Syncthing icon
Syncthing icon

Syncthing

Open-source, peer-to-peer service offering encrypted file synchronization, ensuring data privacy and user-autonomy without relying on cloud storage or central servers, suitable for various uses.

Syncthing screenshot 1

Cost / License

Application type

Platforms

  • Mac
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • BSD
  • Self-Hosted
  • Terminal
  • Cloudron
  • Termux
Syncthing alternatives  
924likes
138alternatives
3articles

Features

Properties

  1.  Decentralized
  2.  Lightweight
  3.  Privacy focused

Features

  1.  Peer-To-Peer
  2.  Folder Sync
  3.  File Sync
  4.  Real-time sync
  5.  End-to-End Encryption
  6.  Synchronization
  7.  Ad-free
  8.  Large File Transfer
  9.  No registration required
  10.  Dark Mode
  11.  Portable
  12.  No Tracking
  13.  Shared Folders
  14.  File Versioning
  15.  Command line interface
  16.  Works Offline
  17.  Mesh network
  18.  Selective Synchronization
  19.  Encrypted Connection

 Tags

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Comments and Reviews

   
Comment summary: Syncthing is widely appreciated for its decentralized, open-source nature and ease of configuration for file synchronization across multiple platforms including Linux and Windows. Users value the security and privacy features but note that the Android app is inconsistent, lacking automatic sync capability. While it works efficiently once configured, some users find the initial setup process complex and unreliable at times. Concerns about recent project funding and politics have been flagged.
Top Positive Comment
Furioslyr
13

SyncTrayzor will encapsulate SyncThing within a regular program window. Can be closed and/or minimized to tray and start-up minimized as well. You can still access the web interface if desired. The SyncThing executable keeps a (ugly) taskbar slot constantly open, SyncTrayzor fixes this. Get it here, https://github.com/canton7/SyncTrayzor Also, I would like to add that it works just fine on Windows 10 x64 (TP-10130) without a hitch.

I sought out an alternative to Bitorrent Sync and SyncThing+SyncTrayzor takes care of my needs.

Seth

Thank you for mentioning this utility! My biggest issue with SyncThing was having to keep a terminal window open all the time.

Mined

If you are using Linux (terminal?) you can run it with "screen syncthing". Then just press Ctrl + AD and you have it in the background. Get screen by inserting "sudo apt-get install screen" if you are running debian-based distros like me.

Mimolet

Nowadays on Linux, you can install Syncthingy, it's just awesome - it's a simple install from Flathub (any distro), it will start and run in the background for you and there are no supplementary overly complicated UI, you can just open and use the web client

Top Negative Comment
cvzalez
2

Why it makes so difficult to implement your own private server, why the code DOES NOT allow private relay server to use only by you and colegues/family ?? You are obligated to use external not know relay servers and A global server and NOT your own domain name/server for use? Why it doesn't let you use your own PGP public/private keys? A little strange to say the least! With this security flaws I prefer to use my own SFTP with public private key and make sync folders!

By the way, just check your firewall log, I bet even TOR has less connections...

[Edited by cvzalez, May 23]

frogue
0

Amazing sync solution, although not as fast when connected to a VPN in my experience

danielmichel
0

I wish the sync conflicts were more clearly communicated / listed somewhere. Other than that, great service.

TBayAreaPat
0

Note: Syncthing only syncs to attached devices with Syncthing installed, not to a folder on a usb pen, etc. For a novice home user, SyncBack seems like a much easier option than this program. However, SyncBack doesn't have the "wake up on file change" feature that Syncthing has.

TBayAreaPat

RealTimeSync included with FreeFileSync can do the "wake up on file change" type sync to attached drives.

kurifoxen
0

Syncthing is awesome, i use it to keep my important files synced between my phone desktop and laptop, ive used it for roughly a year now and wouldent go back

FrancisHess
0

keep my files up to date across all of my devices

7 of 38 comments

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Official Links

AppStores & Other Links

What is 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, if it is shared with some third party and how it's transmitted over the Internet.

Private. None of your data is ever stored anywhere else other than on your computers. There is no central server that might be compromised, legally or illegally. Encrypted. All communication is secured using TLS. The encryption used includes perfect forward secrecy to prevent any eavesdropper from ever gaining access to your data. Authenticated. Every node is identified by a strong cryptographic certificate. Only nodes you have explicitly allowed can connect to your cluster.

Easy to Use Powerful. Synchronize as many folders as you need with different people or just between your own devices.

Portable. Configure and monitor Syncthing via a responsive and powerful interface accessible via your browser. Works on macOS, Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, OpenBSD, and many others. Run it on your desktop computers and synchronize them with your server for backup.

Simple. Syncthing doesn’t need IP addresses or advanced configuration: it just works, over LAN and over the Internet. Every machine is identified by an ID. Give your ID to your friends, share a folder and watch: UPnP will do if you don’t want to port forward or you don’t know how.

Syncthing Videos

Syncthing information

AlternativeTo Categories

Backup & Sync, File Sharing, Security & Privacy, OS & Utilities

GitHub repository

  •  88,610 Stars
  •  5,472 Forks
  •  382 Open Issues
  •   Updated  
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Our users have written 38 comments and reviews about Syncthing, and it has gotten 924 likes

Syncthing was added to AlternativeTo by PocketSam on and this page was last updated .