Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Syncthing VS Cryptomator

Compare Syncthing VS Cryptomator and see what are their differences

Syncthing logo Syncthing

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

Cryptomator logo Cryptomator

When it comes to saving your files on a cloud server, it is important to ensure the security of those files. Keeping your delicate files out of the wrong hands can save you a lot of time and hassle. Read more about Cryptomator.
  • Syncthing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-18
  • Cryptomator Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

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.

Cryptomator features and specs

  • Open Source
    Cryptomator is open source, meaning its source code is available for review and audit by the community, ensuring transparency and trustworthiness.
  • User-Friendly
    The application has an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical skill.
  • Encryption Standard
    Cryptomator uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with 256-bit key length to secure your data, providing robust protection against unauthorized access.
  • Cross-Platform
    It supports multiple operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, allowing for seamless synchronization across devices.
  • No Account Required
    Users do not need to create an account to use Cryptomator, enhancing user privacy and data protection.
  • Integration with Cloud Services
    Cryptomator can integrate with various cloud storage solutions like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, providing an extra layer of security for your cloud-stored files.

Possible disadvantages of Cryptomator

  • Performance Limitations
    Because files are encrypted and decrypted on-the-fly, the application may experience slower performance, especially for large files or folders.
  • Mobile App Cost
    While the desktop version is free, the mobile apps require a one-time purchase, which might deter some users.
  • No Native Cloud Backup
    Cryptomator itself does not offer native cloud backup services. Users must rely on third-party cloud providers for storing encrypted files.
  • No Live Collaboration Features
    The application does not support live collaboration on encrypted documents, limiting its utility for team-based projects.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Certain cloud providers may occasionally change their APIs or policies, potentially causing compatibility issues until updates are made.

Analysis of Cryptomator

Overall verdict

  • Cryptomator is a highly recommended tool for individuals seeking a secure and private method of encrypting files before uploading them to cloud storage. It strikes a balance between security and usability, making it appealing for both technical and non-technical users.

Why this product is good

  • Cryptomator is considered good because it provides client-side encryption, ensuring that only you have access to your files. It is open-source, which means its code is transparent and has been reviewed by the community, enhancing its security credibility. It's also user-friendly, allowing seamless integration with cloud storage providers and offering a zero-knowledge architecture, which means even their developers cannot access your data.

Recommended for

  • Individuals concerned about privacy and security of their data in the cloud.
  • Users looking for an open-source, community-reviewed encryption tool.
  • People who need a user-friendly encryption solution that works with various cloud storage services.
  • Those who prefer a service with a zero-knowledge policy, ensuring complete data confidentiality.

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

Cryptomator videos

Cryptomator Tutorial: Get Started

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How To Easily Encrypt Anything - Cryptomator The Best FREE Encryption Software! (multiplatform)
  • Review - Cryptomator and Nextcloud

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Syncthing and Cryptomator)
Cloud Storage
71 71%
29% 29
File Sharing
73 73%
27% 27
File Sharing And Backup
100 100%
0% 0
Security & Privacy
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Syncthing and Cryptomator. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

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.

Cryptomator Reviews

6 TrueCrypt Alternatives for Reliable Data Encryption
Cryptomator is a great free encryption software tool for users looking to encrypt individual files rather than a large volume of data as seen with TrueCrypt or other alternatives mentioned here. This makes sense if you update only a few files regularly and the rest of your files remain relatively unchanged. Cryptomator is supported on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating...
15 Best Rclone Alternatives 2022
With Cryptomator, what you get is a simple digital protection tool. Rclone syncs your files to cloud storage, while Cryptomator syncs and locks your files to cloud storage. Cryptomator gives you access to your files on any device and only you hold the keys to access them.
5 Best TrueCrypt Alternatives - Open source encryption apps
Cryptomator for the desktop works on a pay what you want model. It can be had for free, but users are encouraged to donate towards its development. The mobile apps (which support fingerprint unlock) cost $8.99 at time of writing.
Source: proprivacy.com
16 Tresorit Alternatives
Cryptomator will be giving you the full permission in which you can choose to encrypt the whole of your data on your series of workstations or top of any cloud devices or any storage media. It will be working all through the creation of the virtual device right through which the encrypted content can be readily displayed.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Syncthing should be more popular than Cryptomator. It has been mentiond 838 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 (838)

  • Ditching Obsidian and building my own
    I'll install https://syncthing.net/ on your computer right now for 100 bucks! - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Ditching Obsidian and building my own
    > Obsidian was a great tool for me personally for a long time. But I felt frustrated when I wanted to access my notes on my phone while on-the-go and saw that I had to pay for this feature. I'm using Syncthing [0] to sync my vault between devices. On my main PC, Syncthing runs constantly in the background. Say, if I made a change, and want to send those changes to my phone, I open the application on my phone and... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • 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 / 3 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 / 4 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 / 4 months ago
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Cryptomator mentions (298)

  • Owning my own data, part 1: Integrating a self-hosted calendar solution
    I know this is not what people want to hear, but your data will never be safer than it is in the cloud. No setup you can dream up at home with in a reasonable budget will ever come close to the resilience and redundancy you have in the cloud. Ownership is not about storing everything at home (or well, it's part of it), but having control over your data, which you can easily have while at the same time using the... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Apple pulls data protection tool after UK government security row
    It's a drag that we're seeing this crap happen, but authoritarians will be authoritarians. What's the general opinion of tools like Cryptomator? [^1] [^1]: https://cryptomator.org. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Cryptomator: end-to-end encrypt files in any cloud
    To prevent this from happening, you can use a tool like Cryptomator to automatically encrypt your files before uploading them to the cloud. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • Dropbox: How to opt out of 3rd party AI partner access to your Dropbox
    The best way to do this is with https://cryptomator.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Is it private if I lock my pdf
    Before putting anything on a cloud service I would recommend 3rd party tools, like Cryptomator, to encrypt folders and such, then upload to a cloud service. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Syncthing and Cryptomator, 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.

VeraCrypt - VeraCrypt is a free open source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux.

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

BoxCryptor - Boxcryptor encrypts your sensitive files before uploading them to cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Box, and many others.

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing

Mega - Secure File Storage and collaboration