PrivacyPick

iCloud Drive vs Sync.com Comparison

Feature
Overview
Rating5.45.4
Pricing
  • $0.99/mo50 GB, iCloud+ 50 GB monthly
  • $2.99/mo200 GB, iCloud+ 200 GB monthly
  • $9.99/mo2 TB, iCloud+ 2 TB monthly
  • $29.99/mo6 TB, iCloud+ 6 TB monthly
  • $59.99/mo12 TB, iCloud+ 12 TB monthly
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  • 50 GB, iCloud+ 50 GB monthly: $0.99 a month
  • 200 GB, iCloud+ 200 GB monthly: $2.99 a month
  • 2 TB, iCloud+ 2 TB monthly: $9.99 a month
  • 6 TB, iCloud+ 6 TB monthly: $29.99 a month
  • 12 TB, iCloud+ 12 TB monthly: $59.99 a month
  • $16.00/mo1 TB, Personal 1TB monthly
  • $12.00/mo1 TB, Personal 1TB for 1 year
  • $32.00/mo5 TB, Solo 5TB monthly
  • $28.00/mo5 TB, Solo 5TB for 1 year
  • $54.00/moUnlimited, Personal Unlimited monthly
  • $45.00/moUnlimited, Personal Unlimited for 1 year
Show billing details
  • 1 TB, Personal 1TB monthly: $16 a month
  • 1 TB, Personal 1TB for 1 year: $144 billed yearly
  • 5 TB, Solo 5TB monthly: $32 a month
  • 5 TB, Solo 5TB for 1 year: $336 billed yearly
  • Unlimited, Personal Unlimited monthly: $54 a month
  • Unlimited, Personal Unlimited for 1 year: $540 billed yearly
Free storage5 GB5 GB
Lifetime planNoNo
Established20142011
Platforms
WebWindowsmacOSiOS
WebWindowsmacOSAndroidiOS
Encryption & keys
Who holds the keysDepends on a setting
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By 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 setting
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Sync 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 encryptedFile content onlyFile names only
SharingOnly in some sharing modesOnly in some sharing modes
If you lose the passwordProvider can reset accessProvider can reset access
Trust & transparency
Client codeClosed sourceClosed source
Server codeClosed sourceClosed source
Reproducible buildsNot specifiedNot specified
Security auditNone on recordNone on record
JurisdictionUnited States
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Users 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.

Canada
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Sync.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.

OwnerApple Inc.Sync.com Inc.
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Sync says it was founded in Toronto in 2011 by Thomas Savundra, Suhan Shan and Darius Antia and has more than 2 million users.

TelemetryOpt-inOn unless you opt out
Past data breachNoNo
Features & sync
Desktop syncYesYes
File versionsLimited
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Deleted 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.

Extended
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Earlier 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 editingOn the provider's serverOn the provider's server