BestSync 20.0.0.1

Overview

BestSync is a user-friendly, robust, feature-rich file synchronization/backup software that automatically synchronizes and stores updated versions of files across multiple devices within a network. This software has quickly become the industry standard for automated file synchronization.

Installation

At a file size of a little more than 7 MB this compact application can be downloaded and installed in just a few minutes with very little effort. Compatible with all recent versions of Windows including 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Server 2008, and 7.

Interface

The BestSync user interface is somewhat primitive in appearance, yet provides easy access to all features within just a few mouse clicks. Although learning the specific functions of each button icon may require a bit of a learning curve, users can press F1 to quickly access integrated help documentation. The top of the main window consists of a file/folder view that displays the contents of the storage device being synchronized, while the bottom section of the main window displays connection/port statuses.

Pros

• Automatically backs up all files that will be replaced/deleted during synchronization to prevent unwanted data loss. This feature makes it easy to instantly restore files to their previous or original state

• Can sync files remotely via several transfer methods, including FTP, Amazon S3 cloud storage, and WebDAV

• Supports multithreaded segmented transfers, which speed up file downloading times and give you the ability to resume uploads/downloads to ensure the successful transfer of large files

• Supports FTP proxy servers, so files can be synchronized securely behind firewalls. Files can also be compressed and encrypted before being synchronized

• Instantly synchronize files in an Amazon S3 Bucket, so files are automatically downloaded/uploaded when changes are made. Files are encrypted using AES-256 bit encryption before being uploaded to your Amazon S3 account.

• Synchronize folders with specified ZIP archives, so updated files are automatically compressed and placed into the associated ZIP file, while deleted files are automatically removed

• Supports incremental and full backups

• Export, compress, and encrypt Windows Mail/Outlook contacts, e-mails, schedules, and more via USB disk. This feature lets you quickly transfer various components of e-mail clients to and from multiple computers via USB

• Simplifies Web publishing by using FTP protocol and FrontPage support to automatically transfer updated files to your site

• Lets you utilize various file filtering criteria to ensure that only the necessary files are synchronized on an automated basis

Cons

• User interface is a bit old-fashioned, and becoming acquainted with all of the button icons may take some time.

Alternatives

There are several other similar file synchronization software available, the most notable of which include SyncToy, rSync, SugarSync (Win, Mac), Allway Sync, SyncBack (Pro, SE, Free), and GoodSync. These competitors, however, are lacking some of the features that BestSync offers, including the ability to synchronize network files/folders via WebDAV.

Conclusion

If you're looking for an easy way to conveniently synchronize an entire operating system or specific files/folders between multiple computers or Web servers, BestSync provides an all-inclusive, feature-rich, automated solution that anyone would be satisfied with.