FreeFileSync: Reliable Open Source File Synchronisation for Linux
★★★★★5/5Disclosure: This review contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Review in progress — Full personal review coming soon. Details below are confirmed facts about the software.
Overview
FreeFileSync is a free, open source folder comparison and synchronisation tool. It is available as a donation-supported project — you can use it entirely free, purchase a donator edition (which includes a few extras like RealTimeSync as a standalone binary), or simply donate to support development.
It is one of the most capable and reliable file sync tools available on Linux, with a clean GUI, detailed sync logs, and flexible configuration for both simple and complex sync scenarios.
Linux Support
FreeFileSync provides native Linux binaries. It runs on most major distributions without additional dependencies. The GUI is clean and functional under both X11 and Wayland.
Key Linux-specific notes:
- Available as a downloadable archive (no package manager install required)
- Supports all standard Linux filesystems
- Handles file permissions and symlinks correctly
- Works over SFTP/FTP for syncing to remote servers
Key Features
- Two-way and one-way sync — mirror, update, or two-way synchronisation modes
- Comparison — compare folders by size, date, or file content
- Filters — include/exclude files by pattern, date, size
- Batch mode — schedule syncs via cron or system scheduler
- Sync logs — detailed logs of every operation
- Versioning — keep previous versions of replaced/deleted files
- SFTP/FTP support — sync directly to remote servers
- RealTimeSync — watch folders and sync on change (donator edition)
Pricing
| Version | Cost | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Full functionality |
| Donator Edition | One-time donation | RealTimeSync standalone, auto-updates |
The free version is fully functional for the vast majority of use cases.
No Android Version
FreeFileSync does not have an Android client. For mobile sync, consider Syncthing alongside FreeFileSync for different use cases.
Personal Review
Coming soon — written from personal daily use on Linux.
Verdict
Coming soon.