Filen vs Sync.com Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 7.0 | 5.4 |
| Pricing |
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| Free storage | 10 GB | 5 GB |
| Lifetime plan | No | No |
| Established | 2021 | 2011 |
| Platforms | ||
| Encryption & keys | ||
| Who holds the keys | You hold the keysShow detailsHide detailsFilen says files are encrypted on your device with AES-256-GCM, each file with its own key, and that file names, folder names and file metadata are encrypted with a key derived from your password. The web app at app.filen.io receives its encryption code from Filen each time it loads and keeps your keys in the browser's local storage. Filen still sees your email address, IP address, how much storage you use and payment references. | Depends on a settingShow detailsHide detailsSync says files and file names are encrypted on your device with 256-bit AES. File size, type, creation time and the creator of a shared file are not encrypted. On paid plans, email password reset is on by default and keeps a copy of your account key that Sync's automated systems can use; turning it off deletes the copy. Previews of Office and other formats, media streaming, editing in Microsoft's editor, faster web downloads over 100 MB and links without Enhanced privacy are processed outside end-to-end encryption. The web panel decrypts files in your browser with code that Sync serves on every visit. |
| Also encrypted | File names and metadata | File names only |
| Sharing | Shared files stay encrypted | Only in some sharing modes |
| If you lose the password | Recovery key you keep | Provider can reset access |
| Trust & transparency | ||
| Client code | Fully open source | Closed source |
| Server code | Closed source | Closed source |
| Reproducible builds | Not specified | Not specified |
| Security audit | None on record | None on record |
| Jurisdiction | GermanyShow detailsHide detailsFilen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt) is registered at the District Court of Recklinghausen, Germany, and its terms are governed by German law. Filen says all its servers are its own hardware in colocation data centers in Germany; payment data passes through PayPal, Stripe and Coinbase, which also process it in the US. | CanadaShow detailsHide detailsSync.com Inc. is registered in Ontario and contracts with users outside the US; users in the US contract with Sync.com Corp., a Delaware company. The terms are governed by Ontario and Canadian law unless local law requires otherwise. Files are stored in Canada by default, or in the US for accounts in the US data region; account data is also kept with service providers in the US. |
| Owner | Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschränkt)Show detailsHide detailsA small German company represented by Jan Lenczyk, officially founded in May 2021. Filen says it has no outside investors and grew on sales of its earlier lifetime plans; its roadmap lists a planned change of legal form from UG to GmbH. | Sync.com Inc.Show detailsHide detailsSync says it was founded in Toronto in 2011 by Thomas Savundra, Suhan Shan and Darius Antia and has more than 2 million users. |
| Telemetry | No telemetry | On unless you opt out |
| Past data breach | No | No |
| Features & sync | ||
| Desktop sync | Yes | Yes |
| File versions | ExtendedShow detailsHide detailsUp to 100 versions per file, kept for as long as the file itself exists; versions count toward your storage and can be turned off. Deleted files stay in the trash for up to 30 days. | ExtendedShow detailsHide detailsEarlier versions and deleted files can be restored for 30 days on the free plan, 90 days on Personal 1TB, 180 days on Solo 5TB and 365 days on Personal Unlimited. They do not count toward your storage. |
| Collaborative editing | End-to-end encrypted | On the provider's server |