Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Time Machine VS Syncthing

Compare Time Machine VS Syncthing and see what are their differences

Time Machine logo Time Machine

Time Machine is the breakthrough automatic backup that’s built right into Mac OS X.

Syncthing logo Syncthing

Syncthing replaces proprietary sync and cloud services with something open, trustworthy and...
  • Time Machine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-24
  • Syncthing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-18

Time Machine features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Time Machine is built into macOS, making it simple and intuitive for Mac users to back up their data automatically without needing additional software.
  • Automatic Backups
    Automatically backs up the entire system, including apps, music, photos, emails, and documents, at regular intervals without user intervention.
  • Versioning
    Maintains multiple versions of files, allowing users to revert to earlier versions or recover deleted files easily.
  • Seamless Integration
    Integrates seamlessly with macOS, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility with other native Apple applications and features.
  • Incremental Backups
    After the initial full backup, Time Machine only backs up changed files, saving space and reducing backup time.

Possible disadvantages of Time Machine

  • Storage Requirements
    Requires a significant amount of storage space, especially for the first full backup, which can be cumbersome for users with limited storage capacity.
  • Mac-Only
    Exclusively available for macOS users, which limits its utility for those using other operating systems.
  • External Drive Dependence
    Requires an external hard drive or Time Capsule for backup, which can be an additional cost and inconvenience for users who do not already own one.
  • Initial Backup Time
    The initial backup process can be time-consuming, depending on the amount of data that needs to be backed up.
  • Network Performance
    Backing up over a network can sometimes affect performance and speed, especially on slower networks or with large amounts of data.

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.

Analysis of Time Machine

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Time Machine is highly regarded for its reliability and ease of use, making it a good choice for Mac users looking for an efficient way to safeguard their data.

Why this product is good

  • Time Machine is a robust backup solution integrated into macOS, which provides a simple and automatic way to back up all your personal data, including apps, music, photos, emails, and system files. Its ease of use, seamless integration with the macOS ecosystem, and ability to restore specific files or entire systems make it a valuable tool for data protection.

Recommended for

    Time Machine is recommended for Mac users who want an uncomplicated, built-in backup solution. It's especially beneficial for those who value automatic backups and seamless data restoration without needing third-party software.

Time Machine videos

Bad Movie Beatdown: The Time Machine (2002) (REVIEW)

More videos:

  • Review - The Time Machine (1960) Review
  • Review - THE MORLOCKS (The Time Machine) EXPLORED

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Time Machine and Syncthing)
Backup & Restore
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Storage
0 0%
100% 100
Cyber Security
100 100%
0% 0
File Sharing
7 7%
93% 93

User comments

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Reviews

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

Time Machine Reviews

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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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Syncthing seems to be more popular. 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.

Time Machine mentions (0)

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

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 / 13 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 / 13 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 / 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 / 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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What are some alternatives?

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

Acronis True Image - (Formerly Acronis True Image) Complete protection for your digital life

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.

Clonezilla - Clonezilla is a suite of software that's designed to allow you to back-up and image new hard drives with your data.

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing