LinSync Download

Free and open source · Version 3.5.0

Your folders, backed up on every computer you own.

LinSync copies and syncs folders to a USB drive, a cloud drive or your other computer, then keeps doing it by itself, every hour, day or week. It's the ChronoSync idea, rebuilt so the same app runs on Windows, Mac and Linux.

Download for free Take the tour
Windows 10 and 11 macOS 13 or later Fedora Ubuntu, Debian, Mint Any Linux
LinSync's start screen: a gold yin-yang inside a rainbow ring. The light half says Simple, a few questions then it's done. The dark half says Expert, both computers side by side.

What it does

Set it up once. It looks after your files from then on.

Choose a folder, choose where it should go, choose how often. LinSync checks what's changed, copies only that, and keeps anything it replaces, so a mistake on one side never wipes out the other.

To a drive or the cloud

USB sticks, external drives, Proton Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud Drive.

To your other computer

At home over your own network, or from anywhere with Tailscale. Nothing extra to buy.

Nothing is lost

A trial run first, then every replaced or deleted file kept in an archive for 30 days.

Free, for good

No account, no subscription, no adverts. Open source under the GPL.

The tour

Every screen, and what each part does

These are real LinSync screens. Point at a number (or tap it) to see which part of the window it means.

The start screen: a yin-yang with Simple on the light half and Expert on the dark half.

The start screen

LinSync opens with a single circle, so the first choice is easy: do you want it done for you, or do you want to drive?

  1. 1SimpleThe light half. A short wizard asks five plain questions and sets up a backup that runs by itself.
  2. 2ExpertThe deep half. Both computers side by side: drag files across, or match whole folders.
  3. 3CloseAppears when the pointer is over the circle. You can also press S, E or Esc.
  4. 4The ringA glint of light runs round it as it opens, and the half under the pointer lights up. On a Mac the circle floats on its own and can be dragged about.
The wizard, step 1 of 5: What would you like to do? Five choices are listed.

The wizard

Five steps, in plain English: what to do, what to copy, where it goes, how often, then a summary of exactly what will happen.

  1. 1Progress barShows which of the five steps you're on. Back lets you change an earlier answer.
  2. 2To a drive or the cloudCopies a folder to a USB stick, an external drive or a cloud drive. Nothing is ever deleted.
  3. 3Keep two folders the sameTwo-way sync: changes made on either side are copied to the other.
  4. 4Back up my whole computerOpens System backup: a bootable copy on Linux, a home-folder backup on a Mac or Windows PC.
  5. 5Set it up myself insteadSkips the questions and opens Expert, with every setting in reach.
  6. 6Simple | ExpertThe switch at the top slides between the two at any time.
Simple mode: three backup cards, Documents to home-pc, Pictures to USB and Work folder sync, each with Run now and Trial run buttons.

Simple: your backups

Each backup is a card that says, in words, what it does and when. Most people never need more than this screen.

  1. 1The backup's nameSuggested by the wizard, and yours to change.
  2. 2What it does"Copies", "Mirrors" or "Keeps the same as", from which folder, to which folder, and on which computer.
  3. 3When it runsEvery hour, every day at a set time, weekly, or only when you press Run.
  4. 4Run nowDoes it straight away, with a progress bar on the card.
  5. 5Trial runLists every change it would make, and changes nothing.
  6. 6The ••• menuDelete it, open its files, or open it in Expert to fine-tune it.
  7. 7New backupStarts the wizard again for another folder.
  8. 8Status barWhat's running, how far it's got and how fast, with a Stop button.
A trial run list: 6 to copy to the right, 1 to delete on the right, 223.6 KB to transfer. Each row shows the action, the path, the reason and the size.

Trial run

Before anything changes, LinSync can show you its whole plan. Nothing is copied or removed until you press Start.

  1. 1The summaryHow many files go each way, how many would be removed, and how much data that is.
  2. 2ActionCopy to the right, copy to the left, or delete. Every file gets its own row.
  3. 3ReasonWhy: new, changed, or not in the source any more.
  4. 4Removals in redOnly Mirror, Move and Sync ever remove files, and a "deleted" file goes into the archive, not the bin.
  5. 5SizeOf each file, so a surprise 40 GB video stands out.
  6. 6StartCarries out exactly this plan. Close leaves everything as it is.
Expert mode: this computer's Holiday 2026 pictures on the left, the home-pc's Backups folder on the right, with three files being dragged across.

