Comparison

SugarSync vs IDrive Online Backup

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SugarSync

Securely back up and sync files, photos, and music across all your devices. Protect your digital life with advanced encryption and easily share or restore files. Offers automatic syncing and remote data wiping for enhanced security and convenience.

Highlights
  • Secure file backup
  • Automatic cloud syncing
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Remote data wipe
  • File sharing and collaboration
  • Easy file restoration
Read full description

SugarSync lets you securely backup your files, photos, music, and more, on any device. We add a layer of security to all of your file syncing and storing so you can keep your digital life private and organized. Easily sync and send files from one device to another, collaborate with team members, and enjoy seamless file syncing across your devices with minimal effort. Features: Automatically sync your files to the cloud Instantly backup photos taken on your iPhone Sync multiple folders at once Remotely wipe your data in the case of device theft or loss Complete Data Security SugarSync makes security a priority. We use industry-standard encryption to protect your files and data while they sync to our servers, and store them in the cloud in an encrypted format. iPhone Photo Syncing Skip using iCloud or a cable to upload your iPhone photos. SugarSync lets you automatically upload photos from your iPhone to your computer so you can have all of your important memories and more in one secure place. Auto-Syncing Across Devices SugarSync makes it easy to keep all of your devices synced. You can automatically sync files across computers, devices, and platforms, and all changes made in the cloud will be automatically applied to all of your synced devices. Flexible File Sharing Sharing files and folders has never been easier. SugarSync lets you control how and what you want to share, whether it’s a small read-only file or a large folder with editing permissions — it’s up to you. Easy Restoration Never worry about losing your important files, photos, and documents again. Our Protected Folders option lets you easily roll back your folder to a previous date in time so you can recover all files within it at once. Enjoy a free 30-day trial when you sign up for SugarSync. Choose from our 100 GB, 250 GB, and 500 GB personal plan options, or choose our business plan which offers 10000 GB of space. We also offer custom business plans for teams looking for the right cloud storage for their needs. Learn more about SugarSync here: https://www.sugarsync.com/ Terms of Service: https://www.sugarsync.com/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://www.sugarsync.com/privacy/

About

IDrive Online Backup

Securely back up and sync your mobile data with private key encryption for maximum security. Access your files from anywhere, on any device, and share them easily. Protect photos and videos automatically as they are taken.

Highlights
  • Private key encryption
  • Backup and restore contacts, photos, videos, calendars
  • Sync files across devices
  • Access data from anywhere
  • Selective backup and restore
  • Share files and folders securely
  • Automatic photo/video upload
Features
Read full description

Protect your digital life with IDrive! Securely backup your mobile data with private key encryption – the highest level of data security available – so only you can access your files. You can backup multiple devices to one account, and sync files across devices to access your data from anywhere. IDrive for iOS is the winner of PCMag Editors’ Choice Award. "There's a heck of a lot to like about IDrive ... it can do things that none of the alternatives can." - PC Mag, September 2013 Features: • Backup and restore contacts, photos, videos, and calendars with a single tap. • Easily sync files between all linked devices. • Link your devices to a single account and access data from anywhere. • Selectively backup and restore files. • Share files and folders over a single, secure link. • Automatic upload option protects photos and videos as soon as they are taken via Wi-Fi or cellular data. • Gallery View allows you to easily slide through pictures and videos. Security features: • Private key encryption ensures only you have access to your data. • Lock app with a passcode. • Easily unlink devices, which are lost or stolen.

Screenshots

SugarSync4 screens
IDrive Online Backup4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SugarSync at 81% against IDrive Online Backup's 36%. SugarSync also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.0). IDrive Online Backup's advantage is rating (4.3 vs 3.2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. IDrive Online Backup sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. SugarSync asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

IDrive Online Backup holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IDrive Online Backup has 5K ratings behind it against 109, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of SugarSync's written reviews are positive against 36% of IDrive Online Backup's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SugarSync ships an update every 5 months, IDrive Online Backup every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SugarSync versus IDrive Online Backup: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSugarSyncIDrive Online Backup
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (109 ratings)4.3 (5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.5% of reviews — better35.8% of reviews
Number of ratings1095K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS10.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB111 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSugarSync, Inc.IDrive Incorporated

Customer experience

SugarSync

All ratings103 ratings
Positive51.5%
Neutral8.7%
Negative39.8%
Written reviews1,536 reviews
Positive80.5%
Neutral4.8%
Negative14.6%

IDrive Online Backup

All ratings4,959 ratings
Positive82.1%
Neutral5.0%
Negative12.9%
Written reviews377 reviews
Positive35.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative53.1%

User reviews

SugarSync

From 109 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices
  • 🔒 Secure cloud storage
  • 👍 Easy to use and navigate
  • 💡 Ability to access files remotely
  • 👍 Reliable backup solution

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 Syncing issues and unreliable file access
  • 🔋 High resource consumption on mobile devices
  • 👎 Poor customer support and lack of response
  • 👎 Expensive pricing compared to alternatives

IDrive Online Backup

From 5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and efficient
  • 🚀 Great backup solution
  • 🔒 Secure backup
  • 💰 Affordable pricing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app, crashes frequently
  • 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find backed up files
  • 🔋 Drains battery when running in the background
  • 🤖 Poor customer support

Bugs and requests

SugarSync

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues and account problems
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
  • Slow upload and download speeds

Requested features

4 requests
  • Offline file access and editing
  • Integration with more third-party apps
  • Improved photo management and viewing
  • Ability to selectively sync folders/files

IDrive Online Backup

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes when trying to access backed up data
  • Inconsistent backup progress reporting
  • Fails to backup all photos and videos
  • Sync issues between devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add option to view backed up files in folder structure
  • Improve upload and download speeds
  • Allow background uploads without pausing
  • Add facial recognition and photo organization features

In-app purchases

None

SugarSync

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

IDrive Online Backup

One-time10
  • IDrive Pro Mobile$0.99
  • IDrive 100GB at $2.99$2.99
  • IDrive 100GB at $3.99$3.99
Show 7 more
  • IDrive Mobile Unlimited$4.99
  • IDrive 500GB at $9.99$9.99
  • IDrive 1TB at $14.99$14.99
  • IDrive 1TB at $15.99$15.99
  • IDrive 2TB at $54.99$54.99
  • IDrive 1TB at $59.99$59.99
  • IDrive 5TB at $59.99$59.99

Questions

Is SugarSync free?
SugarSync is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is IDrive Online Backup free?
IDrive Online Backup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SugarSync or IDrive Online Backup?
IDrive Online Backup is rated higher. SugarSync averages 3.2 out of 5 from 109 ratings, while IDrive Online Backup averages 4.3 from 5K ratings.
Do SugarSync or IDrive Online Backup have ads?
SugarSync shows ads; IDrive Online Backup does not.
Which is updated more often, SugarSync or IDrive Online Backup?
SugarSync ships an update every 5 months, and IDrive Online Backup every 3 weeks. Most recently, SugarSync was updated on September 10, 2026 and IDrive Online Backup on September 28, 2026.

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