# Sync vs Filen

The clearest difference is monetization model: Sync at free against Filen's freemium. Sync also leads on rating (4.1 vs 3.8) and ratings volume (805 vs 123). Filen's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sync holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sync has 805 ratings behind it against 123, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Sync's written reviews are positive against 48% of Filen's.

Sync ships an update monthly, Filen fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sync | Filen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (805 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sync-secure-cloud-storage/id917410266/reviews)** | [3.8 (123 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filen-cloud-storage/id1549224518/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **805** | 123 |
| Positive reviews | **50.2% of reviews** | 47.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 53 MB | 103 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Sync.com Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/917410265) | [Filen Cloud Dienste UG (haftungsbeschraenkt)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1549224520) |

## What reviewers say

### Sync

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sync-secure-cloud-storage/id917410266)

Securely store, access, and share your files with end-to-end encryption. This cloud storage solution allows you to sync data across all your devices and collaborate with others through shared folders. Protect your sensitive information with robust privacy features.

**Highlights:** 5 GB free secure cloud storage, Access files from any device, Secure file sharing via links, Collaborate with shared folders, End-to-end encryption, Access controls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly
- 🔒 Secure cloud storage
- 💡 Great value for the price
- 🚀 Fast and reliable
- 🇨🇦 Canadian-based company

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Lack of search functionality
- 🚧 Outdated and basic UI
- 🔻 Slow upload/download speeds
- 📂 Limited file management options

**Reported bugs**

- Unreliable camera roll backup
- Inconsistent file sync across devices
- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inability to access offline files
- Sync issues when switching devices

**Requested features**

- Improved iOS app integration with Files app
- Video playback and streaming support
- Bulk file management (rename, move, delete)
- Advanced sharing options and controls
- Better background sync for photos/videos


### Filen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/filen-cloud-storage/id1549224518)

Securely store photos, videos, and documents with military-grade encryption. Access files on any device, share them easily, and enjoy features like offline access and encrypted notes. Offers a free tier with 10 GB storage.

**Highlights:** 10 GB free storage, Unlimited pro storage, Secure client-side encryption, Offline file access, Cross-device file access, Encrypted notes and chats, Automatic camera upload

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 End-to-end encryption and privacy-focused design
- 💰 Affordable pricing with generous storage tiers
- 🌍 Open-source and transparent service
- 🚀 Fast upload/download speeds
- 👍 Clean and intuitive UI design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes during uploads
- 📸 Photo/video upload failures and inconsistencies
- 🔄 Auto-upload feature unreliable and incomplete
- ⚠️ Data loss issues in Notes feature
- 🔐 Thumbnail cache exposed in Files app (security concern)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when uploading photos/videos
- Music pauses when app is minimized
- Photo upload stuck at specific file counts (e.g., 42 photos)
- Notes lose data during sync
- Note type conversion deletes text content

**Requested features**

- Video streaming/playback within app
- Read-only file mode option
- Back-sync feature (delete from phone, delete from cloud)
- Multi-select file upload capability
- iPad split-screen view support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sync free?

Sync is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Filen free?

Filen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sync or Filen?

Sync is rated higher. Sync averages 4.1 out of 5 from 805 ratings, while Filen averages 3.8 from 123 ratings.

### Do Sync or Filen have ads?

Neither Sync nor Filen shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sync or Filen?

Sync ships an update monthly, and Filen fortnightly. Most recently, Sync was updated on September 22, 2026 and Filen on September 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*