The best file sync apps, according to hackers
14 file sync apps recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
- Most recommendedSyncthing212 people recommend it
- Built to lastrsyncowners report a median of 24 years
- Least regretSeafile18 recommend, 1 criticize
All file sync apps
- SyncthingFree, open-source peer-to-peer sync that keeps files on your own devices without a cloud and runs reliably for years, though mobile support is awkward and devices must be online.212recommend
- rsyncA decades-old, widely installed tool trusted for reliable copies and backups that skips unchanged files and preserves metadata, though recent 3.4.3 releases drew complaints about AI-assisted regressions.157recommend
- NextcloudA self-hosted replacement for Google Drive or Microsoft 365 that bundles file, calendar and contact sync, though many find it slow, janky and maintenance-heavy with frequent updates.154recommend
- rcloneA fast, free command-line tool for copying, syncing, mounting and encrypting data across almost any cloud provider, though rate limits, slow back-off and fiddly setup frustrate some.95recommend
- Unison file synchronizerFree two-way file synchronizer that keeps files in sync across computers and asks for help on conflicts. Critics warn two-way sync can wipe files and there are no mobile apps.24recommend
- OpenCloudRecommended as a lighter, faster, more stable self-hosted alternative to Nextcloud for file sharing; critics note it has fewer features.18recommend
- SeafileRecommended as a fast, reliable, open source alternative to Dropbox and Google Drive with versioning and sharing; the iOS app draws complaints.18recommend
- openrsyncFree, BSD-licensed rsync reimplementation from the OpenBSD team, mostly a drop-in for everyday use. Caveat: not feature-equivalent to rsync and does not match its security features.17recommend
- SyncTrainNative iOS client for Syncthing that connects to your sync network and keeps files current in the background, though advanced folder settings are dense.9recommend
- ownCloudRecommended as an easy-to-run, self-hosted file sync server that people say just works. Main caveats are update trouble and some features behind a paywall.9recommend
- FolderSyncAn Android app that syncs folders to many protocols and cloud services, including Nextcloud WebDAV, with fine-grained control over when and what uploads.6recommend
- MaestralFree, open source Dropbox-compatible client for Linux and macOS that people find reliable and use on low-end machines. Caveat: block-level sync is lost and the project appears unmaintained.6recommend
- Resilio SyncPeople recommend it as a peer-to-peer file sync tool that runs on Mac and Linux. The main caveat is that it is proprietary and paid.5recommend
- ownCloud Infinite ScaleRecommended as a full-featured file sync setup that does only that, written in Go. The most common caveat is its opinionated requirements, which assume Ubuntu LTS and Docker.5recommend