Alternatives · File Storage
Unison alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Unison alternative is FreeFileSync (3.0 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Unison compared with 5 alternatives: Syncthing, Rclone, FreeFileSync, Syncovery and GoodSync.
Unison is free to use. 3 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| UnisonThis tool | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Syncthing | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Rclone | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux, Android |
| FreeFileSync | Free plan · from €20/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Syncovery | Free trial · from $39.90 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| GoodSync | Free plan | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux |
Price against what you get
Unison has no paid plan and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 3 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Rclone and FreeFileSync score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Unison
Syncthing
Free, open source file sync directly between your own devices
- Syncthing is free.
Suits: Syncing folders between your own computers without a cloud provider
Rclone
Command-line tool for syncing and mounting cloud storage
- Rclone is free.
- Rclone also lists an Android app.
- Rclone is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Rclone also covers file management.
Suits: Moving data between cloud providers without going through a local disk
FreeFileSync
Open-source folder comparison and sync for desktops
- FreeFileSync starts at €20 per device (Business Edition, includes one year of updates).
- FreeFileSync also covers file management.
Suits: Mirroring folders to an external drive or NAS
Syncovery
One-time-license file sync and backup for desktops and NAS
- Syncovery starts at $39.90 one-time (Standard, private use), $99.90 for business use.
- Syncovery has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Unison.
- Syncovery can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Syncovery also covers file management.
Suits: Home users who prefer a one-time license over a subscription
GoodSync
File backup and two-way sync software for desktops and servers
- GoodSync has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Unison.
- GoodSync also covers file management.
Suits: Mirroring folders to external drives or NAS devices
Limits worth knowing in Unison
- The project releases source code; pre-built binaries come from packaging systems or CI builds.
- The README says not to ask for help in GitHub issues; questions go to the wiki and mailing lists.
- The maintainers say very few people work on it, so bug and feature handling is slow.
- The old project website is archival; development and issues are on GitHub.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Unison?
The alternatives to Unison in this directory are Syncthing, Rclone, FreeFileSync, Syncovery and GoodSync. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Unison.
Is there a free alternative to Unison?
Yes. Syncthing and Rclone are free to use. FreeFileSync has a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Unison alternatives work on Android?
The Unison listing does not include an Android app. Rclone lists one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.