FreeFileSync Review

Update June 2014: FreeFileSync comes bundled with the OpenCandy malware, and there’s no option to not install it.  You may want to choose another file sync program.

FreeFileSync is a free, open-source file synchronization and comparison utility.

FreeFileSync main screen

Editor's Rating:
VN:F [1.9.22_1171]
Rate It Now
User Rating:
Rating: 2.6/5 (65 votes cast)

Pros

  • Free
  • Powerful; multiple sync methods
  • File comparison tool
  • File versioning option

Cons

  • No built-in task scheduler (must be done with batch files)
  • Tries to install malware

The Bottom Line

FreeFileSync is a pretty good file sync program, as long as you’re okay with using batch files for scheduled tasks.

Conduit Search Protect?

FeeFileSync tries to install Conduit Search Protect, which is known malware.  Feel free to untick it during the installation process.

Using FreeFileSync

FreeFileSync has a fairly standard layout for a file sync program.  You have 2 file comparison boxes, which display differences between your source and destination.  You can specify locations to sync by dragging and dropping them.  At the top of the screen are buttons to Compare or Synchronize your data.

Comparing files in FreeFileSync

Comparing files in FreeFileSync, before sync’ing.

In the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, you can see a summary of changes.  For instance, the screenshot above shows I have 11.6MB of files that will be copied, with 6 changed files that will be overwritten.

The software supports several different synchronization methods:

  • Two way
  • Mirror
  • Update
  • Custom (create your own synchronization rules)
FreeFileSync sync settings

The synchronization settings screen.

Comparison of files can be done based on the time and size, or the file content.  Symbolic links can also be excluded or included in the sync.

Unfortunately, there’s no built-in scheduler.  You can schedule jobs by saving your config as a batch file, then running that file in Windows Task Scheduler.  It’s fairly easy – and the manual has a good guide on how to do it – but it’s still one extra step you have to take.

Versioning

By default, FreeFileSync will put deleted files in the Recycle Bin.  However, it also supports versioning, which will keep different versions of each file.  This turns FreeFileSync into a handy backup utility, since you can restore modified, changed, and deleted files.  FreeFileSync supports “Replace” and “Timestamp” naming conventions with file versioning.

FreeFileSync Features

FreeFileSync has a number of other features, such as:

  • Copy locked files (via Windows VSS)
  • Binary file comparison
  • Automate syncs as a batch job
  • Error reporting
  • Long file path support (Good!  Some sync programs don’t do this)
  • 64-bit support
  • Macros, such as %time% and %date%
  • Supports SFTP (on Linux) and WebDAV (on Windows)

For a full list of features, see FreeFileSync.org.

Screenshots

Specifications
Product Name FreeFileSync
Version 6.3
License Freeware
Price Free
Operating Systems WindowMacLinux
Backup Types
Files and Folders yes
Full Disk Image no
Incremental no
Differential no
Backup Destinations
Hard Drive yes
Removable Media yes
Network Shares yes
Blu-ray no
CD/DVD no
FTP no
SFTP no
Online Storage no
Features
Compression no
Encryption no
Email Notifications no
Error Handling yes
File Versioning yes
Priority Setting no
Scheduling no
Speed Limiting no
Synchronization yes

Geoff Akerlund

Geoff Akerlund

Geoff Akerlund is the founder and editor-in-chief of BackupReview.com. He enjoys attending music festivals, whitewater kayaking on the American River, and board game nights in his free time.

Geoff Akerlund