macup vs ChronoSync
ChronoSync is the deep-configuration Mac sync tool. It can mirror folders, archive versions, sync across Macs, push to SFTP or S3-compatible destinations, and run bidirectional sync between machines — all driven by a rule engine power users can bend to almost any workflow. If you want that kind of control, ChronoSync rewards the investment. macup is the opposite posture: fewer knobs, safer defaults, continuous and encrypted by design, with an admin dashboard built in from day one.
Where ChronoSync wins
- You want a single tool that does sync, mirror, and archive — not just backup.
- You need bidirectional sync between two Macs or a Mac and a server.
- You're comfortable authoring rules and schedules manually.
- You already run a ChronoSync setup you're happy with and don't need cloud-native features.
Where macup wins
- You want safe defaults — continuous, encrypted, versioned — without engineering a rule set.
- You want a recovery plan with a recovery code, not just a destination.
- You want ransomware-resistant snapshots that a compromised Mac cannot delete.
- You're managing multiple Macs and want one dashboard with licence, status, and restore.
- You want MSP-grade multi-tenancy without rolling your own.
macup and ChronoSync, point by point.
Checked against publicly documented features as of the last review date. If we got something wrong, email us.
| Feature | macup | ChronoSync |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encrypted | ✓ | Partial · Supports destination-level encryption; not an application-level user-held-key model. |
| Ransomware-resistant | ✓ | Partial · Versioned archives possible; no object-lock model out of the box. |
| Deduplication | ✓ | — |
| Continuous (file-system events) | ✓ | Partial · Event-driven triggers available; primary model is scheduled. |
| External drive support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cloud destination included | ✓ | — |
| BYOS (S3-compatible) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Granular restore UX | ✓ | Partial · Restore via the archive browser or Finder; learning curve is real. |
| Multi-device / multi-Mac | ✓ | Partial · Licensed per Mac; Agent product syncs across machines; no admin console. |
| Team / admin dashboard | ✓ | — |
| MSP multi-tenant console | ✓ | — |
| macOS-native design | ✓ | ✓ |
| Recovery passphrase + code | ✓ | — |
| Supports multiple destinations | ✓ | ✓ |
The migration, one step at a time.
Run both tools in parallel until you trust macup. Here's the sensible sequence.
Inventory your ChronoSync containers
Before you change anything, write down every scheduled container you have, its source, destination, and what it does (mirror, backup, or sync). This list is the contract you're replacing — or partially replacing — with macup.
Install macup and pick a destination
Download macup and sign in. macup Cloud is the managed option; BYOS lets you point at the same S3-compatible bucket you may already be using with ChronoSync.
Replace the backup containers first, not the sync ones
ChronoSync's backup and archive containers are the best candidates to migrate. If you're using ChronoSync for bidirectional sync between Macs, keep that running — that's not what macup is for.
Run both tools for two weeks
Leave your ChronoSync backup containers enabled. Let macup run in parallel. Do at least one test restore from macup during that window — a file deleted two days ago, then a file modified an hour ago.
Decommission the replaced containers
After two successful weeks, you can safely delete the ChronoSync backup containers that macup now covers. Keep the sync containers if you still need them — macup doesn't replace sync.
Record your macup recovery material
macup issues a recovery passphrase and a one-time recovery code. Store both outside the Mac being backed up — password manager on another device plus a printed or offline copy. Without them, encrypted cloud data cannot be recovered.
See macup and ChronoSync side by side — on your own data.
14-day trial. No card. Decide at the end.