FreeFileSync
Compare and sync folders between drives—ideal for backups to external disks.
Quick facts
- Price model
- Freemium
- Starting price
- Free; optional donationware support
- Best for
- Local backups · Folder mirroring · External drive workflows
- Replaces
- Carbonite, Backblaze UI for local sync, GoodSync subscriptions
- Platforms
- MacWindowsLinux
- Last verified
- 2026-06-22
Why it's listed
See exactly what will sync before it happens—great for nervous backup beginners.
FreeFileSync mirrors or updates folders with clear previews of what will change. Pair it with an external hard drive for a simple, subscription-free backup routine.
The catch
Not cloud backup by itself; you still need a drive rotation or offsite copy strategy.
Good fit for
- Photographers
- Families backing up to USB drives
Not ideal for
- People who want fully automated cloud backup only
Alternatives
Syncthing
Continuous folder sync between your devices—peer-to-peer, no cloud storage bill.
Replaces: Dropbox, Google Drive sync…
External Hard Drive Backup Guide
Set up reliable backups to USB drives—one-time hardware, no monthly cloud rent.
Replaces: iCloud+ upgrades, Google One…
Obsidian
A local-first notes app that stores your vault as plain Markdown files on your device.
Replaces: Evernote, Notion…
Joplin
Open-source note-taking with optional end-to-end encrypted sync you control.
Replaces: Evernote, OneNote…