FreeFileSync vs Syncovery (2026): which should you pick?

Pick FreeFileSync if

• Fits if you are a private user syncing folders between drives or a NAS
• Works for people who want to schedule folder syncs with Windows Task Scheduler

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you are a business, as the free and donation versions are personal use only
• Watch out: the Business Edition is €20 per device and covers updates for one year
• Tight if you want email notifications or parallel copying without donating
• Not for you if you need a phone app, since only desktops are listed
• Watch out: licences are generally non-refundable once the link is sent

Pick Syncovery if

• Fits if you want to pay once for sync and backup instead of a subscription
• Works for people who back up to a Synology or QNAP NAS

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you buy Standard and need cloud, as it has no FTP, SSH, WebDAV, S3 or encryption
• Pricey if you use it for business: $99.90 to $199.00 against private-use prices
• Watch out: a licence includes free upgrades for one year
• Watch out: the dollar prices were read from an order form with a footer dated 2022
• Tight if you run more than 24 jobs at once, since that needs a $299 edition

FreeFileSync

• The free and donation versions are for personal use by private individuals only; any business, organization or agency needs the Business Edition.
• The Business Edition price is listed in euros and covers updates for one year.
• Licenses are generally non-refundable once the download link is provided.
• There are desktop downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux only; no mobile app is listed.

Syncovery

• The order page gives separate prices for private and business use.
• A license includes free upgrades for one year; later versions are sold as upgrades.
• The Standard edition has no FTP, SSH, WebDAV, S3 or cloud support, no encryption and no real-time sync.
• The USD prices were read from the vendor's order form, whose footer is dated 2022; the main purchase page lists several regional order forms.

FreeFileSync

Compare then sync

Compares two folders and transfers only the differences, with moved and renamed files detected.

Many storage targets

Syncs local drives, network shares, FTP and FTPS, SFTP, Google Drive and MTP devices such as Android phones.

Version history

Keeps a history of deleted and updated files.

Email notifications

Sync results can be emailed; the FAQ lists this in the Donation and Business editions.

Parallel copying

Compares and syncs multiple files in parallel; parallel file copy is a Donation and Business feature.

Batch jobs

Sync settings can be saved and run from the Windows Task Scheduler; the FAQ covers network shares used that way.

Syncovery

Sync and backup jobs

Unlimited jobs on every edition, with one-way backup or two-way sync, on a schedule or in real time (not in Standard).

Cloud and protocol support

FTP, SSH, WebDAV, S3 and other cloud services are available from Professional upward, not in Standard.

Compression and encryption

Not included in the Standard edition.

NAS and server downloads

Separate downloads for ASUSTOR, QNAP, Synology, Linux, FreeBSD and FreeNAS, besides Windows and Mac.

Block-level copying

Copying changed parts of large files; the file system monitoring service that speeds it up is Premium.

Remote service

Syncovery Remote Service and optional internal user management are listed, with the remote service in Premium.

FreeFileSync

• Standard$0

  Open-source, personal use only; donations are optional.

• Donation Edition$0

  free download for anyone who donates

  Personal use only; adds auto-updater, parallel file copy and email notifications as a thank-you for donating.

• Business Edition€20

  per device, includes updates for one year

  Required for businesses, organizations, agencies and commercial use; adds silent installation and a tax invoice.

Syncovery

• Standard Edition$39.90

  one-time, private use ($99.90 for business use)

  No FTP, SSH, WebDAV, S3 or other cloud services, no compression or encryption and no real-time folder monitoring.

• Professional Edition$69.90

  one-time, private use ($149.90 for business use)

  All features except the premium ones; unlimited jobs, up to 12 running at once.

• Premium Edition$99.90

  one-time, private use ($199.00 for business use)

  Adds file system monitoring service, Syncovery Remote Service, NTFS permission copying and priority support; up to 24 simultaneous jobs.

• Higher Editions$299.00

  one-time and up

  For running more than 24 jobs at the same time.