Utilities · head to head
Syncthing vs Everything
Syncthing
Utilities
Continuous file synchronisation between your own devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Syncthing synchronisation, not backup: a deletion propagates to every device, and versioning must be configured deliberately; Everything searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed
- They diverge on capability: Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, Everything covers Instant results.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Syncthing and Everything actually diverge.
| Attribute | Syncthing | Everything |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source, no licence fee | Free; donations accepted |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker | Windows |
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 Syncthing
- Peer-to-peer sync
- Encrypted transport
- File versioning
- Selective sync
Only in Everything
- Instant results
- MFT-based indexing
- Tiny footprint
- Regex and filters
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Syncthing
- Keeping files in step across personal machines without a cloud accountnot Everything
- Syncing data that must not sit on a third-party server for policy reasonsnot Everything
- Replacing a paid cloud storage subscription for sync-only needsnot Everything
Everything
- Finding a file by name instantly instead of waiting on Windows Searchnot Syncthing
- Locating duplicates and stray files across large drivesnot Syncthing
- Navigating a machine with hundreds of thousands of filesnot Syncthing
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Everything
- Searches filenames only, not file contents, which is the deliberate trade for its speed
- Windows and NTFS only: no macOS or Linux build, and non-NTFS volumes fall back to slower indexing
- Requires administrator rights to read the Master File Table
Pricing, plan by plan
Syncthing
Free- SyncthingFree
- Full functionality
- No usage limits
- Community support
Everything
Free- FreeFree
- Core functionality
- Personal use
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Everything if
- You need instant results.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want mft-based indexing.
Questions people ask
- Is Syncthing or Everything better?
- Neither clearly leads. Syncthing starts at Free and Everything at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Syncthing or Everything?
- Syncthing starts at Free and Everything at Free.
- Does Syncthing or Everything run on more platforms?
- Syncthing runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker. Everything runs on Windows.
- Can I use Syncthing for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Syncthing best used for?
- Syncthing is most often used for keeping files in step across personal machines without a cloud account, syncing data that must not sit on a third-party server for policy reasons, replacing a paid cloud storage subscription for sync-only needs. Of those, keeping files in step across personal machines without a cloud account and syncing data that must not sit on a third-party server for policy reasons are not what Everything is typically brought in for.
- What can Syncthing do that Everything cannot?
- Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, Encrypted transport, File versioning, Selective sync. Everything covers Instant results, MFT-based indexing, Tiny footprint, Regex and filters.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Syncthing: Is Syncthing free?
Yes, open source with no licence fee and no storage costs, because there is no server.
Everything: Is Everything free?
Yes, free to use with donations accepted.
Syncthing: Is Syncthing a backup tool?
No. It synchronises, so deletions propagate. Use it alongside a real backup, not instead of one.
Everything: Why is it so much faster than Windows Search?
It reads the NTFS Master File Table directly instead of crawling the filesystem, so indexing a whole volume takes seconds.
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.
Everything: Can it search inside files?
Only in a limited way. It is built for filename search, and full content search is not what it is for.