Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FreeFileSync VS Cobian Backup

Compare FreeFileSync VS Cobian Backup and see what are their differences

FreeFileSync logo FreeFileSync

FreeFileSync is a free open source data backup software that helps you synchronize files and folders on Windows, Linux and macOS.

Cobian Backup logo Cobian Backup

Cobian Backup is listed among those backup management systems that in addition to providing the platform for making the backup, contains the system of auto updating of the backup of the data.
  • FreeFileSync Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-24
  • Cobian Backup Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-15

FreeFileSync features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    FreeFileSync is freely available without any cost and its source code can be inspected, modified, and enhanced by anyone.
  • Cross-Platform
    The software is available for multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile for users across different platforms.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The application features an intuitive, easy-to-use graphical interface that simplifies the process of setting up and running backups and syncs.
  • Advanced Sync Options
    FreeFileSync offers advanced options like real-time sync, versioning, and mirror sync, giving users flexibility in how they manage their files.
  • High Performance
    The software is optimized for speed and efficiency, enabling quick synchronization and backup processes even for large directories.
  • Robust Error Handling
    FreeFileSync has robust error handling and recovery features, ensuring data integrity and reliability during file operations.

Possible disadvantages of FreeFileSync

  • Limited Cloud Integration
    FreeFileSync offers limited integration with cloud storage services, which may not be sufficient for users heavily reliant on cloud platforms.
  • Potentially Complex for Novices
    While the interface is user-friendly, some of the advanced options and settings may be overwhelming for new or inexperienced users.
  • Donation Requests
    The software occasionally prompts users to donate, which some may find intrusive or annoying despite being free to use.
  • No Automated Scheduling in Free Version
    Automated scheduling is not available in the free version, requiring users to manually trigger synchronization or purchase the donation edition for this feature.
  • Community Support
    Being open-source, the primary support channel is community forums, which may not offer the same level of assistance as dedicated customer service.

Cobian Backup features and specs

  • Free
    Cobian Backup is available for free, making it accessible to a wide range of users without requiring any financial investment.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features a straightforward and easy-to-navigate interface, which makes it accessible for both novice and advanced users.
  • Automatic Scheduled Backups
    Cobian Backup allows users to schedule automatic backups, providing convenience and ensuring data is backed up regularly without manual intervention.
  • Variety of Backup Options
    The software supports a variety of backup types including full, incremental, and differential backups, offering flexibility to suit different backup needs.
  • Compression and Encryption
    Cobian Backup supports data compression and encryption, allowing users to save disk space and secure their backups.

Possible disadvantages of Cobian Backup

  • No Cloud Backup Integration
    Cobian Backup does not natively support backup to cloud storage services, which is a significant limitation for users wanting off-site cloud backups.
  • Limited Technical Support
    Being a free tool, Cobian Backup does not offer robust customer support, which can be challenging for users needing assistance with complex issues.
  • Windows-Only
    The software is designed for Windows operating systems and does not support other platforms like macOS or Linux.
  • Manual Setup Required
    Some users might find the initial setup to be complex, as it requires configuring backup tasks and understanding various options available.
  • Lack of Disaster Recovery Options
    Cobian Backup focuses on data backup and does not include comprehensive disaster recovery features, such as system image backups.

FreeFileSync videos

Simple, Fast, Automated File Backup [FREE] | 2020 [FreeFileSync]

More videos:

  • Review - FreeFileSync: Tips and Tricks
  • Review - FreeFileSync: RealTimeSync
  • Review - FreeFileSync: Folder Comparison and Synchronization

Cobian Backup videos

How to backup using Cobian Backup - Review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to backup computer using Cobian Backup

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FreeFileSync and Cobian Backup)
File Sharing And Backup
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Storage
82 82%
18% 18
Backup And Disaster Recovery
Backup & Sync
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare FreeFileSync and Cobian Backup

