Updated: November 2011
Three of the most widely used file sync, backup, and share services are compared here side-by-side: Dropbox, Mozy, and SugarSync. Depending on how much and how often you plan to sync, backup, or share files, one of these services may be more suited to your needs.
Specifically, the free features, the paid features, the pricing, and the overall value are compared. All three services offer both free and paid packages. First, a brief overview of SugarSync, Mozy, and Dropbox, followed by a side-by-side comparison of all three services.
SugarSync: Free and Paid Plans, Features and Pricing
SugarSync is a file sync service that includes features such as real-time file sync and backup, file and folder sharing, access from multiple computers, and mobile device versions of SugarSync software.
The security of your files is maintained through the use of strong encryption during file transfers and for file storage on SugarSync’s servers.
SugarSync offers a completely free plan with limited storage space, as well as free 30-day trials for each of its paid plans that include various larger amounts of storage space.
The paid plans from SugarSync (try FREE for 30 days) all provide identical features, with the only difference between them being the amount of storage space included. Plans can be paid for once a month or once a year, but paying for the year is cheaper, where you can save about 16.5% per year, compared to paying monthly.
SugarSync – Paid Plans:
- "30 GB" Plan
- per month: $4.99/month; equal to $59.88 for one year
- per year: $49.99/year; save $9.89 compared to paying monthly (get 2 months free)
- "60 GB" Plan
- per month: $9.99/month; equal to $119.88 for one year
- per year: $99.99/year; save $19.89 compared to paying monthly (get 2 months free)
- "100 GB" Plan
- per month: $14.99/month; equal to $179.88 for one year
- per year: $149.99/year; save $29.89 compared to paying monthly (get 2 months free)
- "250 GB" Plan
- per month: $24.99/month; equal to $299.88 for one year
- per year: $249.99/year; save $49.89 compared to paying monthly (get 2 months free)
- "500 GB" Plan
- per month: $39.99/month; equal to $479.88 for one year
- per year: $399.99/year; save $79.89 compared to paying monthly (get 2 months free)
Save 10% for First Year of 500 GB Plan at SugarSync.com!
This promo offer applies to signups for the 500 GB SugarSync subscription plan. Click the above link to sign up and get the 10% discount on the 500 GB plan.
SugarSync – Free Plans:
- "5 GB" Free Plan
(used to be 2 GB free)
- "10 GB" Free Plan: upgrade to 10 GB free with TrialPay
There are more details on SugarSync Free and Paid accounts in the side-by-side comparison below. Also see how SugarSync compares with Carbonite online backup here.
Mozy Home: Free and Paid Plans, Features and Pricing
Mozy is a file backup service, that is focused on reliable and secure backup of your important files.
Using Mozy’s automatic and scheduled backups, your files are always safe, in case of a computer hard drive failure, or if your computer (desktop or laptop) is lost, stolen, damaged, or otherwise inaccessible.
As Mozy’s service is focused on backup of desktops and laptops, there are currently no device-specific software versions of Mozy available for mobile devices. Internet file sharing is also not a feature of Mozy.
However, if backup and protection of your files is your main goal, then other services are not currently better than Mozy when it comes to the strength of encryption used for file transfers and file storage, while offering large amounts of storage space for its paid accounts.
Mozy offers a completely free plan with limited storage space (MozyHome Free), as well as paid plans with limited storage that can be expanded (MozyHome 50 GB
and MozyHome 125 GB
). Pricing on MozyHome paid plans vary depending on your choice of payment terms, where you can save money by purchasing longer-term plans.
MozyHome 50 GB – Paid Plan:
- Monthly Plan: $5.99/month for 50 GB storage space; equal to $71.88 for one year
- 1 Year Plan (Annual): $65.89/year for 50 GB storage space; save $5.99 compared to the Monthly Plan (get 1 month free)
- 2 Year Plan (Biennial): $125.79/2-years for 50 GB storage space (equal to $62.89/year) ; save $17.97 compared to the Monthly Plan (get 3 months free)
MozyHome 125 GB – Paid Plan:
- Monthly Plan: $9.99/month for 125 GB storage space; equal to $119.88 for one year
- 1 Year Plan (Annual): $109.89/year for 125 GB storage space; save $9.99 compared to the Monthly Plan (get 1 month free)
- 2 Year Plan (Biennial): $209.79/2-years for 125 GB storage space (equal to $104.89/year) ; save $29.97 compared to the Monthly Plan (get 3 months free)
Get 10% off any Mozy.com subscription by using the promo code GIVING
This promo offer applies to signups for MozyHome and MozyPro plans. Click the above link and type the promo code GIVING into the promotional code box at signup to get the 10% discount. This promo code is valid for November 2011.
