The next time you have to ask yourself, "Is this the most recent version of my file?" stop what you're doing and get yourself a file-syncing program. They're a dime a dozen. And among cloud-based file-syncing and storage services, SugarSync is one of the simplest to use. It works mostly invisibly, but, whether on a Windows computer, a Mac, or even a mobile device, it makes finding what you need is a cinch. A few excellent features, including the ability to access previous versions of a file, add to its appeal. The company no longer offers a free level of service, so you'll need to spend at least $7.49 per month to use it (more on the account options and prices below).
For its fair prices, simple interface, and great features, SugarSync is an attractive file-syncing option. But competition in the space is tougher than ever, and with the likes of Google Drive and OneDrive practically giving away their services, it can hard can be hard to justify paying for this kind of service.
Price and Storage Space
A SugarSync account costs $7.49 per month for 60GB, $9.99 per month for 100GB, or $24.99 per month for 250GB. There's also a business account option that starts at $55 per month, which supports three or more users and includes admin controls and live phone support.
A free Dropbox account starts you out with 2GB of space. The next level up is a $9.99 per month Pro account with 100GB of space, which is on par with SugarSync. With OneDrive (beginning in July 2014) you get 15GB to start, and you can add 100GB for $1.99 per month or 200GB for $3.99 per month.
The most space you can get for free is with Google Drive. You get 15GB for free (the same as OneDrive; but wait!), and it's really much more than that because not everything you store in Google Drive counts against that space. For example, videos shorter than 15 minutes and images smaller than 2048 by 2048 pixels don't count. See the fine print about Google Drive's space limits, as it's pretty complicated.
How SugarSync Measures Up
To get SugarSync, you need to sign up for an account and choose a level of service. Then you'll want to download and install SugarSync on all the devices you use. It's compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone, and Symbian. There's also a plug-in for Outlook (it lets you send large files via a shared SugarSync link instead of as attachments), and compatibility with loads of other software and services.
If you've used Dropbox (one of the best-known file-syncing services in the business), you may remember that it creates a new folder on your computer called "Dropbox," into which you must put all the files that you want synced and backed up. Not so with SugarSync. SugarSync's real beauty is that it lets you select existing folders to sync. When you set up the service for the first time, you don't have to think about moving your data to a new parent folder. You can just sync what you already have. If you choose, you can just use a new folder that SugarSync creates for you called "Magic Briefcase" that works exactly like Dropbox, but the point is you don't have to.
In fact, at any time, you can select a new folder to add or remove from SugarSync by simply right-clicking on it and selecting the option that appears.
Once SugarSync is installed and configured, all your synced files and folders automatically appear on the other devices where you want them. For example, you can sync a folder that lives on your office computer so that it also appears on your home computer, and any changes you make to the files contained therein automatically appear in both places. That's how all file-syncing services work.
One difference in SugarSync, however, is the level of detail of its synchronizations. Say you have the following folders on your office computer: Important, On Hold, and Sensitive. Using the SugarSync file manager, you could select the Important folder to sync with your home computer, personal laptop, and the smartphone you use for work, while only syncing the Sensitive folder to office-approved machines. And perhaps you choose not to sync the On Hold folder to any device. If you need files that are in that On Hold folder, you can still get to them from any Internet-connected device via the SugarSync website.
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