The Syncthing Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Syncthing in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Syncthing
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open source file sync directly between your own devices
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among file storage and sync services, read from Syncthing’s own pages.
Made by The Syncthing Foundation · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Syncthing’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Syncthing’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 4 of the 17 other file storage and sync services we grade
Syncthing is an open source program that continuously synchronizes files between two or more computers. There is no central server: data is stored only on your own devices and travels between them over encrypted connections. It is configured through a browser-based interface, runs on macOS, Windows, Linux and several BSD systems, and is funded by donations rather than paid plans.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Syncthing, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Devices do pair by ID with no network fiddling, but this is not install and go.
- 1
Best for syncing your own computers with no cloud
Syncthing keeps folders the same on two or more of your own computers, free and open source, with no cloud in the middle.
- 2
It is free
Syncthing has no paid plan at all. Syncthing is free software with no paid plans. The project's servers and development grants are funded by donations.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Continuous synchronization
Folders are kept in sync between two or more computers in real time. You can sync as many folders as you need, with other people or only between your own devices.
- 5
No central server
Data is never stored anywhere other than on your own computers, so there is no cloud account or third-party server holding the files.
- 6
Encrypted, authenticated connections
All communication is secured with TLS and perfect forward secrecy. Each device has a cryptographic certificate, and only devices you explicitly allow can connect.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 4 of 17
That is against the other file storage and sync services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Syncthing is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Syncthing at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- The Syncthing Foundation
- Category
- File Storage & Sync
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for syncing your own computers with no cloud
Syncthing keeps folders the same on two or more of your own computers, free and open source, with no cloud in the middle. That also means no cloud copy, devices only sync when they're online together, setup runs through a command-line program and a browser page, and there's no official iPhone app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free software with no paid plans at all, where the rest of this category charges around $5 a month for ever. The project lives on donations, and if you want somebody to call, a separate company, Kastelo, sells commercial support. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright on every operating system it supports, source code and all, with no paid tier above it holding anything back and no account to make in the first place. |
| Features | C | It does its one job completely: continuous sync of as many folders as you like, over encrypted and authenticated connections, at home or across the internet. But that one job is smaller than this category's. There's no cloud copy, no sharing links, and devices swap files only when both are online. |
| Ease of use | D | What you download is a command-line daemon you configure through a page in your browser, on every machine, with tray icons and file-browser integration as separate downloads. Devices do pair by ID with no network fiddling, but this is not install and go. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers only: Mac, Windows, Linux and several BSD systems. No phone apps are listed and the team says it has no plans to support iOS officially, so your photos and your phone are out of the picture. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Syncthing is for
- Fits if you want folders in step between your own computers with no cloud provider involved
- Works for people with a home server who want a desktop's folders copied to it
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want your files on your iPhone, as there are no plans for an official iOS app
- Not for you if you want a cloud copy, since files live only on your own devices
- Not for you if a command-line program with a browser settings page sounds like hard work
- Watch out: devices swap files only when both are online at the same time
- Watch out: there are no sharing links, and help is a community forum unless you pay Kastelo, a separate company
Good to know
Good for
- Syncing folders between your own computers without a cloud provider
- Privacy-minded users who want open source software
- Keeping a desktop in sync with a home server for backup
Worth knowing
- There is no cloud storage: files live only on your devices, and devices exchange data only when they are online at the same time.
- The Syncthing team says it has no plans to officially support iOS; a separate open source iOS app incorporates Syncthing.
- The base download is a command-line daemon with a web interface. Tray icons and file browser integration come from separate downloads.
- Support is through the community forum; commercial support is sold by a separate company, Kastelo.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Syncthing is free to use.
The project lives on donations, and if you want somebody to call, a separate company, Kastelo, sells commercial support.
Syncthing
Free
The full program for every supported operating system, with source code available on GitHub.
The free plan
Syncthing is free software with no paid plans. The project's servers and development grants are funded by donations.
Read from syncthing.net on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free, open source file sync directly between your own devices. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, local-first, file sync.
