ChronoSync Express v1.4 (2024) [+]
Oct 07 2024
I used ChronoSync many years go and switched to ChronoSync Express (the Mac App Store version) a few years ago and it's worked just as well because my needs are modest.
ChronoSync is a folder syncing app that can run schedules. Choose source and target folders and choose syncing mode and that's it for the simplest and very common use cases.
Source or target can be network drives in which case ChronoSync will mount the drive if needed and can also unmount after it's done.
For syncing you can do Backup (if source and target file differ then copy to target), Synchronize (changes on either side will be copied), Blind Backup (changes on target are ignored), Mirror (changes on source or target trigger copy). Optionally Bootable backups if you purchase ChronoAgent (though for that I use Carbon Copy Cloner). I use Mirror with Delete Immediately because I want my target to be a duplicate of source.
There is a page for configuring specifics like reporting, how to copy and what changes trigger copy, how to handle deleted files (you can delete them or archive them in a folder), running scripts before or after (oops I don't see that so probably regular ChronoSync feature). I never set these though I have in the past when ChronoSync was always copying certain files because the a trigger was being tripped.
Another page for filtering rules so you can filter in or out which files to copy. Mostly I use rules if I have to syncs. One for specific folder and one for the rest of the folders in which case I want the second to be "sync all except these folders" so that it'll pick up new folders without me remembering.
Analyze page you can see what files are going to be copied and why and it's great for debugging issues. You can also force an immediate copy of a file from here.
Archive page to see your archived (deleted) files.
ChronoSync is not really a backup solution, there is no real restore to timestamp option for example, but for keeping two folders synchronized it's great. I use it to keep my web site updated -- I can update my local copy and have it sync overnight. I also use it as a way to manually mirror my backup hard drives without needing an active RAID system. For actual backups I rely on macOS Time Machine.
For whatever price I paid for it (it's currently $30 in the Mac App Store) and free updates for years it's well worth it.
ChronoSync is a folder syncing app that can run schedules. Choose source and target folders and choose syncing mode and that's it for the simplest and very common use cases.
Source or target can be network drives in which case ChronoSync will mount the drive if needed and can also unmount after it's done.
For syncing you can do Backup (if source and target file differ then copy to target), Synchronize (changes on either side will be copied), Blind Backup (changes on target are ignored), Mirror (changes on source or target trigger copy). Optionally Bootable backups if you purchase ChronoAgent (though for that I use Carbon Copy Cloner). I use Mirror with Delete Immediately because I want my target to be a duplicate of source.
There is a page for configuring specifics like reporting, how to copy and what changes trigger copy, how to handle deleted files (you can delete them or archive them in a folder), running scripts before or after (oops I don't see that so probably regular ChronoSync feature). I never set these though I have in the past when ChronoSync was always copying certain files because the a trigger was being tripped.
Another page for filtering rules so you can filter in or out which files to copy. Mostly I use rules if I have to syncs. One for specific folder and one for the rest of the folders in which case I want the second to be "sync all except these folders" so that it'll pick up new folders without me remembering.
Analyze page you can see what files are going to be copied and why and it's great for debugging issues. You can also force an immediate copy of a file from here.
Archive page to see your archived (deleted) files.
ChronoSync is not really a backup solution, there is no real restore to timestamp option for example, but for keeping two folders synchronized it's great. I use it to keep my web site updated -- I can update my local copy and have it sync overnight. I also use it as a way to manually mirror my backup hard drives without needing an active RAID system. For actual backups I rely on macOS Time Machine.
For whatever price I paid for it (it's currently $30 in the Mac App Store) and free updates for years it's well worth it.