Expert: both computers, side by side

No task list to learn. This computer is on the left, the other one on the right, and you move things between them.

  1. 1This computerYour own files. The right side shows the other computer's name (here, home-pc).
  2. 2Places and the pathJump to Home, Documents, drives and cloud drives, or type a folder.
  3. 3Selected filesHighlighted in gold. Pick as many as you like.
  4. 4DraggingDrag files or folders across; the badge counts what you're carrying and the folder under it lights up.
  5. 5"Let go to copy here"A dashed gold strip shows where they'll land.
  6. 6Copy selectedThe same thing as dragging, with a button, in either direction.
  7. 7Whole foldersOpen a folder on each side and pick Copy, Mirror, Move or Sync.
  8. 8Trial run, Start, Save as a backupPreview it, do it, or keep it as a backup that runs on a schedule.
  9. 9On the rightAnother computer, or a folder or drive on this one.
  10. 10File managerOpens the other computer's files in a bigger window of their own, with New folder, Rename and Delete.
Expert mode before connecting: the right side asks for the other computer's name and login, with Find my computers and Connect buttons.

Connecting to your other computer

LinSync talks to your other Mac or PC over SSH, the secure login built into every Mac and Linux computer. At home that's your own network; anywhere else, Tailscale joins the dots.

  1. 1ComputerIts name on your network or on Tailscale, such as home-pc.
  2. 2Find my computersLists your Tailscale devices, shows whose account each one is on, and fills in the login for you.
  3. 3Its login nameThe name you sign in to that computer with, not your Tailscale email.
  4. 4ConnectAsks for that computer's password once. After that LinSync connects by itself, scheduled runs included.
  5. 5A folder or drive hereSwitch the right side to a second folder or a drive on this computer instead.
  6. 6Your side stays usableBrowse and pick what to send while you connect.
The 'Let this computer receive backups' wizard, step 1 of 4: turn on secure remote login, Tailscale (optional), write down two things.

Letting other computers back up here

Run this once on the computer that will hold the backups. It takes about a minute, and there's nothing else to install on it.

  1. 1Turn on secure remote loginSwitches on SSH (Apple calls it Remote Login). You type your password to allow it.
  2. 2Tailscale (optional)Only needed if your other computer isn't on the same home network. LinSync offers to set it up.
  3. 3Write down two thingsThis computer's name and login, to type on the other one.
  4. 4NextOne step at a time, with Back if you change your mind.
The More panel dropped down from the corner: Space at the top, then New backup, Let other computers back up, Set up Tailscale, System backup, This computer's name and login, Install network tools and Start screen.

The More panel

Everything that isn't a backup lives behind one button, each with a line saying what it does.

  1. 1SpaceSee what's using your storage and free up room (next slide).
  2. 2Let other computers back up to this oneThe receiving wizard from the last slide.
  3. 3Set up TailscaleSo you can reach your computers from anywhere.
  4. 4System backupA bootable copy of a Linux computer, or a home-folder backup on a Mac or PC.
  5. 5This computer's name and loginWhat to type on your other computers.
  6. 6Install network toolsAdds the SSH program if a computer doesn't have it yet.
  7. 7More…Opens and closes the panel. Click anywhere else, or press Esc, to close it.
Space: a ring chart of a 249 GB home folder, with Games, Videos and Pictures the biggest slices, a details panel, Delete and Copy/Move/Sync drop zones and a list of the biggest items.

Space: what's using your storage

A ring chart of any drive or folder. It also opens as its own app, LinSync Space.

