Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Backup Exec VS FreeFileSync

Compare Backup Exec VS FreeFileSync and see what are their differences

Backup Exec logo Backup Exec

Backup Exec provides simple, complete backup and recovery protection for your business, to cover all data wherever it resides. Try free for 60 days.

FreeFileSync logo FreeFileSync

FreeFileSync is a free open source data backup software that helps you synchronize files and folders on Windows, Linux and macOS.
  • Backup Exec Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-07
  • FreeFileSync Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-24

Backup Exec features and specs

  • Comprehensive Support
    Backup Exec supports a wide range of platforms, including virtual, physical, and cloud environments. This makes it highly versatile for diverse IT infrastructures.
  • Intuitive Interface
    The software features a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of backup and recovery, reducing the learning curve for new users.
  • Efficient Deduplication
    Backup Exec offers efficient data deduplication, which helps in saving storage space and reducing the overall backup time.
  • Strong Encryption
    The solution provides robust encryption both during data transmission and at rest, ensuring high levels of security for sensitive information.
  • Reliable Recovery Options
    Backup Exec provides a variety of reliable recovery options, including granular recovery for applications like Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint.

Possible disadvantages of Backup Exec

  • Cost
    The software can be expensive, particularly for small to medium businesses with limited budgets.
  • Complex Licensing
    The licensing model for Backup Exec can be somewhat complex, making it difficult for users to determine the most cost-effective licensing option.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, particularly with large-scale environments, which can affect the speed and efficiency of backups.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While comprehensive, Backup Exec may lack some advanced features that are available in other enterprise-grade backup solutions.
  • Technical Support
    Although support is available, some users have found that response times can be slow and the quality of support can vary.

FreeFileSync features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    FreeFileSync is freely available without any cost and its source code can be inspected, modified, and enhanced by anyone.
  • Cross-Platform
    The software is available for multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for users across different platforms.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The application features an intuitive, easy-to-use graphical interface that simplifies the process of setting up and running backups and syncs.
  • Advanced Sync Options
    FreeFileSync offers advanced options like real-time sync, versioning, and mirror sync, giving users flexibility in how they manage their files.
  • High Performance
    The software is optimized for speed and efficiency, enabling quick synchronization and backup processes even for large directories.
  • Robust Error Handling
    FreeFileSync has robust error handling and recovery features, ensuring data integrity and reliability during file operations.

Possible disadvantages of FreeFileSync

  • Limited Cloud Integration
    FreeFileSync offers limited integration with cloud storage services, which may not be sufficient for users heavily reliant on cloud platforms.
  • Potentially Complex for Novices
    While the interface is user-friendly, some of the advanced options and settings may be overwhelming for new or inexperienced users.
  • Donation Requests
    The software occasionally prompts users to donate, which some may find intrusive or annoying despite being free to use.
  • No Automated Scheduling in Free Version
    Automated scheduling is not available in the free version, requiring users to manually trigger synchronization or purchase the donation edition for this feature.
  • Community Support
    Being open-source, the primary support channel is community forums, which may not offer the same level of assistance as dedicated customer service.

Analysis of Backup Exec

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Backup Exec is considered a reliable and effective backup solution for businesses of various sizes. It is especially praised for its ease of use, comprehensive feature set, and strong support from Veritas. However, it's essential to evaluate it against specific business needs and IT infrastructure to ensure it aligns with organizational goals.

Why this product is good

  • Backup Exec by Veritas is known for its robust data backup and recovery capabilities. It supports a wide variety of platforms including Windows, Linux, and virtual environments, making it versatile for different IT landscapes. It offers features like deduplication, integrated data protection, and multi-cloud support which enhance its efficiency and scalability.

Recommended for

    Medium to large enterprises looking for a scalable and versatile backup and recovery solution, IT managers and administrators who need comprehensive support for both physical and virtual environments, and organizations that require flexible cloud integration options.

Analysis of FreeFileSync

Overall verdict

  • Overall, FreeFileSync is a highly regarded file synchronization and backup solution. Its combination of powerful features, user-friendly interface, and low cost (free) makes it a popular choice for individuals and small businesses looking to manage their file synchronization needs.

Why this product is good

  • FreeFileSync is considered good by many users because of its robust feature set, ease of use, and the fact that it is open source. It offers features such as real-time synchronization, support for multiple platforms, and the ability to handle large files and numerous files efficiently, which makes it a versatile tool for personal and professional use.

Recommended for

    FreeFileSync is recommended for users who need a reliable and efficient way to sync files across devices or create consistent backups. It is ideal for both casual users who need a straightforward backup solution and more technical users who require advanced features and customization.

