DriveSync vs. rclone

DriveSync focuses on reviewing a Google Drive transfer before you run it, with a native Mac app and the free dsync CLI. rclone covers many storage providers, mounts, and more sync modes. Both can preview changes; the difference is how you configure and run the workflow.

Get DriveSync for Mac Try the free CLI

Best fit

Choose DriveSync if...

You want to pair a local folder with My Drive, review each push or pull in a native Mac window, and keep using the same folder setup from the CLI.

Choose rclone if...

You need multiple cloud providers, Shared Drives, document exports, mounting, or a configurable command-line workflow.

Side by side

Features and workflow

DriveSync’s Mac app and free dsync CLI are identified separately below. Numbered links cite the other tool’s documentation.

DriveSync vs. rclone: feature comparison
Capability	DriveSync / dsync	rclone
Platforms and interface	Mac app: macOS 14+, Intel and Apple silicon. Free dsync CLI: macOS, Linux, and Windows.	Cross-platform CLI, including macOS, Linux, and Windows; GUI options are also available. [1]
Storage providers	Google Drive, with folders under My Drive.	Google Drive plus many other cloud and local storage backends. [1]
Preview before transfer	Compare is read-only. Push and pull show a file-by-file plan and wait for confirmation.	Use --dry-run for a preview or --interactive for prompts. [2]
Deletion behavior	Off by default. Enable Trash missing in the app or --delete in the CLI.	sync removes destination-only files. copy keeps them. Choose the command for your intended behavior. [2]
Sync direction	Separate push and pull operations. No automatic two-way reconciliation.	One-way copy/sync and bidirectional bisync, with its own setup and conflict options. [3]
Shared Drives and Google Docs	Shared Drives unsupported. Docs, Sheets, and Slides are listed but skipped, without export.	Supports Shared Drives and exporting Google documents. [4]
Google account setup	Requires an OAuth desktop client in your own Google Cloud project, then browser authorization.	Current docs call for your own client ID as the shared Google Drive client ID is being retired during 2026. [4]
Cost and license	One-time purchase for the Mac app. The standalone dsync CLI is free and MIT licensed.	Free and open source under the MIT license. [5]

DriveSync requires your own Google Cloud OAuth client. It supports My Drive, without Shared Drives or Google Docs exports. See the DriveSync overview and Google setup guide before choosing.

Common questions

Is DriveSync a graphical wrapper around rclone?

No. DriveSync bundles ScaleNinja’s dsync engine, written in Rust. Its Mac app and free CLI share the same folder configuration and sync operations.

Can I preview changes with either tool?

Yes. DriveSync shows a plan before applying a push or pull. With rclone, use --dry-run to preview changes or --interactive for prompts.

Does DriveSync support automatic two-way sync?

No. You choose push or pull for each run. The Mac app does not watch folders or schedule transfers. You can automate the dsync CLI with your own scripts.

Sources and methodology

Based on product documentation reviewed on September 23, 2026, not comparative performance testing. An undocumented feature is not assumed to be absent. Check the linked pricing pages for current plans.

DriveSync sources: Mac app and CLI features, workflow and limitations.

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Automatic desktop sync