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Best Free Folder Synchronization Utility
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Discussion
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Pure Sync is the top pick in this category. The only major feature that I found it lacks is the ability to copy open or locked files in the free edition. It has a fairly good set of filters and rules to fine tune what files are included in the job operations. It creates a database during the initial sync operation which it uses to detect file collisions or conflicts, and propagate deletions thereafter. It has a good preview of what files are going to be copied, updated, or deleted when performing a sync job. It has a nice scheduler and supports enabling auto sync for storage such as USB drives. It also has some special options for copying photos from digital cameras. Be aware that while it supports syncing to network locations, syncing with FTP is only supported in the paid version. Over all I was very pleased with its numerous features and ease of use, and heartily recommend it to the average user.
FreeFileSync is another solid contender here. In fact I had a hard time choosing between FreeFileSync and PureSync for my top pick. The thing I like the best with this utility is its very clear and informative interface. The preview is very easy to understand, and file collisions and deletions are more readily recognizable than in PureSync. If you require a sync program that can copy files that are in use or locked, FreeFileSync has you covered there too! Unfortunately it only has very basic filters, no auto sync feature, and no direct support for FTP. My final complaint would be that its help file is a little sparse. Those few flaws aside, I found it to be well designed and easy to use.
Allway Sync is my third recommendation. It is a very well rounded product with loads of features. It has a very robust filter and rule set and definitely has the edge here over the other two previously reviewed products. It also offers support for FTP, scheduling, and auto syncing. It has a very thorough help file which can be of great benefit especially to those who are new to synchronization programs. One draw back I found is that while it does detect file collisions and deletions, it is not very clear how to choose which versions of conflicting files to keep and which to overwrite. You should also be aware that in the free version of Allway Sync there is a file opreration limit of 40,000 files in any 30 day period. So if you have a large amount of files to synchronize on a daily basis you might need to look at a different choice. Also note that it does not support copying locked files as the developers feel it could compromise data integrity. Honourable Mentions. SyncBack: Supports file compression, and can verify file integrity after job completion. |
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2.8 
Free for personal use 
Win 98 - 7
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free folder sync synchronization utility |
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Comments
I quite like ViceVersa. I like it so much I have been PRO version owner for some time, however, the freeware version is very accurate for sync on two folders.
One drawback of the free version is that it can only sync one set of two folders under one "job" or "task", meaning if you have multiple sets of folders to sync, you need to setup jobs for each folder pair.
Still, a very capable little program.
http://www.tgrmn.com/free/
Thanks for this wonderful resource for finding quality freeware!!
John C.
I'm fine with DSynchronize v2.30.1 by Dimio http://dimio.altervista.org/eng/ It(s certainly not the best web designer. But his soft is very nice & easy
What about Tree Comp?
http://www.xs4all.nl/~lploeger/TreeComp3.htm
Excellent interface, works across network. Extremely easy to use.
Unison...
http://www.cis.upenn.edu/~bcpierce/unison/
Lately I've been using GoodSync http://www.goodsync.com/ because it can sync with an FTP folder directly. GoodSync seems to be closely related to Allway Sync because it picks up any Allway Sync jobs if it is already installed on the computer. Have not tested it fully yet but it is a much smaller download than Allway Sync and it seems to be easier on resources.
Like any synchronization program make sure you know exactly how the synchronization direction works or else you risk loosing all your files. At any rate, a synchronization program should not be relied upon soley for backup of important files - I learned that the hard way!
Here's another really good one: PureSync http://www.jumpingbytes.com/en/puresync.html which is free for personal use but a Pro version adds a few extra features. It is easy to use and light on resources. The interface is a bit jittery (on Windows 7) but nevertheless it is still a great program.
Both PathSync and TreeComp are awesome, and portable and free too!!!
SyncToy 2.0 requires .net 2.0, not sure I like that.
Hey Amarillier, RoboCopy does indeed do very well at the job it was designed for, but it is probably not the best for the average user.