But that one job is smaller than this category's.
- Continuous synchronization
- Folders are kept in sync between two or more computers in real time. You can sync as many folders as you need, with other people or only between your own devices.
- No central server
- Data is never stored anywhere other than on your own computers, so there is no cloud account or third-party server holding the files.
- Encrypted, authenticated connections
- All communication is secured with TLS and perfect forward secrecy. Each device has a cryptographic certificate, and only devices you explicitly allow can connect.
- Browser-based interface
- Syncthing is configured and monitored through a responsive web interface served by the program and opened in a browser.
- Works over LAN and Internet
- Devices find each other by ID without IP addresses or advanced configuration. UPnP is used where available, and relays carry traffic when no direct connection is possible.
- Open protocol and source
- The sync protocol is a documented specification and all source code is public, with development and bug reports open for anyone to read.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- syncthing-macos
- SyncTrayzor
- Syncthing Windows Setup
Syncthing is made by The Syncthing Foundation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
4/17
Other file storage and sync services it is graded above
Syncthing's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 4 of the 17 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 3.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 16 of 17) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Syncthing has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 18 file storage and sync services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Syncthing’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 11 of 17
- AFree plan and trialAbove 16 of 17
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 17
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 17
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 17
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 18 file storage and sync services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Syncthing is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Syncthing is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 10 of the 17 other file storage and sync services grade higher.
What you could not
- Files kept in step across devices without losing one.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. Syncthing’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Nextcloud, Dropbox, Proton Drive and Filen
The 4 tools Syncthing is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Nextcloud
Free plan · from €71.29/yr
Open source, self-hosted file sync and collaboration platform.
- Only Nextcloud lists a web app.
- Only Nextcloud lists iOS and Android apps.
- Nextcloud is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.8GPA
Dropbox
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Cloud storage and file sync with transfer and signing tools.
- Only Dropbox lists a web app.
- Only Dropbox lists iOS and Android apps.
- Syncthing is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Proton Drive
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from the maker of Proton Mail.
- Only Syncthing lists a Linux app.
- Only Proton Drive lists a web app.
- Only Proton Drive lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.4GPA
Filen
Free plan · from €11.99/yr
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps.
- Only Filen lists a web app.
- Only Filen lists iOS and Android apps.
- Filen is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Syncthing free?
Yes. Syncthing is free to use.
How much does Syncthing cost?
Syncthing lists one plan. Syncthing: Free.
What platforms does Syncthing work on?
Syncthing is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Syncthing have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Syncthing is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Syncthing have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Syncthing is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Syncthing open source?
Yes. Syncthing is open source, according to its own site.
What does Syncthing integrate with?
Syncthing's listing names syncthing-macos, SyncTrayzor and Syncthing Windows Setup.
Who makes Syncthing?
Syncthing is made by The Syncthing Foundation.
What are the alternatives to Syncthing?
The closest alternatives to Syncthing in our directory are Nextcloud, Dropbox, Proton Drive and Filen.
How does Syncthing compare with other file storage and sync services?
Syncthing's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 4 of the 17 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 3.
Is Syncthing good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Syncthing A for value for money. Syncthing has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Syncthing?
Syncthing is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Syncthing’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Syncthing's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-06.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by The Syncthing Foundation. Prices change, so check syncthing.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Syncthing, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/syncthing
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Syncthing: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/syncthing
Know someone choosing between file storage and sync services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/syncthing/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded file storage and sync services after Syncthing, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- File Storage & Sync Insider's GuideEvery one of the 18 file storage and sync services we grade, compared
- Google Drive Insider's GuideCloud storage tied to Google Docs, Gmail and Photos3.6 GPA
- Filen Insider's GuideEnd-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps3.4 GPA
- Microsoft OneDrive Insider's GuideMicrosoft's cloud storage, bundled with Microsoft 365 plans3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Syncthing’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Syncthing is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by The Syncthing Foundation. Prices and plans change: check syncthing.net before you buy.