CloudikeWindows, OS X, iPhone, Android, HarmonyOSYesNoYesYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
CloudMeWindows, OS X, Linux, iPhone, Android, Google TV, Samsung TVYesNoYes??NoYesNo??Yes?No
Distributed StorageWindows, LinuxNoYesYesYes
Dmailer Sync (discontinued) WindowsYes
DropboxWindows, OS X, Linux, Android, iPhone, BlackBerryYesNoYes??YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Easy2Sync for FilesWindowsYesYesYesYes, for folders
EgnyteWindows, OS X, Linux, Android, iPad, iPhoneNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesCase
preserving
only		YesYes
GladinetWindows, OS X, Android, iPad, iPhone, Windows RT, BlackberryYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
GoDriveWindows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iOSLimitedYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes?YesYes?Yes
GoodSyncWindows, OS X, Android, iPad, iPhone, USB flash driveLimitedYesYes, betaYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
IBM ConnectionsWindows, OS X, Android, iOSNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNo
MediaFireWindows, OS X, Android, iOSYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNo
Name Operating system Freeware version Portable Encrypts files Detect conflict File lock Open file support Revision controlDetect rename Detect move Full duplex transfer Propagate deletes Case sensitive Delta transferLAN sync. P2P sync.
MegaWindows, OS X, Linux, Android, iPhone, BlackBerryYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNo[31]No[32]
RepliWebWindows, LinuxNoPartialYesYesYesYesYesYes
Resilio Sync (ex. BitTorrent Sync)Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Amazon Kindle Fire, FreeBSDLimitedNoYes, optionalYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
RobocopyWindowsYesNoNo
SecureSafeWindows, OS X, Android, iOSYesYesNoNoNoNoNoYesYesNoNo
SpiderOakWindows, OS X, Debian, Fedora, Slackware, Android, iOSNoNoYes[33]NoNoYes[34]Yes
ShareFileWindows, OS X, Android, iPhoneYesYesYes[35]YesYesYesYes
SugarSyncWindows, OS X, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows MobileNoNoYesYes[36]YesYesYes
SyncdocsWindows, web appBeta
versions
only		YesYesNoYesYesYesYesMicrosoft Word only[37]Yes
Synchronize It! WindowsNoNo
SyncoveryWindows, OS X, Linux, FreeBSDNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
SyncplicityWindows, OS X, Android, iPhone, Windows MobileYesYesYesYesYesNo[38]No
TonidoWindows, OS X, Linux, Android, BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows PhoneYesYesYesNoYesNoYesYesYesYes
TresoritWindows, OS X, Linux, Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows PhoneLimitedYesYesYesYes, for WindowsYesYesYesNo
Ubuntu One (discontinued 2 April 2014) Windows, OS X, Ubuntu, iOS, Android[39]Yes
Wuala (discontinued) Windows, OS X, Debian, Ubuntu, Android, iOSYesYes
ZumoDrive (discontinued) Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, iPhone, Palm webOSYesYesYes
Zetta.netWindows, OS X, LinuxNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYes, Preserve file name case & file metadataYesYes
Name Operating system Freeware version Portable Encrypts files Detect conflict File lock Open file support Revision controlDetect rename Detect move Full duplex transfer Propagate deletes Case sensitive Delta transferLAN sync. P2P sync.

Glossary

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Platform
Operating system & / or software platform like Java SE or .NET.
Edit conflict detection
Detect if an operation may result in data loss. See File Synchronization
Renames/moves
Propagate renaming/moving of a file/directory. This saves bandwidth for remote systems but increases the analysis duration. Commonly done by calculating and storing hash function digests of files to detect if two files with different names, edit dates, etc., have identical contents. Programs which do not support it, will behave as if the originally-named file/directory has been deleted and the newly named file/directory is new and transmit the "new" file again.
Version control
Can revert to a precedent version of a file/directory.
Scheduling or service
Run automatically (via a scheduler or as a system service), or manually for each sync.
Online storage
Online file storage option and type
Network-attached storage
Can sync. with NAS shares.
Only client needed
It is only needed to install synchronizing software on the client side. Server is only running arbitrary storage protocol like SFTP, SMB, NFS, etc. All synchronization logic is handled by client. This is generally good, because cheap cloud storage usually does not allow users to run custom software on storage server, they only provide access to storage.

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Index of /Sources/Conduit/0.3/".
  2. ^"DirSync Pro".
  3. ^"FreeFileSync".
  4. ^"FreeFileSync Forum: Wording in FAQ conflicts with license".
  5. ^"Free File Sync Software". Portable Edition. Archived from the original on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  6. ^ abcd"Frequently Asked Questions - FreeFileSync". Features. Archived from the original on 28 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  7. ^Akerlund, Geoff (June 2014), FreeFileSync comes bundled with the OpenCandy malware., Backup Review, retrieved 2 February 2018
  8. ^FFS FAQ, retrieved 27 June 2018
  9. ^"Releases · ipfs/kubo". GitHub.
  10. ^"Versioning: Commit + Repo Datastructures · Issue #23 · ipfs/notes". GitHub. Archived from the original on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  11. ^"LuckyBackup - backup and sync utility".
  12. ^"Nextcloud". GitHub. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  13. ^"Yes on desktop, but NO on mobile - Issue 19". GitHub.
  14. ^"ownCloud". GitHub. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  15. ^"ownCloud Documentation Overview". ownCloud Documentation.
  16. ^"Files versionning". Pydio. 2017-05-14. Archived from the original on 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  17. ^"rsync Backups on a Mac". Retrieved 2016-01-24.
  18. ^"Arch Linux packages". archlinux. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  19. ^"Software packages in "vivid"". ubuntu. Retrieved 2015-09-16.
  20. ^"How does rsync resolve conflicts?". Retrieved 2022-08-26. Rsync doesn't try to resolve conflicts.
  21. ^"haiwen/seafile". GitHub. Retrieved 2015-07-13.
  22. ^"Seafile clients". Seafile. Retrieved 2019-11-14.
  23. ^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
  24. ^"Möbius Sync".
  25. ^"Synkron 1.6.2 released - Synkron Documentation". sites.google.com.
  26. ^Pierce, Benjamin (2021-12-18), Unison File Synchronizer, retrieved 2021-12-19
  27. ^"Release 2.53.4". GitHub. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  28. ^"Sync 2.x change log".
  29. ^"Briefcase - Add to New Context Menu in Windows 10". tenforums.com. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
  30. ^ abc"What Is the Box Policy for Browser and OS Support? – Box Help". Box. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
  31. ^"Software Developer Documentation - MEGA". mega.nz.
  32. ^"Will MEGAsync use peer-to-peer transfers to achieve faster syncing between computers in the same local area network?". Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  33. ^Susie Ochs (2009-06-11). "Online Storage Battle: Which Cloud Back-Up Service Reigns Supreme?". MacLife. Archived from the original on 2009-12-10. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  34. ^"Does SpiderOak backup the whole file every time it changes?". SpiderOak. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  35. ^Citrix ShareFile. "File Versioning". Citrix ShareFile. Archived from the original on 2015-05-13. Retrieved 2015-01-10.
  36. ^"See How SugarSync Stacks up to the Competition". SugarSync (formerly called SharpCast). Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  37. ^"Syncdocs feature list". Syncdocs Web. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  38. ^"Why Delta Sync Doesn't Matter". 2009-07-20. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  39. ^"Ubuntu One:Downloads". Ubuntu One. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2013.

Further reading

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