Hi Ritho - take a look at Microsoft's RoboCopy. I was quite impressed when somebody pointed me at it. It's command line driven, so ideal in batch files, not a GUI at all. It's very good, fast, and there is a free GUI (RoboGUI?) available to create batch files to call it. I don't think it can backup/synch to another computer, I think it only syncs between folders / disks visible to a given computer, but it does that very well from my internal disk to an external USB disk, and allows automatically deleting files from the destination that no longer exist on the source.
I agree, but the best part of this program is that it is multi-threading, blindingly fast - the last time I compared it with others it completed in 10th of the time.
I use PathSync which works pretty basically but nicely.
I'm once again looking at the synchonization options. I need:
*LOTS of files synchonized
*the ability to set up a job with several folders sets at once
*exclusions at the file and folder level.
- Just simple HDD to USB drive . . .
The problem with Allway was it crashed when merely logging the folders to do the exclusions - too many folders I guess. I I really only need to log a couple of levels of files. It is among the best so far in terms of interface, setup. The website says "Free for personal use synchronization software." http://allwaysync.com/features.html but they don't mean that, and you have to read the fine print. They should say something like "Free for limited personal use synchronization software"
I have also tried InSync (a commercial product), and would have bought it but for the lack of a beep when finished, and poor progress notification is poor. It has a great interface for making choices. (Interesting how little thngs are significant??)
Unison I think only does one pair of folders. And it is a little more complex to install if you are not a geek. ??
SyncBack (Free) is good. No progress bar either, just a small text indication, and NO beep on completion. But it has this function where you can set up folder pairs and then group them - cool!!. But no file exclusion.
I am prepared to buy when I find what I want.
You have to try AutoVer. To quote the developer's site linked below, it's "a configurable automatic or real time backup and personal versioning system. It can be used as a simple real time backup or as a more complex, but transparent version control system (like a realtime incremental backup). The beauty of this system is that once you set it up (which is extremely simple) it does everything."
http://beanland.net.au/AutoVer/
I use it and recommend it to all my clients.
GeneH @ http://genehuller.com
Thanks for the warning on Allwaysync, I was about to download it. If anyone is interested, here's what the licence agreement says:
"Customer agrees that Allway Sync Free has certain limitations and that these limitations may change over time without notice or obligation on the part of Developer. Currently, these limitations allow Customer to synchronize no more than 20,000 files per 30-day period."
In version 2.0, this is even more easy:
- Select "All folder pairs"
- And "Run all"
Just for the record, I'm syncronizing 15 folder pairs with lots of sub-folders and files, with no problem. 2.0 is even more reliable and faster.
Has anyone tried Comodo BackUp? What's the veredict?
http://backup.comodo.com/#
"SyncToy is limited to running only one folder pair at once."
This is false. Here's how to run all folder pairs:
- From the Start menu, select All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Task Scheduler.
- Select Create Basic Task in the Actions pane on the right.
- Add a Name and Description and select Next.
- Choose when you want the task to start and select Next.
- Choose date/times (if applicable) to run task and select Next.
- Choose Start a Program option and select Next.
- Select Browse and locate the SyncToy.exe.
- Type "-R" in the Add Arguments textbox. –R all by itself will run all folder pairs that are active for run all.
I've tried most of the recommendations in recent years and found them wanting. Now I'm using Bestsync 2010 and find it far more impressive. Its wizard makes it very easy to use and reveals how thorough it is at the same time
http://getdropbox.com/ , currently in Beta, but an awesome contender. You can sync files between not only multiple computers but multiple users (if you so choose), you can sync up to 2 gigs of data. All the process involves is a simple install and online setup. It is currently Invite only, and I have a few to share if anybody is interested...
I don't like programs that litter my hard disk with database files. Synctoy and allwaysync do this.
I have been using syncback free for a while and it works reasonably well. However, one drawback is that if I do a 2-way sync set to 'prompt for missing source files'; then if the source has had folders deleted then syncback will recreate that those folders as empty, even if I tell it to delete the missing folders from the destination when prompted. In the FAQ/Help this is a known issue (won't be fixed).
