Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FreeFileSync VS SyncMate

Compare FreeFileSync VS SyncMate and see what are their differences

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FreeFileSync logo FreeFileSync

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

SyncMate logo SyncMate

SyncMate is a Mac sync software which will sync Mac with Android, Nokia and Windows Mobile phones, iOS devices, other Macs, online accounts, etc.โ€ŽAndroid sync Mac - โ€ŽDevices - โ€ŽFree vs. Expert - โ€ŽSyncMate Customer Support .
  • FreeFileSync Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-24
  • SyncMate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-04

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.

SyncMate features and specs

  • Multi-Device Synchronization
    SyncMate allows users to synchronize data across multiple devices and platforms including Mac, Android, iOS, and cloud storages, providing flexibility and convenience.
  • Automatic Sync
    With the automatic synchronization feature, users can schedule their sync sessions to occur automatically, reducing the need for manual updates and maintaining data consistency without user intervention.
  • Wide Range of Supported Data
    Supports a broad spectrum of data types for synchronization including contacts, calendars, reminders, and media files, ensuring comprehensive data management across devices.
  • Free Version Available
    Offers a free version that includes basic synchronization features, enabling users to test the core functionalities without upfront investment.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Designed with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that allows users to set up and manage their synchronization tasks with minimal effort.

Possible disadvantages of SyncMate

  • Limited Features in Free Version
    The free version of SyncMate offers limited functionality, prompting users to purchase the Expert edition to utilize advanced features like syncing folders or connecting to cloud services.
  • Occasional Sync Issues
    Users have reported occasional synchronization errors or failures, which can affect data consistency across devices.
  • Complex Pricing Model
    The pricing for SyncMateโ€™s Expert version may seem complex and expensive to some users, especially when only specific features are needed.
  • Resource-Intensive
    SyncMate can be resource-intensive and potentially slow down the performance of older Mac systems during synchronization processes.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Some users have experienced compatibility issues with certain devices or operating system versions, which can limit its utility in specific scenarios.

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.

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

SyncMate videos

SyncMate Expert 6: Review

More videos:

  • Review - Syncmate for Mac Review
  • Review - Full Review Of SyncMate

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FreeFileSync and SyncMate)
File Sharing And Backup
File Explorer
0 0%
100% 100
Backup And Disaster Recovery
Web Push Notifications
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 FreeFileSync and SyncMate

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: โ€œAfter wasting $40+ dollars on a competitorโ€™s product, I tried out Freefilesync. FreefileSync was able to compare hundreds of thousands of files [โ€ฆ] in 10 minutes, which was taking the competitorโ€™s product over 3 hours.โ€
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

SyncMate Reviews

  1. I won a refund via PayPal from Eltima Software!

    They refused to refund my purchase of their SyncMate Pro software, which was totally non-functional on my computer, thought they claimed it would be functional. So I initiated a dispute through PayPal, and they were unable to get any response from the company. So they refunded my money. A great victory over fascists everywhere!

  2. AVOID AT ALL COSTS

    AVOID AT ALL COSTS. NO REFUNDS. NO CUSTOMER SERVICE.

    THE SOFTWARE WAS AN UTTER FAILURE AT ITS SUPPOSED PURPOSE. It mangled my computer to such an extent I had to boot it up from an emergency disk and spend hours picking out the bits of garbage they installed and deleting them.

    In this case, I was trying to sync and transfer music files between a Mac and an Android-based music player. I installed the free version of the software on my Mac, and it only did a limited number of things, none of which were what I wanted it to do. So I paid for the "Expert" edition of the software and installed it. It was a disaster. This "Expert" package installed pieces of itself all over my operating system, without including an uninstall routine.

    The new software immediately upon launch began to play havoc with my machine, turning the monitor on and off in a rapid fashion without pause. When I managed to get that calmed down (though the monitor image was crazily askew), I tried to sync the computer with the music player in all three ways on offer (USB, WiFi, and Bluetooth). IN ALL CASES THE SOFTWARE FAILED to sync the music player and computer. Nothing I tried worked. Just kept getting error messages. When all their garbage was off my computer, it went back to normal operation.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FreeFileSync seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 205 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.

FreeFileSync mentions (205)

  • Ask HN: What software subscriptions are worth paying for?
    JetBrains IDEs: https://www.jetbrains.com/ (free alternative: Visual Studio Code plus DB tools like DBeaver, or even their community versions) MobaXTerm: https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/ (free alternative: mRemoteNG, PuTTY) GitKraken: https://gitkraken.dev/ (free alternative: SourceTree, Git Cola) FreeFileSync: https://freefilesync.org/ (free, but I got the supporter edition because comfy software) In those cases,... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • 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 / about 1 year 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 / over 2 years 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 2 years 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 2 years ago
View more

SyncMate mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

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

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

AirDroid - Access Android phone/tablet from computer remotely and securely. Manage SMS, files, photos and videos, WhatsApp, Line, WeChat and more on computer.

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.

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

AirMore - AirMore is a cross-platform toolset that can help you manage any Android device wirelessly.

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