Synchronization between local system and FTP

Question

Is there any tool like Dropbox but for FTP?

Answer 1

After a quick research, I could find only 1 good. Pardon for the name: GoodSync. Main problem is: its free version is almost useless, unless you only need to sync less than 100 files. It doesn't seem expensive, tho (specially compared to other options).

Here were the options I've found:

• FTPSynch is paid and only for windows. Doesn't look too good or simple as well.
• FTPbox is also only for windows, but it does have the best name (as an answer to the op's question) and great open source / free potential.
• Syncany is the linux equivalent of ftpbox, but it has no release yet.
• WinSCP is too complicated (out of dropbox simplicity context) and windows only.
• mybackupbox the most expensive option at $10 per month, seems like the free version wouldn't keep things in sync, with just 10 "syncs" per month.
• rsync - this didn't came up on my research but I'm just adding to the least for completeness sake. It can work very much like dropbox, but it's not simple on windows and it doesn't do the job by its own.

There are many features and differences as well (think of file sharing, which none of the above have), but for simple FTP sync to replace common task of uploading files to FTP, all of them seem good enough.

Answer 2

Try using Netdrive (free for personal use, Windows) to map the FTP server as a local drive, with your Dropbox folder located in the local drive. A tutorial can be found here. If you prefer that your Dropbox folder is located in multiple directories: make use of symlinks.

I only recommend Netdrive if you're using Windows: I don't have access to a Mac and all the Linux alternatives to Netdrive (e.g. CurlFTPFs) I tested were quite slow (you always can give it a try)