I used version 3.4.8 for many years in the past. I found it to be completely useful, fast, and reliable.

I also am sorry I missed it.

I would highly recommend it!
Mike S.

bohoo, I am sick with a cold so I did not get on my computer yesterday and missed it. I have used Folder Match since 2000. It is very flexable and works well to do what you ask it to do.

As usual, I find the quality of comments to be very low. The defaults for FolderMatch and WinMerge appear to be different, you can set them both to use the same comparison method. If you did so, I very seriously doubt that FolderMatch would be faster. It's silly to claim that one program has more options than the other. FolderMatch bundles several capabilities, WinMerge is for file/folder comparison and merging, KDiff3 will do a 3-way merge, MS SyncToy 2.1 does folder synchronization. WinMerge has some very powerful features which few file comparison programs can match. As for the UI, examine the menus and right-click menus. You can select, reorder, and resize columns, select flat view or tree view, etc. Naturally, most programs are somewhat different, if you like FolderMatch better, fine. Personally, I use WinMerge mostly for comparing files, MS SyncToy 2.1 for automated folder synchronization, and Windows Explorer in Vista+ for manual folder merging.

For the general benefit of all the remarks involved here today, go see this for basic info: >>>

Comparison of file comparison tools - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_comparison_tools

Just another simple function already incorporated in Total Commander.
The best software you could buy. Set yourself free.

Installed fine (Win7-64), but does nothing, nothing whatsoever. regular mode, admin mode, compatibility modes, zilch. No errors, or crashes, doesn't even try to do anything. Removed.

Does this have any advantages over Synctoy on an XP Home Edition machine? Thanks.

Have visited their website and viewed the Demo.

Downloaded.
Cleaned my Registry and made a backup of the Registry.
Set System Restore Point, just in case.
Installed the Folder Match-Software.
Registration - easily done.
Encountered no problems in the installation or registration.
Desktop shortcut - easily created by me. Lack of an auto-creation of desktop shortcut is not an issue to me.
There is a screen for new users that links you to the Demo, so that is good. Just skip if you have already seen the Demo, which is of an older version but it suffices.

The software works fine.
As far as I can tell at this stage, it looks like a very good piece of software.

About the interface. Actually I like so-called "dated" interfaces.
For example, I don't like the "new" interface such as the Microsoft Ribbon interface that replaced the classic menu of older versions of Microsoft Office. I still use Microsoft Office 2003 which serves me well and is robust. I have bought Microsoft Office 2007 just for fun but never bothered to install it.
For user interfaces, simplicity and intuitive understanding is key.

For software, Newer is NOT always Better. Look at Snag-It (a GREAT software). Some have commented negatively on the versions after Version 8.

Thanks to GOTD.
Many thanks also to others who have shared their knowledge of other similar such as WinMerge, KDiff3, Treecomp. Will check them out.

I get really REALLY annoyed when people complain about the regular cost of a program being offered here for free. We can all read for ourselves what the cost is, and complaints about that are a waste of everyone's time. We are interested in opinions of what the program does, how well it does it, how easily it installs, etc., not editorial opinions about the usual cost.

Installed without problems on Windows 7 64-bit, and registered also withour problems. Agree that the GUI is a little old-looking, but the function works fine, producing the comparison summary quite quickly and presenting the detailed comparison side-by-side in two columns in a way that makes files in one or other folder to be conveniently compared.

My major criticism af a very quick test is that the "Browse for Folder" dialogs MUST be changed to be resizable as the tiny window is very awkward to use.

I also installed WinMerge, which admittedly has the benefit of being free, and found the resizable "Browse for Folder" dialog to be much more user-friendly. However it seemed to take noticeably longer to carry out the comparison phase {perhaps it's doing a more comprehensive check of file attributes and/or contents?}. Also, to me the ways that the comparison is presented in a single column didn't seem to be as convenient for eyeballing folder content differences.

It's good to have both!

Warning: after uninstallation process a lot of registry entries are left and same files in the system folder (monitored with the Total Uninstall). If you want to try few such kind of badly coded programs, the system slows down like a hell as tons of unused entries is left and the only solution is to format disk and instal OS again.
So don't even touch it if you are not 100% sure you wanna use this software.

I get a path error number 3 @ line number 1900

When synching or backing up folders, will this also make the 'Date Stamp' (shown under properties) the same as the original folder?

Really very fast and effective. I liked it. I was so hesitant to install and use it as I like KDiff3.

But it has many other embedded utilities related to file system, I liked it.

Thanks to GAOTD and software makers.

#14 & #17 please go here http://falsepositivereport.com to report your False Positives with your security programs. The GOTD staff vigorously test each program they offer. It is not a virus nor malware.

About The False Positive Report:

"This is a new effort to help slow (and expose) the plague of false positives and mis-rated web sites that are destroying hundreds or thousands of small businesses every year. Some security companies do better than others, but never before has there been a place where false positives and mis-rated sites can be publicly reported. The security companies can then respond, fix the issue, then determine why it happened and work with the vendor to avoid it in the future. After all, once a false positive happens, the damage is already done.

