SyncBackFree and FreeFileSync are the two free tools people reach for when they want files copied somewhere safe on a schedule. Both are genuinely free, both allow business use, and both will do the basic job well. They differ in what happens once the basic job is not enough — and that is where the choice is made.
The short answer
- Choose SyncBackFree if you want a guided, scheduled file backup on Windows workstations, set up in ten minutes and then forgotten.
- Choose FreeFileSync if you need versioning, SFTP or cloud destinations, locked-file copying, real-time sync or macOS and Linux — things SyncBackFree does not do in its free edition.
Side by side
| Feature | SyncBackFree | FreeFileSync |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Freeware; personal, education, government and commercial use allowed | Open source (GPL); free for any use |
| Current version | 12.1.6.0 (September 2026) | 14.12 (September 2026) |
| Systems | Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista — no Windows Server, no macOS or Linux | Windows, macOS and Linux |
| Operations | Backup, mirror, basic sync, restore | Mirror, two-way and custom sync rules |
| Scheduling | Built in | Batch jobs run through the operating system’s task scheduler |
| Real-time sync | No | Yes, with RealTimeSync |
| Versioning (keep old copies) | No | Yes |
| Open and locked files | No shadow copy — open files are skipped | Yes, through Volume Shadow Copy |
| Network and cloud | Plain FTP only | SFTP, FTP/FTPS and Google Drive |
| Compression | Zip with basic encryption | No — files are copied as they are |
| Notifications | Email log after each run | Email notifications in the Donation Edition |
| Ransomware warning | Yes, warns when an unusual number of files change | No |
Where SyncBackFree is the better fit
SyncBackFree is built around profiles: you pick “Backup”, “Mirror” or “Synchronise”, choose two folders, set a schedule, and it asks you the right questions along the way. For someone setting up backups on ten office PCs, that guidance is worth more than features they will never touch.
Three things it does that FreeFileSync does not: it compresses to Zip, it emails a log after every run in the free edition, and it warns you when an unusually large number of files change at once — an early sign of ransomware encrypting your data. It also ships with an installer a standard user can run, which helps on locked-down machines.
The limits are firm, though. No Windows Server, no cloud, no SFTP, no versioning and no copying of open files. An open Outlook data file or a live database will simply be skipped. It is an excellent file copier for workstations, not a backup system for servers.
Where FreeFileSync is the better fit
FreeFileSync starts with a comparison: it shows you exactly what differs between two folders, then applies your sync rules. That makes it the stronger tool whenever you care about what changes, not just that something was copied.
- Versioning keeps deleted and overwritten files instead of losing them. This is the feature that saves you when a mirror runs after an accidental deletion.
- Volume Shadow Copy lets it copy files that are open or locked.
- SFTP and Google Drive mean you can send a copy off-site without leaving the tool — and without unencrypted FTP.
- RealTimeSync watches folders and syncs as soon as something changes.
- macOS and Linux builds, so one tool covers a mixed office.
The price of that power is an interface that expects you to understand sync directions and conflict rules. It is not hard, but it is less guided than SyncBack.
The mistake both tools let you make
Mirror mode makes the destination identical to the source — including deletions. If a file is deleted by accident and the mirror runs, the backup loses it too. In SyncBackFree, use Backup rather than Mirror for protection against mistakes. In FreeFileSync, turn on versioning. And whichever you use, test a restore: see how to verify backups.
What about servers and whole-machine images?
Neither tool is an image backup: they copy files, not a bootable system. For Windows Server with a free tool, look at Iperius Backup Free, which runs on Server (though not as a service). For encrypted file backup with detailed scheduling, Personal Backup is free for business use too. The wider picture is in our guide to off-site backup with free tools.
FAQ
Is SyncBackFree better than FreeFileSync?
For simple scheduled backups on Windows workstations, SyncBackFree is easier. For versioning, SFTP, locked files or macOS and Linux, FreeFileSync does more for free.
Are both free for business use?
Yes. SyncBackFree’s licence explicitly allows commercial use, and FreeFileSync is open source.
Which one keeps old versions of files?
FreeFileSync. SyncBackFree keeps only the current copy in its free edition.
Can either run on Windows Server?
FreeFileSync runs on Windows generally. SyncBackFree does not support Windows Server — that needs a paid SyncBack edition.
Can they back up an open Outlook file?
FreeFileSync can, using Volume Shadow Copy. SyncBackFree skips open and locked files.
