# rsync vs Unison

**Leader by vioscaleAI score:** rsync

| Attribute | rsync | Unison |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 49.4 (47% (low)) | 37.9 (59% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 27 | 5 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 267 | 0 |
| adoption.github_stars | 5,285 | 5,528 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"An open source command-line tool for efficiently synchronizing files and directories between systems. It uses the rsync algorithm to send only differences rather than complete copies, supporting multiple transport protocols (SSH, rsh, direct sockets) and can operate as both a client and server. It is indexed under File Sync.","source":"https://rsync.samba.org","question":"What is rsync?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"rsync is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://rsync.samba.org","question":"Is rsync free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"rsync supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://rsync.samba.org","question":"What platforms does rsync support?","confidence":0.6}]` | `[{"answer":"Unison is an open-source utility that maintains two replicas of files and directories across separate hosts or storage devices, automatically propagating non-conflicting changes while detecting conflicting updates. It works over internet connections including slow links, and allows offline access to already-synchronized data. It is indexed under File Sync.","source":"https://github.com/pricing","question":"What is Unison?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Unison offers a free tier, so you can start without paying. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://github.com/pricing","question":"Is Unison free?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Unison supports Windows, macOS, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://github.com/pricing","question":"What platforms does Unison support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Unison can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://github.com/pricing","question":"Can Unison be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Unison is published under the GPL-3.0 licence, a copyleft licence, so check its terms before embedding it in a closed-source product. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison","question":"Is Unison open source?","confidence":0.95}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | Open-source command-line tool that synchronizes files between computers or locations using efficient delta transfer, available across Linux, BSD, macOS, and other Unix-like systems. | Unison maintains multiple copies of files and directories on different hosts or disks, automatically propagating non-conflicting changes between replicas. It detects conflicting updates, works offline after synchronization, and runs as a user-level program without requiring kernel modifications or elevated privileges. |
| features.capabilities | `{"pricing_model":"free_open_source","deployment_model":"self_hosted","block_level_delta_sync_transfer_speed":true}` | `{"pricing_model":"free_open_source","deployment_model":"self_hosted","peer_to_peer_p2p_network_routing":true,"self_hosted_linux_docker_deployment":true,"block_level_delta_sync_transfer_speed":true,"client_server_architecture_cloud_host":false,"version_history_and_conflict_resolution":true}` |
| language.primary | C | OCaml |
| license.spdx | - | GPL-3.0 |
| market.availability | - | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"android":true,"windows":true}` | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Open Source","description":"Freely available under GNU General Public License"}],"summary":"Free and open source (GNU GPL)","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://rsync.samba.org","retrievedAt":"2026-08-20T16:36:33.254Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://github.com/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-10-14T11:28:28.015Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | open_source | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 30 | 132 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.1","date":"2026-09-21T04:10:18Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.5.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.5.0","date":"2026-08-13T00:30:25Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.4.4","date":"2026-06-08T04:59:28Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.4.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.4.3","date":"2026-05-20T00:16:38Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.4.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.4.2","date":"2026-04-28T04:50:25Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.4.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.4.1","date":"2025-01-15T21:06:03Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/RsyncProject/rsync/releases/tag/v3.4.0","date":"2025-01-14T19:39:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.4.0"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.54.0","date":"2026-05-01T00:33:56Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.54.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.53.8","date":"2025-11-05T00:07:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.53.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.53.7","date":"2024-11-05T13:41:24Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.53.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.53.6","date":"2024-11-05T00:44:16Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.53.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.53.5","date":"2024-05-07T01:32:03Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.53.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.53.4","date":"2024-02-19T17:52:38Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.53.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.53.3","date":"2023-04-28T00:28:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.53.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.53.2","date":"2023-03-20T17:39:53Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.53.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.53.1","date":"2023-03-19T12:42:03Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.53.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.53.0","date":"2022-11-07T11:34:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.53.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.52.1","date":"2022-05-08T12:26:58Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.52.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.52.0","date":"2022-03-12T19:12:50Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.52.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.51.5","date":"2021-12-18T15:51:34Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.51.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.51.4","date":"2021-06-24T14:50:25Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.51.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.51.3","date":"2020-10-21T13:15:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.51.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.51.2","date":"2018-01-27T21:19:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.51.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.48.15v4","date":"2017-12-18T12:25:51Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.48.15v4"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/v2.51.0","date":"2017-11-24T21:50:05Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.51.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/2.48.4","date":"2016-09-29T12:39:45Z","type":"stable","version":"2.48.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/bcpierce00/unison/releases/tag/2.48.3","date":"2016-09-29T12:37:20Z","type":"stable","version":"2.48.3"}]` |
| security.disclosure_policy | yes | - |
| security.scorecard | - | 4.7 |
| security.trust_center | - | https://github.com/security |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=homebrew&package_name=rsync&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=openbsd&package_name=net%2Funison%2C-gui&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (File Sync)

| Capability | rsync | Unison |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Capabilities** |  |  |
| Deployment model | Self hosted | Self hosted |
| Peer to peer p2p network routing | - | ✓ |
| Client server architecture cloud host | - | ✗ |
| Block level delta sync transfer speed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self hosted linux docker deployment | - | ✓ |
| Synology qnap nas hardware integration | - | - |
| Aws s3 azure blob external mounts | - | - |
| Active directory ldap identity sync | - | - |
| Version history and conflict resolution | - | ✓ |
| End to end encryption keys in transit | - | - |
| SOC2 type ii | - | - |
| ISO 27001 | - | - |
| Pricing model | Free open source | Free open source |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T20:10:26.367Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*