The other bugbear is that if I move some folders and then resync, then syncback isn't clever enough to see that the "missing" folders have really been moved, even though all the relevant files/folders show up in the lists for the new source location and the old destination location.
SG
I have the Pro version of Allway sync (v.8.1.0), I got it for it's automatic sync features (sync per day, sync on file change, sync when PC idle, etc). Just to let folks know, the automatic features don't work for me. I have to use MS scheduler to kick off the syncs. I've brought this problem to the attention of the developers several times (first time over a year ago) without resolution.
Also - I think GoodSync and Allway sync are the same product.
I should spell out my scenario as well... Basically i need scheduled 2-way sync.
I have one "primary" file-server at my office (Windows 7Pro). Throughout the day/week I access (over shared network drive) and edit the files stored there. (i know that this would be better if i had a form of checkout/checkin...but i don't yet). I also keep a backup file-server (really just an old windows computer) at my house. I would like to be able to simply access my local copy of the files at home at night to make edits, etc. Ideally everything will have 2-way synchronization and be scheduled (or continual automatic)...so it will run maybe at 7AM and 6pm to make sure everything is synced between locations. The other catch is that my office does not run the air conditioning on the weekends, so i shut down the server on Friday afternoon and don't turn it back on until Monday morning. During that time, i need my files at home to be up to date and then all the changes i make over the weekend should sync back up with the "main" server on Monday morning when it it turned back on.
I just tried version 1.0.4.337, downloaded from Comodo's own site.
The good news is that it lets you choose subfolders you want to exclude.
The bad news is that it goes ahead and includes them anyway.
I used to be a SyncBack user. Everytime I do a backup I got tons of error messages, most of them occur when I try to sync the C: drive, esp the Windows folder. Is it true that for an average user, it's better just to synchronize those files in D: and avoid to touch those sensitive systems files in C: ?
Thanks in advance.
I also read on another blog about using SVN to keep things in sync. I found a few Windows implimentations of SVn that look promising:
http://tortoisesvn.net/
http://www.visualsvn.com/
http://www.ubersvn.com/
I wondered if anyone has tried this approach or if you (Ritho) could compare them as another option for us?
I also found a desktop sync program (also free) that hooks into SVn and looks promising. http://code.google.com/p/iqbox-svn/
I have not yet tried any of this, because frankly, SVN scares me...never used it even in an environment where someone else set it up...so the thought of running it myself is a bit daunting.
Thoughts? Thanks.
[Moderator's note : Commercial software details removed]
I don't think SyncBack free is supposed to do 'hot' backup/copy. Search the feature "Copy open/locked (in-use) files (XP/Vista/2003/2008)" here: http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/compare.html
Allway sync, is great and working for me, im using it through FTP and for localback with Network share, both work just fine, for the people who couldnt use Allway sync, please check your settings again, it has a very good job detials section in which you can setthe options, there are some default options set may be thats why your first or second try wont work, just check the default job properties and use it accordingly, it should work.
Interesting that no-one's mentioned Toucan. (Part of the portableapps range -- free and portable.)
It's not the most intuitive, perhaps -- it took me a little while to get used to the way the inclusion/exclusion rules are set -- but it's probably well worth a look if you haven't already found a solution that you're happy with.
(My favourite file synch tool ever was the one bundled with VCom's PowerDesk. One day, I'll find a standalone, free and preferably portable synch tool that works the same way...)
Toucan can be found here:
http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/toucan
If you are using Unicode [non English] filenames and want to synchronize to FTP server supporting Unicode than SyncBack is the solution. Both GoodSync
and Allway Sync failed my test.
This may not fit into the strict definition of syncing, but I use Karen Kenworthy's Replicator to keep the directories and files I want backed up 'in synch'. Replicator has a lot of control that you need to look at to appreciate, including scheduling, exclusions, recycle/delete, and other features. Good product, and free! http://www.karenware.com/powertools/powertools.asp
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