For the MozyHome 50 GB and 125 GB plans (1 Year Plan and 2 Year Plan):
- Add additional computers for $2 per month per computer, up to a maximum of 5 computers.
- Add an additional 20 GB of space for $2 per month.
MozyHome Free:
- 2 GB of free storage space
for MozyHome file backup
There are more details on MozyHome Free and Unlimited accounts in the side-by-side comparison below.
Dropbox: Free and Paid Plans, Features and Pricing
Dropbox is a file sync service that is most similar to SugarSync. Like SugarSync, it features real-time file sync and backup, file and folder sharing, access from multiple computers, and mobile device versions of SugarSync software.
Dropbox offers both free accounts and paid accounts, with the difference between account types being the amount of storage space included.
Dropbox Pro Account:
- "Pro 50" – 50 GB of storage space
- per month: $9.99/month; equal to $119.88 for one year
- per year: $99.00/year; save $20.88 compared to paying monthly (get 2 months free)
- "Pro 100" – 100 GB of storage space
- per month: $19.99/month; equal to $239.88 for one year
- per year: $199.00/year; save $40.88 compared to paying monthly (get 2 months free)
Dropbox Free Account
- 2 GB of free storage space for a new Dropbox free account
Click here to sign up for a free Dropbox account and get an extra 250 MB of storage space, for a total of 2.25 GB of storage space.
(Note: You must use the above link to sign up for a new account and also install the Dropbox desktop application to your computer, in order to get the 250 MB bonus from Dropbox.)
For more details on Dropbox Free and Pro accounts, see the side-by-side comparison below. There are several differences between Dropbox and both SugarSync and Mozy, and these are detailed in the side-by-side comparison below.
Key Free Feature Comparison: SugarSync, Mozy, Dropbox
SugarSync – Free |
MozyHome – Free |
 Dropbox – Free |
|
| Free Account Size |
5 GB (Sign up here for an extra 500 MB free) 10 GB Free with TrialPay |
2 GB |
2 GB (Sign up here for an extra 250 MB free) |
| File Update Method |
Real-Time Sync and Backup of Updated Files
[option to also back up files without sync] |
Automatic and Scheduled Backups | Real-Time Sync and Backup of Updated Files |
| Maximum File Size For Uploading |
Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited – if using desktop software
300 MB – if using |
| File Types | All File Types | All File Types | All File Types |
| Past File Versions Saved |
Current file version, plus 5 previous file versions can be restored. | All file versions from past 30 days can be restored. | All file versions from past 30 days can be restored. |
| Access From Multiple Computers |
Unlimited number of computers per free account. | Up to 2 computers per free account. |
Unlimited number of computers per free account. |
| Incremental File Updating | Yes – Updates changed portions of files. | Yes – Updates changed portions of files. | Yes – Updates changed portions of files. |
| Encrypted File Transfer |
Yes – SSL | Yes – SSL | Yes – SSL |
| Encrypted File Storage |
Yes – 128-bit AES encryption | Yes – 256-bit AES encryption or 448-bit Blowfish encryption | Yes – 256-bit AES encryption |
| Public File Sharing |
Yes – Share files or folders, with SugarSync members or non-members. (Public Links – 25 MB max, Secure Links – no limit). |
No | Yes – Share files or folders, with Dropbox members or non-members. Any uploaded file can be shared; no size limits. |
| Android Version | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone Version | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPad Version | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blackberry Version | Yes | No | Yes |
| Windows Mobile Version | Yes | No | Use Mobile Website |
| Symbian Version | Yes | No | Use Mobile Website |
| Learn more about SugarSync |
Learn more about MozyHome |
Learn more about Dropbox |
Key Paid Feature Comparison: SugarSync, Mozy, Dropbox
SugarSync – Paid |
MozyHome – Paid |
 Dropbox Pro |
|
| Free Trial for Paid Plans | Yes – Free 30-Day Trial For All Paid Plans |
No – See MozyHome Free For A Free Option | No – See Dropbox Free Accounts For A Free Option |
| Paid Account Size |
30 GB 60 GB 100 GB 250 GB 500 GB |
50 GB 125 GB |
50 GB 100 GB |
| Monthly Prices | 30 GB – $4.99/mth 60 GB – $9.99/mth 100 GB – $14.99/mth 250 GB – $24.99/mth 500 GB – $39.99/mth |
50 GB – $5.99/mth 125 GB – $9.99/mth |
50 GB – $9.99/mth 100 GB – $19.99/mth |
| Yearly Prices [save money |
[Get 2 Months Free] 30 GB – $49.99/yr 60 GB – $99.99/yr 100 GB – $149.99/yr 250 GB – $249.99/yr 500 GB – $399.99/yr |
[Get 1 Month Free] 50 GB – $65.89/yr 125 GB – $109.89/yr [Get 3 Months Free] |
[Get 2 Months Free] 50 GB – $99.00/yr [Get 2 Months Free] |
| Past File Versions Saved |
Current version, plus previous 5 versions of each file are saved. | Previous 30 days of file versions are saved. | Previous 30 days of file versions are saved.
