Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Dropbox VS Syncthing

Compare Dropbox VS Syncthing and see what are their differences

Dropbox logo Dropbox

Online Sync and File Sharing

Syncthing logo Syncthing

Syncthing replaces proprietary sync and cloud services with something open, trustworthy and...
  • Dropbox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-05
  • Syncthing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-18

Dropbox features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Dropbox offers a user-friendly interface that makes file sharing, syncing, and storage simple for users of any technical skill level.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Dropbox supports multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, making it accessible from almost any device.
  • Collaboration Features
    The service includes features like shared folders, file comments, and real-time collaboration on documents, which are ideal for team projects.
  • File Versioning
    Dropbox maintains previous versions of files, allowing users to recover older versions if needed, which is helpful in case of accidental deletions or edits.
  • Third-Party Integrations
    The platform integrates seamlessly with various third-party apps such as Microsoft Office, Slack, and Trello, enhancing its utility in workflow management.
  • Strong Security Measures
    Dropbox offers robust encryption both at rest and in transit, along with two-factor authentication to secure user data.

Possible disadvantages of Dropbox

  • Cost
    Dropbox can be expensive, especially for businesses or advanced individual users who require more storage than what is available in the free plan.
  • Privacy Concerns
    There have been concerns around Dropbox's privacy policies and data handling practices, which might not be ideal for users particularly concerned about privacy.
  • Storage Limits
    The free version of Dropbox offers limited storage capacity (only up to 2GB), which may not be sufficient for users with extensive storage needs.
  • Sync Performance Issues
    Some users have reported issues with the speed and reliability of file syncing, which can be disruptive, especially for large files or bulk uploads.
  • File Size Restrictions
    There are file size limitations for both free and certain paid plans, which may be inconvenient for users who need to store or share particularly large files.
  • Limited Offline Access
    While Dropbox allows files to be made available offline, the process is not always straightforward and can lead to accessibility issues when internet access is not available.

Syncthing features and specs

  • Open Source
    Syncthing is open-source software, making it free to use and allowing for community contributions. This fosters transparency and continuous improvement.
  • Privacy
    The software uses peer-to-peer communication, meaning your files are not stored on a third-party server, enhancing privacy and security.
  • Cross Platform
    Syncthing is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, ensuring broad compatibility.
  • Real-time Sync
    The software offers real-time synchronization, which ensures that changes are immediately propagated across all devices, minimizing data inconsistencies.
  • Version Control
    Syncthing provides file versioning features, which can help recover older versions of files in case of accidental deletion or changes.

Possible disadvantages of Syncthing

  • Complex Setup
    Initial configuration and setup might be complex for users who are not technically inclined, requiring a certain level of understanding of network concepts.
  • Resource Usage
    Real-time syncing and continuous operation can consume significant system resources, affecting performance, especially on less powerful devices.
  • No Native Mobile Experience
    While Syncthing is available on Android, there is no official iOS app, which limits its usability for users on Apple's mobile platform.
  • Network Dependency
    Effective synchronization depends on the availability of a reliable network connection, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Self-Management
    Unlike cloud-based solutions, Syncthing requires users to handle their own backups, security, and maintenance, which can be time-consuming and complex.

Dropbox videos

Dropbox API / JavaScript ES6 Tutorial - Expense Organizer

More videos:

  • Review - Dropbox Update 2019 - Is it Worth It?
  • Tutorial - How To Build With Dropbox Webinar October 2020 | Dropbox API | Dropbox
  • Review - Everything You Need to Know: The NEW Dropbox 📦
  • Review - Dropbox Paper: Full Review (2019)
  • Review - Dropbox Review: Best Cloud Storage for File Sharing?
  • Review - Dropbox vs Google Drive vs OneDrive: The Ultimate Cloud Storage Showdown
  • Review - 2021 Best Cloud Storage | Dropbox vs OneDrive vs Google Drive vs iCloud vs Box vs Mega

Syncthing videos

Why We Use Syncthing, The Open Source Private File Syncing Tool instead of NextCloud

More videos:

  • Review - Setup and Review of SyncThing, The Open Source File synchronization tool
  • Review - Syncthing for Syncing Both Computers & Phones

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Dropbox and Syncthing)
Cloud Storage
56 56%
44% 44
File Sharing
57 57%
43% 43
Encrypted Cloud Storage
100 100%
0% 0
File Sharing And Backup
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

Dropbox Reviews

  1. good cloud service

    It's much more convenient than GoogleDrive. I frequently use it to share my projects on freelance platforms. This is reliable cloud storage with many features

    🏁 Competitors: Google Drive
    👍 Pros:    Reliable|Convenient|Easy to use
    👎 Cons:    Found none

