FreeFileSync Forum

... For the donation edition this is no longer the case. That version no longer has a time limit during which users are entitled to updates.

For commercial or governmental use, there is now the FreeFileSync Business Edition, which has a time limit during which users are entitled to updates.

See here ...

Apparently you are now installing the FFS Donation edition on your test machines.

Instead of installing your Donation edition, you could simply install the Free edition on your test machines.

Conversely, if you go to the download page of your Donation edition, via the link in the E-mail you ...

The last time I used FreeFileSync, I received a message that FreeFileSync is not intended for commercial use and that I was running this application on 9 and now 10 systems.

This is not true:

I am very interested in the progress of the Mini-Pc's and have tested and used quite a few of them over the ...

Hi there,

I would like to request a new feature to be added to the FFS system so that I can use it with a commercial client of mine.
I would then become a commercial user of FFS and I would be happy to pay/donate for the additional functionality to be added.

My client has strict info security tests ...

... copy, study, and change the software in any way as written on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_and_open-source_software and hence free for commercial use.

2. By mentioning "self-extracting installers" I think you are referring to "setup files" of different versions of FreeFileSync which one ...

... any insights would be much appreciated, in particular how to have users sharing files easily... (2 days, and i have to say i wasn't able to find a similar solution, even commercial... AWS, oracle, IBM, and backblaze (still trying to test that one) are way to complicated for me and our need)

Thank you

Hi!

I have been using an old commercial filesync software called: "Fileback PC". It has served me good, but last update was in 2009 and it doesn't run well with Windows 11 even in compability mode, so I am trying to migrate to FreeFileSync, but I am having a problem with batch jobs.

If I make a ...

... file time+size, filetime, filename, file content). It even has a details view similar to Freefilesync (see Processing tab >> Details). I do wish it displayed the details in the main view, or that it had that %foldersize tree, then it would be Freefilesync's equal.

Bvckup is similar, but commercial.

... bit apps which are large address aware and using the CopyFile API. Windows devices are more likely to be affected by this issue when using some commercial/enterprise security software which uses extended file attributes. We are not receiving reports that copying files using File Explorer is affected ...

... institutions may still use FreeFileSync, but are required to buy the FreeFileSync Business Edition.

In order to allow FreeFileSync in a commercial setting, it is required to license a number of devices for installation by using the form below.

While the software is advertised as open ...

Good point, but I am not using it for commercial purposes, I am using it to sync my personal photos between my two personal external drives.

> I am running FFS on a work computer (managed by the organization)

Looks like illegal use: https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#commercial
So, perhaps it is just your companies way to protect itself against legal liabilities.

If you buy something privately, but then use it for your work, it's obviously commercial use. Nothing gray about that.


Hi, Zenju.

Supposing your response encompass all my post:

I understand my case needs 2 Business licenses (40 euros/year): one for home PC + one for company PC.

And portable ...

... the donation edition uses code licensed under GPL, it also must be licensed under GPL, thus making it open source and allowed to be used for commercial use

No, that's not true. As the author and copyright owner it is my right to add exceptions to the GPL license as I see fit. There is no need ...

... it from donating

That's correct.


- FFS is described as "open source", by you, and open source software is explicitly allowed to be used for commercial use without restriction. This is also corroborated with the GPL included with the source code

That's not correct. Neither the "Donation Edition ...

If you buy something privately, but then use it for your work, it's obviously commercial use. Nothing gray about that.


Here's why it's a gray area:
- You can't buy the donation edition, you only receive it from donating
- FFS is described as "open source", by you, and open source software is ...

If you buy something privately, but then use it for your work, it's obviously commercial use. Nothing gray about that.


Hi, Zenju.

Supposing your response encompass all my post:

I understand my case needs 2 Business licenses (40 euros/year): one for home PC + one for company PC.

And portable ...

If you buy something privately, but then use it for your work, it's obviously commercial use. Nothing gray about that.

Commercial use is anything that directly or indirectly contributes towards monetary gain. Lawyers could argue this for hours and each side will sound correct. With that said, these lawyers would be expensive and would not be worth paying to chase a single user in a muddy gray area, if you know what I ...

... copy, study, and change the software in any way as written on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_and_open-source_software and hence free for commercial use.

2. By mentioning "self-extracting installers" I think you are referring to "setup files" of different versions of FreeFileSync which one ...

I would respectfully like to ask on what basis the older versions (below 13) are free for commercial use.

Firstly, I have gone through the license agreements of FreeFileSync 11.27 (which is below 13) and FreeFileSync 13.2 (which is 13 or above) shown at the time of installing.

FreeFileSync 11.27 has ...

... been using FreeFileSync Standard version for many years and I am very grateful for that.



2) Is using the Standard version prohibited in a commercial environment for version 13 below?

Not sure if retroactively changing terms would be even possible, legally. Anyway the license changes apply to ...

If it assists paid personnel during their work hours, it's commercial use. If its use leads to financial gain, it's commercial

What means commercially for you?
I don't intend to make money with it so for me it's not a commercial use.
I don't sell anything.

What's wrong with building the function into the donate edition and then not releasing it for commercial use? Just because the dev sees it that way, it does not have to be so... as you can see, there are many private people who also like to use this function... well too bad. Maybe you can come up with ...

... That's what it says in the FAQ, doesn't it? https://freefilesync.org/faq.php#business



2) Is using the Standard version prohibited in a commercial environment for version 13 below?

Not sure if retroactively changing terms would be even possible, legally. Anyway the license changes apply to ...

... you for developing an excellent program. I have questions regarding the license policy change.
1) Is the Business version priced at 20 euros per device a perpetual license that supports updates for one year?
2) Is using the Standard version prohibited in a commercial environment for version 13 below?

Old situation:

Is FreeFileSync free for commercial use?
Yes, FreeFileSync may be used in business, commercial, and government environments without cost. This however does not apply to the "FreeFileSync Donation Edition" which is intended for private use only.

New situation:

Is FreeFileSync free ...

... windows into an SFTP server.


Good question. I'm also interested in free solutions. But I didn't find many options. If you want to use it in commercial environments the majority of the products I found are paid software. Even FileZilla because of the SFTP support.

For private usage there are a ...

It wasn't possible before, but now that FreeFileSync 13 has just released, there is finally a version that can be licensed and used by businesses: https://freefilesync.org/business