SugarSync vs Dropbox – the two very popular syncing online backup services go head-to-head in this comparison review to see who ends up on top. When you plan to make any type of purchase, you want the best product that your budget allows. The same holds true when subscribing to an online backup service. You want the best service that meets all of your needs while still falling within your budget. SugarSync and Dropbox are two online backup services that specialize in file syncing, while offering a variety of other features. A closer look will help you decide which one is right for you.
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SugarSync |
Dropbox |
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| Plan Overview | ||
| Storage Capacity: | 250GB | 100GB |
| Plans & Pricing: |
5GB: FREE 30GB: 60GB: 100GB: 250GB: |
Basic (2GB): FREE Pro 50 (50GB): Pro 100 (100GB): $19.99/mo. or $199/year |
| Free Storage: | 5GB | 2GB |
| Current Promotions: | 30-day free trial |
Get 250MB of extra storage for every referral you make.
Save 17% when you sign up for a yearly plan. |
| Discounts Available: | 10% off one-year subscriptions with our exclusive SugarSync discount | None |
| Features | ||
| Automatic Backup: |
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| Scheduled Backup: |
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| Remote Access: |
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| Mobile Access: |
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| Sub-Accounts: |
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| Archiving: |
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30 days (unlimited option available for $39/year) |
| File Search: |
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| Public File Sharing: |
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| Private File Sharing: |
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| File Versioning: |
5 latest versions |
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| File Syncing: |
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| Security: | 128-bit encryption used | 128-bit, AES 256-bit encryptions used |
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Compatibility: |
Windows: 7, Vista, XP Mac: OS X 10.5 or greater |
Windows: 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Mac: OS X 10.4 or greater Linux: Ubuntu 7.10+ and Fedora Core 9+ |
| Customer Support | ||
| Telephone Support: |
$99.99/year |
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| Email Support: |
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| Live Chat: |
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| Company Information | ||
| Company Location: | California | California |
| Established: | 2004 | 2007 |
| Website: | www.sugarsync.com | www.dropbox.com |
| Review Information | ||
| Best For: | Users who access files from multiple computers and devices; great for small businesses and work groups | Home users and small businesses or work teams that need file collaboration |
| Pros: |
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| Cons: |
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| Review: | Read the SugarSync Review | Read the Dropbox Review |
Features
When it comes to basic features that are essential for any online backup service, Dropbox and SugarSync are well-matched competitors with a few key differences. Dropbox is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux, while SugarSync lacks Linux compatibility. Both services offer automatic and scheduled backups, remote and mobile access, sub-accounts and file searching, along with public and private file sharing. Both services also offer archiving and file versioning. However, Dropbox only archives for the past 30 days – unlimited archiving will cost you $39 per year. SugarSync saves and syncs the five latest versions of a file – Dropbox retains file versions for thirty days.
File syncing is at the core of the SugarSync and Dropbox online backup services. The difference is that Dropbox offers only one “Dropbox,” the file where you drag and drop the files you want synced. SugarSync will sync any file you choose without having to drop it into a specified location (although they also provide you with a “Magic Briefcase” for quick and automatic syncing).
Does Dropbox or SugarSync offer the best in customer support? The answer – both services lack in that department. Dropbox offers only email support with no phone support at all. SugarSync offers email and live chat support and you pay $99 per year for phone support.
Storage and Pricing
As far as actual storage space and the corresponding price, SugarSync offers more for less. SugarSync has four subscription plans – 30, 60, 100, and 250GB – along with their free plan of 5GB. Dropbox offers only two subscription plans – 50 and 100GB – and a 2GB of storage with their free plan.
The 50GB Dropbox plan costs $9.99/month, compared to 60GB from SugarSync for the same price. Dropbox tops out at 100GB for $19.99/month, while SugarSync charges only $14.99/month for 100GB. SugarSync’s max plan of 250GB is $24.99/month – only $5 more than Dropbox’s max plan and you get over twice as much space.
Target User
SugarSync vs Dropbox: who exactly are these online backup services targeting based on their features and pricing? SugarSync seems to be geared just a bit more towards small businesses because they offer much more space for comparable, if not lower, prices than Dropbox. SugarSync also makes it easier than Dropbox to sync multiple files over multiple computers, another huge plus for small business owners. However, both services work well for the average home user that just wants to backup and sync files, photos and other forms of data.
The online backup service you choose depends on your personal needs and budget. If you just need a few gigabytes of storage for basic syncing and backing up, either Dropbox or SugarSync will get the job done. The great debate of SugarSync vs. Dropbox is likely to continue for many years to come as both companies continue to enhance their services and features.
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I love drop box but have a new client who uses Sugar Sync and has asked me to try it. I really like the look and ease of accessing files BUT is there a way to split files, example in Dropbox I can open a document with PDFviewer and split a 22 page document into 5 separate docs, in Sugar Sync I cannot find a way to do this. Any assistance is appreciated, I would love to be able to accommodate my client with her program. Thanks, Wanda