Syncthing vs ExpanDrive Comparison: Everything You Need to Know Before Choosing

Syncthing is an open-source continuous file synchronisation program that keeps folders in sync between computers and servers without relying on a central cloud provider. Commercial support, consulting and enterprise services for Syncthing are provided by Kastelo, a company founded by members of the project’s core team. Many organisations need to share and synchronise files across devices and locations, but conventional cloud storage services place data on third-party infrastructure, raising concerns about privacy, data sovereignty and vendor dependence. Syncthing addresses this by synchronising data directly between devices using a peer-to-peer model, so files are only ever stored on machines that the user or organisation controls. Its core approach emphasises security and privacy: all communication is encrypted with TLS, each device is identified by a strong cryptographic certificate, and only explicitly trusted devices can connect and exchange data. Key capabilities include real-time or scheduled folder synchronisation, support for multiple devices and complex sharing topologies, file versioning options to protect against accidental changes, selective ignore patterns, and untrusted device encryption that allows data to be stored on devices that cannot read its contents. A browser-based graphical interface lets users configure folders and devices, while a REST API and command-line options support automation and integration with other systems. Syncthing runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD and other platforms, with community applications available for Android, and it is widely used to synchronise source code, documents and backups across development and operational environments. Through Kastelo, organisations can obtain professional support, security assurance and assistance with large or business-critical deployments. Syncthing is used by individuals, software developers, IT teams, research institutions and organisations with strict data protection requirements that prefer self-hosted synchronisation. Pricing for commercial support is not published in this listing, and no free trial or free version details are recorded, although the core Syncthing software itself is open source.