[Option to save all earlier file versions, with the Pack-Rat add-on.] |
| Number Of Computers Allowed Access Per Paid Account |
Unlimited number of computers per paid account.
[No extra cost per computer added.] |
Max 5 computers per paid account.
50 GB – Includes 1 computer for backup. 125 GB – Includes 3 computers for backup. [Add a computer for an extra $2/month.] |
Unlimited number of computers per paid account.
[No extra cost per computer added.] |
| Incremental File Updating |
Yes – Updates changed portions of files. | Yes – Updates changed portions of files. | Yes – Updates changed portions of files. |
| Encrypted File Transfer | Yes – SSL | Yes – SSL | Yes – SSL |
| Encrypted File Storage | Yes – 128-bit AES encryption | Yes – 256-bit AES encryption or 448-bit Blowfish encryption | Yes – 256-bit AES encryption |
| Public File Sharing |
Yes – Share files or folders, with SugarSync members or non-members. (Public Links – 2GB max, Secure Links – no limit). |
No | Yes – Share files or folders, with Dropbox members or non-members. Any uploaded file can be shared; no size limits. |
| Mobile Versions Of Software |
Android, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian devices have mobile software versions.
Other devices can use the mobile version of the website. |
Android, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch have mobile versions of software that uses the Mozy encryption key, for users in the US and Canada. | Android, iPhone, iPad, and Blackberry have mobile versions of software.
Windows Mobile, Symbian and other devices can use the mobile version of the website. |
| Learn more about SugarSync |
Learn more about MozyHome |
Learn more about Dropbox |
Choose Between SugarSync, Mozy, and Dropbox
Your choice between SugarSync, Mozy, and Dropbox may depend on which factors are most important to you:
- the ability to sync files in real-time
- file sharing options
- the ability to recover deleted files
- amount of storage space
- backup details
- mobile device access
- price
MozyHome, for example, features competitive amounts of storage space, that can be increased at anytime for low cost. Since its main purpose is for backup, it does not offer dedicated mobile options. If your main interest is in file backup, you want some flexibility in the amount of storage space you are paying for, and you have no real need for mobile access, then MozyHome is probably a good fit.
On the other hand, if you require file synchronization that is accessible from many devices including mobile ones, then SugarSync offers many mobile options while having comparable features. While SugarSync does not offer unlimited storage, SugarSync’s plans do offer quite large amounts of storage space, that could be more than enough to suit your needs.
Similarly, Dropbox shares many common features with both Mozy and SugarSync, but the combination of storage space, pricing, and other details may fit your requirements better. For instance, on its paid Dropbox Pro plans, Dropbox offers the option to save all previous versions of all files you have synced with Dropbox, as opposed to having a time limit or a maximum number of versions saved.
SugarSync, Mozy, and Dropbox are all strong and secure choices for online file sync and backup. But there are some differences between them, which may make one of them fit your file sync/backup needs better than the others.
Related Information
» Carbonite vs SugarSync: Online File Backup Comparison
» SugarSync Free Plan Upgraded To 5 GB
» Mozy.com
» New Mozy Online Backup Plans: Unlimited Plan Ends
» Dropbox Free: Get Over 2 GB Free Extra Storage Space
» Amazon Cloud Drive: 5 GB Free Storage, 20 GB Promo, Stream MP3 Songs
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» Carbonite vs SugarSync: Online File Backup Comparison
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