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Top 10 Free & Open Source File Sync Software 2025

Last Updated on May 8, 2025 by Dtechunt

In today’s fast-paced digital world, seamless file synchronization across multiple devices has become essential rather than optional. Whether you’re a freelancer managing tasks on different machines, part of a team collaborating on shared projects, or an individual looking to keep your files updated across all your devices, reliable file sync software can make the process effortless and efficient, saving you both time and effort.

Open-source file sync software provides a cost-effective alternative to premium solutions, offering secure, private, and highly customizable options for various needs. These tools prioritize data privacy, flexibility, and collaboration, making them perfect for personal file management, remote work setups, and enterprise-level requirements.

We’ve handpicked the 10 best free open-source file sync software solutions for 2025, ensuring there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a beginner looking for an easy-to-use tool or a business professional in need of a robust system for seamless collaboration. This guide will help you discover the perfect file sync software to keep your files secure, accessible, and always up to date.

From straightforward, user-friendly options to advanced platforms packed with features, we explore every aspect of these tools to streamline your workflow. Whether your focus is on simplicity, top-notch security, or enterprise-level functionality, this list has you covered.

Let’s dive into the best free open-source file sync tools to streamline your digital life and boost efficiency in 2025. Whether you’re managing work projects, syncing personal files, or collaborating with a team, these tools offer secure, flexible, and cost-effective solutions to meet your needs.

Here are the top free and open-source file sync software options in 2025.

  1. Syncthing: The Leading Open-Source File Synchronization Tool

Syncthing is a free tool that helps you keep your files the same across all your computers and phones. It’s like having your cloud, but your files go directly between your devices instead of through a big company’s servers. This keeps your data private and safe.

What’s Good About Syncthing (Pros):

  • You Control Your Files: You choose where your files are stored – it’s not on someone else’s computer.
  • Super Secure: Everything is scrambled (encrypted) when it’s being sent between your devices.
  • Works on Everything: You can use it on Windows, Macs, Linux computers, and Android phones.
  • No Need to Pay: It’s completely free to use.
  • Always Up-to-Date: Files change almost instantly on all your devices.
  • Works Even with Tricky Networks: It can usually connect your devices even if your internet setup is a bit complicated.
  • You Decide Who Can Change Files: You can set some devices to only receive files and not send changes back.

Things to Think About (Cons):

  • Might Need Some Computer Know-How: Setting it up can be a bit tricky, especially if you have a firewall.
  • No Automatic Online Backup: It doesn’t automatically save your files to the cloud for extra safety (unless you set that up yourself).
  • All Devices Need to Be On: Your computers and phones need to be turned on and connected to sync.
  • Can Use Power and Internet: It uses some of your computer’s power and internet, which might matter on phones with low battery.
  • Not Great for Sharing with Others (Easily): It’s not as simple to share files with friends as it is with Dropbox or Google Drive.
  • Can Have Confusing Moments: If lots of people change the same file at the same time, it can get a bit messy.
  • You Rely on the Community for Help: There’s no official company you can call if you have problems.

Who is Syncthing Good For?

Syncthing is a great choice if you:

  • Care about keeping your files private and not using big cloud services.
  • Have a few computers and phones that you want to keep in sync.
  • Are you okay with a little bit of technical setup?
  • Don’t need super-easy ways to share files with lots of other people.

  1. FreeFileSync: A Powerful Open-Source File Sync and Backup Tool

FreeFileSync is a free tool that helps you keep your files the same in different places, like your computer, external drives, or network folders. It’s easy to see what’s happening and has lots of ways to sync your files.

What’s Good About FreeFileSync (Pros):

  • Sync Files Your Way: You can choose to make folders the same, only copy new files, or do other custom syncing.
  • Fast: It’s built to sync quickly, especially if you have a computer with multiple “brains” (cores).
  • No Limits on Files: You can sync as much data and as many big files as you need.
  • Smart About Your Files: It checks if files are different by size, date, or even by looking inside them.
  • Works with Many Things: You can sync between your computer, external drives, network folders, and even online storage (if you connect it like a regular drive).
  • Helpful Community: Other users can help you if you have questions.
  • You Can Take It Anywhere: You can run it from a USB drive without installing it.

