There are multiple ways of backing up files wirelessly on Linux. Of them all, two programs -- Syncthing and Resilio Sync (previously called BitTorrent Sync) -- are unique. Not only do they sync your files between your own computers, they also require zero knowledge of how to set up a server.

Instead, these apps work on a peer-to-peer basis, transferring files between the devices you want without a middleman (such as Dropbox). This makes set up very easy, at the cost of leveraging your own computers rather than another person's.

Resilio Sync is the proprietary child of Resilio Inc., which was created by the BitTorrent company to help focus its efforts better. In comparison, Syncthing is open source -- not only can you contribute to its development by posting suggestions, but the guts of it are available online for all to see and improve.

Which solution works best for you depends on a number of factors, which will be covered here. However, for the sake of fairness, it'll only look at the free version of Resilio Sync.

What Is File Synchronization?

Basically, it's just a way of keeping a set of files updated between two or more devices. This includes things like Google Drive, as well as Syncthing and Resilio Sync. It's useful when you want to keep backups of your files elsewhere, just in case your computer goes down.

It's also an easy way to send files between people. So long as they both have devices that support their chosen platform, they can sync almost anything (with enough bandwidth and disk space).

Resilio Sync and Syncthing: Same but Different

When you get down to it, both programs have more in common with each other than you might think. They both do the same job (file synchronization) and do it in a very similar way. It's only in the finer details that you'll begin to see differences for the most part.

Installation

This might not be much of a problem for people, but it's still an important factor to look at. After all, if you want your friends and family to send files between their devices using your program of choice, it helps if they can actually get it on their computer without help.

Resilio Sync is at a small disadvantage when it comes to installing on Linux. Since it's proprietary, and not something very popular like Steam, you won't find it in your package manager's repositories. However, Resilio provides a whole guide on how to get and install their product. This includes most major Linux operating systems, including Debian (and derivatives like Ubuntu).

Syncthing can be slightly easier to get, depending on which Linux operating system you use. For example, openSUSE and Debian both have Syncthing in their repositories -- it's just a matter of installing it. For Linux operating systems without it by default, you'll need to add it manually, similar to Resilio Sync.

debian syncthing

Along with this, both also provide TAR.GZ archives, so you can use them even if you can't find a package.

Setup

Both Syncthing and Resilio Sync are quite easy to use. That being said, there are a few differences in how they go about doing this, which will be covered here. The main contrasts seem to stem from the two stances the programs take: as a product (Resilio) and as a project (Syncthing).

By default, neither of the two programs have a GUI (graphical user interface) in the traditional sense. Instead, once you've started it up, you open up your web browser and access it from there. For Resilio Sync, it's at http://localhost:8888/. For Syncthing, http://localhost:8384/. There are also a few third party apps for Syncthing that provide a more native way to access it, such as Syncthing-GTK (Resilio also has this option, but not on Linux).

The first time you start up Resilio Sync, you'll be asked to enter in a username and password. Now, each time you try and access it, you'll need to provide these credentials. This is meant to improve security -- other people using your computer won't be able to access the control panel.

resilio first

Once you've done this, you can tweak its behavior to your liking using their in built settings menu. From there, you can do multiple things, such as disable the sending of statistics back to Resilio. You can also disable the need for authentication to enter the control panel, if you find it annoying.

resilio settings

Syncthing is a little simpler to set up. Unlike Resilio Sync, it won't force you to use authentication, trading security for convenience. However, once you're in the web control panel, it's easy to set up in the Settings menu. You can also choose from a light, black, or dark theme depending on your taste.

syncthing settings

Sharing Folders

While both apps work in the same way, using peer to peer, their implementations are a little different. For folders to be shared between your devices, they need to be authenticated using a special code. This prevents strangers from getting access to your files.

Resilio Sync makes adding folders to share very easy for end users. The web interface provides a drop-down menu to select the folder of your choice. You can even create a new one if you like!

resilio folder add

Having done this, Resilio Sync provides you with multiple ways of sharing this folder to your other devices. You can copy over the actual authentication key, or scan in a QR code for mobiles. Along with this, Resilio Sync can also send over a clickable link -- quite convenient for desktop users.

resilio folder share

The shares also let you choose whether or not other devices can make changes to the shared folder. That is, the ability to add or remove files in the share. It's useful for places where you only want to send files to other people, for example, to friends and family.

Syncthing takes a slightly different approach. Rather than directly sharing folders themselves, you add the devices you want to sync with first. Basically, this means that you only need to add the authentication code for each device once, rather than on a single folder basis. Syncthing puts a higher level of trust on the synced devices than Resilio Sync.

syncthing device add

Having done that, you're free to add whatever folders you'd like to sync, along with the devices you want to send them to. Unlike Resilio Sync however, you need to manually type the location in, rather than using a drop down menu. You also have the option to make the folder read only, similar to Resilio Sync.

syncthing folder add

Resilio Sync's Advantage: Encrypted Folder Sharing

One interesting feature that Resilio Sync supports is the sharing of encrypted folders. Basically, it's a way of syncing content so that it's hidden on a target device -- they can't read what's inside. This feature is unique to Resilio Sync, one of the few major differences between it and Syncthing.

resilio folder encrypt

This sort of share is designed as a way of spreading your content to untrusted devices, such as a third-party computer. It helps keep Resilio Sync reliable and fast -- the more devices sharing the same file, the faster the syncing between them. This is because there are more peers to grab chunks of your data from.

That being said, this feature isn't going to be a deal breaker against Syncthing in most cases. People generally don't have a third-party computer on hand, after all.

Shared Features

Apart from those slight differences, there are lots of things that both products do equally well:

  • You can limit their upload and download speed.
  • You can exclude folders and files to sync (using a hidden text file).
  • Each has a support forum if you run into any troubles.
  • Most settings have smart defaults, so you don't have to change them.

In Summary...

As you can see, both Syncthing and Resilio Sync are actually really similar to each other. You generally won't be missing out on anything if you go either way (unless you go with the paid version of Resilio Sync). The choice of program really boils down to personal preference.

Syncthing tends towards putting a lot of complexity in front of the user, which shows in its web control panel. While this means that it's generally easier to manage once you get the hang of it, it's a slightly steeper learning curve.

syncthing control panel

Its open-source nature might also appeal to those who find proprietary models more dubious. Along with that, it means that if there are shortcomings with the program, there are bound to be people to step in and improve them. The third-party front ends for Syncthing are a good example of this.

Resilio Sync is a bit more polished than Syncthing, courtesy of being an actual product that people pay for. As a result, its web control panel is much easier to navigate, and even has an extra feature or two more than its rival.

Plus, since it's backed by an actual business, there's much more user support. Along with a forum, Resilio Sync users can ask for help via email -- much more reliable than community responses.

resilio support

All this being said, it's important to remember the end goal of all this: keeping your files safe. However you go about it, as long as your system is protected, nothing else matters. Any backup is better than none after all.

What would you choose? Syncthing? Resilio Sync? Or something else?