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File Storage · head to head

Duplicati vs Syncthing

Duplicati logo

Duplicati

File Storage

Free open-source backup with encryption

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Syncthing logo

Syncthing

Utilities

Continuous file synchronisation between your own devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Duplicati no managed service or commercial support; Syncthing synchronisation, not backup: a deletion propagates to every device, and versioning must be configured deliberately
  • They diverge on capability: Duplicati covers AES-256 encryption, Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Duplicati and Syncthing actually diverge.

Attributes where Duplicati and Syncthing differ
AttributeDuplicatiSyncthing
Pricing modelUnknownOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker
CategoryFile StorageUtilities
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Syncthing

  • Peer-to-peer sync
  • Encrypted transport
  • File versioning
  • Selective sync

What people use each for

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

Duplicati

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

Syncthing

  • Keeping files in step across personal machines without a cloud accountnot Duplicati
  • Syncing data that must not sit on a third-party server for policy reasonsnot Duplicati
  • Replacing a paid cloud storage subscription for sync-only needsnot 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

Syncthing

  • Synchronisation, not backup: a deletion propagates to every device, and versioning must be configured deliberately
  • Devices must be online simultaneously to sync, so an always-on machine is effectively required
  • Initial setup involves exchanging device IDs and is less approachable than signing into a cloud service
  • No web access to files, since there is no server holding them

Pricing, plan by plan

Duplicati

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Duplicati review.

Syncthing

Free
  • SyncthingFree
    • Full functionality
    • No usage limits
    • Community support

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 Syncthing if

  • You need peer-to-peer sync.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker.
  • You also want encrypted transport.
Syncthing review

Questions people ask

Is Duplicati or Syncthing better?
Neither clearly leads. Duplicati starts at Free and Syncthing at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Duplicati or Syncthing?
Duplicati starts at Free and Syncthing at Free.
Does Duplicati or Syncthing run on more platforms?
Duplicati runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Syncthing runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker.
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 Syncthing is typically brought in for.
What can Duplicati do that Syncthing cannot?
Duplicati covers AES-256 encryption, Incremental backup, Deduplication, Multiple cloud backends. Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, Encrypted transport, File versioning, Selective sync.

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
Syncthing: Is Syncthing free?

Yes, open source with no licence fee and no storage costs, because there is no server.

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
Syncthing: Is Syncthing a backup tool?

No. It synchronises, so deletions propagate. Use it alongside a real backup, not instead of one.

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
Syncthing: Do my files pass through anyone else’s servers?

No. Transfers are peer to peer and encrypted. Discovery and relay servers can help devices find each other, and relayed traffic remains encrypted end to end.

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