Alternatives to FreeFileSync
Visual folder comparison and sync
FreeFileSync ranks #10 of 11 in File sync, with an Alt Score of 55. It is proprietary, donationware from Free and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Individuals, home users, and IT admins who need to back up, mirror, or keep folders in sync across drives, network shares, or cloud storage on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
A free, open-source tool that compares two folders and transfers only the changed data, supporting mirror (one-way), two-way, and update sync modes with move detection and conflict handling. It preserves NTFS permissions and extended attributes, handles long file paths, and connects to local drives, network shares, SFTP/FTP, Google Drive, and MTP devices. Batch jobs let you save and schedule sync configurations, and RealTimeSync can trigger syncs automatically when files change.
FreeFileSync scans source and target folders in parallel and compares files by content, size, or timestamp, then computes the minimal set of copy/delete/move operations needed to reconcile them. It uses a database file to track prior sync state so it can distinguish real changes from external edits, and applies changes through a fail-safe copy routine designed to avoid data loss if a transfer is interrupted.
Why people leave FreeFileSync
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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.
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.
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 | FreeFileSync | 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 FreeFileSync is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-08
the standard version of FreeFileSync and the Donation Edition are allowed for private use only. All legal entities that are not private individuals are required to purchase the FreeFileSync Business E
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#commercial -
Pricing model Donationware verified 2026-07-08
Everyone who donates may download a version of FreeFileSync including a few bonus features as a thank-you for supporting the project! This version is called the FreeFileSync Donation Edition.
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#donation-edition -
Starts at Free verified 2026-07-08
Base version is free; Donation Edition is a thank-you for donors.
Everyone who donates may download a version of FreeFileSync including a few bonus features
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#donation-edition -
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux verified 2026-07-08
FreeFileSync runs natively on Windows, macOS, and is supported on all major Linux distributions
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#operating-systems -
Status active verified 2026-07-08
FreeFileSync releases updates about once every month and has been doing so since its first release.
https://freefilesync.org/vision.php -
Peer-to-peer (no server) Yes verified 2026-07-08
Syncs local/network folders directly, no cloud server.
Synchronize folders on network shares and local drives
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#features -
Self-hostable server No verified 2026-07-08
Desktop folder-sync tool; no server component.
Synchronize folders on network shares and local drives
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#features -
Selective sync Yes verified 2026-07-08
Files and folders are considered for synchronization only if they pass all filter rules: They must match at least one entry in the include list and none in the exclude list.
https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?topic=exclude-items -
Delta sync No verified 2026-07-08
Whole-file copy; no block-level delta transfer.
Two files are equal when both modification time and file size match.
https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?topic=comparison-settings -
Conflict handling Partial verified 2026-07-08
Conflict detection; no automatic two-way merge.
Detect conflicts and propagate deletions
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#features -
Untrusted-device encryption No verified 2026-07-08
SFTP encrypts transport but no client-side content encryption.
Access files online using SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#features -
Bandwidth limits No verified 2026-07-08
No bandwidth-throttling feature documented.
No artificial limits on the number of files to sync
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#limitations -
LAN sync Yes verified 2026-07-08
Synchronize folders on network shares and local drives
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#features -
File versioning Yes verified 2026-07-08
Manage versions and keep a history of deleted/updated files
https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?topic=versioning -
Ignore patterns Yes verified 2026-07-08
They must match at least one entry in the include list and none in the exclude list.
https://freefilesync.org/manual.php?topic=exclude-items -
Mobile support Partial verified 2026-07-08
MTP sync from desktop only; no mobile app.
Synchronize mobile devices via MTP (Android, iPhone, tablet, digital camera)
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#features -
Open source No verified 2026-07-08
Source code not distributed publicly.
The FreeFileSync Donation Edition and Business Edition may not be distributed in any way!
https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#distribute
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.