rsync Alternatives

For Unix-based operating systems (that's macOS, Linux, and BSD primarily), rsync is a great tool for users handling lots of files over multiple machines. Other alternative applications that sync directories and files between multiple machines often feature support for different collaborative aspects, such as WebDAV.

There are alternatives to rsync available on several platforms, including Windows, Android, and iOS. There are also several open source alternatives to rsync for those that wish to look over the code of an application used to manage the syncing of their important files across machines.

rsync alternatives are mainly File Sync Tools but may also be Backup Clients or File Copy Utilities. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of rsync.

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rsync

250

Free • Open Source
File Sync Tool

Linux
BSD
Cygwin
Haiku

rsync is a software application for Unix which synchronizes files and directories from one location to another while...

Learn more about rsync

Syncthing
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
File Sync Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
Android Tablet
BSD
Self-Hosted
F-Droid
Cloudron
120 alternatives to Syncthing
Syncthing replaces proprietary sync and cloud services with something open, trustworthy and decentralized. Your data is your data alone and you deserve to choose where it is stored.
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Syncthing Features
1. DecentralizedSyncthing is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
2. End-to-End EncryptionSyncthing has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
3. Ad-freeSyncthing doesn't contain any form of external advertising.
4. Dark ModeSyncthing supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
5. LightweightSyncthing consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
6. Privacy focusedSyncthing is considered a privacy friendly alternative.
7. PortableSyncthing can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
8. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Syncthing without registration.
9. Command line interfaceSyncthing either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
Peer-To-Peer
Folder Sync
Real-time sync
Synchronization
Mesh network
Syncthing vs rsync opinions
Almost everyone thinks Syncthing is a great alternative to rsync.
ikaz
Cannot sync between 2 local directories.
Comment•
0
FreeFileSync
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Yes
No
Freemium • Open Source
File Sync Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
PortableApps.com
Chocolatey
Flathub
94 alternatives to FreeFileSync
FreeFileSync is a folder comparison and synchronization software that creates and manages backup copies of all your important files. Instead of copying every file every time, FreeFileSync determines the differences between a source and a target folder and transfers only the...
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FreeFileSync Features
1. File VersioningFreeFileSync has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
2. PortableFreeFileSync can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
3. Command line interfaceFreeFileSync either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
4. Dark ModeFreeFileSync supports dark mode for comfortable usage in low light conditions.
5. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in FreeFileSync without registration.
6. DecentralizedFreeFileSync is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
7. Works OfflineFreeFileSync can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
8. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
Directory sync
Side by side version compare
Support for SFTP
Drag and Drop
Synchronization
Folder Sync
Multiple languages
FreeFileSync vs rsync opinions
Most users think FreeFileSync is a great alternative to rsync.
Duplicati
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Backup Client
File Sync Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
127 alternatives to Duplicati
Duplicati is a backup client that securely stores encrypted, incremental, compressed backups on local storage, cloud storage services and remote file servers. The Duplicati project was inspired by Duplicity and had similar functionality until 2008.
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Duplicati Features
1. Incremental BackupDuplicati supports incremental backups (only back up the changed or new-added data since the last backup).
2. Schedule BackupDuplicati supports scheduling of your backups at specific times or intervals.
3. Encrypted BackupDuplicati uses encryption algorithms to keep your files safe as well as prevent unauthorized access.
4. Automatic BackupDuplicati will automatically back up your data periodically.
5. File VersioningDuplicati has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
6. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
7. AES-256 EncryptionDuplicati has AES-256 Encryption, i.e. very strong security.
Data deduplication
Local Storage
Email notifications
Scheduling
Support for Amazon Glacier
Task Scheduling
Web-Based
Backup to Cloud Storage
WebUI Management
Guided configuration
Duplicati vs rsync opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
wildwestrom
Duplicati is not discontinued anymore. There is a 2.0 version in beta.
Positive comment•
0

Guest
Duplicati does not transfer raw files, it only transfers zips of files
Negative comment•
0
Rclone
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
File Sync Tool
Backup Client
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Solaris
FreeBSD
NetBSD
OpenBSD
74 alternatives to Rclone
Rclone ("rsync for cloud storage") is a command-line program to sync files and directories to and from different cloud storage providers.
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Rclone Features
1. Command line interfaceRclone either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. Cloud SyncSync your data (notes, documents, bookmarks, etc.) across your different devices and to the cloud.
3. LightweightRclone consumes less device resources compared to similar apps.
4. PortableRclone can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
5. End-to-End EncryptionRclone has E2E Encryption, for entire or parts of the app.
6. Encrypted BackupRclone uses encryption algorithms to keep your files safe as well as prevent unauthorized access.
7. Multiple Account supportRclone support multiple accounts without the need to logout and login
8. No registration requiredYou can use most of the features in Rclone without registration.
Google Drive integration
Mega.nz integration
Nextcloud integration
Backup to Cloud Storage
Synchronization
Support for SFTP
Dropbox integration
Box.com integration
Openstack swift integration
Support for FTP
Rclone vs rsync opinions
Almost everyone thinks Rclone is a great alternative to rsync.
Guest
Supports a wide variety of cloud services, easy to set up with most I've tried.
Positive comment•
0

