Syncing files between macs without using iCloud

[sparkie7]

I want to sync my files / documents between my MacBook Pro (which I take to the office) and Mac Studio at home on a daily basis. But I do not want to use iCloud. Is there an application that can do this automatically?

How do others do this, any suggestions /info appreciated

 

[Apple_Robert]

This is the app you need.

The Best Mac Backup and Sync Software - ChronoSync | Econ Technologies

ChronoSync is a complete, all-in-one solution for file & folder synchronizations, incremental backups, bootable backups (a.k.a clones) and cloud storage. In use by thousands of photographers, video editors, filmmakers, musicians and other data professionals. No other app can compare!

www.econtechnologies.com

 

[aperfectcircle]

Other options are OneDrive, Dropbox, Proton and Google Drive, depending on how much you want to spend and how many GB or TB you need.

 

[ignatius345]

I want to sync my files / documents between my MacBook Pro (which I take to the office) and Mac Studio at home on a daily basis. But I do not want to use iCloud. Is there an application that can do this automatically?

Yeah, a cloud service as @aperfectcircle describes above. Sign up, set it up on both machines, and you should just seamlessly just have the same set of files on both machines provided they are able to get on the internet regularly. At this point these things have evolved into a largely "set it and forget it" type solution.

Not so sure about ChronoSync. It's designed to sync up the contents of two folders and does it quite well -- but you'll have to find a way to connect the two machines. I'm not sure if this can happen automatically or whether you'd be manually connecting them via a cable or wireless connection every day. Sounds like a massive PITA to me.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Yeah, a cloud service as @aperfectcircle describes above. Sign up, set it up on both machines, and you should just seamlessly just have the same set of files on both machines provided they are able to get on the internet regularly. At this point these things have evolved into a largely "set it and forget it" type solution.

Not so sure about ChronoSync. It's designed to sync up the contents of two folders and does it quite well -- but you'll have to find a way to connect the two machines. I'm not sure if this can happen automatically or whether you'd be manually connecting them via a cable or wireless connection every day. Sounds like a massive PITA to me.

The OP doesn't want to use a cloud service.

 

[ignatius345]

The OP doesn't want to use a cloud service.

The OP said he doesn't want to use iCloud. Did not specify further.

 

[Cyby-CyberDog]

I want to sync my files / documents between my MacBook Pro (which I take to the office) and Mac Studio at home on a daily basis. But I do not want to use iCloud. Is there an application that can do this automatically?

How do other do this, any suggestions /info appreciated

Have a look at SyncMate!

File sync software for Mac | SyncMate

SyncMate is a file sync Mac software that helps you synchronize Mac computers with Android and iOS devices, other Macs, cloud accounts, MTP devices, and Microsoft services.

www.sync-mac.com

 

[organerito]

I use GoodSync, and it works very well. I can synchronize two computers, two local folders, or even a local folder with one in any cloud service.

 

[subjonas]

I’ll have to look into these suggestions. I’ve been wanting a local syncing solution for a very long time, but for all my devices—including my iPads and iPhone, not just my Macs. I suspect for it to be done ideally it would need to be a first party solution, but Apple probably has no interest.

 

[flaubert]

One classic way to do this is install Resilio Sync:

Resilio Sync | Personal file sync and share powered by P2P

Save and share life’s most important moments—photos, videos, music, PDFs, documents, and more—securely across all your devices.

www.resilio.com

It's different from storing in a cloud service, in that your data exists only on your devices. All that Resilio sync does is coordinate the movement of data such that the folders on your devices are kept in sync.

 

[sparkie7]

This is the app you need.

The Best Mac Backup and Sync Software - ChronoSync | Econ Technologies

ChronoSync is a complete, all-in-one solution for file & folder synchronizations, incremental backups, bootable backups (a.k.a clones) and cloud storage. In use by thousands of photographers, video editors, filmmakers, musicians and other data professionals. No other app can compare!

www.econtechnologies.com

Thanks! I'll check it out. Have you used it before / using it currently? Nevertheless thank you for the suggestion

 

[sparkie7]

Other options are OneDrive, Dropbox, Proton and Google Drive, depending on how much you want to spend and how many GB or TB you need.

Thanks, but I'm trying to avoid any online server backups

 

[sparkie7]

Yeah, a cloud service as @aperfectcircle describes above. Sign up, set it up on both machines, and you should just seamlessly just have the same set of files on both machines provided they are able to get on the internet regularly. At this point these things have evolved into a largely "set it and forget it" type solution.

Not so sure about ChronoSync. It's designed to sync up the contents of two folders and does it quite well -- but you'll have to find a way to connect the two machines. I'm not sure if this can happen automatically or whether you'd be manually connecting them via a cable or wireless connection every day. Sounds like a massive PITA to me.

Thanks. But trying not to go the iCloud or online server route

I have to check out what ChronoSync can do

 

[sparkie7]

The OP said he doesn't want to use iCloud. Did not specify further.

Apologies for not being clear enough, I meant I was trying to avoid using any cloud service to sync files

 

[sparkie7]

Have a look at SyncMate!

File sync software for Mac | SyncMate

SyncMate is a file sync Mac software that helps you synchronize Mac computers with Android and iOS devices, other Macs, cloud accounts, MTP devices, and Microsoft services.

www.sync-mac.com

Cheers mate, will do!

 

[sparkie7]

I use GoodSync, and it works very well. I can synchronize two computers, two local folders, or even a local folder with one in any cloud service.

Thanks. Can it sync without using a cloud service?

 

[sparkie7]

I’ll have to look into these suggestions. I’ve been wanting a local syncing solution for a very long time, but for all my devices—including my iPads and iPhone, not just my Macs. I suspect for it to be done ideally it would need to be a first party solution, but Apple probably has no interest.

Would be great if Apple built it into their OS

 

[sparkie7]

One classic way to do this is install Resilio Sync:

Resilio Sync | Personal file sync and share powered by P2P

Save and share life’s most important moments—photos, videos, music, PDFs, documents, and more—securely across all your devices.

www.resilio.com

It's different from storing in a cloud service, in that your data exists only on your devices. All that Resilio sync does is coordinate the movement of data such that the folders on your devices are kept in sync.

Thanks! I'll check this out, do you use it?

 

[bogdanw]

FreeFileSync https://freefilesync.org/

 

[sparkie7]

FreeFileSync https://freefilesync.org/

Thanks will check it out!

 

[rumourmonger]

Synching https://syncthing.net/ - https://github.com/syncthing/syncthing-macos

FOSS. E2EE. Rock solid native app.

Or if you want a server involved then you can pick pretty much any sync app out there and it will be at least couple of times better than iCloud; yes, literally any app.

 

[sparkie7]

Synching https://syncthing.net/ - https://github.com/syncthing/syncthing-macos

FOSS. E2EE. Rock solid native app.

Or if you want a server involved then you can pick pretty much any sync app out there and it will be at least couple of times better than iCloud; yes, literally any app.

Thanks. Does Synching.net use the internet to sync?

 

[wyrdness]

Thanks. Does Synching.net use the internet to sync?

No, it will sync between devices on a local network. I used it to keep my Mac synced with my NAS.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Another vote for Chronosync which can sync between remote Macs using its partner app ChronoAgent.

Another rather different option is DEVONthink which can sync between remote computers.