iCloud Drive vs Sync.com Comparison
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 5.4 | 5.4 |
| Pricing |
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| Free storage | 5 GB | 5 GB |
| Lifetime plan | No | No |
| Established | 2014 | 2011 |
| Platforms | ||
| Encryption & keys | ||
| Who holds the keys | Depends on a settingShow detailsHide detailsBy default Apple keeps the keys to iCloud Drive in its data centers and can decrypt your files, for example to restore them after a forgotten password. Advanced Data Protection, a setting turned on from an iPhone, iPad or Mac, deletes Apple's copy of the keys and leaves them on your trusted devices; Apple no longer offers it to new users in the UK. Even with it on, the file type, size, creation and modification dates and checksums of the file content and file name stay under keys Apple holds. With the setting on, iCloud.com cannot open your files until you allow web access, and then each session gets temporary keys from one of your devices. | 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 content only | File names only |
| Sharing | Only in some sharing modes | Only in some sharing modes |
| If you lose the password | Provider can reset access | Provider can reset access |
| Trust & transparency | ||
| Client code | Closed source | Closed source |
| Server code | Closed source | Closed source |
| Reproducible builds | Not specified | Not specified |
| Security audit | None on record | None on record |
| Jurisdiction | United StatesShow detailsHide detailsUsers in the US contract with Apple Inc. in Cupertino, California; users elsewhere contract with a regional Apple company, such as Apple Distribution International in Ireland. The terms are governed by California law, except for residents of the EU, the UK, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, whose local law applies. Apple keeps the keys it can use in its US data centers and may store data with third-party data centers. In mainland China, iCloud is operated by GCBD (AIPO Cloud (Guizhou) Technology Co. Ltd) under its own terms. | 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 | Apple Inc. | 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 | Opt-in | On unless you opt out |
| Past data breach | No | No |
| Features & sync | ||
| Desktop sync | Yes | Yes |
| File versions | LimitedShow detailsHide detailsDeleted files stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days and can be restored. Pages, Numbers and Keynote documents keep a version history; Apple documents no version history for other files. | 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 | On the provider's server | On the provider's server |
