FreeFileSync (FFS) : Open Source Files/Folders Comparison and Synchronization

FreeFileSync is an Open-Source folder comparison and synchronization tool. It is optimized for highest performance and usability without restricted or overloaded UI interfaces.

FreeFileSync has Unicode support and Network support. Synchronization database for propagation of deleted files and conflict detection. Support for multiple folder pairs with distinct configuration. Full support for Windows Symbolic Links and Windows Junction Points.

[ Detailed Description ]

If you manually backup folders, or perhaps transfer files from portable devices to your HDD regularly, FreeFileSync is a great application for doing the job effectively and efficiently.

Drag and drop folders you want to compare or synchronize, the click the fat buttons to start the process. Compare simply brings up any differences in the two folders, while synchronizing can be done in a variety of ways.\

‘Two way’ will copy or update files from both folders to each other (so both are identical afterwards): ‘mirror’ overwrites the right folder with the left’s content, while ‘update’ just copies new or updated files to the right folder.

FreeFileSync does its job excellently. It is not automated, but it’s quick and easy to use, and asks just the right number of questions before anything happens, so you won’t lose files accidentally. You can tell it to use the recycle bin too, just to be on the safe side.

[ Key Features ]

• Compare files (bytewise or by date) and synchronize them.
• No limitations: An arbitrary number of files can be synchronized.
• Unicode support.
• Network support.
• Built-in support for very long filenames (more than MAX_PATH = 260 characters).
• Synchronization database for propagation of deleted files and conflict detection
• Support for multiple folder pairs with distinct configuration
• Full support for Windows/Linux Symbolic Links and Windows Junction Points.
• Lean & easily accessible UI: Highly optimized for speed and huge sets of data.
• Algorithms coded in C++ completely.
• All progress indicators optimized for maximum performance!
• Create Batch Jobs for automated synchronization with or without GUI.

• Focus on usability:
1. Only necessary functionality on UI: no overloaded menus or icon jungle.
2. Select all folders via drag & drop.
3. Last used configuration and screen settings are saved automatically.
4. Maintain and load different configurations by drag & drop, load-button or commandline.
5. Double-click to start external application (e.g. show file in Windows Explorer)
6. Copy & paste all grid data as text
7. Delete superfluous/temporary files directly on main grid.
8. Right-click context menu.
9. Comprehensive status information and error reporting
10. Sort file-lists by name, size or date.

• Support for filesizes larger than 4 GB.
• Option to move files to Recycle Bin instead of deleting/overwriting them.
• Ignore directories “\RECYCLER” and “\System Volume Information” with default Filter. (Windows only)
• Localized versions are available for many languages.
• Delete before copy: Avoid disc space shortages for large sync-jobs.
• Filter functionality to include/exclude files from synchronization (without requiring a re-compare!).
• Include/exclude specific files from synchronization temporarily.
• Automatically handle daylight saving time changes on FAT/FAT32 volumes.
• Portable version available (selectable via installer).
• Native 64-Bit version.
• Check for updates from within FreeFileSync automatically.
• Copy locked files using Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service. (Windows only)
• Create regular backups with macros %time%, %date% within directory names
• Copy file and folder create/access/modification times when synchronizing
• Advanced locking strategy to allow multiple synchronization processes (e.g. multiple writers, same network share)

[ Official Download ]