Best Tools To Sync Your Google Docs To Multiple Machines

Google Gears was an ambitious project that allowed users to sync their documents and emails for offline access. However, on May 3, 2010, this was discontinued and users could no longer access their documents unless they were connected to the internet. Though this was announced as a temporary measure, it stayed that way till recently. The importance of being able to sync Google documents across different machines was proven in this period with several applications emerging to fill the void. Here is a look at some ways that you can sync your Google Docs to different machines.

1. Memeo Connect

For users of Google Apps Premier Edition, Memeo Connect is an easy to use and light on resources app that can be downloaded on to different desktops. Memeo Connect is a Windows and Mac application which allows you to view your local folders along with your online folders. It automatically downloads online files and folders so that you can view them locally. It allows you to use Google Docs features like starring files and sharing folders. You can use the drag and drop feature to add local files to the online folders. Memeo Connect is priced at $9 per annum. If you are not a Premier Edition user of Google Apps, you will need to subscribe to it for $50 per user per year.

2. Syncplicity

Syncplicity is a automatic synchronization application that is meant for keeping different computers synced with your online folders and files. This Windows only application integrates with your existing Windows Explorer, and offers advanced file management, sharing, syncing and backup features. The best part of Syncplicity is that it also backs up your files and folders on its own website along with all other computers that you are logged into and running the application. Thanks to its backup feature, you can also access files during Google Docs outage which, though rare, does happen.

You can also use the handy restore feature to get back files that you might have accidentally deleted from your folders. It automatically replaces them even on your local folders. The personal edition of Syncliplicity is free for two computers and 2 GB of storage, and $15 per month for 5 computers and 50 GB of storage. Business plans start at $45 per month for 3 users.

3. Offisync

Offisync is a Windows only plug-in for Microsoft Office that allows you to integrate Google Docs into your Office Suite. You can access Google Docs through this plug-in by using the regular Office menu and dialog boxes. While you have the option of uploading, downloading and sharing your online files and folders through this application, it does not offer the automatic syncing of folders that Syncplicity does. The main attraction of this is that it lets you work within the environment of Office and access online folders and collaborative features of Google Docs seamlessly. Officync offers a free personal version and a premium Enterprise version at $12 per year or a one-time fee of $30.

4. Insync

Insync is another service that gives you Dropbox-like functionality to sync your Google Docs folders across different machines. It offers offline editing and automatic syncing of folders once you connect to the internet. This Windows and Mac app is free for personal use with 1 GB of storage.

These applications go to show how users view the ability to edit and synchronize files across computers and offline. While Google Docs has re-introduced offline access to Chrome users, it is still read-only, and the only way to sync your machines is to upload or download them manually. Given the success of these offline access and syncing tools that are catching the fancy of users, it is time that Google gave serious thoughts to reintroducing the features that it developed for Gears.

Author Bio : This is a guest post by Alia Haley who writes on tech help and luxury yacht.