SyncTwoFolders for Mac download

Merge and synchronize two folders

Have you ever ended up with two copies of the same folder and couldn't decide which one to keep? That situation is frustrating. A simple solution is to use a folder-sync utility such as SyncTwoFolders to combine the contents automatically instead of choosing one version by hand.

Quick facts and options

Cost: free to download and use
Quick reference: includes a brief help/cheatsheet (note: in our test the help link failed)
Alternatives: other sync apps are available if you need more features
Editor’s pick: useful for straightforward merges

How to run a merge

Pick the destination folder where you want files to end up.
Choose the sync method that best fits your needs (see notes below).
Select the source folder to copy from and start the operation.

Sync modes and documentation issues

SyncTwoFolders offers several synchronization modes, including reciprocal (two-way) and single-direction options often labelled like “source to target” or “target to source.” The naming used in the interface is concise but not self-explanatory; we could not open the help popup that would normally clarify the exact behavior of each mode, which made it harder to be certain about conflict resolution rules.

If you’re unsure which mode to use:

Use a two-way (reciprocal) mode when you want to merge changes from both folders.
Use a source → target mode when the source should overwrite or supplement the destination.
When in doubt, test with a simulation (see below) or back up both folders first.

Performance, preview and logs

SyncTwoFolders performs merges quickly and produces a plain-text log summarizing actions taken (copied, skipped, replaced). There is a Simulation mode that runs a dry run and reports what would happen without making changes; however, in our experience it offered limited usefulness because the interface didn’t clearly show all conflict-resolution details.

Summary judgment

For fast, straightforward folder merges, SyncTwoFolders is convenient and gets the job done. Its main drawbacks are unclear mode descriptions and an unavailable help popup, which reduce confidence when handling tricky conflicts. Back up important folders before merging if you can’t confirm the exact mode behavior.

Recent update

Fixed an issue where cancelling a copy from Finder’s progress window now correctly halts the sync process — this change serves as a workaround for an AppleScript-related bug.