If you’re on the hunt for a secure, effective, and budget-friendly cloud storage solution, Sync should be on your shortlist.
Although it’s better known for its generous 5 GB free storage when you sign up, the storage service has been evolving, recently adding unlimited cloud storage to its offerings. That makes it an excellent choice for large businesses that handle large amounts of data.
Security is also Sync’s strong suit, thanks to its zero-knowledge encryption and end-to-end encryption. We tested Sync to bring you this in-depth Sync Cloud Storage review, where we delve into this storage service’s security, usability, customer service, and features.
Sync.com Short Review: Is Sync Worth Getting?
Pros
- Free version with 5GB of storage
- Zero-knowledge encryption
- End-to-end encryption for all files
- Easy-to-use apps
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited storage option
Cons
- Limited third-party integration apps
- No live chat
- No phone support
Sync is a pocket-friendly cloud storage service that offers excellent security features, including zero-knowledge encryption and end-to-end encryption. It’s a great option if you intend to store and share sensitive files securely. Plus, its free offer is one of the most generous on the market: you get free 5 GB of storage space when you sign up. Its paid plans start at $8 per month.
Sync’s major downside is that it doesn’t allow as many integrations with third-party apps as many other cloud storage apps. In addition, Sync only provides email support and a knowledge base. It doesn’t have live chat or phone support.
Read the full Sync.com review below for a thorough breakdown of all the points mentioned above.
Sync Memberships and Pricing
| Feature | Solo Basic | Solo Professional | Teams Standard | Teams Unlimited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $8/month | $20/month | $6/user/month | $15/user/month |
| Storage | 2 TB | 6 TB | 1 TB | Unlimited |
| Users | 1 | 1 | 2+ | 2+ |
| Data Transfer | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Sharing and collaboration | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Realtime backup and sync | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| End-to-end encryption | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| No third-party tracking | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| HIPAA compliance | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| File history and recovery | 180-day history | 365-day history | 180-day history | 365-day history |
| Password protection sharing | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Two-factor authentication (2FA) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Link sharing | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Team shared folders | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Custom branding | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Desktop client and integration | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Multi-user admin console | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Administrator account | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Centralized billing | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Manage user passwords | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Transfer in accounts | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Priority email support | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| VIP response time | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| On-demand business hour phone support | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| 99.9% uptime | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Download Link | Get Solo Basic | Get Solo Professional | Get Teams Standard | Get Teams Unlimited |
Sync gives you 5 GB of free cloud storage space when you sign up. You can earn an additional 20 GB by referring others. However, your file history and recovery are limited to 30 days.
When it comes to paid plans, Sync has two sets of plans: one for individuals and another for teams. For individuals, there’s the Solo Basic plan, which only offers 2 GB of cloud storage. It’s best for users who need secure storage for personal files and documents.
Sync also has the Solo Professional package, which bumps up the storage space on offer to 6 TB. Sync designed this plan with freelancers in mind.
Organizations can choose between the Teams Standard and Teams Unlimited packages if they want Sync storage for their team. Although the Standard plan offers 1 TB cloud storage, the sweet spot is the Unlimited package, which offers unlimited storage space.
Sync also offers an enterprise package designed for large companies with over 100 users. This plan includes a dedicated account manager and training sessions for all business users. Sync doesn’t have specific pricing for the enterprise package, so you’ll need to get in touch with customer support to get a tailor-made plan.
Does Sync have a money-back guarantee?
Sync provides a 30-day money-back guarantee on all new plan upgrades. You can upgrade your free plan to a paid plan at any time.
Features: What Does Sync Have to Offer?
Sync has useful features to help you safely store and share files. However, its limited integrations take away some points. As such, we grade Sync a 7 out of 10 in this area.
Sync comes with several different options and features, including:
- Secure file sharing
- Team collaboration
- Access files from anywhere
- Backup and restore
- Unlimited storage
- Integrations
Secure file-sharing
With Sync, you can send and receive files without having to look over your shoulder. The app enables you to set access permissions on every file you send. This way, you can determine who can view files stored and what they can do with them.
Sync’s access control options include password protection, view-only access, email notifications, download restrictions, and expiry dates. You can also revoke access to any file anytime, even after you’ve shared it.
Team collaboration
Sync enables you to create a centralized Sync folder containing your Sync files and documents. This folder can be accessed by your internal team and external partners.
You can also create folders for specific projects and set granular permissions to define the people who can access files and what they can do with them.
In addition, you can track changes and monitor your Sync folder in real-time through activity logs and notifications. Sync also allows you to brand your folders with your colors and logo to stand out. This is a handy feature to help you look professional.