Things to Think About (Cons):

  • Doesn’t Work Directly with Online Storage: You can’t just connect it to Dropbox or Google Drive easily.
  • Some Things Might Be Confusing: If you’re not tech-savvy, some of the advanced options might seem complicated.
  • Automatic Syncing Isn’t Built-In: You need to use other tools on your computer (like Windows Task Scheduler) to make syncing happen automatically.
  • No Phone App: You can’t use it on your phone or tablet.
  • You Need to Ask Others for Help: If you have problems, you’ll mostly rely on other users for support.
  • Can Have Conflicts: If two people change the same file at the same time, it might not handle it perfectly.
  • Pay for Extra Features: Some extra helpful features cost a small donation to unlock.

Who is FreeFileSync Good For?

FreeFileSync is a great choice if you:

  • Want a lot of control over how your files are synced.
  • Need to sync large amounts of data quickly.
  • Use different kinds of computers (Windows, Mac, Linux).
  • Don’t want to pay for file syncing software.

  1. DirSync Pro: A Highly Versatile File Sync Software

DirSync Pro is a free tool that helps you keep your files the same in different places, like your computer, external drives, or network folders. It’s easy to use but also has lots of options for people who know what they’re doing.

What’s Good About DirSync Pro (Pros):

  • Sync Any Way You Want: It can just copy files, make folders the same, or only copy new and changed files.
  • Super Fast: It’s built to sync quickly, even if you have tons of files.
  • No Limits on Files: You can sync as much data and as many big files as you want.
  • Pick and Choose What to Sync: You can tell it to only sync certain types of files or files from specific dates.
  • Works on Most Computers: You can use it on Windows, Macs, and Linux.
  • Also Does Backups: It can save older versions of your files, so you can get them back if something goes wrong.
  • Tells You What Happened: It gives you reports on what files were synced and if there were any problems.
  • You Can Take It With You: You can run it from a USB drive without installing it.
  • Helpful Community: Other users can help you if you have questions.

Things to Think About (Cons):

  • Doesn’t Work Directly with Online Storage: You can’t just connect it to Dropbox or Google Drive easily.
  • Some Things Might Be Confusing: If you’re not tech-savvy, some of the advanced options might seem complicated.
  • Automatic Syncing Isn’t Perfect: The automatic syncing might not be as smooth as with tools like Dropbox.
  • No Phone App: You can’t use it on your phone or tablet.
  • You Need to Ask Others for Help: If you have problems, you’ll mostly rely on other users for support.
  • Can Have Conflicts: If two people change the same file at the same time, it might not handle it perfectly.
  • Needs Java: You need to have Java installed on your computer for it to work.
  • Looks a Bit Basic: The design of the program isn’t as modern as some other tools.

Who is DirSync Pro Good For?

DirSync Pro is a great choice if you:

  • Want a powerful tool to keep files the same on your computers and drives?
  • Need to sync a lot of files quickly.
  • Like having lots of control over how your files are synced.
  • Don’t want to pay for software.

  1. Synkron: A Simple Yet Powerful File Sync Software

Synkron is a tool that helps you keep your files the same in different places, like on your computer, an external hard drive, or a shared network folder. It’s easy to use, even if you’re not a computer expert.

What’s Good About Synkron (Pros):

  • Super Easy to Use: The design is simple, so anyone can figure it out quickly.
  • Sync Many Folders at Once: You can tell it to sync lots of different folders all at the same time.
  • Saves Old Versions: If you change or delete a file, Synkron can keep a copy of the old one, just in case.
  • Skip Files You Don’t Need: You can tell it to ignore certain files or folders so it syncs faster.
  • Doesn’t Slow Down Your Computer: It’s lightweight, so it runs well even on older computers.
  • Works on Different Computers: You can use it on Windows, Macs, and Linux.
  • Can Sync Automatically (Sometimes): It has a basic way to schedule syncing to happen on its own.
  • Free to Use: It doesn’t cost any money!