  1. 1The centreThe folder you're looking at and its total size. Click it to go back up a level.
  2. 2SlicesEach ring is one folder level deeper. Click a slice to select it, double-click to zoom in.
  3. 3DetailsSize, file count and path of what you've selected, with Open and Zoom in.
  4. 4DeleteDrag a slice here, then choose the bin or permanent. System files and whole drives are protected.
  5. 5Copy / Move / SyncDrag a slice here to set it up as a backup, for example moving old videos to a drive.
  6. 6Biggest items hereThe same folders as a list, largest first, with the share of space each one takes.
  7. 7Drives and RescanPick other drives, or scan again after a clear-out.

In detail

Four ways to copy

Every backup uses one of these. Copy, Mirror and Move work in either direction.

A B Copy

New and changed files are copied across. Nothing is ever deleted.

A A Mirror

The destination becomes an exact copy. Extra files there go to the archive.

A Move

Files are copied, each copy is checked, and only then is the original removed.

A+B A+B Sync

Both folders kept the same. Changes, new files and deletions go both ways, because LinSync remembers the last sync.

Under the bonnet

How a run works

The same four steps every time, whether it's a USB stick in the next room or a computer on the other side of the country.

Scan both sides, make a plan, copy safely, archive what was replaced 1 Scan Both sides are listed: names, sizes, dates (or SHA-256 if you choose) 2 Plan What to copy, which way, and why. A trial run stops here and shows it. 3 Copy Each file is written under a temporary name, then swapped in. Big files resume. 4 Archive Replaced and deleted files are kept for 30 days (you choose).
If a folder is missing (say, an unplugged drive), or a run would delete too large a share of the files, LinSync stops before step 3 and tells you.

Safe by default

  • Trial run lists every action before anything changes.
  • Nothing is erased. Replaced and deleted files move to .linsync_archive/<date>/, kept for 30 days or as long as you choose.
  • No half-written files. An interrupted run leaves nothing half-done.
  • Missing folders stop the run, so an unplugged drive never looks like "everything was deleted".
  • Safety stop: a run that would delete too large a share of the files halts on its own.
  • Big files resume (4 MB and up) after a cancel or a dropped connection.
  • Conflicts: newer wins, left wins, right wins, keep both, or skip.
  • Comparing: date and size (fast) or SHA-256 checksum, with an optional check after each copy.
  • Rules: exclude and include patterns, skip hidden files, minimum and maximum sizes.

Runs by itself

  • Schedules: hourly, daily, weekly, at a set time, or every N minutes.
  • Uses each system's own scheduler: systemd timers (or cron) on Linux, launchd on a Mac, Task Scheduler on Windows. LinSync doesn't need to be open.
  • Watch mode: linsync watch re-syncs whenever something changes.
  • Groups of tasks, plus your own commands to run before and after each one.
  • Desktop notifications, and a log and run history for every task.

Computer to computer

Your other computer, at home or anywhere

No server, no account, no monthly fee. Files go straight from one of your computers to the other, encrypted on the way.

A Windows PC, a Mac or a Linux PC sends files over SSH, on the home network or through Tailscale, to a Mac or Linux computer that keeps the backups Windows PCsends backups Macsends and receives Linux PCsends and receives SSH, encrypted built into every Mac and Linux PC Home network Tailscale home-pc Mac or Linux Backups
The receiving computer only needs remote login switched on; LinSync's "Let other computers back up to this one" does that for you. Receiving on Windows isn't available yet.

Type a password once

The first time you connect, you type the other computer's password. After that LinSync connects by itself, scheduled runs included.

Fast with small files

LinSync has its own SFTP client running over the system's ssh. Small files go in batches of up to 64, big ones stream at full speed: 600 small files took 1.7 seconds over a 30 ms link in testing.

Tailscale-aware

Find my computers lists your Tailscale devices. If Tailscale SSH asks you to confirm in a browser, LinSync opens the page and carries on once you approve.

And also

More than folder backups

Space

A ring chart of any drive or folder. Zoom into folders, find the biggest items, drag a slice onto Delete (bin or permanent) or onto Copy / Move / Sync to turn it into a backup. System files and whole drives are protected.

System backup

Linux: a bootable copy of the whole computer on a USB drive that keeps itself up to date, encrypted with LUKS when your computer is. Start from it to test it, take single files back, or restore everything (UEFI with GRUB and dracut).

