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Utilities · head to head

Syncthing vs TreeSize

Syncthing logo

Syncthing

Utilities

Continuous file synchronisation between your own devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TreeSize logo

TreeSize

Utilities

Windows disk space analyser whose free edition may be used commercially, with paid tiers for scheduled reporting

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Syncthing synchronisation, not backup: a deletion propagates to every device, and versioning must be configured deliberately; TreeSize it traverses directories rather than reading the NTFS master file table, so a local drive scan takes noticeably longer than the fastest alternatives.
  • They diverge on capability: Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, TreeSize covers Free edition licensed for business.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Syncthing and TreeSize actually diverge.

Attributes where Syncthing and TreeSize differ
AttributeSyncthingTreeSize
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feequote
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, DockerWindows

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 TreeSize

  • Free edition licensed for business
  • Network share scanning
  • Reports by age and owner
  • Duplicate file search
  • Scheduled scans
  • Exports

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 TreeSize
  • Syncing data that must not sit on a third-party server for policy reasonsnot TreeSize
  • Replacing a paid cloud storage subscription for sync-only needsnot TreeSize

TreeSize

  • Deploying one free disk analyser across a company without a personal-use licence problemnot Syncthing
  • Reporting on a file server by owner and file age before an archiving or quota decisionnot Syncthing
  • Finding duplicate files spread across departmental network sharesnot Syncthing
  • Producing a storage report for someone who will read a PDF but not run a scannot 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

TreeSize

  • It traverses directories rather than reading the NTFS master file table, so a local drive scan takes noticeably longer than the fastest alternatives.
  • It is Windows only, so file servers running Linux or a NAS appliance need a different tool or a share mounted from a Windows machine.
  • Useful features are spread across three paid tiers, so the single capability a buyer needs frequently sits two tiers above the one they were considering.
  • Scanning large network shares generates significant traffic and takes hours, which means it has to be scheduled rather than run when someone asks the question.
  • Pricing is per licence with separate maintenance, so an accurate total for a team requires a quote rather than a figure from the website.

Pricing, plan by plan

Syncthing

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

TreeSize

Free
  • TreeSize FreeFree
    • Folder size analysis and treemap
    • Licensed for private and commercial use
    • Basic exports
  • TreeSize Personal, Professional and Enterprise$undefined/year
    • File search, duplicate detection and full exports
    • Network share and file server scanning
    • Scheduled unattended scans and stored reports

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.
Syncthing review

Choose TreeSize if

  • You need free edition licensed for business.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want network share scanning.
TreeSize review

Questions people ask

Is Syncthing or TreeSize better?
Neither clearly leads. Syncthing starts at Free and TreeSize at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Syncthing or TreeSize?
Syncthing starts at Free and TreeSize at Free.
Does Syncthing or TreeSize run on more platforms?
Syncthing runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker. TreeSize 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 TreeSize is typically brought in for.
What can Syncthing do that TreeSize cannot?
Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, Encrypted transport, File versioning, Selective sync. TreeSize covers Free edition licensed for business, Network share scanning, Reports by age and owner, Duplicate file search.

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.

TreeSize: Is TreeSize Free really free for business use?

Yes. JAM Software licenses the free edition for private and commercial use, which is the main reason it appears on corporate machines where other free analysers are not permitted.

Syncthing: Is Syncthing a backup tool?

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

TreeSize: Why is it slower than WizTree?

Method. WizTree reads the NTFS master file table; TreeSize walks the directory tree, which is slower but works on network shares and non-NTFS volumes.

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.

TreeSize: Can it scan a NAS or Linux file server?

It scans them as network shares over SMB, with the speed penalty that implies. There is no agent that runs on the server itself.

TreeSize: What does the Enterprise tier add?

Scheduled unattended scans, stored historical results and reporting across servers, which is the difference between a cleanup tool and a storage reporting system.

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