Things to Think About (Cons):

  • Not Many Fancy Features: It doesn’t have things like syncing files as soon as they change or working directly with online storage like Dropbox.
  • No Built-in Online Storage: You can’t just connect it to Dropbox or Google Drive directly.
  • Not Updated Much: The people who made Synkron don’t update it very often, so it might not always work perfectly with new computers.
  • Simple Automatic Syncing: The automatic syncing isn’t as good as some other programs.
  • No Phone App: You can’t use it on your phone or tablet.
  • You Have to Set It Up Each Time (Mostly): Unless you use the basic schedule, you have to tell it what to sync every time.
  • Looks a Bit Old: The design of the program isn’t as modern as some other tools.

Who is Synkron Good For?

Synkron is a good choice if you:

  • Want a really simple way to keep files the same in different places?
  • Don’t need a lot of fancy features.
  • Have older computers.
  • Don’t want to pay for software.

  1. ownCloud: A Comprehensive File Sync and Collaboration Platform

ownCloud is a tool that lets you create your online storage and sharing space, like having your own personal Dropbox or Google Drive. You set it up on your computer server, so you have complete control over your files and who can see them.

What’s Good About ownCloud (Pros):

  • Your Data, Your Server: You keep your files on your computer, giving you the most privacy and control.
  • Works on Everything: You can use it on Windows, Macs, Linux computers, iPhones, and Android phones.
  • Always Synced: Files automatically update on all your devices.
  • Saves Old Versions: You can go back to earlier versions of your files if you need to.
  • Work Together Easily: Share files and work on documents with others.
  • Make It Your Own: You can customize it with extra features (plugins) for things like connecting to work accounts or adding security tools.
  • Super Secure: It keeps your files safe with encryption and other security features.
  • Help When You Need It: There’s a community of users who can help, and businesses can pay for extra support.

Things to Consider (Cons):

  • You Need to Set It Up: It takes some technical skills to install and manage your server.
  • Your Server Needs Power: The computer you use as your ownCloud server needs to be fairly powerful.
  • Phone App is a Bit Basic: The phone apps don’t have all the advanced features of the computer versions.
  • Speed Depends on Your Server: How well ownCloud works depends on how good your server computer is.
  • Extra Features Need Plugins: Some advanced things need extra “plugins” that you have to add.
  • No Free Online Storage from Them: You have to use your own server or pay someone else to host it.
  • Might Be Tricky for Beginners: Setting everything up can be confusing if you’re not very technical.

Who is ownCloud Good For?

ownCloud is a great choice if you:

  • Care about your privacy and want to control where your files are stored.
  • Need a secure way to share files and work with a team.
  • Are you okay with setting up your server or having someone who can do it?
  • Want a system that you can customize with extra features?

  1. Pydio Cells: A Secure and Scalable File Sync and Sharing Platform

Pydio Cells is a tool that lets you build your own online place to store, share, and work on files, just like Dropbox or Google Drive, but you control it completely on your own server. It’s great for people and businesses who want top-notch security and lots of ways to customize things.

What’s Good About Pydio Cells (Pros):

  • Your Server, Your Rules: You keep your files on your computer server, giving you ultimate privacy and control.
  • Works Everywhere: You can use it on Windows, Macs, Linux computers, iPhones, and Android phones.
  • Everything Stays Synced: Files update automatically across all your devices in real-time.
  • Go Back to Old Versions: It saves older versions of your files, so you can always recover them.
  • Teamwork Tools Included: You can easily share files with others and work on documents together.
  • Grows with Your Needs: It’s built to handle both small teams and big companies with lots of users.
  • Super Secure: It encrypts your files and has advanced security features to keep your data safe.
  • Help is Available: There’s a community of users to help, and businesses can get professional support.
  • Looks Good and You Can Change It: The interface is modern and you can even customize it to fit your needs.

Things to Consider (Cons):

  • You Need to Set It Up: It takes some technical skills to install and manage your server.
  • Your Server Needs Power: The computer you use as your Pydio Cells server needs to be strong enough to run it well.
  • Phone App is a Bit Limited: The phone apps don’t have all the advanced features of the computer versions.
  • Speed Depends on Your Server: How well Pydio Cells works depends on how good your server computer is.
  • Extra Features Need Plugins: Some advanced things, like working on documents together, might need extra “plugins.”
  • No Free Online Storage from Them: You have to use your own server or pay someone else to host it for you.
  • Might Be Tricky for Beginners: Setting everything up can be a bit confusing if you’re not very technical.