Mac and Windows: a home-folder backup (documents, photos, settings, mail) with older versions kept for 7 to 365 days and a Restore button.

Cloud drives

On a Mac, Proton Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox and iCloud Drive show up in Places and in the wizard. On Linux, folders such as ~/Dropbox and anything mounted with rclone mount. File dates are kept, so the next run copies only what's changed.

From the terminal

Everything the window does, you can script.

linsync new "Docs to USB" --left ~/Documents \
  --right /media/$USER/USB/Documents --mode backup_lr
linsync preview "Docs to USB"   # what would happen; changes nothing
linsync run "Docs to USB"
linsync schedule "Docs to USB" daily
linsync watch "Docs to USB"     # keep syncing as files change
linsync list                    # every task and when it last ran

Plain, open code

  • Written in Python with Tkinter: no extra packages to install.
  • The same code on Windows, Mac and Linux; the parts that differ live in one file.
  • Over 100 automatic tests cover every mode, conflicts, the archive, the safety stop, SFTP and resuming.
  • Free software under the GNU GPL, version 3 or later.
  • Prefer the original window? linsync classic is still there.

LinSync and ChronoSync

The ChronoSync way of working, on every computer

ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies, is a well-loved sync and backup app for the Mac. LinSync was modelled on it: synchronizer tasks, a trial run before anything changes, an archive of replaced files, and schedules. The difference is where it runs, and what comes in the box.

LinSyncChronoSync
Runs on Windows, Mac and Linux
Windows 10/11, macOS 13+, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, Mint, any Linux		 Mac only
macOS 10.14 or later
Price Free $49.99, plus $19.99 for ChronoAgent to connect two Macs ($59.99 together)
Source code Open, GPL-3.0 Closed
One-way backup and mirror Copy, Mirror, Move, either direction Yes
Two-way sync Yes, remembers the last sync so deletions carry across Yes
Preview before running Trial run Trial Sync
Keeps replaced files Archive, 30 days or your choice Archive
Schedules Hourly, daily, weekly, set time, every N minutes, plus watch mode Wide range, plus triggers such as a drive being connected
To another computer Built in: Mac and Linux in any mix, Windows sends; home network or Tailscale Mac to Mac with ChronoAgent (paid); SFTP to servers
Drag and drop between two computers Expert view and a file manager for the other computer Not included
Disk space chart Space, with delete and "move this to a drive" Not included
Whole-computer backup Bootable on Linux; home-folder backup on Mac and Windows Bootable backups of a Mac
Cloud storage Through cloud-drive folders (Proton, Google, OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud) or rclone mount Direct to iCloud, Dropbox, Amazon, Backblaze and others

Where LinSync goes further

  • The same app, and the same backups, on Windows, Mac and Linux.
  • Computer-to-computer backups are built in and free, across a Mac and a Linux PC in either direction.
  • Expert's side-by-side view lets you drag files between two computers, not just schedule tasks.
  • Space shows what's filling a drive and turns any slice into a backup or a clear-out.
  • A five-question wizard for people who just want it done.
  • Free, with the code open for anyone to read.

Where ChronoSync is still ahead

  • Direct connections to cloud storage such as Amazon S3 and Backblaze, with no mounted folder.
  • Triggers when a drive or server is connected.
  • Bootable copies of a Mac. Apple's recent changes make these hard for any app, and LinSync points Mac users to Time Machine.
  • A signed and notarised app, with many years of polish and several languages.

If you only ever use Macs and need those, ChronoSync is a fine choice. If you have a mix of computers, or don't want to pay, LinSync does the everyday jobs on all of them.

ChronoSync and ChronoAgent are products of Econ Technologies, Inc. LinSync is a separate project with no connection to them. ChronoSync details and prices are taken from econtechnologies.com in October 2026 and may have changed since.

Download

Get LinSync 3.5.0

Free, no account, no email. Python is included in the Windows and Mac installers, so there's nothing else to fetch. Each file's SHA-256 checksum is listed under the buttons, so you can check it arrived whole.

