SpiderOak enables users to backup, sync, share, access, and store files from any combination of Windows, Mac and Linux computers as well as external storage media in a single account. All data is housed in a central storage repository and accessible from any Internet-enabled device.
The service’s sync feature enables to set up an unlimited number of sync routines between two or more locations and/or devices, ensuring that the same content is available on home and work machines, desktops and laptops, or any other combination of computers, external hard drives, network drives, removable media and/or peripherals.
SpiderOak’s recent addition of synchronization to its suite of online data backup, sharing, access and storage services gives a more comprehensive, flexible, secure and affordable alternative to DropBox – a sync service that costs twice as much and requires extra steps for far fewer benefits.
Being compared to DropBox, the new version of SpiderOak offers:
- Synchronizing without reorganizing.
DropBox requires users to place items into a special folder that is then replicated on other devices where the software is installed. SpiderOak Sync allows users to select groups of folders from all computers and external drives without modification of the folder structure. - Complete backup protection, not just of synchronized files.
DropBox backs up only the files contained in the dedicated Dropbox sync folder. With SpiderOak, a user can choose to backup any file including those that are not synchronized. SpiderOak further retains all previous versions of files, plus files that have been deleted. It eliminates holes in the storage safety net. - A backup-without-sync option saving disk space as well as eliminating extraneous data movement.
Since Dropbox can only backup files by synchronizing them, files that only need to be backed up and not synchronized must still be replicated on every computer, consuming considerable amounts of additional storage. SpiderOak backup and sync functions work separate, eliminating extra overhead. - No limit on file sizes.
Dropbox limits files uploaded through its Web interface to 350 MB. It’s not enough to accommodate many photo albums or graphic presentations. SpiderOak can sync, backup and share files of all sizes. - Better security in a “zero-knowledge” environment.
In addition to automatically encrypting all data during both transfer and storage, SpiderOak vs DropBox has a no-password-storage policy that makes user data and even filenames inaccessible to employees. The user’s password is used to generate an encryption key that is also inaccessible to the company. DropBox lacks these important privacy measures. - More features for half the price.
SpiderOak charges $100/year per 100 GB for a complete package of services, including backup, file sharing, remote access and storage of any files designated by the user PLUS sync’ing of selected folders. In contrast, DropBox costs $99/year for 50 GB of data that includes storage, backup, remote access and file sharing ONLY for sync’d files.
Other SpiderOak benefits include the ability to backup and sync data located on network volumes and/or external drives. DropBox can only sync data located on the local computer.
It’s difficult to compare online storage/sync services. You have to explore the details to see the differences and determine what is the best for you. If you need true data backup as well as sync, don’t want to rearrange your folder structure, care about data security, want to keep costs low and/or need to manage external drives as well as computers, SpiderOak is the right choice.
On the other hand, Dropbox can be used in many different ways. Read about using Dropbox to sync files between different computers and other Dropbox users.