FreeFileSync is a program used for file synchronization. It is available on Windows, Linux and macOS. The project is backed by donations. Donors get access to a Donation Edition that contains a few additional features such as an auto-updater, parallel sync, portable version, and silent installation. FreeFileSync has received positive reviews.
FreeFileSync works by comparing one or multiple folders on their content, date or file size and subsequently synchronizing the content according to user-defined settings. In addition to supporting local file systems and network shares, FreeFileSync is able to sync to Google Drive, FTP, FTPS, SFTP and MTP devices.
Adware/malware
Earlier versions were packaged with OpenCandy,45 an adware module which many antivirus software vendors classify as malware.6789
Since the release of version 10.0 in April 2018, the software is ad-free.10 In November 2018 Norton wrongly considered FreeFileSync installer as a malware and blocked its installation.11
Supported operating systems
FreeFileSync is available for 32bit and 64bit operating systems. As of July 2024 the then current version 13.7 of FreeFileSync supported the following operating systems and versions:12
- Windows 11 down to Windows 7.
- macOS 14.0 "Sonoma" down to Mac OS X 10.10 "Yosemite".
- On Linux, many well-known distributions are supported. The website cites Arch Linux, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, Manjaro, Mint, openSUSE and Ubuntu.
Older operating systems
Support for Windows Vista and XP ended with FreeFileSync_v10.11. The latest release compatible with Mac OS X 10.7.5 is FreeFileSync_8.4_Mac_OS_X. Older versions are still available on the project website.13
See also
- Comparison of file hosting services
- Comparison of file synchronization software
- Comparison of online backup services
- List of backup software
- Comparison of backup software
External links
References
"FAQ: Donation Edition". freefilesync.org. https://www.freefilesync.org/faq.php#donation-edition ↩
O'Neill, Mark (29 August 2012). "Compare and synchronize PC files easily with FreeFileSync". pcworld.com. Retrieved 28 May 2024. https://www.pcworld.com/article/261465/compare_and_synchronize_pc_files_easily_with_freefilesync.html ↩
"FreeFileSync: App Reviews, Features, Pricing & Download". alternativeto.net. Retrieved 28 May 2024. https://alternativeto.net/software/freefilesync/reviews/ ↩
Akerlund, Geoff (10 March 2014), FreeFileSync comes bundled with the OpenCandy malware, and there's no option to not install it., Backup Review, retrieved 2 February 2018 http://www.backupreview.com/freefilesync-review/ ↩
Richards, Gizmo (16 April 2017), Controversial Advertising Program Now Being Embedded in More Software, Tech Support Alert, retrieved 2 February 2018 https://www.techsupportalert.com/content/controversial-advertising-program-now-being-embedded-more-software.htm ↩
PUP.Optional.OpenCandy, Malwarebytes, retrieved 3 February 2018 https://blog.malwarebytes.com/detections/pup-optional-opencandy/ ↩
OpenCandy, Sophos, retrieved 3 February 2018 https://www.sophos.com/en-us/threat-center/threat-analyses/adware-and-puas/OpenCandy/detailed-analysis.aspx ↩
ADW_OPENCANDY, Trend Micro, retrieved 3 February 2018 https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/threat-encyclopedia/malware/adw_opencandy ↩
Virustotal analyses of OpenCandy, Virus Total, retrieved 3 February 2018 https://virustotal.com/en/file/81196839f19269ce807e43c8b9669459dc833d6fd2d510646fc0bebc0e0ef2eb/analysis/#comments ↩
Brinkmann, Martin (3 May 2018). "FreeFileSync 10.0 updates removes ads from installer". ghacks.net. Retrieved 30 May 2018. https://www.ghacks.net/2018/05/03/freefilesync-10-0/ ↩
"My virus scanner/firewall shows a scary warning. Is there a virus, malware, or trojan?". freefilesync.org. https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#virus ↩
List of supported operating systems https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#operating-systems https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#operating-systems ↩
Archive of old versions of the software https://freefilesync.org/archive.php https://freefilesync.org/archive.php ↩