Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Carbonite VS rsync

Compare Carbonite VS rsync and see what are their differences

Carbonite logo Carbonite

Unlimited online backup for one flat fee. Free trial, no credit card required.

rsync logo 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.
  • Carbonite Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04
  • rsync Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-31

Carbonite features and specs

  • Automatic Backup
    Carbonite automatically backs up files on your computer without requiring manual intervention, ensuring that your data is consistently protected.
  • Unlimited Storage
    Most Carbonite plans offer unlimited storage, allowing users to back up all their data without worrying about exceeding storage limits.
  • File Versioning
    Carbonite retains multiple versions of files, enabling users to recover previous versions in case of accidental changes or deletions.
  • Remote File Access
    Users can access their backed-up files from any device with an internet connection, providing easy access to important data at all times.
  • Encryption and Security
    Carbonite uses robust encryption protocols to protect data during transfer and storage, ensuring that users' information remains secure.
  • Customer Support
    Carbonite provides customer support via phone, email, and chat, helping users resolve any issues they may encounter.

Possible disadvantages of Carbonite

  • Performance Impact
    Running Carbonite backups in the background may impact system performance, particularly on older or less powerful computers.
  • Initial Backup Time
    The initial backup process can be time-consuming, especially for users with large amounts of data or slow internet connections.
  • Pricing
    Some users may find Carbonite's subscription plans to be relatively expensive compared to other backup solutions available in the market.
  • Limited File Types
    Certain plans have limitations on the types of files that can be backed up, such as excluding system files, applications, and videos.
  • No Mobile Backup
    Carbonite does not support direct backup of data from mobile devices, which may be a drawback for users who need comprehensive device coverage.

rsync features and specs

  • Efficient Data Transfer
    Rsync uses a delta-transfer algorithm which allows it to update files by only sending the differences between the source and destination, greatly reducing the amount of data transferred.
  • Bandwidth Throttling
    Rsync provides an option to limit the bandwidth used during the transfer, helping to manage network resources and avoid congestion.
  • Compression
    Rsync supports compression of data during transfer, which can further reduce the amount of data sent over the network.
  • Secure Transfer
    Rsync can utilize SSH for secure data transfer, adding a layer of encryption to protect data as it moves between systems.
  • Versatile
    Rsync can be used for a variety of tasks such as backups, mirroring, and synchronization, making it a versatile tool for different data management needs.
  • Preserves File Attributes
    Rsync preserves file permissions, timestamps, ownerships, and symbolic links during the transfer, ensuring that all file attributes remain intact.
  • Widely Supported
    Rsync is available on most Unix-like operating systems and there are ports available for Windows, making it accessible across different platforms.
  • Open Source
    Rsync is free and open-source software, allowing anyone to use, modify, and distribute it without licensing fees.

Possible disadvantages of rsync

  • Complex Syntax
    The rsync command line options can be complex and difficult to master, especially for users who are not familiar with command-line interfaces.
  • Initial Setup
    Setting up rsync for the first time can be cumbersome, particularly when dealing with SSH keys, excluding files, and setting up cron jobs for automation.
  • Resource Intensive
    During large data transfers, rsync can be resource-intensive, consuming a considerable amount of CPU and RAM, which might affect system performance.
  • Limited Incremental Backup Support
    Rsync's incremental backup feature is somewhat limited and less sophisticated compared to dedicated backup solutions, requiring additional scripting for effective implementation.
  • Remote File System Compatibility
    Rsync may encounter issues with certain remote file systems that have different characteristics or limitations, such as differing maximum file path lengths or unsupported special characters.
  • No Native GUI
    Rsync does not have a native graphical user interface (GUI), which may make it less accessible to users who prefer or require a visual interaction.
  • No Built-in Scheduling
    Rsync lacks built-in scheduling capabilities, necessitating the use of external tools like cron (Linux/Unix) or Task Scheduler (Windows) to automate scheduled tasks.

Analysis of Carbonite

Overall verdict

  • Carbonite is a reliable choice for individuals and small businesses looking for a straightforward and automated backup solution. While it may lack some advanced features offered by competitors, its unlimited storage for home users and user-friendly interface make it a good option.

Why this product is good

  • Carbonite is a cloud backup service known for its ease of use and set-it-and-forget-it automated backup options. It provides unlimited storage for home users and strong security features, including encryption. Additionally, Carbonite offers remote access to backed-up files, meaning users can access their data from any internet-connected device, which adds to its convenience and appeal.

Recommended for

    Carbonite is recommended for individual users and small businesses who want a simple, hassle-free cloud backup solution without worrying about storage limits. It's particularly suited for people who prefer automation and easy access to their files across different devices.

