Summary
FreeFileSync is sophisticated file synchronisation software with a good range of features although we’d prefer automation being available direct in the GUI. We have used it with huge numbers of files with excellent performance.
While FreeFileSync is open source software, the standard version (and donation edition) is intended for private use only. If you want to use the software in a commercial setting, you have to pay for a business edition. We’re not legal experts but this sort of model for GPL-licensed software is questionable. We’ve reached out to the developer for comment and will post any response received.
It is noted “The GPL is a free software license, and therefore it permits people to use and even redistribute the software without being required to pay anyone a fee for doing so.”
If your data has value to you, making regular backups is a necessity. That practice is not, in itself, sufficient to protect your data. You actually need to test the backups to make sure they actually work.
Website: freefilesync.org
Support: GitHub Code Repository
Developer: Zenju
License: GNU General Public License v3.0 (only the standard version). The Donation Edition and Business Edition are not licensed under the GPL.
This software is evaluated using Toshiba Enterprise HDDs and NAS devices from Asustor and Synology.
FreeFileSync is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Pages in this article:
Page 1 – Introduction and Installation
Page 2 – In Operation
Page 3 – Summary
Related Software
| File Synchronization Tools | |
|---|---|
| Syncthing | Continuous file synchronization program |
| Unison | File-synchronization tool for POSIX-compliant systems |
| Rclone | Command line program to sync files and directories |
| rsync | Fast incremental file transfer |
| Cryptomator | Multi-platform transparent client-side encryption of files in the cloud |
| FreeFileSync | Folder comparison and synchronization software |
| syncBackup | Backup and mirror your drives |
| Seafile | Coud storage system with privacy protection and teamwork features |
| Grsync | Graphical user interface for rsync |
| Lsyncd | Live Syncing Daemon |
| luckyBackup | Backup & sync tool |
| YARsync | Yet Another Rsync |
| Sync-in | File sync and server management |
| osync | Two way filesync script running on Bash |
| Celeste | GUI file synchronization client |
| ByteSync | File synchronization, backup, and deduplication |
| bita | Differential file synchronization over HTTP |
| Spacedrive | File manager powered by a virtual distributed filesystem |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
 Explore our carefully curated directory of recommended free and open source software, covering every major software category.The directory forms part of our extensive collection of articles for Linux enthusiasts. It includes hundreds of detailed reviews, together with free and open source alternatives to proprietary software from companies such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. LinuxLinks also covers interesting projects worth exploring, Linux-compatible hardware, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful free and open source Linux application that we haven’t covered? Tell us about it using our submission form. |
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Good luck getting this setup. using linux the instructions are for windows and I can find no way to get this running. it mentions a .bat file – good luck finding it. complicated for no reason – find another solution – this aint it
Huh? Installing the Flatpak is trivial under Linux. My review explains how to install the software under Linux.
Steve, you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
The issue with FFS is not installation. It’s easy under Linux. But it’s not released under an OSI-compliant license, so it’s not open source software really.
We’ve not received a response from the developer to our query.