Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Syncthing VS rdiff-backup

Compare Syncthing VS rdiff-backup and see what are their differences

Syncthing logo Syncthing

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

rdiff-backup logo rdiff-backup

rdiff-backup backs up one directory to another, possibly over a network.
  • Syncthing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-18
  • rdiff-backup Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-11

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.

rdiff-backup features and specs

  • Efficient Incremental Backups
    Rdiff-backup creates incremental backups by comparing files and storing only the differences, which reduces storage space and optimizes backup times.
  • Version History
    Allows you to restore files from any point in time since backups are maintained as a series of incremental changes.
  • Bandwidth Efficient
    By transferring only differences over the network, rdiff-backup is bandwidth efficient, making it suitable for remote backups.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Runs on multiple platforms including Linux, macOS, and Windows (via compatibility tools), providing flexibility across diverse environments.
  • Preserves File Metadata
    Ensures that file ownership, permissions, and other metadata are retained during the backup process.

Possible disadvantages of rdiff-backup

  • Complexity in Restoration
    Restoring files can be complicated for users unfamiliar with command-line tools as it requires precise commands to navigate and extract versions.
  • Limited Graphical Interface
    Primarily operated through command-line, limiting accessibility for users who prefer a graphical user interface (GUI).
  • Resource Intensive During Backup
    The process of generating diffs and maintaining a version history can be resource-intensive, potentially impacting system performance during backup operations.
  • Lack of Native Windows Support
    While it can run on Windows with compatibility tools, there is no native Windows version, which may lead to additional setup complexity.
  • Dependency on Python
    As rdiff-backup is written in Python, it requires Python to be installed, adding an extra layer of dependency that must be managed.

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

rdiff-backup videos

Backup unter Linux mit rdiff-backup

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Syncthing and rdiff-backup)
Cloud Storage
96 96%
4% 4
File Sharing
97 97%
3% 3
Backup & Sync
0 0%
100% 100
File Sharing And Backup

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 rdiff-backup

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.

rdiff-backup Reviews

We have no reviews of rdiff-backup yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Syncthing seems to be a lot more popular than rdiff-backup. While we know about 838 links to Syncthing, we've tracked only 16 mentions of rdiff-backup. 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 / 2 days 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 / 2 days 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 / 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 / 3 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 / 3 months ago
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rdiff-backup mentions (16)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Syncthing and rdiff-backup, 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.

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

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

Online Vault Backup - Online Vault Backup is a cloud storage service that allows you backup your data while having unlimited storage.

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing

Rebel Backup - Rebel Backup lets you make encrypted backups of your important files to Dropbox or Google Drive.