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How does Windows Live Sync stack up to DropBox?
So how do the two services match up? Let's take a gander.
Capactiy: tie (sorta)
Both Dropbox and Live Sync provide 2GB of accessible-by-anyone cloud storage for free. Dropbox, of course, offers paid upgrades while Live Sync presently does not. Whether Microsoft will allow you to expand into more of your SkyDrive's maximum 25GB of space remains to be seen.
Flexibility: Live Sync
Though Dropbox lets you choose which subfolders of your My Dropbox folder you want to sync, there's no easy way to include folders located elsewhere on your system (yes, there are ways to do it using symlinks). Live Sync lets you choose any folder on your system, plus it can also sync Internet Explorer Favorites and Office templates.
Peer-to-Peer Sync: Live Sync
Dropbox doesn't offer this function, and it can be incredibly handy. In addition to letting you sync 2GB of data to your SkyDrive cloud storage, Live Sync will also do folder-to-folder syncing on any machines you want to connect. Just sign in with your Live ID on both systems and create the folder pair.
Platform support: Dropbox
With apps available for just about every mobile device around and desktop versions for Windows, Mac and Linux, Dropbox has a clear advantage here. Live Sync will probably get a Mac client, but mobile access will likely be limited to the browser on non-Windows Phone 7 devices.
Bandwidth: Dropbox
My ISP is pretty stingy with the uploads -- I'm limited to about 34K/s, and my downstream gets choked whenever I approach that limit. As such, I prefer apps that provide an option to limit transfer speeds. Dropbox does, Live Sync doesn't.
This isn't to say that Live Sync is a hog. I never noticed any issues with my connection while running a sync operation, but I prefer being able to set a self-imposed limit.
Remote access: Live Sync
This may not factor in to the decision-making process for you, but if you're a Windows user and you think having full remote access to your computer might come in handy from time to time, Live Sync can do it and Dropbox can't. Even if you don't think it's a feature you would use often, there's always a chance that one day you'll need access to some file you've forgotten to sync -- and Live Sync's remote function will be a life-saver.
Final thoughts
If upgradeable storage and cross-platform (including mobile) support are crucial, go with Dropbox. If you're primarily concerned with accessing files on your Windows systems both at home and at work, Live Sync is tough to beat with its peer-to-peer sync and remoting options.
Comments
21
Subscribe to commentsaJun 17th 2010 4:48PM
my dropbox account has 2.5 GB because i completed the tutorial and got my girlfriend to sign up, and i'm only using 1.1 MB.
axAug 24th 2010 8:17PM
what is your point, good sir?
sodium11Jun 17th 2010 4:53PM
There is a Mac client for windows live sync.
https://sync.live.com/clientdownload.aspx
Lee MathewsJun 17th 2010 4:54PM
The present version, yes...I'd read something about there not being one for 2011 yet, though.
amulpokhJun 17th 2010 4:55PM
Dropbox has (in a test build, probably coming later to the stable one) selective syncing now, it works rather well without symlinks too
stinlen56Jun 18th 2010 2:07AM
DLS did a story about that and as I pointed out at the time, it's really 'selective not syncing'. It is better than the original but still not what it should be.
ChristianJun 17th 2010 5:22PM
How about Windows' Mesh application is it any different or is that the replacement?
AbhijeetJun 18th 2010 12:21AM
This version uses Mesh technology. Mesh never came out of beta, Live Sync is the consumer version of Mesh.
MichaelJun 17th 2010 5:40PM
Um, I think you missed the comparison of it's online usability.
I love Dropbox's online user interface... it's much easier to use and setup than Live Sync.
Additionally, I love the Dropbox iPhone app... do Live Sync have one?
chrishighJun 17th 2010 10:54PM
Nope, that's why I only recently switched to Dropbox, as an iPhone addict. But I loved Live Mesh, and Foldershare which it was called before.
TJun 17th 2010 7:20PM
"Though Dropbox lets you choose which subfolders of your My Dropbox folder you want to sync, there's no easy way to include folders located elsewhere on your system (yes, there are ways to do it using symlinks)."
I'm pretty sure that Dropbox already has the option to select folder anywhere in their test builds and it'll probably be rolled out to the stable sometime this year.
chgoguy7Jun 17th 2010 7:26PM
I installed Live Sync to take it for a spin. I really like the added flexibility to sync any folder on pc-1 to any folder on pc-2, the peer-to-peer sync, and the remote access. But one deal breaker for me with Live Sync is that synced files are not available on the website as they are on Dropbox. This feature of Dropbox makes my synced files available from anywhere. Maybe they will change this in a future release but for now, I will stick with Dropbox.
AbhijeetJun 18th 2010 12:19AM
The new version has this functionality. You're still on the current stable release.
RobertJun 17th 2010 10:53PM
As far as I know, Dropbox supports peer-to-peer syncing. I am using it right now to sync my XP pc with my Ubuntu laptop.
AbhijeetJun 18th 2010 12:18AM
P2P syncing is only between computers, it bypasses the online storage and the storage limit of 2GB in the process. Dropbox cannot do that, you're always limited to 2GB online.
stinlen56Jun 18th 2010 2:25AM
so LiveSync is a combination of foldershare (for the p2p sync) and live mesh (for everything else).? I'm already on live mesh having used dropbox and syncplicity in the past and these look like welcome additions. If LiveSync is meant to replace live mesh, so I still get the same type of folder interaction. Much of this is not clear and it's a shame many of the commenters have so such a wide variety of misconceptions.
If only microsoft had simple little explanations videos...
ironicJun 19th 2010 7:01AM
One main feature why I use Dropbox - fileversions. Although I never checked if LiveSync has this.
HuseyinJun 20th 2010 12:07PM
I have been using LiveMesh, and it has been working well, no problems. I really hope Microsoft finally combine ALL these online services, Live Mesh, Sync, SkyDrive, Folder Share or whatever they finally call this. Nobody would even need drop box, ever.
JohnJun 20th 2010 12:12PM
Does either one have an email access though? My work computer won't let me upload anything to anywhere, however if I could email stuff to "MyNick@Dropbox.com" or something like that, it would be SOOOOOOOOOO handy...
Jan EliasenJul 11th 2010 2:56PM
What about sync times? For me, Mesh was dropped because once I updated a file, it could take minutes to appear on the other computer.
Also, what about EULAs? Are there ane caveats? Does Live Sync own your files and dropbox does not? r the other way around?
DropBox win: Right click file in publilc folder and get the public link. Does Live Sync have that?
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eliasen