Backup Exec videos

Backup Exec 15 Review by an Independent Technician

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Backup Exec 2014 Tutorial and Review by an Independant Technical Consultant
  • Review - Installation of Veritas Backup Exec 21

FreeFileSync videos

Simple, Fast, Automated File Backup [FREE] | 2020 [FreeFileSync]

More videos:

  • Review - FreeFileSync: Tips and Tricks
  • Review - FreeFileSync: RealTimeSync
  • Review - FreeFileSync: Folder Comparison and Synchronization

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Backup Exec and FreeFileSync)
Cloud Storage
21 21%
79% 79
File Sharing And Backup
0 0%
100% 100
Monitoring Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Backup And Disaster Recovery

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Backup Exec and FreeFileSync

Backup Exec Reviews

We have no reviews of Backup Exec yet.
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FreeFileSync Reviews

15 Best Rclone Alternatives 2022
As a result, FreeFileSync helps speed up backup procedures by comparing source and target folders and just copying what is needed rather than copying everything. Additional synchronization options are available via the command line just like with rclone.
The 5 Best File Syncing Apps
FreeFileSync is useful for individuals and businesses for comparing multiple folders and synchronizing folders. It provides a robust backup solution. Choose to sync folders in real time, sync on a schedule, or run the sync program at startup.
Review of the File Synchronization Tools
FreeFileSync is a folder comparison and synchronization software, which can create and manage backup copies of all important files. FreeFileSync does not need to copy every file every time but determines the difference between the source folder and the destination folder and transfers only the minimum amount of data required. FreeFileSync is open source software, which can...
8 best Windows 10 file sync software
User feedback: “After wasting $40+ dollars on a competitor’s product, I tried out Freefilesync. FreefileSync was able to compare hundreds of thousands of files […] in 10 minutes, which was taking the competitor’s product over 3 hours.”
12 Free File and Folder Synchronization Tools for windows
Enhanced for maximum performance, FreeFileSync is an open source tool that assists you to sync files and folders for different operating systems like, Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It comes with a simplified interface and offers an optimized usability. Using this tool you can compare data by date, size or content. You simply need to drag and drop the folders you want to...
Source: thegeekpage.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FreeFileSync seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 204 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Backup Exec mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Backup Exec yet. Tracking of Backup Exec recommendations started around Mar 2021.

FreeFileSync mentions (204)

  • Ask HN: What project do you donate to?
    Not regularly, but I have donated to: FreeFileSync, an excellent file sync utility within a network. https://freefilesync.org/ StemRoller, separate stems (e.g., voice) from songs. https://www.stemroller.com/ John's Background Switcher, shuffle wallpapers from various sources https://johnsad.ventures/software/backgroundswitcher/ Wikipedia Foundation Etc. - Source: Hacker News / 5 days ago
  • Ask HN: What Underrated Open Source Project Deserves More Recognition?
    FreeFileSync https://freefilesync.org/ I have been a happy user for years and have made a donation too. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Which synchronization tool are you using together with the pCloud Crypto Folder?
    FreeFileSync messed up my pCloud database a couple times at first (causing disappearing files in the Crypto Folder, mirroring of the same files over and over again). Pcloud support provided an easy way to fix the database. To fix the root cause, one needs to exclude FreeFileSync's temporary files from the backup: pCloud Drive > Settings > Backup/Sync Exclusions, exclude sync.ffs_lock and *.ffs_tmp. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Why are file backups so slow on Windows 11?
    As per Apprehensive_Arm_754 answer below, https://freefilesync.org is the solution to my particular problem, since it allows all kind of simple rules and logic to apply, so I can make sure that the copy only happens in one direction, and only ever by file date etc. Much appreciated. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Why are file backups so slow on Windows 11?
    I use this one: https://freefilesync.org. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Backup Exec and FreeFileSync, you can also consider the following products

Acronis Backup and Recovery - Acronis Backup is a data recovery solution that offers more ways of storing and recovering drives, folders and files as compared to other similar solutions.

Syncthing - Syncthing replaces proprietary sync and cloud services with something open, trustworthy and...

SolarWinds Backup - Modern server backup software

rsync - rsync is a file transfer program for Unix systems. rsync uses the "rsync algorithm" which provides a very fast method for bringing remote files into sync.

Altaro VM Backup - Altaro VM Backup is a leading virtual machine backup and replication platform specially designed for VMware and Microsoft Hyper-V environments.

GoodSync - GoodSync provides highly reliable file backup and synchronization for both individuals and businesses.