Alternatives to FolderSync
Mobile-first folder sync app connecting Android/desktop to 20+ cloud and network targets
FolderSync ranks #9 of 11 in File sync, with an Alt Score of 62. It is proprietary, freemium from €9.95 and available on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
FolderSync is a sync client (Android app plus Windows/Mac/Linux desktop companion) that keeps device folders synchronized with 20+ cloud providers and protocols including S3, WebDAV, FTP/SFTP, SMB and major cloud drives. It supports scheduled and automatic two-way sync with selective folder/file filtering, and shipped updates as recently as July 2026.
Individuals and small businesses on Android, Windows, macOS, or Linux who need to keep folders in sync with a cloud storage account or a file-protocol server (SMB, FTP, SFTP, WebDAV/NextCloud/OwnCloud) they already have access to.
Separate Android and desktop apps (a free tier plus a paid Personal/Business or Pro license) that let you define one or more folder pairs between a local folder and a cloud or server account, each with its own schedule, network/connection rules, include/exclude filters, and optional client-side encryption; the paid tiers add unlimited folder pairs, webhooks, and automation, and desktop adds a companion CLI tool.
You add an account for a supported cloud provider or file protocol, then create a folderPair linking a local folder to a folder on that account with one-way or two-way sync. FolderSync detects changed files by modified time (optionally checksum) and transfers whole files on the configured schedule, using the device itself as an intermediary when syncing between two remote/cloud locations.
Where FolderSync stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave FolderSync
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
GoodSync is proprietary file synchronization and backup software from Siber Systems for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.
SyncBackPro, made by 2BrightSparks, is Windows backup/sync software used by individuals, small businesses and organizations including law enforcement and healthcare.
Syncovery, from Super Flexible Software, is a Windows/Mac/Linux sync and backup tool supporting two-way sync, versioning, encryption, and dozens of cloud/FTP/SFTP/WebDAV targets.
Unison is a free, open-source, cross-platform file synchronization tool that runs on Linux, macOS and Windows.
ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies, is a macOS application for incremental and bidirectional file/folder synchronization, bootable backups, and drive cloning, with support for SFTP, network shares and c.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the File sync checklist (16 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| File sync checklist | FolderSync | GoodSync | Seafile | SyncBackPro | Syncthing | Syncovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Peer-to-peer (no server) | ||||||
| Self-hostable server | ||||||
| Selective sync | ||||||
| Delta sync | ||||||
| Conflict handling | ||||||
| Untrusted-device encryption | ||||||
| Bandwidth limits | ||||||
| LAN sync | ||||||
| File versioning | ||||||
| Ignore patterns | ||||||
| Mobile support | ||||||
| Open source |
Every fact and feature listed for FolderSync is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-30
EULA also prohibits reverse engineering, decompilation, and disassembly; closed-source commercial software from Tacit Dynamics ApS.
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties... The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed, not sold.
https://foldersync.io/eula/ -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-30
Applies to both editions: Android ships a free ad-supported app plus a paid Personal/Business license, and Desktop ships a free version (limited folder pairs, no webhooks/automation) plus a paid Pro l
Free version available / Free version with no expiration / Premium features / Paid version unlocks unlimited folderpairs, webhooks and automation
https://foldersync.io/desktop/ -
Starts at €9.95 verified 2026-07-30
Cheapest paid tier is the Android Personal license (one-time, not a subscription). Desktop's cheapest paid tier (Single user) is €24.95/license, lifetime. Android Google Play in-app purchase price is
Personal / A Personal license is an option for private individuals who purchase a license with their own funds. € 9.95 / license
https://foldersync.io/android/ -
Status active verified 2026-07-30
Changelog shows continuous releases through July 2026, including new cloud-provider support.
v2.12.0 Feature 25-07-2026 Proton Drive support (experimental/beta)
https://foldersync.io/desktop/changelog/ -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux, Android verified 2026-07-30
No iOS app and no web app; desktop editions cover Windows, macOS and Linux.
FolderSync is the ultimate file syncing and backup solution for Android, Windows, Macos and Linux users.
https://foldersync.io/desktop/ -
Peer-to-peer (no server) No verified 2026-07-30
FolderSync always syncs through an account (device storage, cloud provider, or file-protocol server); there is no direct device-to-device sync mode.
FolderSync is not a file server. It can't host files and it is not possible to connect to a FolderSync instance from another FolderSync client.
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/concept/ -
Self-hostable server Yes verified 2026-07-30
FolderSync itself ships no server software (see concept page); this reflects its ability to sync against a self-hosted WebDAV/NextCloud/OwnCloud/SFTP/FTP/SMB server that the user installs and runs sep
If you want to use SMB, FTP, SFTP or WebDAV file protocols, you have to either have access to server or install and configure one on your own.
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/fileprotocols/ -
Selective sync Yes verified 2026-07-30
FolderSync provides a wide range of customization options for syncing your files, including the ability to select specific folders and files for syncing, syncing only files that meet specific criteria
https://foldersync.io/desktop/ -
Delta sync No verified 2026-07-30
Documented file-comparison mechanism (modified time, optional checksum) always transfers the whole changed file; no partial/block-level transfer is described anywhere in the docs.
The modified time of the file will be used to determine if a file has been updated... If only one files has been updated, it will overwrite the older file.
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/concept/ -
Conflict handling Yes verified 2026-07-30
If any conflicts are detected, set how FolderSync should handle it. A conflicting modification is one where both the source and target file has been changed since the previously recorded sync... Defau
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/v2/folderpairsettings/ -
Untrusted-device encryption Yes verified 2026-07-30
Client-side, password-based (ChaCha20-Poly1305/Argon2id); cloud provider cannot see file names or contents. Only supported on one-way sync, not two-way.
This feature provides end-to-end encryption, meaning your files are encrypted before they leave your device and remain encrypted in cloud storage.
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/v2/encryption/ -
Bandwidth limits No verified 2026-07-30
This settings page enumerates every configurable sync/transfer option; only the number of parallel transfers is adjustable, there is no transfer-speed/bandwidth throttle setting.
Simultaneous transfers - The number of parallels transfers for V2 folderPairs when syncing. Default is set based on number of processors detected.
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/settings/ -
LAN sync Yes verified 2026-07-30
Requires manually configuring an SMB/FTP/SFTP/WebDAV server on the local machine; there is no automatic zero-config LAN discovery feature.
you can then share the files on your PC using SMB, SFTP, WebDAV or FTP. SMB support should be available on all operating systems by default without needing to install additional software
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/concept/ -
File versioning No verified 2026-07-30
FolderSync will not retain older versions of files that are overwritten by newer files. FolderSync cannot restore deleted or old versions of files.
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/concept/ -
Ignore patterns Yes verified 2026-07-30
You can add filters where your can configure to include or exclude files and folders based on file type, name, size, file age and modification date. Regular expression filtering is also supported
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/v2/filters/ -
Mobile support Yes verified 2026-07-30
Android only; there is no iOS version.
Requires Android 8.0 or newer.
https://foldersync.io/docs/help/quickstart/ -
Open source No verified 2026-07-30
Proprietary EULA from Tacit Dynamics ApS; no source code is published for the FolderSync apps themselves (a separate desktop CLI companion tool is distributed as prebuilt binaries via GitHub Releases/
The SOFTWARE PRODUCT is licensed, not sold... Prohibition on Reverse Engineering, Decompilation, and Disassembly.
https://foldersync.io/eula/
FAQ
Yes. GoodSync, Syncthing and Unison have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Seafile, Syncthing and Unison — every license claim links its source.