Trend Micro SafeSync review

SafeSync, Trend Micro's new synchronisation service, is based on Humyo, which Trend bought last year. This is no bad thing – we liked Humyo's friendly web interface, integrated media player and the ability to share files with others.

SafeSync provides more control than most services over how it uses the network connection. It's easy to specify exact limits to its upload and download speeds, or to simply pause uploads. It doesn't offer backup schedules, though - backups are always made in real time.

The local software is used to define folders for synchronisation. The default option offers a handful of common folders, including Documents, Music and Pictures. Switching to Advanced mode lets you create pairs of folders - one a local folder you wish to back up and another that it syncs with online. It can even back up entire partitions or content from external and local network drives – rare features for synchronisation software. SafeSync also creates a virtual drive in the Computer folder, where files and folders are simply dragged in and out.

Although it's entirely functional, the syncing controls aren't quite as elegant as the SugarSync Briefcase. The web interface is clear enough and we liked being able to play audio files of almost any format from it, as well as being able to use the mobile apps to upload new content and stream video and audio. However, once again, it's not quite as polished as some of its rivals' services.

SafeSync's prices are reasonable at £25 for a yearly 20GB subscription, rising to £100 for 100GB. Like Dropbox, it can recover unlimited previous versions of files, and like SugarSync, it can back up any folder on a hard disk. Unlike either, it can access entire partitions and external storage. Sharing content with others is also simple - you just send over a link to the web-based version of a file or folder. SafeSync is good value and has great features, but it loses out to SugarSync, which is more polished and a little cheaper per gigabyte.