Who is Pydio Cells Good For?

Pydio Cells is a fantastic choice if you:

  • Need the highest level of privacy and control over your files.
  • Want a powerful platform for team collaboration and file sharing?
  • Are you comfortable with managing your server, or have someone who can do it?
  • Plan to store and share a significant amount of data.

  1. Seafile: A Secure and Feature-Rich File Sync and Sharing Platform

Seafile is an open-source platform for syncing and sharing files, designed for individuals, teams, and businesses who want more control and security over their data. Instead of using big cloud services, you host Seafile yourself on your server.

Key Benefits:

  • Your Privacy: You control where your files are stored on your server.
  • Works Everywhere: Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iPhones, and Android phones.
  • Always Up-to-Date: Files sync automatically across all your devices.
  • Keeps Old Versions: You can go back to earlier versions of your files.
  • Teamwork Tools: Share files with others and work on documents together (some features paid).
  • Grows with You: Can handle many users and lots of files.
  • Strong Security: Encrypts your files and offers extra security features.
  • Helpful Community & Support: Get help from other users and paid support if needed.
  • Saves Space: Uses smart ways to store files efficiently.

Things to Consider:

  • You Need to Set It Up: Requires some technical skills to install and manage your server.
  • Your Server Needs Power: Your computer server needs enough resources to run Seafile well.
  • Mobile App Missing Some Things: The phone apps don’t have all the features of the computer versions.
  • Speed Depends on Your Server: How well Seafile works depends on your server’s performance.
  • Some Features Cost Extra: Advanced team features are in the paid “Pro” version.
  • No Free Cloud Storage: You have to provide your server or pay for hosting.
  • Might Be Tricky for Beginners: Setting up can be confusing if you’re not technical.

Why Choose Seafile in 2025?

Choose Seafile if you want:

  • Full control over your data and privacy.
  • A secure place to store and share files for yourself or your team.
  • To host your file-sharing system instead of relying on big companies.
  • A system that can grow as your needs grow.

  1. Syncany: Customizable & Secure Open-Source File Synchronization

Syncany is a tool that lets you keep your files the same across different computers and online storage. It’s open-source (meaning anyone can see and change how it works) and free to use.

What’s Good About Syncany (Pros):

  • Works on Many Computers: You can use it on Windows, Macs, and Linux.
  • Choose Where to Keep Your Files: It works with your computer, online storage (like Dropbox, but you need to add it), and even special secure online places.
  • Keeps Your Files Safe: It scrambles your files (encryption) so only you can read them.
  • Saves Old Versions: If you change or delete a file, you can get the old version back.
  • Doesn’t Slow Down Your Computer: It’s lightweight, so it runs smoothly even on older computers.
  • You Control Your Privacy: Your files aren’t stored on a big company’s servers unless you choose to put them there.
  • You Can Add More Features: It uses “plugins” to connect to different storage or do new things.

Things to Think About (Cons):

  • Simple Schedule: The automatic syncing schedule isn’t as fancy as some other tools.
  • Needs Extra Bits for Some Things: To use it with some online storage, you need to add extra “plugins” that might not always work perfectly.
  • Can Be Tricky to Set Up: If you’re not used to computers, setting it up might be a bit confusing.
  • Not Updated Often: The people who make Syncany don’t update it as much as they used to, so it might not always work with the newest things.
  • No Phone App: You can’t use it directly on your phone or tablet.
  • Setting It Up Can Be Complex: Getting it to work with different storage can be complicated.
  • Looks Basic: It doesn’t have a very fancy or modern look.

Who is Syncany Good For?

Syncany is a good choice if you:

  • Want to keep your files private and control where they are stored?
  • Use different kinds of computers (Windows, Mac, Linux).
  • Don’t want to pay for file syncing software.
  • Are you okay with a slightly more complicated setup?

  1. CryptSync: Secure Open-Source Encrypted File Synchronization & Backup

CryptSync is a free tool that scrambles your files (encrypts them) before they get saved to other places, like an external drive or online storage. This keeps your private stuff safe.

