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Syncthing

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

Syncthing

Syncthing Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Syncthing is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Syncthing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-18

Features & Specs

  1. Open Source

    Syncthing is open-source software, making it free to use and allowing for community contributions. This fosters transparency and continuous improvement.

  2. Privacy

    The software uses peer-to-peer communication, meaning your files are not stored on a third-party server, enhancing privacy and security.

  3. Cross Platform

    Syncthing is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android, ensuring broad compatibility.

  4. Real-time Sync

    The software offers real-time synchronization, which ensures that changes are immediately propagated across all devices, minimizing data inconsistencies.

  5. Version Control

    Syncthing provides file versioning features, which can help recover older versions of files in case of accidental deletion or changes.

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Videos

Why We Use Syncthing, The Open Source Private File Syncing Tool instead of NextCloud

Setup and Review of SyncThing, The Open Source File synchronization tool

Syncthing for Syncing Both Computers & Phones

Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Syncthing and what they use it for.
  • The Quiet Renovation at Bitwarden
    Been using this setup for many years and never had any problem at all. I sync between desktop and mobile with Syncthing[0]. And also you can configure Syncthing to do file versioning, and it has many options (Trash Can, Simple, Staggered or External file versioning) so if some weird conflict happens you'll never lose data. But honestly, I have never had any issues, and I have been running this setup for many... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Show HN: Stop paying for Dropbox/Google Drive, use your own S3 bucket instead
    Https://syncthing.net/ <- like this :) Free, opensource, works on computers and phones, can in most cases puncture nat, supports local discovery (lan, multicast). No googles, no dropboxes, no clouds, no AI training, no "my kid likes the wrong video on youtube, now our whole family lost access to every google account we had, so we lost everything, including family photos", just sync! (not affiliated, just really... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Seafile vs Syncthing: Server vs Peer-to-Peer
    Syncthing is a decentralized, peer-to-peer file sync tool. Devices connect directly to each other โ€” no central server. It does one thing: keep folders in sync across devices. It does this exceptionally well, with block-level delta sync and strong encryption. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • iCloud Photos Downloader
    This will let you download all of your photos that already exist on iCloud Photos. Going forward, youโ€™d want to set up some other way to sync photos you take from your phone to your other devices. I can personally recommend Synology Photos for simplicity[1], or Immich[2] for an open-source (and in my opinion, slightly better) alternative you can run on any hardware, if youโ€™d like to set up an always-on NAS. These... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Bye Bye Big Tech: How I Migrated to an Almost All-EU Stack (and Saved 500โ‚ฌ/Year)
    This year I moved off LastPass, and started using [Syncthing](https://syncthing.net/) to sync my [KeepassXC](https://keepassxc.org/). It works pretty well, but doesn't have any automatic conflict resolution (I've been working on [something](https://github.com/LightAndLight/syncthing-merge) for this). Next up I'm moving my TODOs off Todoist to something local-first, and plugging that into my Syncthing setup. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • Twake Drive โ€“ The open-source alternative to Google Drive
    - Syncthing (https://syncthing.net/) to keep the files synchronized between desktops and laptops computers - Webdav (https://github.com/hacdias/webdav) to access the files on the server via other applications - Cryptomator (https://cryptomator.org/) to crypt/decrypt sensible directories. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • KDE Connect: Enabling communication between all your devices
    For this purpose, I would not suggest KDE Connect. What you're looking for is something more like SyncThing: https://syncthing.net. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Why I Ditched Spotify, and How I Set Up My Own Music Stack
    Recently I gave up on Apple Music. The clients had gotten so bad from a UX perspective that I found it frustrating to use. Especially on desktop. There is also no easy way to cache your _entire_ library to disk. Other services+clients are heaps of Electron that I'd rather avoid. It took some effort and pain but I have a pretty solid self-hosted system now that requires no futzing around: 0. epoupon's Lightweight... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Syncthing: The Openโ€‘Source Way to Keep Your Files in Sync
    Download & Install โ€“ Grab Syncthing from syncthing.net for your desktop OS. On Android, find it on Google Play or Fโ€‘Droid. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
  • Ask HN: Have you ever regretted open-sourcing something?
    > you want your vault accessible across linux/windows/android/macos/ipad For that, I use Syncthing [1] in addition to iCloud. It works exceptionally well โ€“ I see my edits in real time across different devices. [1] https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Blip: Peer-to-Peer Massive File Sharing by Former Dropbox Engineers
    Surprised syncthing isn't mentioned yet. It has been the most stable sync tool for me over the years https://syncthing.net/ . Solid product. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Blip: Peer-to-Peer Massive File Sharing by Former Dropbox Engineers
    Syncthing [1] also exists [1] https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • 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 year 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 year 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 / over 1 year 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 / over 1 year 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 / over 1 year 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 / over 1 year ago
  • Magic Wormhole: get things from one computer to another, safely
    Maybe syncthing fits your use case better? https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Xpra: Persistent Remote Applications for X11
    I sync my entire firefox profile to multiple machines using syncthing https://tonsky.me/blog/syncthing/ https://syncthing.net/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: How to keep desktop and laptop in sync?
    Second https://syncthing.net/ Cross platform, encrypted, tweakable. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Syncthing