Access files from anywhere
Thanks to the Sync Folder, you can access your files from anywhere, regardless of your device. The cloud storage service has apps for most of the major operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Plus, you can access Sync through your browser using the web panel feature.
This makes Sync a good choice for working remotely from any part of the world. Even if you don’t have internet access, Sync provides offline access to files. That way, you can still do some work and then sync your files once you have an internet connection.
Backup and restore
Sync ensures that you never lose a file, thanks to its backup and restore feature.
Owing to its file versioning, you can roll back any file to an earlier version. This way, even if a file is corrupted or accidentally deleted, or even if your hardware fails, you can still get your file back without breaking a sweat. You can restore deleted files from up to 365 days back.
Furthermore, your Sync package includes a storage space known as Vault. You can backup files and folders you don’t want in your Sync folder there. It’s also a space-saving feature since vault files do not synchronize automatically.
Sync’s account rewind feature is also worth a mention. Similar to what pCloud offers, Sync allows you to restore your account to a previous stage. This is a handy feature if you lose a lot of files at once.
Integrations with third-party apps
Integration is not Sync’s strong suit. Compared to other cloud storage providers like Google One, Sync doesn’t integrate with a large range of apps. Thankfully, there are still a few apps you can use with Sync, namely:
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe PDF Reader
- Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Suite
- Slack
Unlimited storage
Most cloud storage providers cap the amount of storage space you get. For example, the maximum amount of storage space Google One and NordLocker offer is 2 TB.
However, Sync recently introduced a new plan, Teams Unlimited, which offers unlimited storage space. It’s ideal for businesses with large teams that often transfer large amounts of files.
Security: How Safe is Sync?
Sync Cloud Storage bills itself as a secure cloud storage solution. Our testing proved that to be the case. Here is a summary of our findings:
- Sync complies with strict regulations like PIPEDA and GDPR.
- It logs some user data, but it doesn’t share them with any third party.
- It implements zero-knowledge encryption.
For those reasons, Sync earns an 8 out of 10 in security.
Privacy practices
One of Sync’s strengths is that it prioritizes user privacy. Because the company is based in Canada, it adheres to the country’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). In brief, this law requires organizations to seek users’ consent before collecting, storing, or sharing their data.
For customers in Europe, Sync cloud storage follows the requirements spelled out by the much stricter General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This law mandates companies to meet several requirements, including having a data privacy officer, implementing data breach protocols, running a data management plan, and ensuring document compliance, record keeping, and auditing procedures.
In terms of data it collects on you, Sync logs your IP address and the time you access their service. However, in its privacy policy, the company states that it won’t share any user data with any third party, unless in response to a legal inquiry or order. Even then, it will notify you first.
Security and encryption
Sync has implemented zero-knowledge encryption on all its plans. This means that no one — not even Sync — has access to your password, encryption keys, and the information your store on Sync’s servers. This feature makes Sync a handy choice for keeping your documents and confidential files away from prying eyes.
It’s worth noting that your files are encrypted at all times, whether at rest or in transit. You can rest easy knowing that it’s highly unlikely for anyone to access and compromise your data. However, if you want to explore other options that have similar security features, you may want to have a look at WeTransfer too.
Ease of Use: Is Sync Cloud Storage User-Friendly?
In this section, we examine Sync’s usability, from installation to user experience. Here’s a summary of our observations:
- Signing up, downloading, and installing Sync is a breeze.
- When you install Sync on your computer, it creates a sync folder.
- The Sync app allows you to customize the service to your taste.
- The web panel helps you access, edit and manage your files on a browser.
Sync earns a 9 out of 10 in ease of use.
Sync.com’s website and installation process
Sync’s website is neat and well-organized. Combing through the website is a breeze, and the homepage has tabs linking to information about its pricing plans, features, and apps.
Sync has desktop and mobile apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have an app for Linux at the moment, though it is currently in the works. For now, you can access the Sync web app on Linux using a browser.
Setting up the Sync cloud storage desktop app is quick and easy across the board. To demonstrate that, we’ll walk through the steps of signing up, downloading, and installing the Sync app on a Windows device.
Here’s how to install Sync on your device:
- Go to Sync.com, and click on “Sign Up” in the top-right corner of the website. You’ll need to enter your email address and create a password.
- Click on “Resources,” then “Download.”
- Open the downloaded file (sync-installer.exe) and follow the prompts to install. You’ll be asked to log in along the way.
- And that’s it! You’ve installed Sync on your device.