Best Free Cloud Storage for 2024: What Cloud Storage Providers Offer the Most Free Storage?
Another big problem with Dropbox is the lack of features on the free plan. You can see the full list in the table at the end of the article, but features like the vault, smart sync, Dropbox Transfer, e-signatures, unlimited devices and offline access are all either completely missing or severely limited. You can find out more about these features in our Dropbox review.
Best Cloud Storage Services for Linux
Koofr is a cloud storage provider that’s a good option for Linux because of its Linux GUI desktop client. They have an online version, desktop and mobile versions, browser extensions, and more. The best thing about Koofr is that you can connect Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive to your Koofr account and search through all files from all accounts from Koofr.
Source: linuxstans.com
Best Top 12 MEGA Alternatives in 2024
In the world of cloud storage, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. The best MEGA alternative for you depends on your specific requirements and preferences. Whether it's Google Drive's integration, Dropbox's simplicity, or OneDrive's security, you have plenty of options to choose from. Evaluate your needs and make an informed decision to ensure your digital life is...
13 WeTransfer Alternatives (Free) in 2022
Dropbox is a file hosting service providing personal cloud, file synchronization, cloud storage, and client software. It is designed to collaborate on your projects, whether you are working alone or in a team.
Source: www.guru99.com
Best alternatives to WeTransfer of 2022
Microsoft OneDrive works like the other well-known consumer cloud storage options, the likes of Dropbox, Google Drive and iCloud: you specify the files and folders you want it to back up, and they get automatically synced with copies in the cloud, as well as all the other computers and devices where you've got OneDrive set up.

Syncthing Reviews

15 Best Rclone Alternatives 2022
With this tool, you can synchronize files between multiple computers without hassles. Syncthing is not very different from rclone as it also supports command-line functionality. Also, it’s a free and open source application with all source code available on GitHub.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Syncthing seems to be a lot more popular than Dropbox. While we know about 836 links to Syncthing, we've tracked only 28 mentions of Dropbox. 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.

Dropbox mentions (28)

  • Excel What if Analysis Issue
    Even better: upload an example Excel file to a file-sharing website (box.net/files, dropbox.com, onedrive.live.com, etc), and post a download link that does not require that we log in. Source: over 1 year ago
  • How to save data on Obsidian? Worried about data loss
    Note that Dropbox automatically backs up all your files. So if you delete a file, you can recover it on dropbox.com, even 6 months later. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • How long would a USB stick last in storage?
    Upload what is on that stick to a cloud based system that is not vulnerable to degradation of hardware, you can get a lot of storage for free on sites like dropbox.com, mega.nz, or icloud. You can also always make multiple backups. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Dropbox data gone
    Did you try logging into dropbox.com and checking there? Often the files remain online even if they are removed locallY. You have to log in with the same account you deleted Locally. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Author Resources: Tools and Software
    Dropbox: You absolutely NEED backups. Ideally, both physical and cloud backups, because if you only have one backup, you're not backed up. I can't even begin to tell you how many writers have lost days, weeks, or even entire novels worth of work because they failed to back up their work, then had their computer break or had some weird software snafu. Dropbox is my preferred cloud backup solution, because you can... Source: almost 2 years ago
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Syncthing mentions (836)

  • Feds Link $150M Cyberheist to 2022 LastPass Hacks
    SyncThing[1] works very well for syncing with Android devices, but IIRC doesn't work with iOS. [1] https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Calendar.txt
    I recommend https://syncthing.net/ Works with all file formats, from photos and movies to text files. Cross platform, Linux, Windows, Android, probably also Mac and BSD. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • All Kindles can now be jailbroken
    What are some "killer" applications that would tempt the casual Kindle user to jailbreak the device? I can see someone has ported syncthing [1], which could be convenient for syncing the contents of the device. But probably still too much work compared to using e.g. Calibre and a USB cable a few times per year. [1] https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • The Home Server Journey - 6: Your New Blogging Career
    If complete self-hosting is a must, I now need some file server capable of generating shareable links, to be used in my Markdown image components. In summary, Syncthing is great for Dropbox-style backups, but can't share links, NextCloud is too resource-heavy and Seafile is interesting but apparently has proprietary encryption, which left me with the lightweight Filebrowser. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • Magic Wormhole: get things from one computer to another, safely
    Maybe syncthing fits your use case better? https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Dropbox and Syncthing, you can also consider the following products

Google Drive - Access and sync your files anywhere

Nextcloud - With Nextcloud enterprises host their own secure cloud solution for storage, collaboration & communication from any device, anywhere.

Mega - Secure File Storage and collaboration

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

Box - Box offers secure content management and collaboration for individuals, teams and businesses, enabling secure file sharing and access to your files online.

Microsoft OneDrive - Secure access, sharing & file storage