The intent is not to crucify the security industry, I hope everyone understands that. Each company is different and unique. Transparency allows us to see which act responsibly, and which don't. Users can see which security companies CARE about false positives and the collateral damage to hundreds or thousands of innocent small businesses. Accountability is important to fixing this issue.

GENERAL USERS: Until we get the ball rolling, tell these security companies you want to know their false positive rates, and how they handle such occurrences when they do happen."

There is a thread in the GOTD forum: Helping to prevent false positives and mis-rating of web sites « Giveaway of the Day Forums - http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/10483

If you want to continue to use Norton or Outpost, then help them become a better security product.

As far as the program, downloaded and installed with no problems with MSSE. I have 3 PC's I bounce files back and forth with changes. This will help so much. Thank you GOTD and Salty Brine Software for the chance to try out this software.

#25: "... When I try to compare an excel file it says it can’t do it..."

If that's what you need to do, using Google with "compare excel files freeware" got 1.6 mill hits, so I'd imagine there are plenty of specialized alternatives. :-)

KDiff is a tool for comparing text in a couple of text files that I think originated in the *nix world. WinDiff is an older, portable Microsoft app with a sparse interface that compares individual files or folder contents. WinMerge has a somewhat less intuitive GUI, & compares files/folder contents, can let you look at & compare file contents, & lets you merge or sync files/folders. Arguably FolderMatch is less efficient because it uses VB [Visual Basic], but today's GOTD is easier to use, can read the text inside Word Docs & PDF files, & overall has more options than those 1st 3 I mentioned -- balancing that, installation also has the highest impact on Windows, though I didn't see any problems installing or using it with XP or win7 32/64.

Setup includes 17 files installed to Windows' system folder, which account for almost all of the 3700 to 4000 new registry entries recorded. A "Salty Brine" folder's added to User\ Local Settings\ Application Data\ [XP], or User\ AppData\ Local\ [win7], while the "FolderMatch" program folder weighs in at 29 files, ~5 MB. In contrast WinMerge installed with plug-ins, added ~600 new registry entries, installed 3 files to the system folder, & added a "WinMerge" program folder with 40 files, 3 folders, ~5 MB. FolderMatch's setup didn't do anything wrong, but it does not include directions to only overwrite older files for every, individual file to be added to Windows' system folder, so in addition to at least setting a Restore Point before install, you might want to double check the other VB apps you already have. To its credit FolderMatch does not add older VB support files like so many other apps, but supplies current versions.

Personally I don't need all of the options in FolderMatch -- I don't need or use the options in the more limited WinMerge -- so I've little doubt WinDiff will continue doing its job for me, hopefully for years to come. But that's me. Running FolderWatch I was surprised at the depth of features -- it struck me as one of those apps that's been around a long time, where anything anyone could ever come up with in the way of suggestions has been included. If for comparisons WinDiff &/or WinMerge won't do it for you, or if you want something maybe a bit friendlier, do give FolderMatch a look, though for file/folder sync IMHO there are better tools.

Nr 3, looking at Araxis Merge, it's free for 30 days. Then if you REALLY REALLY like it, you shell out 260+ bucks to keep it. It's nice but not that nice for a regular user.

When I try to compare an excel file it says it can't do it. Only ascii based text files can be compared.

Lets try this again. I use started using Microsofts Synctoy over a year ago. Going to school full time, I needed to be able to backup my usb drives to my school folders on my PC and back, or backups of critical information that is a mirror image to it's orig. It's not full of never to use menu items. It's cut and dry and fast. And, with it from MS, it was sure to work well withing windows. I've tried various other sync tools, auto sync apps, etc but nothing was as simple as ST.

I've downlaoded this app. For the NORMAL user who doesn't want to get hung up in what I consider MENU glut, try one of the before mentioned apps. I ran this program under the same conditions as one of my synctoy templates and it pretty much does the same thing. I don't need the pretty bar graphs, for example, or all the cool checks, X's, or circules before a file to tell me stuff. It perfroms as advertised and does its job well but for me, it has more to offer then I need. It installed and runs fine on a Win 7/64 system. Since I run synctoy, my one on one comaprison is as follows:

Unable to CANCEL an operation like in Synctoy. This is nice if your running a comparison, for example, and want to stop it, or you select the wrong option and want to stop. You have to let FM run it's course to bow out. Hit the ESC key just as it said but it crashed the program everytime.

During one compairing of a drive to another drive, it crashed all by itself without any help from the keyboard. (at least when it stopped responding, I could close it)

Syncing folders, rather left to right, right to left, takes too many steps. And it takes too much time to do the same task as ST. We are not talking seconds but minutes.

One minor flaw I think the developers should fix/change. When you are copying the contents of one folder to another, it would be nice to see the files in the destination folder populate while it's doing it's job. At least that would give the user the idea the program is working.

