Dropbox VS SugarSync

[Tagged]

I have done a lot of research into cloud storage recently for two reasons: 1.) I experienced my first hard drive failure and 2.) I am a treasurer of a non profit with no physical location so we needed to find a way to store and share our documents.

I started off just looking at Dropbox vs Sugarsync. I got turned onto a few more and have listed if they work with Macs, PCs, iPhones and/or andriod devices.

Disclaimer:
I am going to include links that contain referral codes in them. Most of the services reviewed give 10 to 50% bonuses to the amount of space you get when you are referred as apposed to visiting their sites directly. Most of the services have a maximum amount of space that they will grant you so yes, i will get some free space from click thrus of this post but I will or am maxed out in the bonus space available to me already so I am including the referral links to benefit you as well. All details are covered below. Ok, ready?

SugarSync
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux (via Wine), iPhone, Android + more
Pricing:
5.5Gb with Free Account
40Gb $4.99/month (30 day free trial)
70Gb $9.99/month (30 day free trial)
110Gb $14.99/month (30 day free trial)
Referral Bonus: 500Mb/free account, 10Gb/paid Account, No Max!
Whats different: While Linux is not natively supported there is a work around. Can easily stream videos & music, does a real nice job with photo albums, can post to Facebook with a click. Also sharing is awesome! You can post public links (think Rapid Share) except others do not need an account nor are there download limits or wait times. You can share files & folders with and without passwords with others. Great to use in a small business environment! Web based file manipulation is also a nice bonus. Can email files in to be backed up. You also can get email reports to file and folder activity that is shared.


DropBox
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android + more
Pricing:
2.25Gb with Free Account
50Gb $9.99/month
100Gb $19.99/month
Referral Bonus: 250Mb/free account, 8Gb Max
Whats different: One of the most common of the group. Has a Linux client. Can share links with people to share specific files with people. 10Gb/day or 250Gb/day for paid account limit for public file downloads.


Memopal
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux (beta), iPhone, iPad
Pricing:
3.5Gb with Free Account
200Gb 49€/year
Referral Bonus: 500Mb/free account (no max listed)
Whats different: Not USA based, but USA supported. Can install on 10 computers with personal account. Can share a file, it basically uploads and emails end user with link to file.


Spideroak
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux
Pricing:
3Gb with Free Account
100Gb $10/month
Referral Bonus: 1Gb per referral (3Gb max bonus for free accounts, 20Gb max bonus for paid accounts)!
Whats different: Files are compressed before being uploaded and are uploaded encrypted. This saves you both bandwidth making your transfers quicker and allowing you to save more data within your plan. You can also share files & folders with exactly who you want to.


iDrive
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux (ibackup - no free accounts)
Pricing:
5Gb with Free Account (1 computer limit)
150Gb $4.95/month (1 computer limit)
500Gb $14.95/month (5 computer limit)
Referral Bonus: No signup bonuses. Affiliate program, 25% of revenue from referred accounts
Whats different: 2 clicks to start backing up the most common files. Supports backing up mapped and external hard drives as well. Web access to files. iDrive can also keep up to 30 versions of a file for you.


Box.net
Compatibility: Windows, iPhone, Android, BB
Pricing:
5Gb with Free Account (25mb file size limit)
25Gb $9.99/month (1Gb file size limit)
50Gb $19.99/month (1Gb file size limit)
Referral Bonus: None found
Whats different: Personal accounts severly limited in features, Business accounts have $15/month/user fees. Google apps integration. Stats and tracking of files.


CrashPlan
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Solaris
Pricing:
Free backup to another local computer
$54/year for 1 computer, unlimited space
$100/year for all family computers, unlimited space
Referral Bonus: None found
Whats different: Crashplan also uses smart compression to upload your files. When a file changes it only updates the changed part. If you do not need online backup, it can automate backing up to another local computer or external hard drive that is on site. Transfers are also done encrypted. Bandwidth is throttled to watch your activity, putting your computer to work when you are not working on it.


Carbonite
Compatibility: Windows, Mac
Pricing:
$54.95/year
Referral Bonus: No referral bonus (Affiliate Program managed by Commission Junction)
Whats different: Unlimited backup space! Access to files via internet. Cannot share files/folders.


Mozy.com - very similar to Carbonite, $54.45/year or $4.95/month options
Jungledisk.com/personal/ - $2/month for 5Gb - $3/month 5Gb free then $.15/Gb (rackspace cloud files)
Syncplicity.com - 2Gb Free only, 2 computers only
one.ubuntu.com - 2Gb Free. 20Gb for 2.99/month. Windows install in beta
Wuala.com - 1Gb free. Interesting option to trade storage on you machine for storage on other machines. Have an extra 100Gb disk on all the time? Use it to earn 100Gb of storage on the cloud.


In the end I favor SugarSync because of the advanced sharing options and plans available. While a linux client is not directly available, using Wine seems to work fine.

Get it here:

 

[Tagged]

has anyone tried MS Skydrive?

 

[biz79]

I've been using Dropbox for about a year and a half and love it. My favorite features are that it's easy to use - install the app on your phone, pc, etc. then drop your files in and my files are accessible from all my other devices. I've restored a few files from previous versions which was also simple. I also like how I can upload/download files from within their website directly. My only con is the space issue on the free product as stated above, but I can't really complain when I'm using the free edition. Definitely found more uses for it after I started using it.

 

[Private-Cowboy]

Sugarsync has that too but also offers the ability to back up any folder you define. You don't have to work on the dropbox folder alone. I favor Sugarsync too and the android app is really good too.

 

[pyro6128]

I use dropbox too, and if you use a .edu email address you get 500mb per referral. I also believe you get the most free storage with dropbox with a .edu

I was able to get 19gb of free storage with dropbox. Can't beat that.

Also with dropbox you don't only have to sync with the dropbox folder, you can sync other folders as well. Just thought I'd clear that up

 

[REMilk]

I have been using Dropbox for a couple of years on my PCs and laptops to 'sync' or transfer files. I started using it with my Droid about a year ago.

I have been using SugarSync with my Droid, PC and laptop for about 2 weeks.

With both I sync individual files and complete folders. I have also access both using their web sites. Both work well and seem to function in a similar manner.

I will keep and use my accounts on both and hopefully increase the 'free' space. I highly recommend both products. You will not be disappointed.

Bob

 

[dep]

I'm ready to switch to SugarSync because you can synchronize folders on your Android SD card with the Cloud. I wish Dropbox has this functionality but it does not. Would be great to always have your android photos in sync with some sort of cloud service. Why the **** doesn't Android sync your photos with Picasa? Makes no sense.

 

[Redalert]

Good thread, good info... thanks guys....

Red


Sent from my DROID2 using DroidForums App

 

[pyro6128]

Why the **** doesn't Android sync your photos with Picasa? Makes no sense.

I'm pretty sure you can sync with Picasa, I just dont know how

 

[BigMcGuire]

You can sync them to Picasa manually by highlighting the pictures and choosing Share --> Picasa. But I don't know of any way to do this automatically.

 

[leland]

Dropbox is smooth.

Skydrive pretty handy for syncing large folders between multiple machines. Haven't used the 3rd party android client yet, though.

I rely on both.