Picking between Sync.com and IDrive can be tough. Both providers make our list of the best cloud storage services, offering multiple features, such as file sharing, cloud storage and sync, across multiple devices. In this Sync.com vs. IDrive showdown, our cloud storage experts pit both services against each other to help you make an informed decision.
Sync.com is suitable for users who want privacy-first cloud storage that excels at file storage, sharing and syncing. IDrive shines in the backup space, offering file and full-system backups. Our comparison digs into the similarities and differences between the services. Keep an eye out for the section on the best alternatives if you want more options.
Cloudwards’ Choice: Sync.com Is the Winner
Sync.com is the better choice for me, thanks to its strong security and user-friendly design. With client-side encryption and sharing features like password protection, it’s ideal for handling sensitive documents. Plus, remote access is seamless across devices, so it’s a reliable choice when I’m on the go. Try it out with the free plan or the 30-day free trial.
We’ve chosen Sync.com over IDrive as the better cloud storage service. However, each provider has its strengths and weaknesses, and there are instances where IDrive might be a smarter choice. Here’s a breakdown of the types of users for whom Sync.com and IDrive are best suited.
Our Detailed Comparison Methodology
We started with a list of categories to consider, drawing on years of experience reviewing cloud storage providers. Our top considerations were how Sync.com and IDrive stack up against each other in terms of security and privacy, file sharing and collaboration, backup, file syncing, ease of use, platform compatibility, speed and pricing.
We signed up for and downloaded Sync.com and IDrive to get a firsthand feel of their features and to observe the similarities and differences.
For the speed tests, we used a virtual machine with a 1 Gbps symmetrical connection. First, we throttled the connection to 100 Mbps for stability and uploaded and downloaded a 5GB file on each provider and recorded the length of time it took. We then ran unthrottled tests over the full 1 Gbps connection.
Our Sync.com review and IDrive review have more details on our findings on each provider.
| Features |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|
| 200GB$2.65 / month(All Plans) 30-days money-back guarantee | 100GB – 5TB$0.25 / month(All Plans) | |
| Review | Review | |
| Sync | ||
| Sync Folder | ||
| Block-Level Sync | ||
| Selective Sync | ||
| Bandwidth management | ||
| Sync Any Folder | ||
| File Sharing | ||
| File Link Sharing | ||
| Link Passwords | ||
| Link Expiry Dates | ||
| Folder Sharing | ||
| Folder Permissions | ||
| Link Download Limits | ||
| Upload Links | ||
| Productivity | ||
| File Previews | ||
| Edit Files | ||
| In-App Collaboration | ||
| Office Online | ||
| Google Docs | ||
| Notes App | ||
| Media Playback | ||
| Mobile Apps | ||
| Deleted File Retention | ||
| Versioning | ||
| WebDAV | ||
| Security | ||
| At-Rest Encryption | ||
| In-Transit Encryption | ||
| Encryption Protocol | AES 256-bit | |
| Client-Side Encryption | ||
| Two-Factor Authentication | ||
| Server Location | Canada | |
| Support | ||
| 24/7 Support | ||
| Live Chat Support | ||
| Telephone Support | ||
| Email Support | ||
| User Forum | ||
| Knowledgebase | ||
| Misc | ||
| Free Plan |
Both Sync.com and IDrive offer cross-platform access. They also implement their free plans, free trials and file syncing in similar ways. Let’s examine these similarities in more detail.
Cross-Platform Access
Sync.com and IDrive have intuitive desktop and mobile apps for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. They also have full-featured web applications with a centralized dashboard that lets you upload, download and share files. The platforms follow a similar minimalist design, and all the important tabs are on the right-hand side of your screen.
Free Plan and Free Trial
Sync.com’s free plan offers 5GB of data.
Sync.com and IDrive offer free plans to let you test the service before subscribing. IDrive’s free plan supplies 10GB of data, compared to Sync.com’s 5GB. Both services provide free trials that don’t require credit cards. Sync.com’s free trial lasts for 30 days, while IDrive has a mix of seven-day and 30-day trials, depending on the plan you choose.
File Syncing
Sync.com and IDrive offer file syncing across desktop, mobile and web applications. When you install Sync.com on your Windows or macOS, it creates a sync folder that works like Google Drive or Dropbox. IDrive implements a similar folder in its Cloud Drive folder. Any file you place in those folders automatically uploads and syncs with all your devices.
IDrive and Sync.com differ in several categories: security and privacy, pricing, speed, backups and file sharing.
Security and Privacy
Sync.com is better than IDrive if you want a privacy-focused and secure cloud storage service. Opt for IDrive if you want to run secure backups across multiple devices while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Both IDrive and Sync.com scramble data in their storage using AES 256-bit encryption, preventing unauthorized access and brute-force attacks. For files in transit, IDrive uses AES encryption, while Sync.com implements TLS, which offers better protection against man-in-the-middle attacks through encryption and authentication.
Sync.com offers multiple security features, including end-to-end encryption.
Sync.com also has an edge over IDrive when it comes to client-side encryption, which involves files being encrypted before they leave your device so not even the cloud provider can access them. Sync.com applies zero-knowledge encryption on both free and paid accounts.
IDrive also offers zero-knowledge encryption, but only if you choose a private encryption key when you set up your account. You must select this option up front; it isn’t available retroactively.
Sync.com has advanced sharing controls, including end-to-end encryption on shared links and the option to remotely revoke access. IDrive offers basic sharing options, such as password protection and link expiration, but these features are available only if you don’t use a private encryption key.
Pricing
Sync.com’s entry paid plan for individuals is the Solo Basic plan, which provides 2TB of data for $4.80 per month ($57.60 per year). IDrive’s starter plan costs $69.66 per year and offers 5TBof data. If storage is your focus, IDrive is a good choice thanks to its numerous storage options: 10TB, 20TB, 50TB and 100TB. By signing up to IDrive through our link you get 75% off on the first year of the subscription.
