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Utilities · head to head

Syncthing vs WizTree

Syncthing logo

Syncthing

Utilities

Continuous file synchronisation between your own devices

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WizTree logo

WizTree

Utilities

Windows disk space analyser that reads the NTFS master file table, scanning a drive in seconds

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; WizTree it is free for personal use only, so deploying it across company machines without licences is a compliance problem rather than a saving.
  • They diverge on capability: Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, WizTree covers Master file table scanning.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Syncthing and WizTree actually diverge.

Attributes where Syncthing and WizTree differ
AttributeSyncthingWizTree
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 WizTree

  • Master file table scanning
  • File list view
  • Treemap
  • Hard link handling
  • Portable version
  • File deletion and export

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

WizTree

  • Clearing a full system drive quickly when someone is waiting and a multi-minute scan is unacceptablenot Syncthing
  • Finding large files across a whole volume without knowing which folder to look innot Syncthing
  • Repeated checks on a machine where disk space fills unpredictablynot Syncthing
  • Support work where the scan must finish while you are still on the callnot 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

WizTree

  • It is free for personal use only, so deploying it across company machines without licences is a compliance problem rather than a saving.
  • The speed advantage exists only on local NTFS volumes; network shares, exFAT, FAT32 and ReFS fall back to ordinary directory scanning and lose the advantage entirely.
  • Reading the master file table requires administrator rights, so it cannot be used by standard users on managed machines without an elevation policy.
  • It is Windows only, with no macOS or Linux build, so a mixed estate needs a second tool anyway.
  • It analyses one machine at a time with no scheduling or central reporting, so it is a diagnostic tool rather than a way to manage storage across an organisation.

Pricing, plan by plan

Syncthing

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

WizTree

Free
  • WizTree FreeFree
    • Full scanning and treemap features
    • Personal, non-commercial use only
    • No feature limitations for home users
  • WizTree Professional and Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Licence required for any business use
    • Per-user and site licensing tiers
    • Commercial deployment rights

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 WizTree if

  • You need master file table scanning.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want file list view.
WizTree review

Questions people ask

Is Syncthing or WizTree better?
Neither clearly leads. Syncthing starts at Free and WizTree at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Syncthing or WizTree?
Syncthing starts at Free and WizTree at Free.
Does Syncthing or WizTree run on more platforms?
Syncthing runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Docker. WizTree 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 WizTree is typically brought in for.
What can Syncthing do that WizTree cannot?
Syncthing covers Peer-to-peer sync, Encrypted transport, File versioning, Selective sync. WizTree covers Master file table scanning, File list view, Treemap, Hard link handling.

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.

WizTree: Why is it so much faster than other analysers?

It reads the NTFS master file table, the index the filesystem already maintains, instead of walking directories. It is one read of a structure rather than thousands of folder operations.

Syncthing: Is Syncthing a backup tool?

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

WizTree: Can I use the free version at work?

No. The free build is licensed for personal use only, and business use requires a paid licence. WinDirStat and TreeSize Free are the no-cost options that allow commercial use.

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.

WizTree: Is it fast on network drives?

No. Master file table access needs local NTFS. Over a network share it scans conventionally and is no faster than the alternatives.

WizTree: Does it need administrator rights?

Yes, for master file table access. Without elevation it either cannot scan or falls back to the slow method.

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