Having a local folder that is automatically synced to secure online storage is awesome.
Drop a document in a folder. Boom. It’s backed up to a remote server. And then, almost instantly, downloaded to any other computers you have configured to use that same remote storage solution.
Many of us have been using services like Drop Box for this very purpose for a while now.
Recently, Canonical unveiled Ubuntu One. Which is exactly this sort of service.
After we talked about this on the latest Linux Action Show… I got to thinking. How do all the various remote storage/syncing services stack up? Which ones offer the best bang for my buck?
| Linux | Windows | Mac | Free Storage | Price for More | Web UI | |
| Ubuntu One | Yes (Ubuntu Only) |
No | No | 2 gb | $10 = 10 gb | Yes |
| Dropbox | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 gb | $10 = 50 gb $20 = 100 gb |
Yes |
| Mandriva Click’n Backup |
Yes | Yes | Yes | None | $7.77 = 20gb | Yes |
| MobileMe iDisk |
No | Yes | Yes | None | $100 (Per Year) = 20 gb | Yes |
Bottom line:
- If you are looking for a true cross platform solution, Dropbox and Click’n Backup are the only real options.
- Ubuntu One is the most expensive of the bunch, as well as the least flexible (no Mac or Windows support or support for any other Linux distro).
- 2 gb of storage is likely to be enough for most people for quite some time. Making MobileMe and Click’n Backup less attractive.
MobileMe provides addtional features (beyond just file storage). Ubuntu One (currently in Beta) seems like it could be well suited to adding similar features in the future (ubuntu email, sync, etc.).
But, for now, Dropbox seems to have the best price point and the largest set of features.
May 25th, 2009 - 9:31 pm
I use Dropbox a lot and it is great. Incredibly fast…
May 25th, 2009 - 10:39 pm
I use … none of the above … I think JungleDisk rocks the most.
May 26th, 2009 - 3:09 am
I’ve been using Jungledisk which is an interface for Amazons S3. While it doesn’t download the files to another computer it does mount it as a network drive on the other computers. I like dropbox for small files I frequently use between computers and platforms but for large files and backups I feel completely comfortable using Jungle as an off site backup location, I know Amazon isn’t going anywhere and has plenty of redundancy,
May 26th, 2009 - 4:27 am
https://spideroak.com/ you forgot.
May 26th, 2009 - 4:55 am
Wuala.com is technically the most advanced solution, but it only has a resource heavy Java client.
Theoretically it offer unlimited storage for free.
May 26th, 2009 - 7:54 am
Just a comment about Mac support, it’s not really fully supported as files using resource forks have their resource forks destroyed. This is one of those features that has been “soon to be released” for months and months. Until they finally add this support Mac users cannot sync a variety of files properly. Dropbox finally hacked a way into supporting file bundles but it’s just a hack.
May 26th, 2009 - 9:12 am
I listened to the Ubuntu UK podcast, where they were interviewing Stuart (from Lug Radio) Langridge, and some other guy, about Ubuntu One. They said there will be more services built around Ubuntu One, and that storage was only the beginning.
I’m curious as hell about what Ubuntu One will bring.
May 26th, 2009 - 10:07 am
why is noone ever mentioning SpiderOak.com ? It runs on all platforms, with all filemanagers (not just nautilus like dropbox) so it’s truly crossplatform, is fast, lightweight, gives you the usual 2gb free and does real nice de-duplicating and version-control…
I really don’t understand that dropbox hype, is everyone using gnome these days?
May 26th, 2009 - 11:49 am
I have been using dropbox for a while now, works out very well. You could just roll your own with rsync and any form of storage, webdav, ftp, (Insert whatever you like here).
May 26th, 2009 - 1:07 pm
You can get more Dropbox storage (up to 3 gb) by recommending other people to use Dropbox.
check out these links on Dropbox Mashups
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/five_ways_use_dropbox_like_a_pro?page=0%2C0
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/software_mashups
May 28th, 2009 - 12:40 am
Hello,
(disclosure: I work for SpiderOak Inc)
Just to be informative I would like to add that SpiderOak is the only 100% cross-platform solution to offer both Backup and Smart Sync (retained folder structure and instant sync of altered files) with our 100% FREE for life 2GB offer.
We also keep folder structures intact in sync, offer file deduplication and save complete historical revisions. 100% zero-knowledge also keeps your data safe from prying eyes!
Feel free to try us out for free for as long as you want to at https://spideroak.com/download
Thank you,
Daniel Larsson
June 4th, 2009 - 7:02 am
There is more to a service than just most ticks in your made-up list.
As an Ubuntu-user, I see it as an advantage that Ubuntu One doesn’t support Windows. I don’t either.
June 18th, 2009 - 7:07 pm
This is a very nice post Bryan.
I was looking for a comparison like this.
I really appreciate the suggestion of SpiderOak from Tim.