Carbonite videos

Carbonite Cloud Backup Review - Are Your Files Safe? [2019]

More videos:

  • Review - Carbonite Review 2016 – Is It The Right Cloud Backup For You?
  • Review - Star Wars The Black Series Han Solo (Carbonite) Review

rsync videos

Rsync Backup on Linux

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Properly Use Cloud Storage | Rsync Encrypt Tutorial
  • Review - Setup OpenMediaVault 5.0 beta NAS on Raspberry Pi 4: RPi4 NAS + Configure RSync with x2 shares OMV5

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Carbonite and rsync)
Cloud Storage
56 56%
44% 44
File Sharing And Backup
0 0%
100% 100
Monitoring Tools
100 100%
0% 0
File Sharing
18 18%
82% 82

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Carbonite and rsync

Carbonite Reviews

15 Best Acronis Alternatives 2022
Being able to back up your external drive, computer, and servers depends on the Carbonite package you choose. The backup and restoration process of files is really simple and needs very little work and expertise from the user.

rsync Reviews

Linux File Backup - 5 Best Softeware for Linux Desktop and Server
Rsync(secured URL: https://linux.die.net/man/1/rsync) is a famous software among Linux desktop users since it offers command-line system backup services. Besides featuring incremental backups, you can update the complete file directory tree inside the system. Even it is possible to protect file ownership, permissions, links, etc.
Source: www.easeus.com
The Best Free Backup Software and Why it is Difficult to Find One
Rsync is the very definition of bare-bones backup software. It is a backup tool that is made for Unix systems with the ability to operate it both via the graphic interface and the command line. It allows for its users to perform local and remote backups on multiple devices, including incremental backups. Rsync also has the capability to sync systems across the internet with...
Source: www.bacula.org
The Top 17 Free and Open Source Backup Solutions
Rsync is a command line Linux backup tool, but it also offers a graphical user interface. With this software, IT administrators are able to perform incremental backups, as well as local and remote backups. Rsync enables users to update their whole directory tree and file system. The solution is built for UNIX-like systems, and is recommended to users looking to locally back...
11 Best Linux Backup Solutions
Rsync is another feature-rich backup solution available for Linux. It allows for incremental backups, update whole directory tree and file system, both local and remote backups, preserve file permissions, ownership, links, privileges, automated scripts and much more. Rsync is a command-line tool but there GUI or frontends such as Grsync available. Rsync is very popular in...
25 Outstanding Backup Utilities for Linux Systems in 2020
It also has a graphical user interface called Grsync but one advantage with the rsync is that backups can be automated using scripts and cron jobs when used by experienced System Administrators on the command line.
Source: www.tecmint.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, rsync seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 15 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.

Carbonite mentions (0)

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

rsync mentions (15)

  • Down the Rabbit Hole of creating a Home Lab
    Rsync - Fast file copying and syncing. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Researchers have identified a total of 6 vulnerabilities in rsync
    Does this apply to the GPL or BSD codebase? There are (now) two rsync codebases. GPL: https://rsync.samba.org/ BSD: https://www.openrsync.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Which synchronization tool are you using together with the pCloud Crypto Folder?
    Rsync can be used to synchronize a local disk to the pCloud drive p. Works similarly as the Sync option of the pCloud Drive app. May be useful if one prefers a bulk upload once a day over a continuous synchronization. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Advanced Backup and Disaster Recovery Strategies
    Tools that can be used to handle this include Rsync, Duplicati, Cohesity. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Use rsync to Sync a Node Project to Dropbox and Ignore the node modules Folder
    To overcome this issue, you can use rsync, a powerful command-line tool for synchronizing files and directories, along with a bash script that excludes the node_modules folder and also filter out anything in a .gitignore file that you specify. In this article, I'll guide you through the process of setting up and using this bash script to sync your Node.js project while ignoring the node_modules folder. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Carbonite and rsync, you can also consider the following products

Backblaze - Backblaze's remote backup automatically backs up your data to our secure datacenter.

FreeFileSync - FreeFileSync is a free open source data backup software that helps you synchronize files and folders on Windows, Linux and macOS.

SpiderOak - SpiderOak makes it possible for you to privately store, sync, share & access your data from everywhere.

Duplicati - Free backup software to store backups online with strong encryption. Works with FTP, SSH, WebDAV, OneDrive, Amazon S3, Google Drive and many others.

CrashPlan - CrashPlan for Small Business backup software offers the best way to back up and store business & enterprise data securely - offsite, onsite & online in the Cloud.

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