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File Storage · head to head

Duplicati vs FreeFileSync

Duplicati logo

Duplicati

File Storage

Free open-source backup with encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
FreeFileSync logo

FreeFileSync

Utilities

Open-source folder comparison and synchronisation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Duplicati no managed service or commercial support; FreeFileSync the interface is dense and functional rather than friendly, and the sync direction is easy to misread
  • They diverge on capability: Duplicati covers AES-256 encryption, FreeFileSync covers Comparison before sync.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Duplicati and FreeFileSync actually diverge.

Attributes where Duplicati and FreeFileSync differ
AttributeDuplicatiFreeFileSync
Pricing modelUnknownFree and open source; a paid Donation Edition adds convenience features
CategoryFile StorageUtilities
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Duplicati

  • AES-256 encryption
  • Incremental backup
  • Deduplication
  • Multiple cloud backends
  • Compression
  • Web interface
  • AWS S3
  • Azure

Only in FreeFileSync

  • Comparison before sync
  • Multiple sync modes
  • Versioning
  • Batch jobs

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Duplicati

  • Data protectionnot FreeFileSync
  • Disaster recoverynot FreeFileSync
  • Business continuitynot FreeFileSync
  • Ransomware protectionnot FreeFileSync
  • Compliancenot FreeFileSync

FreeFileSync

  • Mirroring a working drive to external storage on a schedulenot Duplicati
  • Comparing two folders to find what actually differsnot Duplicati
  • Backup routines where seeing the plan before it runs mattersnot Duplicati

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Duplicati

  • No managed service or commercial support
  • Relies on community support
  • No enterprise features

FreeFileSync

  • The interface is dense and functional rather than friendly, and the sync direction is easy to misread
  • Some convenience features are held behind the paid Donation Edition
  • The installer has historically bundled optional offers, which is worth reading carefully during setup
  • Not a versioned cloud backup: it synchronises what you point it at and nothing more

Pricing, plan by plan

Duplicati

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Duplicati review.

FreeFileSync

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

Which should you pick?

Choose Duplicati if

  • You need aes-256 encryption.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want incremental backup.
Duplicati review

Choose FreeFileSync if

  • You need comparison before sync.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux.
  • You also want multiple sync modes.
FreeFileSync review

Questions people ask

Is Duplicati or FreeFileSync better?
Neither clearly leads. Duplicati starts at Free and FreeFileSync at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Duplicati or FreeFileSync?
Duplicati starts at Free and FreeFileSync at Free.
Does Duplicati or FreeFileSync run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Duplicati for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Duplicati best used for?
Duplicati is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what FreeFileSync is typically brought in for.
What can Duplicati do that FreeFileSync cannot?
Duplicati covers AES-256 encryption, Incremental backup, Deduplication, Multiple cloud backends. FreeFileSync covers Comparison before sync, Multiple sync modes, Versioning, Batch jobs.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Duplicati: Is Duplicati free?

Yes. Duplicati is completely free and open-source under the LGPL license. There are no premium tiers, trials, or limitations.

Source
FreeFileSync: Is FreeFileSync free?

Yes, open source and free. A paid Donation Edition adds convenience features such as parallel sync and portable installs.

Duplicati: What does Duplicati support?

Duplicati supports zero-trust, fully encrypted backups to local storage, network drives, and cloud services. It includes deduplication and incremental backups.

Source
FreeFileSync: Is it a backup tool?

It synchronises folders and supports versioning, which covers many backup needs, but it is not a managed cloud backup service.

Duplicati: What are the platforms?

Duplicati runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It can back up data to local storage, network drives, or cloud providers.

Source
FreeFileSync: Can it sync to cloud storage?

Yes, including Google Drive and SFTP or FTP targets alongside local and network paths.

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