Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Syncthing VS Box

Compare Syncthing VS Box and see what are their differences

Syncthing logo Syncthing

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

Box logo Box

Box offers secure content management and collaboration for individuals, teams and businesses, enabling secure file sharing and access to your files online.
  • Syncthing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-18
  • Box
    Image date //
    2025-01-11

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.

Box features and specs

  • Storage Capacity
    Box offers generous storage options, including unlimited storage for business plans, allowing organizations to handle large amounts of data seamlessly.
  • Collaboration Tools
    Box provides robust collaboration features, enabling multiple users to work on documents simultaneously, leave comments, and manage projects efficiently.
  • Security Features
    Box includes advanced security measures such as encryption, access controls, and compliance certifications (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR) to ensure data safety.
  • Integrations
    Box integrates with numerous third-party applications including Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and Slack, making it versatile for various workflows.
  • User-friendly Interface
    Box has a clean and intuitive user interface, which simplifies the user experience for both new and seasoned users.
  • File Versioning
    Box keeps a history of file versions, so users can easily revert to previous versions if necessary.
  • Mobile Accessibility
    Box offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, allowing users to access files and collaborate on the go.

Possible disadvantages of Box

  • Cost
    Box can be relatively expensive compared to other cloud storage solutions, particularly for small businesses and freelancers.
  • File Size Limitations
    Box has file size upload limits, which may be restrictive for users needing to upload very large files.
  • Complexity for Beginners
    While feature-rich, Box's extensive functionalities can overwhelm new users who may face a steep learning curve.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Although Box provides offline access to files, its capabilities can be limited and sometimes unreliable compared to competitors.
  • Syncing Issues
    Some users have reported occasional issues with file syncing, which can disrupt workflow.
  • Customer Support
    While Box offers customer support, some users have reported that response times and the quality of support could be improved.

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

Box videos

Box Cloud Storage Review

More videos:

  • Review - I ~Honestly~ Review 8 Popular Subscription Boxes
  • Review - Butcher Box Unboxing & My Honest Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Syncthing and Box)
Cloud Storage
58 58%
42% 42
File Sharing
56 56%
44% 44
File Sharing And Backup
100 100%
0% 0
Encrypted Cloud Storage
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 Syncthing and Box

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.

Box Reviews

Best Top 12 MEGA Alternatives in 2024
For businesses and enterprises, Box provides scalable, enterprise-level cloud storage with robust collaboration and productivity features. It's a credible alternative for those seeking a professional solution.
The Best iPhone Transfer & Manager Software for 2022
Whether you have an iPhone or any other device, one of the options you can check out is Box. The designers of Box say that their unique selling point is the simplicity of the software. For instance, all you need, to transmit files of any size to anywhere, is a link. This means that you don’t necessarily need a Box account to use the software.
Google Drive alternatives: Best picks
With Box, you can create files that will instantly be shared with your teammates. They can then edit and comment on your documents in real time. The Box is probably one of the most integrated apps on this list, too. With over 1,000 leading software providers like Office 365, Salesforce and Adobe Sign, your teammates will be able to edit documents without leaving the...
Source: nordvpn.com
13 Best Free Dropbox Alternatives for File Sharing
Box provides enhanced features such as dedicated phone support, encrypted data transfer and storage. You can also integrate it with Salesforce.com and Google Apps. In addition, you can access it through tablets, Android phones, Blackberry, iPad and iPhone. They also have partnerships with mobile companies for apps which allow users to easily access their services. Box...
Source: brainyhubs.com
Top 11 Best Dropbox Alternatives in 2020: Which Is The Most Secure?
An additional metric for your review could be resources consumed by each program. DropBox is notorious for gobbling up a lot of your free memory. As I type this, it is using 143 threads and 357MB of my 8GB RAM on a MAC and it is not performing a synch. I would love to know which of your top choices was less RAM hungry than DropBox. It is the major reason I am looking to...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Syncthing should be more popular than Box. It has been mentiond 836 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.

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

Box mentions (93)

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (February 2025)
    Box | http://box.com | San Francisco Bay Area (US) | Warsaw (PL) | HYBRID Box, Inc. (NASDAQ: BOX) develops and markets cloud-based content management, collaboration, and file sharing tools for businesses. Several roles available spanning frontend and backend segments, mid-career reliability, observability, database, and productivity engineering roles. http://careers.box.com. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Sharepoint Alternatives?
    I've used box.com with pretty good results, but expect to pay through the nose for the privilege. Source: over 1 year ago
  • I NEED HELP
    So I have all my mountain goats stuff on my Spotify local files, I found a random comment here from like 4 years ago with this guys box.com storage collection of all of his mountain goats songs, recently the link stopped working :( if anyone has it (i know its a pretty niche ask) I would love to have it back. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Now that Google Drive is starting to limit, what's your migration plan?
    Alright. Mind if I check with you a couple weeks from now to see how this turns out for you? I've never heard of box.com. I'm checking out their website now. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • What is everyone’s opinion on these demos getting leaked?
    You would be surprised how stupid Label employees can be, they even give stuff that is "confidential" to unpaid interns to post on their internal pages like box.com or their disco.ac pages. I've seen so many demos, instrumentals and albums posted somewhere public because they got someone to do a half assed job at it. Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing

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

Google Drive - Access and sync your files anywhere

Mega - Secure File Storage and collaboration

Microsoft OneDrive - Secure access, sharing & file storage