For teams, Sync.com offers two tiers: a Standard plan (1TB) at $6 per user per month and an Unlimited plan (unlimited storage) at $15 per user per month. IDrive’s Team plans start at $69.65 per year for 5TB of storage for five users. IDrive also includes a custom enterprise plan.
Speed
IDrive is faster than Sync.com, posting faster upload and download speeds on average. We tested each provider’s speeds by uploading and downloading a 5GB file twice on a throttled 100 Mbps connection, followed by an additional unthrottled test using the full 1 Gbps connection speed. We compiled the results in the tables below.
IDrive is faster than Sync.com, posting faster upload and download speeds on average. We tested each provider’s speeds by uploading and downloading a 5GB file twice on a throttled 100 Mbps connection, followed by an additional unthrottled test using the full 1 Gbps connection speed. We compiled the results in the tables below.
|
1st Test* | 2nd Test* | Average* | Unthrottled Test** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upload | 0:09:43 | 0:09:51 | 0:09:47 | 0:09:36 |
| Download | 0:11:48 | 0:12:04 | 0:11:56 | 0:10:56 |
**1 Gbps
Sync.com took over nine minutes to upload files, both for throttled and unthrottled speeds. For context, the top four providers in our fastest cloud storage tests posted an upload speed of eight minutes or less. At over 10 minutes for download speeds (throttled and unthrottled), Sync.com’s download speeds are rather slow.
|
1st Test* | 2nd Test* | Average* | Unthrottled Test** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upload | 0:06:45 | 0:06:44 | 0:06:45 | 0:05:00 |
| Download | 0:06:50 | 0:07:06 | 0:06:58 | 0:04:57 |
**1 Gbps
IDrive fares much better than Sync.com. It took just around six minutes and 45 seconds to upload the file, close to the fastest possible speed (six minutes and 40 seconds). The unthrottled test was even faster, at five minutes. Similarly, IDrive’s download speeds were exceptionally fast and rival fast cloud services like pCloud. We were able to download the file in over six minutes and less than five minutes (unthrottled).
Moreover, we observed that IDrive had low CPU usage, while Sync.com often alternated between low and medium CPU usage.
Backup
Choose IDrive if you intend to back up extensive data. It allows full-system and image backups for PCs, Macs, Linux, iPhones, iPads and Android devices. For example, when disaster strikes, you can clone your entire home computer and restore it to its earlier state. IDrive also supports external hard drives and server backups.
IDrive offers continuous data protection, which automatically spots modifications in files and backs them up. There’s also IDrive Express, which lets you back up your data using a temporary storage device that IDrive will ship to you. This offer is available once a year for personal users and three times a year for team and business users.
IDrive offers multiple backup choices, including Cloud Backup and IDrive Express.
Sync.com’s backup options are much more limited. Its backup feature is the vault folder, a cloud-only storage solution for files and folders. The vault doesn’t sync with other computers or devices, making it useful for offloading files to free up local storage. You can also sign in to your Sync.com web panel and download the files in the vault to any of your devices.
File Sharing
Sync.com has many file-sharing settings, including labeling files and restricting comments.
Sync.com is a better choice if you want cloud storage that lets you share files and collaborate with others. It offers many sharing features, including an option to email links to recipients and set permissions to view, edit, comment on and download files. In comparison, IDrive offers basic file- and folder-sharing options: creating links and setting passwords.
You can also opt to receive a notification each time someone comments on or downloads your file with Sync.com. For high-end privacy, you can activate end-to-end encryption on shared links.
Sync.com lets you customize the public-facing file or folder name shown in a shared link to protect your privacy. However, once recipients open or download the file, they’ll see its original name.
Sync.com takes the lead with its client-side encryption and file-sharing features. It’s good for individuals and teams who want secure file storage and collaboration. IDrive is a better option if you’re interested in backups, from full-image to server backups.
Did the points in this article help you decide between Sync.com and IDrive? Have you used Sync.com or IDrive before? Are there any cloud storage comparisons you’d like to see? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments section below. As always, thanks for reading.
If You Want to Consider Other Services, Check Out…
If Sync.com and IDrive are not to your liking, there are many other worthwhile alternatives — notably, pCloud, MEGA and Internxt.
pCloud — Best Cloud Storage for Music and Videos
pCloud is perfect for music lovers, thanks to its full-featured music player and support for FLAC files. It also has Kodi integration, which lets you stream videos and movies from the cloud. Dig deeper into pCloud’s features in our pCloud review.
MEGA — Best Free Cloud Storage
MEGA is a good alternative if you want free cloud storage. Its offer of 20GB of data is as generous as it gets. You can add extra storage by installing the MEGA app or sending referrals. Learn more in our MEGA review.
Internxt — Affordable Lifetime Cloud Storage
Internxt is one of the few cloud storage services to offer a lifetime plan. This means you have to pay only once to gain access to cloud storage for life. Internxt’s lifetime plans are also relatively affordable. Explore the service more in our in-depth Internxt review.
FAQ: IDrive vs Sync.com
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Sync.com is slower at uploading and downloading files compared to services like IDrive and pCloud. It also lacks the real-time document collaboration that Google Drive and Dropbox offer.
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We’ve found Sync.com to be the best overall cloud storage provider, but there may be better options depending on your specific needs. For instance, IDrive outperforms Sync.com when it comes to full-system backups and disaster recovery.
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Yes, IDrive is a trustworthy cloud storage provider that protects your files using military-grade AES encryption. So far, there haven’t been any reports of IDrive misusing customer data or suffering a data breach.
