Sugarsync Online Backup Review
Overall Rating
SugarSync is a way for users that work with a lot of files (music, documents, pictures) and multiple computers (a combination of laptops, desktops, cell phones) to keep all of those things in sync. If you’re a power user that works with a lot of files, you already know how tedious keeping things in sync can be. But even if you’re just a novice that has more than one computer, say a computer at work and another at home, keeping things together can also prove a bit problematic.
Features
Like most online storage services, SugarSync sets out to backup your data immediately after installing the desktop app. The desktop really does two things: it coordinates the backing up between your computers to the cloud, and it allows you to interact with the cloud via the app, as opposed to using the web browser’s interface. Though, you may very well find that the web browser’s interface is a lot more intuitive and productive than the desktop app.
The service automatically begins to sort your files into a few fairly standard categories: documents, music, and photos. Once your photos begin backup up to the SugarSync cloud, you can begin to view those through the Photo Gallery.
A nice little feature that’s proprietary to SugarSync is the Magic Briefcase. The Magic Briefcase is a folder whose files will remain identical across all the computers that are being backed up. So say you have two computers, and you’re between the two a lot while working on a project, you can keep your project files in the Magic Briefcase, to ensure that whenever you set to work on the project, that you’re working on the latest and most current version of the files.
Another neat feature that SugarSync provides is its Web Archive feature. What this does is it segregates a file out from the rest of the synchronization activities between your computers and SugarSync. So, say you’re working on a multiple file Word document, and you particularly like this specific version of one of the documents, you may elect to archive that document, then and there, and the file will be frozen in time, set aside in the archive, for you to refer to, download whenever you want.
File Sharing
One of the cool features to SugarSync is the quick and easy way to socialize straight away from the site’s folders. For instance, you’ll find that once your photos have been backed up to the cloud, that each file and folder is given the opportunity to share the pic with your Facebook friends. You can also share your files the “old fashioned” way, by email. And like you can with other file sharing and online storage services, you can set files to a status of Private or Public.
You can also set up private shared folders. These folders work much the same way shared folders do on other online storage and file sharing services. You set up the folder either through the desktop app or through the website, and then you invite users to come and collaborate and share files within that folder only. You can elect to continuously back up and synchronize the folder with a specific folder on any of the computers that you’re backing up with SugarSync, or you can just upload files to that shared folder manually; it’s really up to you.
Another way that you can share files is through public shares. These public shares, like the aforementioned way you share photos, come with a publicly accessible URL and link that you can email, IM or text to anybody you want to see the file.
Support
Support is pretty standard with SugarSync. You’ve got the knowledge base of course, and you also have a way to contact support over the web. The knowledge base was found to be fairly extensive, with multiple entries and takes from both peer users and support staff themselves. Most of our technical issues were actually resolved via the knowledge base.
If you’re doing a lot of backing up, there are a number of avenues for recourse. You can submit a trouble ticket over the web, or you can get into a live chat with support staff within business select hours. We found that trouble tickets were responded to in less than 48 hours, with the live chat being somewhere between being just as useful to slightly more convenient than the knowledge base.
Overall, support for the service is covered by the knowledge base, which was found to be fairly extensive and largely adequate.
Price
SugarSync’s services fall under two basic classes, what the company calling either its Business Plans or Individual Plans. This isn’t to say that an individual isn’t allowed to take up a business plan; these are just the classes of plans that they have to offer.
Each class offers about four products, a menu that may have changed since, since the company seems to be changing up its offerings as of late. As expected, the business plans cost more than the individual plans, and the business plans are able to be customized to the business’s specific and unique requirements.
The individual plans are pretty straight forward. They’re segregated out into four basic plans, and differ by storage space, and then by monthly rate.
| 30 GB plan | 60 GB plan | 100 GB plan | 250 GB plan | |
| Monthly rate | $4.99 | $9.99 | $14.99 | $24.99 |
| Yearly rate | $49.99 | $99.99 | $149.99 | $249.99 |
| Dcoument storage capacity | 3,000 | 6,000 | 10,000 | 25,000 |
| Photo storage capacity | 6,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 40,000 |
| Music storage capacity | 6,000 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 30,000 |
The plans are self explanatory, and though the most savings may be realized through the 250 GB yearly rate, this may be a bit of a commitment, even for the most avid file sharer and file manager. The savings per GB is pretty attractive, so if you do find that the service works well for you for a quarter, particularly if you’re a business customer, it may make sense to get this cost out of the way, cleared away for a year, while realizing the savings as well.
Overall, Sugar Sync is one of the best online backup and sharing services available. All of the features that are required for convenient online storage and sharing are provided and is one of our top recommendations.
If you are a current Sugarsync user please leave your own review, thoughts, comments and ratings below for others to see. That way people don’t have to only take our word for it.
On January 24, 2010 Angel wrote:
I love sugarsync so far. I actually tried Livedrive before and it was good for a while and then they started having way too many technical issues for my liking to the point where I couldnt even access my files when I need them. Maybe Livedrive has fixed all their problems by now – dunno. But I am extremely satisfied with SugarSync thus far after about 5 months. I am glad I switched.
On February 24, 2010 Home Business Online Success wrote:
I’ve experienced excellent service with Sugar Sync. Not only is their service awesome, you can’t beat their features and their price!
On March 19, 2010 Tom wrote:
Yeah, have to agree with Angel above…
I started out with Livedrive as well – but the drive mapping utility caused a lot of system “hangs” and explorer “crashes” so I switched to SugarSync. Have been using the Sugar now for 4 months without a single hitch. I like how it allows for multiple users to access it as well – pretty cool.
On June 1, 2010 Glennie wrote:
I love sugarsync so far. I actually tried Livedrive before and it was good for a while and then they started having way too many technical issues for my liking to the point where I couldnt even access my files when I need them. Maybe Livedrive has fixed all their problems by now – dunno. But I am extremely satisfied with SugarSync thus far after about 5 months. I am glad I switched.
+1
On June 14, 2010 Steve wrote:
SugarSync is easy to use, inexpensive, and most importantly it works! Their support could use some attention but that shouldn’t stop you from using them.