Keep Files in Sync
Conclusion
Both FreeFileSync and Syncthing give you powerful, flexible options that respect your privacy and give you complete control over your data.
FreeFileSync works best to run scheduled, archival backups to external drives that don't need to be real-time. You can also use it for complex sync scenarios thanks to its ability to create all kinds of filters and rules. The best thing about FreeFileSync is that it gives you a full preview of what will happen, with fine-grained control over deletions and updates.
Syncthing is ideal for duplicating files, documents, and code projects you're actively working on across multiple devices.
I run Syncthing continuously on my daily machines to keep my active projects synchronized. Then once a week, I use FreeFileSync to mirror everything to a backup drive in Mirror mode. This gives me both real-time availability and a solid backup strategy.
With FreeFileSync and SyncThing, you can build a file management strategy tailored to your workflow, while avoiding cloud subscriptions and corporate surveillance.
Infos
- FreeFileSync: https://freefilesync.org
- Syncthing: https://syncthing.net
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