Windows 10 or 11Installer, 64-bit · installs just for you If SmartScreen appears, choose More info, then Run anyway (the installer isn't code-signed yet). Download .exe · 13 MB → Mac, macOS 13 or laterDisk image · Apple silicon and Intel Open it and double-click Install LinSync. The first time, go to System Settings, Privacy & Security, Open Anyway. Download .dmg · 68 MB → Fedora 44RPM package Double-click to open it in Discover or Software, or run sudo dnf install ./linsync-*.rpm Download .rpm · 1.2 MB → Ubuntu 22.04+, Debian 12+, MintDEB package Double-click, or run sudo apt install ./linsync_*_all.deb Download .deb · 0.8 MB → Any other LinuxZip · needs Python 3.8 or later Unzip it and run install.sh Download .zip · 1.0 MB → Mac, without the disk imageZip · needs Python 3 from python.org Unzip it and double-click Install LinSync.command Download .zip · 1.1 MB →
Check your download (SHA-256 checksums)

Compare your file's SHA-256 checksum with the one below. If they match, it arrived whole and unchanged. On a Mac or Linux, run shasum -a 256 FILE. On Windows, run certutil -hashfile FILE SHA256 in a Command Prompt.

  • LinSync-Setup-3.5.0-4.gold.exe Windows 10 or 11, installer · 13 MB218fc676a2dc295b5fcff3344cd08b951b56f282e6ab10a8eabd929b6b027afa
  • LinSync-3.5.0-4.gold.dmg Mac, disk image · 68 MB276138a1135cae2c146de08961f4ec5e5641c1d2f7e7b443ff97bb5a4ea95659
  • linsync-3.5.0-4.gold.fc44.noarch.rpm Fedora 44 · 1.2 MB01f8c299dd070230606e5bdbccb308d50315e3c5fa0c697340f6c1b788d5b460
  • linsync_3.5.0-4gold_all.deb Ubuntu, Debian, Mint · 0.8 MBbde39f620c9b24ed5a9380bbfcbc09014dca53920a6c0990d807cc2fc70b79df
  • linsync-linux-3.5.0-4.gold.zip Any other Linux · 1.0 MB135e5a93c6766c14c915bde65c92f4bd2c8529e8666ce3a78f947625f14316bf
  • linsync-mac-3.5.0-4.gold.zip Mac, without the disk image · 1.1 MBe7135a8e6a169248c3c57f0d94035eaf7d90fb039cbf5fe15d84a3bc412f66cc

3.5.0 "gold" is a test release: the engine underneath is the one earlier versions used, and saved backups and schedules carry over. The Windows installer is new and hasn't been tried on many PCs yet.

Questions

Good to know

Is it really free?

Yes. LinSync is free software under the GNU General Public License, version 3 or later. There's no paid version, no account and no adverts.

Do my files go through your servers?

No. Files go straight from your computer to your drive, your cloud-drive folder or your other computer. LinSync has no servers of its own and no account to sign in to.

Do I need Tailscale?

Only to reach a computer that isn't on the same home network. At home, LinSync connects over your own network. Tailscale has a free plan for personal use, and LinSync offers to set it up for you.

What happens if I delete something by mistake?

If a backup mirrors or syncs that deletion, the file isn't thrown away: it goes into .linsync_archive on the other side, sorted by date, and stays there for 30 days (or as long as you choose). Copy mode never deletes anything at all.

Why does my computer warn me when I install it?

The Windows installer and the Mac app aren't code-signed yet, which costs money every year. On Windows choose More info, then Run anyway; on a Mac go to System Settings, Privacy & Security, Open Anyway. You can check each download against its SHA-256 checksum on the download page first.

Can a Windows PC receive backups?

Not yet. A Windows PC can send backups to a Mac or Linux computer, and to drives and cloud folders. Receiving on Windows is on the list.

Can I go back to the old window?

Yes. Run linsync classic for the original window with every setting on one screen. Your backups are shared between the two.

Where are my settings kept?

In ~/.config/linsync/ on Linux, ~/Library/Application Support/LinSync/ on a Mac, and AppData\Roaming\LinSync on Windows.

I found a problem. Who do I tell?

Email dan@brilliant-hosting.com with your computer, its system version and what you were doing.