Sync is a cloud storage and file-sharing service that recalls Dropbox's earliest days. Whereas the latter keeps adding features, the former focuses on one thing: syncing files. It works quietly in the background, without notifications or constant upgrade prompts, which every rival should duplicate, including Editors' Choice winners Google Drive, IDrive, and Microsoft OneDrive. Overall, Sync is a compelling service in the competitive cloud storage category, even if pricing and somewhat lackluster mobile apps prevent it from ranking among the field's top-tier offerings.
Sync offers a free 5GB plan for individual users, the same storage amount as Apple iCloud Drive and Microsoft OneDrive, and 3GB more than Dropbox (2GB). A few competing free services have more generous storage options, including Google Drive (15GB) and iDrive (10GB). Note that Google Drive splits the storage between cloud storage and email.
The cheapest Sync storage option is the Basic plan, which offers 25GB of storage for $12 per year. For the same price, Apple iCloud Drive+ (an upgrade from the free, base iCloud Drive) gives you 50GB, and Google One (an add-on to the free Google Drive) gives you 100GB for $1.99 per month, which is more storage per dollar. And IDrive has the best value of all the cloud storage apps I've tested: 100GB for $2.95 per year.
Moving up the Sync ladder, you'll find Personal 1TB, which offers 1TB of storage for $16 per month or $144 per year. That’s expensive per gigabyte compared with other options out there. For example, Google One is $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year for 2TB of storage. Likewise, Apple iCloud Drive is $9.99 per month for 2TB of storage. Microsoft charges $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year for Microsoft 365 Family, which, in addition to offering 1TB of storage each to 6 users—for a total of 6TB—also includes office apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook.
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The next plan, Solo Pro, offers 5TB of storage for $32 per month or $336 per year. That's pricey. iDrive charges $9.95 per month or $99.50 for 5TB of storage. Apple iCloud Drive+ offers 6TB of storage for $29.99 per month, or $359.88 per year. In other words, you get more storage for less money with those rival apps. However, you get 365 days of versioning.
In the unlikely event that 5 TB isn't enough storage for you, check out Sync's Solo Pro Unlimited ($108 per month or $1,080 per year). This is a unique offering and a feather in Sync's cap. After all, the other services I've tested lack unlimited storage plans.
Overall, Sync isn't the best value per gigabyte, but it's also not outlandishly priced, either. A caveat to the cost: Sync has a promotion that lets you save 33% over four years. This means you can lower the price for now, but not enough to match the other services' prices. Still, it's a reasonable option if you want to avoid the big tech companies.
Sync offers desktop clients for macOS and Windows. If, for some reason, your PC is still running Windows 8, Sync has a legacy software option for that operating system (though you should definitely update to Windows 11). In 2022, Sync stated it planned to develop a Linux desktop client, but it hasn't materialized... yet. A Sync representative told me that it's in development and could be released later this year. So keep an eye on that if you've been hungry for Sync for Linux.
On the desktop, you launch the program, sign in, and choose where the main Sync folder lives. This folder, which you cannot rename, is where you put files to sync them to the cloud and your other devices. There are no options to sync files outside this folder. A workaround lets you use symbolic links to sync other folders, but it's not officially supported—and I don't recommend it.
Prefer to work on the web? Sync is compatible with many browsers, including Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari.
I tested Sync on a macOS laptop, a Windows 11 desktop, and an iPhone. After setting up the software, I dragged files to the Sync folder, which uploaded them to the cloud. It was that easy.
The tray icon displays recently synced files and settings. From there, you can decide to cap the network speed or choose which folders should or should not get copied to the cloud. Likewise, you can select whether uploaded files are synced or available for download. This new feature aligns Sync with how Apple iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and other cloud storage apps operate.
That said, I wish Sync had the ability to sync files directly between devices over a LAN. Instead, everything you want to sync must be uploaded to the cloud before it downloads to other devices, even if those devices are on the same network. This is a disappointing (but not deal-breaking) omission because Dropbox offers a LAN option.
As with most cloud storage platforms, sharing is handled in Sync's web version. You can share via a link or by inviting other Sync users to collaborate. Creating a link means anyone can open a file or folder regardless of whether they have a Sync account. Sharing a folder with a collaborator works if the person you share with has a Sync account. You can decide whether collaborators can edit or only view the files.
