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If Sync’s three-seat minimum is too much, start with Box for team content collaboration, ShareFile for client workflows, or MEGA for private storage and sharing. We also compare options for one-off transfers, self-hosting and personal encrypted storage. The Reddit threads published discuss Obsidian Sync, not Sync, so they don’t establish why Sync customers leave. Use the alternatives below to match your actual workflow, and check each provider’s plan terms before switching.
01Why people leave Sync
You need fewer than three seats
Sync’s three-seat minimum rules out many small buyers. A listed starting price alone may not reflect what your team will pay.
Your work is transfer-first
For one-off large transfers and recipients who need no account, WeTransfer is built around a different job than a team drive.
You want hosting control
Nextcloud is aimed at organizations with self-hosting expertise and admins who value platform control; that may suit teams wanting to run their own platform.
02The alternatives, ranked by fit
- Secure content collaboration
BoxBoxBox is a close alternative if your team needs secure content collaboration or document workflows rather than just an encrypted team drive. Its listed starting price is $4.5, with a free plan. The platform also targets organizations using AI on business content, though the published pricing summary does not detail which plans include those features.
Trade-off: Seat minimums and unpublished add-on prices make the total cost harder to judge.
7.4/10from
€4.50/mofree plan - Client document workflows
ShareFileShareFileChoose ShareFile when collecting and sharing client documents, managing approvals or using e-signatures matters more than general team storage. It also targets firms that value governed client portals. The listed starting price is $16.5, so compare the plan cost and minimum seats against your current Sync bill before moving.
Trade-off: Watch the minimum seats and plan costs.
7.0/10from
$16.50/mo - Private storage and sharing
MEGAMEGAMEGA fits privacy-minded users who want storage and file sharing, with folder access controls for teams. Its listed starting price is $3.33 and it has a free plan. The published summary also lists VPN among its extras, making it a broader bundle than a straightforward team drive.
Trade-off: Transfer limits and overages need attention.
8.0/10from
€3.33/mofree plan - One-off file transfers
WeTransferWeTransferWeTransfer is the better fit when the main task is sending large files once, especially to recipients who should not need an account. It also targets teams wanting branded transfers. The listed starting price is $7, with a free plan; check plan limits and team pricing before switching from Sync.
Trade-off: Check transfer limits, plan terms and team pricing.
6.9/10from
$7/mofree plan - Self-hosted file platform
NextcloudNextcloudNextcloud is worth considering if your organization has self-hosting expertise and wants files and collaboration together, with more platform control for admins. Its listed starting price is $3.5 and it has a free plan. This is a different operating model from choosing a managed team drive.
Trade-off: Setup and upgrade complaints are worth weighing.
6.3/10from
€3.50/mofree plan - Encrypted personal storage
Proton DriveProton DriveProton Drive suits privacy-minded individuals who want encrypted storage, a free tier or secure file sharing within the Proton ecosystem. The listed starting price is $3.99. Consider it when your needs are closer to personal storage than a full-featured everyday team drive.
Trade-off: Less convincing as a full-featured everyday drive.
6.2/10from
$3.99/mofree plan
03Side by side
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sync Sync (current) | 7.4 | $4.50/mo | No | Teams that need encrypted file sharing |
| Box Box | 7.4 | €4.50/mo | Yes | Teams needing secure content collaboration |
| ShareFile ShareFile | 7.0 | $16.50/mo | No | Client document collection and sharing |
| MEGA MEGA | 8.0 | €3.33/mo | Yes | Privacy-minded file sharing |
| WeTransfer WeTransfer | 6.9 | $7/mo | Yes | One-off large file transfers |
| Nextcloud Nextcloud | 6.3 | €3.50/mo | Yes | Organizations with self-hosting expertise |
| Proton Drive Proton Drive | 6.2 | $3.99/mo | Yes | Privacy-minded personal file storage |
Questions people ask
How much does Sync cost?
The pricing page puts Sync at from $4.5 and notes a three-seat minimum. It does not specify the billing interval or whether that starting figure is per user, so confirm the pricing page and calculate the minimum team cost before comparing it with alternatives.
What is the closest Sync alternative for a team?
Box is the closest fit in this list for secure content collaboration and business document workflows. ShareFile is a better match when client document collection, approvals, e-signatures or governed client portals are the priority. Both have tradeoffs: Box’s add-on prices are unpublished, while ShareFile’s minimum seats and plan costs need scrutiny.
Do the Reddit threads explain why people leave Sync?
No. The Reddit threads we read are about Obsidian Sync and syncing Obsidian notes across devices, not the Sync file-sharing service. They include suggestions such as Syncthing, Joplin and Obsidian Sync, but they are not evidence of customer complaints about Sync.