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Utilities · head to head

FreeFileSync vs PeaZip

FreeFileSync logo

FreeFileSync

Utilities

Open-source folder comparison and synchronisation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PeaZip logo

PeaZip

Utilities

Open-source archive manager for Windows and Linux supporting more than two hundred formats

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: FreeFileSync the interface is dense and functional rather than friendly, and the sync direction is easy to misread; PeaZip there is no supported macOS build, so any organisation with Mac users has to standardise on something else or maintain two tools.
  • They diverge on capability: FreeFileSync covers Comparison before sync, PeaZip covers Wide format support.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which FreeFileSync and PeaZip actually diverge.

Attributes where FreeFileSync and PeaZip differ
AttributeFreeFileSyncPeaZip
Pricing modelFree and open source; a paid Donation Edition adds convenience featuresOpen source, no licence fee
PlatformsWindows, macOS, LinuxWindows, Linux, BSD

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

  • Wide format support
  • Strong encryption
  • Secure delete
  • Checksums and hashes
  • Split and join
  • Portable builds

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 PeaZip
  • Comparing two folders to find what actually differsnot PeaZip
  • Backup routines where seeing the plan before it runs mattersnot PeaZip

PeaZip

  • Opening old or unusual archive formats that current tools refusenot FreeFileSync
  • Sending encrypted archives outside the organisation with a keyfile as well as a passwordnot FreeFileSync
  • Deploying one archiver across Windows and Linux desktops with the same interface and behaviournot FreeFileSync
  • Running from a USB stick on machines where software cannot be installednot 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

PeaZip

  • There is no supported macOS build, so any organisation with Mac users has to standardise on something else or maintain two tools.
  • It is effectively a single-maintainer project, and for software deployed to every desktop in a company that concentration of risk deserves an explicit decision.
  • The interface exposes a great many options at once and looks dated next to the system archiver, which generates support questions from non-technical users.
  • Bundled backend binaries sometimes trigger antivirus heuristics on managed Windows fleets, so deployment usually needs an allowlist entry prepared in advance.
  • Its own PEA and ARC formats are not readable by other tools, so using them for anything you send externally creates a dependency for the recipient.

Pricing, plan by plan

FreeFileSync

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core functionality
    • Personal use

PeaZip

Free
  • PeaZipFree
    • LGPLv3 licensed
    • Commercial use permitted
    • All formats and encryption features included

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 PeaZip if

  • You need wide format support.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, BSD.
  • You also want strong encryption.
PeaZip review

Questions people ask

Is FreeFileSync or PeaZip better?
Neither clearly leads. FreeFileSync starts at Free and PeaZip at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, FreeFileSync or PeaZip?
FreeFileSync starts at Free and PeaZip at Free.
Does FreeFileSync or PeaZip run on more platforms?
FreeFileSync runs on Windows, macOS, Linux. PeaZip runs on Windows, Linux, BSD.
Can I use FreeFileSync for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 PeaZip is typically brought in for.
What can FreeFileSync do that PeaZip cannot?
FreeFileSync covers Comparison before sync, Multiple sync modes, Versioning, Batch jobs. PeaZip covers Wide format support, Strong encryption, Secure delete, Checksums and hashes.

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.

PeaZip: Is PeaZip free for business use?

Yes. It is LGPLv3 licensed with no personal-use restriction and no paid edition.

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.

PeaZip: Does it work on macOS?

No supported build is offered. Mac users need a different archiver.

FreeFileSync: Can it sync to cloud storage?

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

PeaZip: How does it differ from 7-Zip?

It uses similar backends but adds far wider format support, a password manager, keyfile two-factor encryption, secure deletion and a graphical front end that also runs on Linux.

PeaZip: Should I use the PEA format?

Only for your own storage. Nothing else reads it, so anything sent to another party should be 7z or ZIP with AES-256.

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