Rsync vs Rclone

Both are powerful sync tools, but they excel in different areas. Let's help you choose the right one!

Quick comparison

Feature	Rsync	Rclone
Primary Use	Local/SSH transfers	Cloud storage
Cloud Support	❌ None	✅ 70+ providers
Delta Transfer	✅ Partial files	❌ Whole files
Protocol	SSH/rsync	HTTPS/APIs
Speed (local)	⚡ Faster	🐢 Slower
Speed (cloud)	N/A	⚡ Optimized
Windows	⚠️ WSL/Cygwin	✅ Native
Encryption	Via SSH only	✅ Built-in
Resume transfers	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Key differences

Rsync (server-to-server champion)

Delta-transfer algorithm sends only changed parts of files
Preserves all Unix/Linux file attributes, ACLs, hardlinks
Battle-tested for decades, extremely fast on local networks
Requires SSH access or rsync daemon

Rclone (cloud-native tool)

Speaks native APIs of 70+ cloud providers
Built-in encryption, mounting, and serving capabilities
Cross-platform consistency (Windows, Mac, Linux)
No SSH setup required, works through firewalls

When to use each tool

Scenario	Better Choice	Why
Daily server backup	Rsync	Faster, preserves all attributes
Photo backup to cloud	Rclone	Direct cloud support
Large database backup to server	Rsync	Delta transfer saves bandwidth
Encrypted offsite backup	Rclone	Built-in encryption
System migration	Rsync	Handles special files
Cloud-to-cloud migration	Rclone	Native API support

Common Commands

Rsync examples:

rsync -avz /data/ user@server:/backup/          # SSH transfer
rsync -avH --link-dest=/prev /src/ /current/    # Incremental with hardlinks
rsync -aHAXS /source/ /dest/                    # Preserve everything

Rclone examples:

rclone sync /photos gdrive:Photos               # Cloud backup
rclone copy dropbox: onedrive:backup            # Cloud-to-cloud
rclone mount gdrive: ~/Drive                    # Mount as drive

Performance & Features

What Rsync Does Better

Delta transfers: Only sends changed parts of files
Metadata preservation: Hardlinks, ACLs, extended attributes
Speed: Fastest for local/LAN transfers
Live backups: Better handling of open files

What Rclone Offers Instead

Cloud native: Direct integration with cloud APIs
Encryption: Built-in client-side encryption
Cross-platform: Same commands on all operating systems
Versatility: Mount, serve, sync, copy, check

Decision matrix

Need cloud storage?
├─ Yes → RCLONE
└─ No
   ├─ Have SSH access?
   │  ├─ Yes → RSYNC
   │  └─ No → RCLONE
   └─ Need delta transfers?
      ├─ Yes → RSYNC
      └─ No → Either works

Common misconception: "Rclone is just rsync for cloud" — Not quite! Rclone transfers whole files because cloud APIs don't support partial modifications. They're complementary tools, not replacements.

Bottom line: Use rsync for server-to-server and local transfers where speed and preservation matter. Use rclone for anything involving cloud storage or when you need cross-platform consistency.

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