FreeFileSync Reviews

15 Best Rclone Alternatives 2022
As a result, FreeFileSync helps speed up backup procedures by comparing source and target folders and just copying what is needed rather than copying everything. Additional synchronization options are available via the command line just like with rclone.
The 5 Best File Syncing Apps
FreeFileSync is useful for individuals and businesses for comparing multiple folders and synchronizing folders. It provides a robust backup solution. Choose to sync folders in real time, sync on a schedule, or run the sync program at startup.
Review of the File Synchronization Tools
FreeFileSync is a folder comparison and synchronization software, which can create and manage backup copies of all important files. FreeFileSync does not need to copy every file every time but determines the difference between the source folder and the destination folder and transfers only the minimum amount of data required. FreeFileSync is open source software, which can...
8 best Windows 10 file sync software
User feedback: “After wasting $40+ dollars on a competitor’s product, I tried out Freefilesync. FreefileSync was able to compare hundreds of thousands of files […] in 10 minutes, which was taking the competitor’s product over 3 hours.”
12 Free File and Folder Synchronization Tools for windows
Enhanced for maximum performance, FreeFileSync is an open source tool that assists you to sync files and folders for different operating systems like, Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. It comes with a simplified interface and offers an optimized usability. Using this tool you can compare data by date, size or content. You simply need to drag and drop the folders you want to...
Source: thegeekpage.com

Cobian Backup Reviews

The Best Free Backup Software and Why it is Difficult to Find One
Cobian Backup is a rather complicated backup solution, definitely not the most user-friendly one on this list. It offers a lot of flexibility when it comes to backup creation – with multiple backup operations performing simultaneously, several possible backup locations (network, local storage, FTP server, etc.), as well as scheduling, encryption and compression. However, its...
Source: www.bacula.org
The Top 17 Free and Open Source Backup Solutions
Cobian Backup can backup drives, files, and folders to and from local disk, FTP server, network share, external drive, or a manual location. Users have the ability to perform full, differential, or incremental backups with the tool. Additionally, the software supports automatically removing empty folders from a backup and utilizing Volume Shadow Copy. Users are enabled to...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FreeFileSync seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 203 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FreeFileSync mentions (203)

  • Ask HN: What Underrated Open Source Project Deserves More Recognition?
    FreeFileSync https://freefilesync.org/ I have been a happy user for years and have made a donation too. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Which synchronization tool are you using together with the pCloud Crypto Folder?
    FreeFileSync messed up my pCloud database a couple times at first (causing disappearing files in the Crypto Folder, mirroring of the same files over and over again). Pcloud support provided an easy way to fix the database. To fix the root cause, one needs to exclude FreeFileSync's temporary files from the backup: pCloud Drive > Settings > Backup/Sync Exclusions, exclude sync.ffs_lock and *.ffs_tmp. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Why are file backups so slow on Windows 11?
    As per Apprehensive_Arm_754 answer below, https://freefilesync.org is the solution to my particular problem, since it allows all kind of simple rules and logic to apply, so I can make sure that the copy only happens in one direction, and only ever by file date etc. Much appreciated. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Why are file backups so slow on Windows 11?
    I use this one: https://freefilesync.org. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Is it possible to sync Calibre configuration between Mac and Windows continuously?
    It was me, I'd probably play around with setting up shared folders of preferences and plug-ins and whatnot on something like dropbox or Google Drive. There are various folder sinking tools on both platforms such as free file sync on Windows. Since they are two completely different platforms, I don't know how interchangeable some of the preferences or plugins would be. I haven't used a Mac in a 100 years. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

Cobian Backup mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Cobian Backup yet. Tracking of Cobian Backup recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FreeFileSync and Cobian Backup, you can also consider the following products

Syncthing - Syncthing replaces proprietary sync and cloud services with something open, trustworthy and...

Online Vault Backup - Online Vault Backup is a cloud storage service that allows you backup your data while having unlimited storage.

rsync - rsync is a file transfer program for Unix systems. rsync uses the "rsync algorithm" which provides a very fast method for bringing remote files into sync.

Rebel Backup - Rebel Backup lets you make encrypted backups of your important files to Dropbox or Google Drive.

GoodSync - GoodSync provides highly reliable file backup and synchronization for both individuals and businesses.

Genie Backup Manager - Genie Backup Manager is a backup solution for Small and Medium Businesses who are seeking full system backup to virtually any storage device.

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