Once the app is installed, Sync will create a file on your computer labeled “Sync,” where all your files will be held. Any file you add to the Sync folder will be backed up automatically.
Once you’re done with the installation, you can access the Sync app on your Windows system tray at the bottom right corner of your screen. If it’s not visible there, click the white up arrow.
Sync’s usability
The Sync app is straightforward and devoid of clutter. The default view is your Sync folder/vault, which contains all your uploaded files. You can search for specific files using the search bar at the bottom of the screen.
At the upper right corner of the app, you’ll find three icons:
- The cloud icon: Opens Sync.com’s web panel
- The folder icon: Opens the Sync folder on your computer
- Gear icon: Opens the settings tab
Clinking on the settings button (the gear icon) contains links to the Sync folder, the web panel, recently fetched files, events, and the support center.
The web panel allows you to view and edit your files from any web browser. It also allows you to set your sharing preferences and add users to your Sync account.
Under settings, you’ll also find the “Preferences” tab, which allows you to tweak several options, including choosing when Sync starts up, changing your password, setting upload and download speeds, and choosing folders to sync.
Customer Service: Is Sync’s Support Helpful?
We reviewed and tested Sync’s support to see how it stacks up. Here is a snapshot of our findings:
- Sync doesn’t have live chat, phone support, or a community forum.
- The knowledge base is full of step-by-step instructions, tutorials, and FAQs.
- You can fill out a form to contact a support agent, although responses might be slow.
As a result, we grade Sync a 5 out of 10 for customer service.
Knowledge base and contacting support
If you run into any challenges while using the Sync cloud storage platform, check the knowledge base to find articles, step-by-step guides, FAQs, and tutorials.
The resources are compiled under various categories, including “Accounts and Billing,” “Team Shared Folders,” “File Requests,” “Vault,” “Mobile Apps,” and “Password and Security.” This makes it easy to find the information you want.
The articles are skimmable, insightful, and actionable. Some of them contain screenshots and short videos to help you follow along.
If the knowledge base doesn’t contain the answers you’re looking for, reach out to Sync’s support team. To do that, click “Contact Support” under “Categories” in the help center.
Next, fill out the contact support form by entering your name, email, and message.
We tested this feature with a dummy inquiry. We received a response within six hours of sending the request, and the answers were detailed and helpful. We liked that the response contained links to resources that shed more light on the questions we asked.
Missing features
Sync cloud storage does not have a live chat feature or phone support, meaning that your best bet to get quick answers is to fill out the contact support form.
In addition, the service doesn’t have a community forum, which could be an excellent opportunity for learning from and interacting with other users.
We would like to see Sync add more options for contacting customer support, especially for those who subscribed to their Teams plans. Live chat, specifically, is standard in many software companies today.
Sync.com Review: Is it Worth Purchasing?
Sync does not integrate with other services the way Google Drive and iCloud do, but it offers the key functions you’d want in a storage system: file syncing, collaboration, versioning, and remote access.
It’s a good choice if you want affordable cloud storage with excellent security and privacy features, including zero-knowledge encryption.
Sync is also an excellent choice for businesses thanks to its budget-friendly pricing, unlimited storage offer, and collaboration features. Its only downside is its lack of customer support options, particularly a live chat feature.
With a total score of 7.3 out of 10, we readily recommend Sync for those who need a cloud storage solution. You can download Sync by clicking the button below.
If you want to explore other cloud storage providers before taking the plunge, here are a few to consider:
- Google One Review: Is This Backup Solution Any Good?
- NordLocker Review: End-to-End Encrypted Files for Free
- WeTransfer Review (2023): Is WeTransfer Safe?
If our article didn’t answer all your questions, don’t worry. We’ve compiled some of the most common Sync cloud storage questions and answers. Simply click a question to reveal the answer.
Sync is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a secure cloud storage service to help you safely store and share files. It’s also a useful choice for businesses that often transfer large files. Learn more in our Sync.com review.
Sync is a secure and trustworthy cloud storage service, thanks to its zero-knowledge encryption, and adherence to data privacy laws, including GDPR and PIPEDA. Plus, Sync doesn’t share your data with any third party. Check out our full Sync.com review to learn about its security and privacy features.
Sync is better than Google Drive when it comes to security features and protecting user privacy. However, Google Drive is a better choice for collaboration, especially if you use Gmail. Read about these services in our Sync.com review and Google One review.
Sync is a secure cloud storage service app thanks to its zero-knowledge encryption. This means that not even Sync has access to your data and passwords. It also has end-to-end encryption on all files, making it hard for anyone to intercept your data. Get a breakdown of Sync’s security features in our Sync.com review.
