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Utilities · head to head

FreeFileSync vs Sedaru

FreeFileSync logo

FreeFileSync

Utilities

Open-source folder comparison and synchronisation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sedaru logo

Sedaru

Utilities

Water utility asset management and field operations built on top of Esri ArcGIS

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only FreeFileSync has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: FreeFileSync the interface is dense and functional rather than friendly, and the sync direction is easy to misread; Sedaru the Esri dependency is absolute: an ArcGIS licence is a separate and substantial cost outside the Sedaru contract, and utilities without ArcGIS must buy into that platform before Sedaru is even usable.
  • They diverge on capability: FreeFileSync covers Comparison before sync, Sedaru covers Esri-native asset model.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreeFileSync and Sedaru actually diverge.

Attributes where FreeFileSync and Sedaru differ
AttributeFreeFileSyncSedaru
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelFree and open source; a paid Donation Edition adds convenience featuresquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWeb, iOS, Android, Cloud

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Utilities).

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 FreeFileSync

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

Only in Sedaru

  • Esri-native asset model
  • Field crew mobile
  • Hydraulic model integration
  • SCADA alarm context
  • Capital planning
  • Customer service linkage

What people use each for

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

FreeFileSync

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

Sedaru

  • A water utility whose crews already work from ArcGIS maps and that wants work orders on the same map rather than in a separate CMMSnot FreeFileSync
  • A wastewater authority prioritising collection system renewal by risk and condition rather than by age alonenot FreeFileSync
  • Giving field crews offline access to network asset data and work history in areas with no mobile coveragenot FreeFileSync
  • A utility trying to connect SCADA alarms to the physical assets and recent work that explain them, instead of reading alarms in isolationnot FreeFileSync

Where each one falls short

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

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

Sedaru

  • The Esri dependency is absolute: an ArcGIS licence is a separate and substantial cost outside the Sedaru contract, and utilities without ArcGIS must buy into that platform before Sedaru is even usable.
  • Sedaru inherits GIS data quality, so a utility with an incomplete or stale geodatabase discovers the gaps in front of field crews rather than fixing them, and the data remediation project is not in the Sedaru quote.
  • The North American water focus means limited relevance and limited implementation support outside that market, particularly for utilities operating under European or Australian regulatory reporting requirements.
  • Nothing is published on price and the product is sold within a large corporate portfolio, so a small utility has little basis for judging whether the quoted subscription is competitive.
  • It is a water and wastewater product; a municipality wanting one asset system across water, roads, parks and facilities will need a broader public works platform alongside it.

Pricing, plan by plan

FreeFileSync

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

Sedaru

On request
  • Sedaru$undefined/year
    • Subscription sized on utility scale and module selection
    • Esri ArcGIS licence required and purchased separately from Esri
    • Implementation and GIS data preparation quoted as services

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Sedaru if

  • You need esri-native asset model.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
  • You also want field crew mobile.
Sedaru review

Questions people ask

Is FreeFileSync or Sedaru better?
Neither clearly leads. FreeFileSync starts at Free and Sedaru at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreeFileSync or Sedaru?
FreeFileSync has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for FreeFileSync and On request for Sedaru.
Does FreeFileSync or Sedaru run on more platforms?
FreeFileSync runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. Sedaru runs on Web, iOS, Android, Cloud.
Can I use FreeFileSync for free?
Yes. FreeFileSync has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Sedaru starts at On request.
What is FreeFileSync best used for?
FreeFileSync is most often used for mirroring a working drive to external storage on a schedule, comparing two folders to find what actually differs, backup routines where seeing the plan before it runs matters. Of those, mirroring a working drive to external storage on a schedule and comparing two folders to find what actually differs are not what Sedaru is typically brought in for.
What can FreeFileSync do that Sedaru cannot?
FreeFileSync covers Comparison before sync, Multiple sync modes, Versioning, Batch jobs. Sedaru covers Esri-native asset model, Field crew mobile, Hydraulic model integration, SCADA alarm context.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

FreeFileSync: Is FreeFileSync free?

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

Sedaru: Do I need Esri ArcGIS to use Sedaru?

Yes. Sedaru is built on the ArcGIS geodatabase and the Esri licence is a separate purchase from Esri, not part of the Sedaru subscription.

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.

Sedaru: Who owns Sedaru?

Aquatic Informatics, which is part of Veralto, the water quality group spun out of Danaher in 2023.

FreeFileSync: Can it sync to cloud storage?

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

Sedaru: Does Sedaru replace a CMMS?

For water network assets, largely yes. For plant equipment and facilities maintenance many utilities still run a separate CMMS.

Sedaru: Is pricing published?

No. Subscriptions are sized on the utility and quoted, with implementation and data preparation charged as services.

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