Public Opinion on Syncthing

Syncthing has garnered considerable attention within the tech community, particularly among those interested in open-source software and peer-to-peer file synchronization solutions. This review draws from a plethora of public discussions and articles, highlighting various perspectives on its efficacy and utility.

Key Functional Attributes

At its core, Syncthing is frequently praised for being a robust, open-source alternative to proprietary file synchronization utilities such as Dropbox and Google Drive. Its distinct peer-to-peer architecture ensures that files are synchronized directly between devices, a feature that many users appreciate for its enhanced privacy and reduced reliance on centralized servers. Being cross-platform, it offers seamless compatibility across a multitude of operating systems, including Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, and even BSD. However, there are mentions of limited functionality or the need for additional applications, like the "mรถbius sync client," for syncing with iOS devices.

Ease of Use and Setup

Users often describe Syncthing as a tool that "just works" once set up, indicating a positive baseline usability experience. It is praised for its minimal setup requirements, which make it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. On the flip side, some users might find the initial configuration daunting compared to more intuitive, user-friendly applications. The absence of built-in capabilities for sharing files via public links is one limitation noted by some users seeking Dropbox-like functionalities.

Communities and Competitive Landscape

Syncthing is recognized alongside other esteemed tools like Nextcloud, rsync, and FreeFileSync in the realm of file synchronization and sharing software. Its integration into diverse workflows is testament to its adaptability, with some users leveraging it for specific use cases such as syncing Obsidian notes, entire Firefox profiles, and even media files on jailbroken Kindle devices. Despite having stiff competition from proprietary and more resource-intensive counterparts, such as Nextcloud, Syncthing secures a niche for users prioritizing a lightweight setup with total control over data.

Security and Privacy

The data privacy aspect of Syncthing, where no information is retained on remote servers, is a major boon for users who prioritize confidentiality and data autonomy. In a landscape marred by data privacy concerns, Syncthing's decentralized approach aligns well with the ethos of complete data ownership and security.

Community and Ecosystem

The open-source nature of Syncthing fosters a vibrant community, contributing to its codebase and expanding its functionality. Numerous articles and blog posts attest to its vitality, frequently listing it as the go-to solution for file synchronization needs. Its presence in discussions around self-hosted and privacy-focused software applications indicates its burgeoning reputation amongst technology enthusiasts.

Conclusion

Overall, Syncthing stands out as a powerful, flexible, and secure option for those seeking a reliable alternative to mainstream file synchronization tools. It excels in environments where privacy, control over data, and cross-platform functionality are paramount. However, the user must be willing to engage with a slightly higher barrier of entry when setting up the system and adapting it to their unique requirements. As technology evolves, Syncthing is poised to continue its growth, championed by a community of privacy-conscious users and developers.

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Syncthing discussion

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  1. Stan Bright avatar
    Stan Bright
    ยท almost 2 years ago
    ยท Reply

    Syncthing is actually very well made. I've been using this as a private "Dropbox" for years. It works flawlessly. The only downside is the lack of iPhone support.

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