Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

WinFsp VS Syncthing

Compare WinFsp VS Syncthing and see what are their differences

WinFsp logo WinFsp

WinFsp, Windows File System Proxy, is a set of software components for Windows computers that...

Syncthing logo Syncthing

Syncthing replaces proprietary sync and cloud services with something open, trustworthy and...
  • WinFsp Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-08
  • Syncthing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-18

WinFsp features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    WinFsp simplifies the process of developing file systems on Windows, providing an extensive API that minimizes the need for extensive low-level coding.
  • Compatibility
    WinFsp is compatible with a wide range of Windows operating systems, making it versatile for different Windows environments.
  • Performance
    WinFsp is designed to provide high performance and stability, essential for applications that require efficient file system operations.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source project, developers have access to the source code, which allows for customization and better understanding of the software's functionalities.
  • Support for Multiple Languages
    WinFsp provides interfaces for multiple programming languages, including C, C++, and .NET, making it accessible to a variety of developers.

Possible disadvantages of WinFsp

  • Complexity for Beginners
    Despite its functionality, WinFsp can be complex for beginners who are not familiar with file system development or Windows-specific programming.
  • Limited Documentation
    Some users might find the documentation lacking in detail, which can be a barrier for those who need in-depth guidance.
  • Niche Use Case
    WinFsp is primarily useful for developers needing to create custom file systems, which is a niche requirement not applicable for all types of software projects.
  • Windows Only
    As it is specifically designed for Windows, WinFsp cannot be used for developing file systems on other operating systems, limiting its applicability to only Windows environments.

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.

WinFsp videos

No WinFsp videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

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 WinFsp and Syncthing)
Cloud Storage
3 3%
97% 97
FTP Client
100 100%
0% 0
File Sharing
0 0%
100% 100
Web Service Automation
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using WinFsp and Syncthing. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

WinFsp Reviews

We have no reviews of WinFsp yet.
Be the first one to post

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 a lot more popular than WinFsp. While we know about 838 links to Syncthing, we've tracked only 1 mention of WinFsp. 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.

WinFsp mentions (1)

  • EAC Exact Audio Copy Crashes upon accessing Windows filesystem - related to Dokany, Cryptomator, .Net, and WinFSP
    When WinFSP (often installed for Rclone) is installed opening any filesystem dialog from EAC will immediately crash the program (#162). To fix the issue either uninstall WinFSP or run fix162.bat. Source: about 2 years ago

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 / 18 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 / 18 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 / 4 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

WinSCP - WinSCP is an open source free SFTP client and FTP client for Windows.

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

SSHFS-Win - SSHFS-Win is a minimal port of SSHFS to Windows.

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

win-sshfs - Mount a unix server location as a virtual Windows drive

Dropbox - Online Sync and File Sharing