What’s Good About CryptSync (Pros):

  • You Can Pick How to Keep Things Secret: You can even scramble the names of your files.
  • Super Secure: Your files are locked up tight with strong encryption before they go anywhere.
  • Free to Use: It doesn’t cost any money!
  • Works with Online Storage: You can use it with popular services like Dropbox and Google Drive to keep your online backups safe.
  • Doesn’t Slow Down Your Computer: It’s lightweight, so it runs well even on older computers.
  • Keeps Things Updated Automatically: When you change a file, it automatically encrypts and saves the new version.
  • Easy to Use: The design is simple, so it’s not hard to figure out.

Things to Think About (Cons):

  • Might Not Get Updated Much: The people who made CryptSync haven’t been working on it a lot lately.
  • You Have to Unlock Files Yourself: When you want to use a file that’s been encrypted, you have to manually unlock it.
  • Mostly Just for Backups: It’s not really for keeping files perfectly in sync all the time.
  • You Have to Set Up Online Storage Yourself: It doesn’t automatically connect to Dropbox or Google Drive; you have to do it.
  • Doesn’t Have Its Own Online Storage: It just makes your files safe for other storage places.
  • No Phone App: You can’t use it on your phone or tablet.
  • Only Works on Windows: If you have a Mac or Linux computer, you can’t use CryptSync directly.

Who is CryptSync Good For?

CryptSync is a good choice if you:

  • Really care about keeping your files private and secure when you back them up.
  • Use Windows computers.
  • Want a free and easy way to encrypt your backups for online storage?
  • Don’t need a lot of fancy syncing features.

  1. FullSync: Powerful Open-Source File Synchronization & Backup

FullSync is a free tool that helps you keep your files the same in different places, like your computers and external drives. It lets you set things up exactly how you want.

What’s Good About FullSync (Pros):

  • Sync Files Your Way: You can choose to just copy files one way, keep two folders exactly the same, or only copy what’s new.
  • Works on Different Computers: You can use it on Windows, Macs, and Linux.
  • Saves Old Versions: If you change or delete a file, you can get the old one back.
  • Pick and Choose What to Sync: You can tell it to only sync certain files or folders.
  • Doesn’t Slow Down Your Computer: It’s lightweight, so it runs well even on older computers.
  • Free to Use: It doesn’t cost any money!
  • You Control How It Works: You can set up special rules for how it handles your files.
  • Helpful Community: Other users can help you if you have questions.
  • Can Sync Automatically: You can tell it to sync your files on a schedule.

Things to Think About (Cons):

  • Doesn’t Work Directly with Online Storage: You can’t just connect it to Dropbox or Google Drive easily.
  • Looks a Bit Old: The design of the program isn’t as modern as some other tools.
  • Might Be Tricky to Set Up at First: Some of the advanced options can be confusing if you’re not techy.
  • Doesn’t Sync Instantly: It doesn’t update files the very second you change them.
  • Not Updated Much Lately: The people who made FullSync haven’t been working on it a lot recently.
  • No Phone App: You can’t use it on your phone or tablet.
  • You Have to Set It Up Each Time (Mostly): Unless you set up a schedule, you need to tell it what to sync every time.

Who is FullSync Good For?

FullSync is a good choice if you:

  • Want a lot of control over how your files are synced.
  • Use different kinds of computers (Windows, Mac, Linux).
  • Don’t want to pay for software.
  • Are you okay with a slightly more complicated setup?

Conclusion: Choose the Right Tool for Your File Synchronization Needs

The best file synchronization and backup solution depends on your specific needs, technical expertise, and use case. Among the options discussed—Syncthing , FreeFileSync , DirSync Pro , Synkron , ownCloud , Pydio Cells , Seafile , Syncany , CryptSync , and FullSync —each offers unique advantages.

For most users, FreeFileSync stands out as the top choice due to its versatility, user-friendly interface, and robust feature set, making it suitable for both casual and advanced users. Meanwhile, Syncthing is ideal for those prioritizing privacy, offering decentralized, real-time synchronization with full control over data.

Ultimately, the right tool will depend on factors like platform compatibility, technical expertise, and specific requirements. Evaluate your needs carefully and test the software that aligns best with your goals.

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