Syncing Services

Syncing services are offering more solutions for online backup

File synchronization is becoming a very popular service, and new providers are entering the market all the time. If you use multiple computers, file syncing eliminates the need to transfer files using a thumb drive. When you make a change on a file on your work computer, for example, that file will automatically be updated on your home computer and your laptop. Most file syncing services also offer at least 2 GB of online storage, and they can be a good choice for backing up small amounts of data. Because these services offer more features, they are typically more expensive than basic online backup services like Mozy and Carbonite.

Dropbox (Free for 2 GB) is one of the most popular options, earning Editors' Choice awards from Laptop Magazine, PCMag.com and the U.K. edition of Macworld. It syncs files across all of your computers and your online storage account, and you'll always have the most recent versions. Your data can be accessed from any Internet connection or with the free Dropbox app for iPhone or Android smartphones. Dropbox is compatible with Mac OS X, Windows and Linux operating systems. If you need more storage space, Dropbox offers paid subscriptions for 50 GB (*Est. $120 per year) or 100 GB (*Est. $240 per year). Those who opt for a paid subscription get unlimited file versioning; the free subscription saves versions for 30 days.

Reviewers say Dropbox is a snap to use. Downloading the software takes only a few minutes, and backing up your files is as simple as dragging and dropping them into the client. "The interface couldn't be easier to use and the service works with a minimum of fuss," Scott Colvey writes in Web User magazine, which gives Dropbox a Gold Award. The status of each file is easily recognizable. Dropbox is also useful for sharing documents with others, because you can send files directly from the client (which allows them to be edited) or create a read-only public link. "Although it's perfectly capable of storing the full contents of your computer, it was designed specifically for sharing living files with yourself or others, and in that regard, it excels," Dana Wollman writes at Laptop Magazine. Reviewers appreciate the cross-platform support, and you can sync files among computers with different operating systems. This is helpful if you have a PC at work and a Mac at home, for example. Dropbox is more expensive than traditional online backup services, but reviewers say it's worth the price if you need file syncing or sharing.

SugarSync (*Est. $50 per year for 30 GB) is another popular option for Windows and Mac PCs, although many reviewers prefer Dropbox. SugarSync offers automated online backup that is accessible from any computer connected to the Internet and many smartphones, including the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry platforms. Users get a personalized SugarSync website where their data is stored. After the initial backup, files are automatically backed up regularly and when any changes are made. Your files are synced across multiple computers, and if you change a file on your work computer, it will automatically update on your home computer. SugarSync saves up to five previous versions of each file, although only the current file counts toward your storage total. SugarSync offers a variety of pricing plans in addition to the 30 GB subscription, including 60 GB (*Est. $100 per year), 100 GB (*Est. $150 per year) and 250 GB (*Est. $250 per year); monthly and business plans are also available. Each plan has a 30-day free trial.

Stuart Andrews at PC Pro tests a number of online backup services, and he says that "no other online storage service does so much so well." Andrews says that SugarSync is easy to use and set up, and he's impressed with the program's media capabilities. SugarSync allows you to play music or view photo albums from any computer or mobile device, even if those files live on a different computer. It integrates with Facebook for easy posting of photos and videos. Reviewers also say they like the feature that sends pictures taken with your camera's phone directly to your home computer. The sleek interface gets high marks for ease of use. "SugarSync has one of the best looking file managers around, making it easy to browse and download the files you have stored for each associated PC," Kat Orphanides writes at the British site, Expert Reviews. However, the restoration process is more complicated than with top-rated online storage services like Mozy. The initial backup is also slower, and it takes PC Pro almost eight hours to upload 1 GB of data (in comparison, Mozy took 6.5 hours for the same amount of data). Some reviewers also say they wish it had more storage space.

Syncplicity (*Est. $15 per month for 50 GB) is another option for file syncing and online backup. Like SugarSync, Syncplicity synchronizes files across multiple computers, automatically backs up files and provides access to your data from any computer with an Internet connection. It saves all previous versions of each file, whereas SugarSync only saves the last five versions. However, you can't sync across unlimited computers; only five computers are included in the $15 monthly plan. You have to upgrade to the business edition (*Est. $45 per month for 50 GB) for unlimited computers. If you don't need much storage, Syncplicity offers a free version with up to 2 GB of storage that can sync two computers.

Reviewers say Syncplicity is a full-featured syncing service, especially if you opt for the business edition. WindowsNetworking.com, which tests this version, gives it a Gold Award. Debra Shinder says setup is straightforward, and you can access any of your files from the web. Business users can manage multiple users and set permissions for their accounts. "There is nothing complicated about using this product, either from the user or the administrator point of view -- yet it does everything it needs to do; this is a rare case where lack of complexity does not mean lack of capability," writes Shinder. Syncplicity is not available for Mac computers, although it is accepting testers for a beta version.

After years of being in beta, Microsoft's Live Mesh 2011 (Free for 5 GB) has finally gone live. Live Mesh is another online data backup, sync and share service, and you can access your files from any computer with an Internet connection. Microsoft Live Mesh only works on Windows computers running Windows 7 and Vista, but a version is also available for the Mac. Few reviewers have tested Live Mesh recently, although it earned some positive feedback in previous years. Stuart Andrews at PC Pro says he thinks Live Mesh is easy to use and fast, but he describes the interface as "clunky." Scott Dunn at PC World agrees, saying Live Mesh is "powerful but unnecessarily clumsy." As a result, the free version of Dropbox is probably a better option if you want a free file syncing service.

Apple also offers a backup and file-sharing service called MobileMe (*Est. $100 per year for 20 GB). You get a personalized website to access your files from any computer, iPhone or iPad. You can share and sync files, including your email and calendar, among machines. However, MobileMe is more a synchronization service than pure online backup -- there's no automatic or continuous backup, and you have to choose which files to add to your online storage account. MobileMe integrates with Mac OS X (version 10.5.8 and higher) and is available for PCs with Windows XP or newer.

MobileMe hasn't earned glowing reviews, and many reviewers say the service needs some improvements -- including a drop in price. That might all be on the way. According to reports, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has promised to make notable improvements in the service this year. One such improvement, turning a utility that uses MobileMe to find a missing iPhone from a paid to a free option, has already materialized, and some have speculated that MobileMe might become a free service.

If you want to be able to access files from any computer with an Internet connection, Google Docs (Free for 1 GB) is an option. Google Docs allows you to create new documents or upload existing files, share documents with friends or coworkers, and publish your files on the web. You can only upload files less than 1 MB. Additional storage space can be purchased, ranging from $5 per year for 20 GB up to $4,100 per year for 16 TB. Michael Muchmore at PCMag.com says Google Docs has the "cleanest, most usable interface I've found in any cloud-based suite." It's also quick to open and edit files. However, you don't get much storage, and top-rated services like Dropbox and SugarSync offer more features.