varian93
It works very well on many platforms. The only complaint is that, much like rsync, you have to familiarize yourself with a bunch of "command line" parameters to be able to use it.
Positive comment•
0
Restic
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Backup Client
Mac
Windows
Linux
BSD
Arch Linux
FreeBSD
OpenBSD
43 alternatives to Restic
restic is a program that does backups right. The design goals are: Easy, Fast, Verifiable, Secure, Efficient, Free.
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Restic Features
1. Encrypted BackupRestic uses encryption algorithms to keep your files safe as well as prevent unauthorized access.
2. Incremental BackupRestic supports incremental backups (only back up the changed or new-added data since the last backup).
3. Command line interfaceRestic either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
4. Schedule BackupRestic supports scheduling of your backups at specific times or intervals.
Data deduplication
Remote backup
Data Compression
SyncBack
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Freemium • Proprietary
File Sync Tool
Backup Client
Mac
Windows
Linux
Android
Android Tablet
87 alternatives to SyncBack
SyncBack is a tool to backup, synchronize, and restore data files.
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SyncBack Features
1. Schedule BackupSyncBack supports scheduling of your backups at specific times or intervals.
2. AES-256 EncryptionSyncBack has AES-256 Encryption, i.e. very strong security.
3. File VersioningSyncBack has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
Folder Sync
Mirror Backup
Password encryption
Backup to Cloud Storage
Delta Backup
Backup profiles
Support for FTP
SyncBack vs rsync opinions
pros, cons and recent comments
Guest
Only supports insecure remote backups, very irresponsible
Negative comment•
-2
Déjà Dup
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Free • Open Source
Backup Client
Linux
87 alternatives to Déjà Dup
Déjà Dup is a simple backup tool. It hides the complexity of doing backups the Right Way (encrypted, off-site, and regularly) and uses Duplicity as the backend.
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Déjà Dup Features
1. Encrypted BackupDéjà Dup uses encryption algorithms to keep your files safe as well as prevent unauthorized access.
2. Schedule BackupDéjà Dup supports scheduling of your backups at specific times or intervals.
3. Incremental BackupDéjà Dup supports incremental backups (only back up the changed or new-added data since the last backup).
Remote backup
Bvckup 2
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Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
Windows
34 alternatives to Bvckup 2
Simple fast backup for Windows. At a glance - small and very lean, very fast delta copier, excellent user interface, device tracking, shadow copying, move/rename detection, run-as-a-service mode, robust support for multi-million item backups with terabytes of data, intelligent...
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Bvckup 2 Features
1. Incremental BackupBvckup 2 supports incremental backups (only back up the changed or new-added data since the last backup).
2. File VersioningBvckup 2 has a version system that lets you view and go back to older versions of the project/file/document.
3. PortableBvckup 2 can be used from a USB stick or similar with no prior installation.
Real-time backup
Delta Backup
Folder Sync
VSS compatible
Archive Deleted Items
Support for FTP
Unison File Synchronizer
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Yes
No
Free • Open Source
File Sync Tool
Mac
Windows
Linux
51 alternatives to Unison File Synchronizer
Unison is a file-synchronization tool for POSIX-compliant systems (e.g. *BSD and GNU/Linux), macOS and Windows, with the caveat that the platform must be supported by OCaml. It allows two replicas of a collection of files and directories to be stored on different hosts (or diffe.
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Unison File Synchronizer Features
1. Command line interfaceUnison File Synchronizer either have CLI support or is a CLI-only app.
2. DecentralizedUnison File Synchronizer is based on a decentralized infrastructure with no single entity controlling it.
3. Works OfflineUnison File Synchronizer can be used without the need to connect to the internet.
4. Selective SynchronizationUnison File Synchronizer allows you to pick which files are synced between the server and your devices.
Bidirectional sync
Synchronization
2 way sync
Folder Sync
Gtk
Well documented
Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office
Do you think this is a good alternative?
Yes
No
Paid • Proprietary
System Restore Tool
Disk Cloning Tool
System Backup Tool
Mac
Windows
Online
Android
iPhone
152 alternatives to Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office
Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is a software product produced by Acronis that provides data protection including, backup, archive, access and recovery for Microsoft, macOS, iOS and Android operating systems.
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Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office Features
1. Incremental BackupAcronis Cyber Protect Home Office supports incremental backups (only back up the changed or new-added data since the last backup).
2. Differential BackupAcronis Cyber Protect Home Office supports differential backups (only back up the changed or new-added data since the last FULL backup).
3. Schedule BackupAcronis Cyber Protect Home Office supports scheduling of your backups at specific times or intervals.
Clone to smaller disks
Ransomware Protection
Data Protection
Intuitive Interface