Syncthing vs Internxt
Both are alternatives to Dropbox. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as Internxt vs Syncthing — same comparison, one verdict.
Syncthing can run on your own server and Internxt cannot — the choice is between operating it yourself and paying someone else to keep it up.
Syncthing
Continuous peer-to-peer file sync with no cloud.
Syncthing keeps folders in sync directly between your own devices, peer-to-peer and encrypted, with no server and no cloud in the middle. It is the purest self-owned option — brilliant for device-to-device sync, though it is sync only, not a sharing suite.
Internxt
Open-source, zero-knowledge encrypted storage with lifetime plans.
Internxt is an open-source, zero-knowledge cloud storage service — every file is end-to-end encrypted with AES-256 (and, since 2026, post-quantum Kyber), and the code is public on GitHub. It's a hosted service rather than something you self-host, so it sits between Nextcloud's full ownership and Dropbox's convenience: open, encrypted, EU-based storage with zero setup. There's a 10GB free tier and one-time lifetime plans if you'd rather not pay monthly.
Side by side
10 points of comparison, every one read from a verified field. Green marks the side that wins a row outright. A dash means we do not hold that fact — never that it is zero.
| Syncthing | Internxt | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty ScoreOur transparent 0–100 composite for data ownership and exit cost. | 92 | 68 |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | No |
| Local-first data | Yes | No |
| License | MPL-2.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Free / open-source | 10GB free; 200GB ~€3.49/mo; 2TB ~€8.99/mo; lifetime plans from ~€135 one-time |
| RAM to run it wellThe figure that actually matters, not the vendor's minimum. | 512 MB | — |
| Realistic running costWhat the box costs each month if you run it yourself. | $0 if it runs on machines you already own; $6/mo for a small always-on VPS acting as the permanent peer | — |
| Setup timeHonest first-install estimate, not the marketing quickstart. | 20 minutes | — |
| Ongoing maintenanceThe part nobody budgets for. | Almost none. Occasional version bumps, and conflict files to clear when two devices edit offline. | — |
Syncthing edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Weighing both against staying on Dropbox? Is Dropbox free? What it actually costs →
Syncthing
Strengths
- +No server or cloud at all
- +Peer-to-peer and encrypted
- +Very light and reliable
Trade-offs
- −Sync only — no web sharing/links
- −Devices must be online to sync
Internxt
Strengths
- +Open-source apps; zero-knowledge AES-256 plus post-quantum encryption
- +EU-based (GDPR), privacy-first
- +Free tier and one-time lifetime options
Trade-offs
- −A hosted service — you don't self-host it
- −Newer and smaller than Dropbox; fewer integrations
- −Desktop sync less mature than the incumbents
Which one fits you
The trade-offs above, turned into a decision. Find the line that describes your team.
Choose Syncthing
if you would rather run it on your own hardware, and your data should stay on machines you control, and no server or cloud at all.
Choose Internxt
if open-source apps; zero-knowledge AES-256 plus post-quantum encryption.
Neither, yet
if both carry a real cost you should weigh first — sync only — no web sharing/links, and a hosted service — you don't self-host it. If either of those is a dealbreaker for your team, the shortlist is wrong rather than the choice.
What it takes to run these yourself
Real requirements and honest running costs, not the vendor quickstart.
Syncthing vs Internxt — common questions
Is Syncthing a better fit than Internxt for cloud storage & sync?
It depends on what you are optimising for, and the honest split is this: Syncthing scores 92 to Internxt's 68 on data ownership and exit cost, so it is the safer choice if you care about being able to leave. Internxt earns its place on a different axis — open-source apps; zero-knowledge AES-256 plus post-quantum encryption. Neither is a wrong answer for every team; the table above is the actual comparison.
What happens if we want to switch later?
Syncthing keeps its data local or in open formats, so leaving is an export rather than a negotiation. Internxt keeps your data on its own infrastructure, which is the part to plan for: confirm the export path before you commit, not when you are already trying to leave.
Can I self-host Syncthing?
Syncthing can be self-hosted; Internxt cannot, so it stays on the vendor's infrastructure whatever you do.
Are Syncthing and Internxt both alternatives to Dropbox?
Yes — both appear in our Dropbox comparison, which is why they are worth putting side by side. People usually arrive here already having decided to move off Dropbox and now choosing between the two replacements, which is a narrower and much easier question.
More Dropbox head-to-heads
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Facts verified 2026-07-18. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.