During my tests, I added password protection to determine who could download files and allowed people without a Sync account to upload files, a novel feature. Sync also offers optional end-to-end encryption. Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive have link-sharing controls, but not as many. Google Drive, for example, doesn't let you add a password to a publicly shared file or set an expiration date. And neither service allows uploads from people without accounts. Even better, Sync doesn't tie any of these features to a subscription—it's all offered with the free plan.
If a file fits in your available Sync storage, you can upload it. The company's documentation mentions that uploading a file larger than 40GB might slow down the app. Sync doesn't recommend uploading large files using the web client, but there's no formal limit. This puts Sync in the same class as Dropbox and Google Drive, which also don't limit file sizes. Meanwhile, iCloud limits files to 50GB, while OneDrive limits files to 250GB. I like Sync's useful Vault, which lets you store files online that you don't want to sync between devices.
One advantage of using an online cloud storage and file syncing service from Google or Microsoft is that all the editing tools you need for your files are tightly embedded into the system and support collaborative editing. Sync doesn't offer integrated online editing, though you can connect Sync to a Microsoft account. In testing, I found editing in Word, Excel, and other online productivity apps a near-seamless experience. Box, another consumer-end cloud storage service, lets you connect to office apps, too, as does Dropbox.
Sync's Android and iOS apps let you browse and download files, just as you can from the Sync web portal. Installing the apps mainly lets you download files for offline access. Unlike the desktop client, which syncs all files by default, the mobile app syncs only the files you specify, as do competing cloud storage and file-sharing apps.
A handy, optional setting lets you upload photos from your device, like Dropbox, Google Drive, and other competitors. However, Sync doesn't push annoying prompts encouraging you to enable photo syncing, which makes it even nicer. Another mobile feature I appreciated is the ability to lock the app with a four-digit passcode or biometrics—an added layer of security for anyone who stores sensitive files in their cloud services.
It’s worth noting that this mobile app lacks features found in similar services. There's no document scanning feature, for example. Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, and Proton Drive all offer this feature, which let me use my phone's camera to turn paper pages into a PDF. That also means no OCR, a useful tech that lets you search scanned documents using keywords.
All Sync file transfers are encrypted on your device before being uploaded, so the company cannot access your files or their metadata. Even the web version decrypts files locally, which adds to the app's security. Sync claims its zero-knowledge storage platform sets it apart from Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive, services that allow backdoor access to files.
Sync complies with SOC 2 Type 1, GDPR, and PIPEDA, which is important for international businesses. Sync Solo Professional and Pro Solo Unlimited plans comply with HIPAA, which is essential for American healthcare businesses.
Final Thoughts
(Credit: Sync)
Sync
- 5.0 - Exemplary: Near perfection, ground-breaking
- 4.5 - Outstanding: Best in class, acts as a benchmark for measuring competitors
- 4.0 - Excellent: A performance, feature, or value leader in its class, with few shortfalls
- 3.5 - Good: Does what the product should do, and does so better than many competitors
- 3.0 - Average: Does what the product should do, and sits in the middle of the pack
- 2.5 - Fair: We have some reservations, buy with caution
- 2.0 - Subpar: We do not recommend, buy with extreme caution
- 1.5 - Poor: Do not buy this product
- 1.0 - Dismal: Don't even think about buying this product
Read Our Editorial Mission Statement and Testing Methodologies.
Sync's consumer version is a terrific alternative to its increasingly complex rivals. It offers 5GB of free storage, strong security (including client-side encryption), and no file-size limitations. However, the mobile apps are bare-bones, and the service isn't the best value for your buck. If you want better all-around cloud storage, check out our Editors' Choice winners. Microsoft OneDrive, which has more storage for less money (plus, it's a no-brainer option if you’re already paying for Microsoft 365). Google Drive is a better option if you're a die-hard Google user. Lastly, iDrive has the best price per gigabyte of any cloud storage and file-sharing app I've tested.
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About Our Expert
Justin Pot believes technology is a tool, not a way of life. He writes tutorials and essays that inform and entertain. He loves beer, technology, nature, and people, not necessarily in that order. Learn more at JustinPot.com.
