SyncBackPro is an advanced file backup and synchronization program. It is the “professional” version of SyncBackSE and has additional features that aren’t included in the other version. The biggest differences are: S3/Google Drive support, backup of emails stored in POP3/IMAP, SFTP support, and automatic drive failure detection using S.M.A.R.T. The price is $55.
Pros
- Powerful, fast, and lightweight
- Clear, easy-to-use interface
- Advanced backup options for those who require them
- Performance overview to speed up your backups
Cons
- No full disk imaging
- $20 more expensive than SyncBackSE
The Bottom Line
SyncBackPro is the most powerful backup and synchronization utility in it’s class.
Installation and Setup
After running the installer: Accept the license agreement and click through the software information. Choose the installation folder and start menu location. Select whether or not you want to create desktop and Quick Launch icons. Click Install. The installation is now complete!
When first run, SyncBackPro prompts you to import SyncBackSE profiles. This is for people upgrading from SE to Pro. It will also ask if you want to view an introduction to SyncBackPro, with links to tutorials such as “My First Backup.” This is useful for users unfamiliar with the SyncBack ways of backing up.
Finally, it will ask you to enter your serial number, or start a free 30-day trial of the program.
Backup/Restore
SyncBackPro uses profiles to backup and restore your files. Each profile must contain a Source (the files and folders to be backed up) and a Destination (where they should be backed up to). Profiles can be set to run manually or on a schedule.
To create a new profile, select Profiles from the top menu, then click New. The first step is to name your profile. Select the type of profile you want to create. Choose the type of source and destination you want to back up. Finally, you’ll be presented with the main profile setup window. This is where you’ll enter your actual source and destination locations. It will also display all the options for the profile you just set, along with many more. You’re free to make changes, or just run the profile as is. SyncBackPro can also schedule profiles to run at specific times.
Features
Fast Backup
With Fast Backup enabled, SyncBackPro will not scan the destination before running the profile. It will remember which files have been previously backed up, instead of having to scan the destination each time. This saves a lot of time, especially on slower destinations such as FTP or network shares.
Compression
SyncBackPro supports backing up to ZIP, bzip, and LZMA archives. Since these are open formats, you can retrieve your data using any program that opens these files. The same can’t be said for backup software that uses proprietary compression formats.
Performance Overview
The performance window shows you everything that’s slowing down your profile (such as compression), and things you can do to speed it up. I found it helpful because with so many options to choose from, it’s not always clear how they impact the speed of your backups.
Smart Synchronization
SyncBackPro supports the creation of synchronization profiles, which will keep an exact replica of files and folders on two different locations. For instance, say you have a work computer and a home computer and you want to synchronize a folder between them. Files that are changed on the work computer are also changed on the home computer (and vice versa).
Versioning
Versioning will keep copies of files before they are replaced, deleted, or moved. For example, if you delete a file and change your mind later. Even though the backup profile deleted the file, a “version” was made and all you have to do is restore it from the versioning folder.
Support
The 2BrightSparks website offers a collection of tutorials and help files in both online and downloadable formats (PDF and CHM). There’s also a knowledge base and a user forum, with new threads posted on a weekly basis. The developers of SyncBackPro answer most of the questions on the forum. Support is also available via a ticket system.
Specifications | |
Product Name | SyncBackPro |
Version | 6.0.0.15 |
License | Shareware |
Price | $54.95 |
Operating Systems | Window |
Backup Types | |
Files and Folders | |
Full Disk Image | |
Incremental | |
Differential | |
Backup Destinations | |
Hard Drive | |
Removable Media | |
Network Shares | |
Blu-ray | |
CD/DVD | |
FTP | |
SFTP | |
Online Storage | |
Features | |
Compression | |
Encryption | |
Email Notifications | |
Error Handling | |
File Versioning | |
Priority Setting | |
Scheduling | |
Speed Limiting | |
Synchronization |