Software Alternatives & Startups

Fivetran VS FreeFileSync

Compare Fivetran VS FreeFileSync and see what are their differences

Fivetran

Fivetran offers companies a data connector for extracting data from many different cloud and database sources.

Rating
0 reviews
FreeFileSync

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

Rating
0 reviews
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, FreeFileSync seems to be a lot more popular than Fivetran. While we know about 205 links to FreeFileSync, we've tracked only 12 mentions of Fivetran.

social mentions
12 vs 205
Data Integration popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Fivetran
FreeFileSync
Website fivetran.com freefilesync.org
Pricing —
Company Startup from the United States · 250 - 499 employees · 2012 Startup from Germany
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Fivetran 6 features
FreeFileSync 6 features
  • Automation
    Fivetran automates data integration, eliminating the need for manual coding and reducing maintenance overhead.
  • Scalability
    Fivetran can easily scale its services to handle growing data loads, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes.
  • Wide Range of Connectors
    It supports a broad array of data sources and destinations, allowing for diverse data pipelines.
  • Data Transformation
    Fivetran provides built-in data transformation capabilities, ensuring that data is in the correct format when it reaches the destination.
  • Real-Time Data Syncing
    Fivetran allows for near real-time data syncing, which is crucial for businesses that rely on up-to-date data for decision-making.
  • Reliability
    The service ensures data integrity and reliability, minimizing data loss during transfers.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    Fivetran can be expensive, especially for small businesses or startups with limited budgets.
  • Limited Customization
    The platform offers limited options for customization, which might be a drawback for businesses with unique data integration needs.
  • Complex Setup for Non-Technical Users
    Despite its automation features, the initial setup can be complex for users without technical expertise.
  • Dependency on Third-Party Services
    Reliance on Fivetran means depending on a third party for crucial data integration tasks, which could be risky if the service faces downtime.
  • Data Latency for Some Sources
    While Fivetran supports near real-time syncing for many sources, some data sources might experience latency, affecting the freshness of the data.
  • 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

  • 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

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Fivetran
FreeFileSync

Overall verdict

  • Fivetran is generally regarded as a good solution for businesses looking for an automated, reliable, and easy-to-use data integration tool. It is particularly beneficial for companies that wish to reduce time and effort spent on managing data pipelines and ensuring accurate data transfer.

Why this product is good

  • Fivetran is considered good due to its ability to automate data integration processes, providing a seamless and efficient way to connect various data sources to your data warehouse. It offers pre-built connectors, automated schema management, and reliable data syncing, which reduces the need for manual coding and maintenance. Its robust security measures and scalability also contribute to its positive reputation.

Recommended for

    Fivetran is recommended for small to large businesses that require efficient data integration from multiple sources into their data warehouse. It is ideal for organizations looking for a fully managed service to simplify their ETL/ELT processes, especially those using cloud-based data warehousing solutions such as Snowflake, BigQuery, or Redshift.

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.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Fivetran 3 videos + Add
FreeFileSync 4 videos + Add

Cloud Data Warehouse Benchmark Redshift vs Snowflake vs BigQuery | Fivetran

More videos

  • - Looker + Fivetran: Data Source to Dashboard in an Afternoon
  • - The Modern Data Stack: Fivetran + Looker + Snowflake

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

More videos

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

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Fivetran
FreeFileSync
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
ETL
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Fivetran and FreeFileSync. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Fivetran no reviews yet
FreeFileSync no reviews yet
  • Best ETL Tools: A Curated List
    estuary.dev · Apr 2025

    High costs: Fivetran’s pricing model, based on Monthly Active Rows (MAR), is one of the most expensive modern ELT vendors, often 5-10x the alternatives. Fivetran measures MARs based on its internal representation of...

  • Top 11 Fivetran Alternatives for 2024
    estuary.dev · Aug 2024

    Fivetran's pricing is determined by monthly active rows (MAR), which can be unpredictable because of the way Fivetran internally represents data and manages non-relational sources. Additionally, reducing latency...

  • 10 Best ETL Tools (October 2023)
    www.unite.ai · Oct 2023

    It is a cloud-based ETL solution that supports data integration with data warehouses like Redshift, BigQuery, Azure, and Snowflake. One of the top selling points of Fivetran is its array of data sources, with nearly...

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  • 15 Best Rclone Alternatives 2022
    rigorousthemes.com · Apr 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 5 Best File Syncing Apps
    www.lifewire.com · Aug 2021

    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...

  • Review of the File Synchronization Tools
    source.raysync.io · Jul 2020

    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...

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Fivetran 12 mentions
FreeFileSync 205 mentions
  • Sync Snowflake and Google Sheets
    Even looking past these limitations, internal scripts invariably require development and maintenance time, and as any developer knows, can break at the worst of times :) Method #2: Use Zapier? (https://zapier.com) Want to use Zapier to... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Big problem with companies now is they hire data scientist for task that don't require data science practices.
    Disclaimer: I work for Fivetran, a data integration company. Source: about 4 years ago
  • I love data science but hate data engineering
    Disclaimer: I'm a product evangelist for a data integration company called Fivetran, so I'm shamelessly shilling here. Source: over 4 years ago

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Alternatives to Fivetran and FreeFileSync

When comparing Fivetran and FreeFileSync, you can also consider the following products.