SyncBackFree is the free edition of SyncBack, a backup and synchronization tool for copying files between a computer, external drives, and network shares. It suits home users who want scheduled backups and mirrored folders without paying for extra features.
SyncBackFree copies files between a source and a destination and keeps the two in step on a schedule you set. A profile defines what to copy — a document folder, a photo library, an external drive, or a mapped network share — and how: backup mode adds and updates files, mirror mode makes the destination match the source exactly, and synchronize mode copies changes in both directions. You run the profile manually the first time, simulate it to preview the planned actions, and then let it run on its own. Results are written to a log you can read afterwards, and the restore option walks you back through recovering files from the backup copy.
The free edition keeps the features most people need and leaves the rest out. Both a simplified and an expert interface are included: beginners answer a few questions about source and destination, while the expert view exposes comparison criteria, filters, and per-profile settings. Differences are judged by file date and size, so later runs transfer only what changed. Filters exclude whole folders or file types, such as temporary files or a cache directory, and simulations print exactly which files would be copied or removed beforehand. Each run leaves a log, and profiles can be scheduled to run unattended. When files disagree and you want to see why, Beyond Compare 5 displays both trees side by side.
SyncBackFree earns its place by covering the two jobs home users actually have: keeping a second copy of important folders and keeping two locations in step. Mirror mode is the safe answer to the first question, because the destination ends up a genuine copy rather than an accumulation of numbered duplicates that slowly fill a drive. Simulation before the first run removes the uncertainty that stops people from automating backups at all, since you can read the planned actions before a single file moves. Because the comparison is based on date, size, and attributes, repeat runs are quick — only changed files are touched, so an evening backup of a photo library finishes in seconds. The simple interface asks plain questions about what to do with new, changed, and deleted files, while the expert view gives full control over filters and criteria. Multiple profiles keep different jobs separate, and the restore option means the backup is something you can actually use, not just a pile of files.
Key capabilities and highlights.
Profiles choose between backup, which adds and updates files at the destination; mirror, which makes the destination an exact duplicate including deletions; and synchronize, which applies changes in both directions. Picking the right mode for the job avoids accidentally deleting the files you meant to protect.
A guided simple mode asks what to copy, where it should go, and how to treat new and deleted files, which is enough for routine folder backups. Expert mode exposes comparison criteria, filters, and logging options for users who need to control exactly how each decision is made.
A profile can be scheduled so it runs on its own, and it can execute in the background without a window in the way. Automatic runs are what turn a backup from an intention into a habit, since nothing depends on remembering to start the job.
Simulating a profile lists every file that would be copied, updated, or deleted without touching anything on disk. Reading that list before the first real run is the simplest way to catch a wrong destination or an over-aggressive mirror setting before it costs you data.
Include and exclude rules can skip entire folders or specific file types, such as caches, temporary files, or a recycle bin. Keeping that clutter out of the destination makes the copy smaller, faster, and far easier to interpret when you open it months later.
Every run writes a log showing which files were copied, skipped, or deleted, along with any errors and their causes. When a scheduled job starts behaving unexpectedly, the log is usually enough to identify whether the problem is a path, a permission, or a locked file.
A restore option walks back through the backup copy so a deleted document or a folder from last month can be brought back to a chosen location. Because the backup is a normal set of files rather than a proprietary archive, files can also be recovered with a file manager if needed.
Files are compared using date, size, and attributes, so repeat runs transfer only what has changed instead of recopying an entire library. That keeps a routine home backup quick enough to run daily, and the per-file display shows what the comparison decided before the copy starts.
Browse historical releases and previous builds.
Common questions about SyncBackFree.
It copies and synchronizes files between a computer and another location, such as an external drive or a network share. Typical uses are keeping a second copy of important folders, mirroring a photo library, and keeping a work folder and a backup folder identical.
Yes. SyncBackFree costs nothing to use and includes backup, mirror, and synchronize modes along with scheduling, filters, simulation, and detailed logging. It is aimed at home backups to local, removable, and network destinations.
Yes. A profile can be scheduled so it runs at set times or repeats on a chosen interval, and it can run in the background without user interaction. Combined with a simulation before the first run, that lets a routine backup happen without supervision.
Mirror makes the destination identical to the source, including removing files that no longer exist on the source. Synchronize copies changes in both directions, so a file added at either side ends up at the other. Mirror protects a copy; synchronize keeps two working locations aligned.
Yes. The simulation option produces a report of the files that would be copied, updated, or deleted without changing anything on disk. It is the recommended first step after creating a profile, because it reveals a wrong source or destination before any data moves.
Deleted files are not retained as separate versions by this free edition, so a mirror run removes them from the destination as well. To keep older copies, maintain more than one destination or use a second profile that is not set to mirror deletions.
SyncBackFree is the free edition of SyncBack, a backup and synchronization tool for copying files between a computer, external drives, and network shares. It suits home users who want scheduled backups and mirrored folders without paying for extra features.
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