#10
Norton360 stopped and removed the setup.exe file of this program ‘because it acted strangely and dangerously on the computer’.
saying Norton blocked something here is not a good idea, use virustotal and see what the downloded file is like. Norton has too many false positives.

i think it is a grand program and very easy to understand, The drop down list is very comprehensive. One of the best I have seen, but needs to be a little cheaper. OK on w7 64bit.

This is a great program. It provides useful information on the compare, so you're able to make good decisions on the files involved, and has even more extensive comparison capabilities. It can auto-sync, has extensive syncing options including the capability of defining custom syncing options, maintains folder lists, has duplicate files options, file difference options, you can set include/exclude filters, and has a very clean, simple interface, making it very easy to use. It even provides summary reports. It's a shame those who comment don't always bother to really look at what a program does before saying it doesn't do something it actually does do. That does a disservice to the GOTD community as well as to the software developer.

Some of these reviews are a bit unfair. The software loads fine on Win7 64 bit. Norton's did quarantine it, but that's to be expected - and it was easily restored and ran fine. I like to deal in facts. I have WinMerge and ran a very quick test between WinMerge and FolderMatch. FolderMatch ran identical directories in HALF the time that WinMerge did. I found the GUI quite intuitive and easy to use without having to read the directions, in fact I liked it better than WinMerge's GUI. Of course, WinMerge is free and that's a comparison you can't ignore. I also like the safety step where it asks you to think about the changes as they will not be reversible. Additionally, there were many options and I liked the way they were offered - they were easy to sort through and select. Overall, I like the program and will likely use it -- I did agree with comments on price. Free is great!! Thank you GOTD. I would not pay $36 - there are even stronger programs at that price and more. I agree that $20 is probably the sweet spot for price.

I’ve used FolderMatch for 8 or 9 nine years. I found that it does a good job of comparing files and syncing files from my computer’s hard drives to my external backup hard drives. I have enough control over which files I want to back up at the time.

Before downloading this new version, I did delete the old version and did a fresh install. I had no problems with the install. Due to time constraints, I only tested a small file for comparison and to sync between my hard drive and backup drive. The program did that with no problems. My computer is running Win XP SP3.

Suggestion for FolderMatch: the two icons for comparing folders and files both have the same description “Compare”. Even though a mouse held over either icon provides more exact information, two separate icon descriptions would help to immediately distinguish the differences and make the program easier for new users.

Works ok, seems pretty quick. UI looks fine to me - you don't really need 3D transparent animation for comparing folders! It would be nice if it supported dragging and dropping folders into the compare windows. That's a pretty easy option in VB - the developer should add it.

I own this program and it works great. I use it almost everyday, it is definatley worth the cost if you are smart enough to use it. Yes there are a few freebies - I use Winmerge for comparing files too, and I've tried free file sync, but for 'sync'ing folders I've not found a single program that can take me away from Salty Brine!

You have to take some reviews here with a grain of salt, I think some of these people are lucky to turn on their computers.

Keep up the good work Salty!!!!!

Best yet I've tried for sorting out / cleaning and clearing out decades of stored files across multiple drives, folder hierarchies, portable storage etc. I've not encountered anything to match it in the syncing of folder structures for the multitude of options to do so by and ease of selecting the operation. The results page of comparison operation is so wonderfully clear, as represented in side by side windows with easily read symbols and ordered structure. It is just perfect.
The interface for the selection of folders or files to be operated on could be improved. The window is to small.
This program has been in existence since win 3.1 to it's present refinement I believe ; though I remember it as being called File or FolderCompare then.
It has a duplicate file finder equaled only by 'noclone'... with a marking wizard similar to it, that allows auto marking of duplicate files to be deleted or moved etc., from the folders selected. Every possible criteria for duplicate comparison is available, be it name, size, date, actual binary content, archive bit setting, single or in multiple combinations. For this function alone the program is a keeper.
This is a utility program you don't want to miss out on. I was stunned by the advancement made since I last used it; back in win 98 days. I believe it has no equal. Very fast, just make sure you select the proper button for compare operation. There is one for comparing files and the other for comparing folder structures. Pressing the wrong one can leave you scratching your head in confusion. It still trips me up to this day as I remember it did then.
Not fully tested it yet: there are so many new features added, but with what I've found so far, I couldn't do without it now. I'd pay a hundred bucks for it. Yeah and I've tried winmerge and a whole lot of others, some good some bad, this the best so far and meets all my needs for file / folder ordering...and so easy to use and learn. Can't understand all the negatives ... and winmerge... your kidding.. right.
Thanks Giveaway and FolderMatch.

As others have mentioned with the install problems / ocx.... I click ignore and it seems to have installed and is working correctly, but definitely needs to be addressed by whomever.

#14
Of course!
Better learn how to use Norton 360, otherwise get rid of it.

(this software is safe according to virustotal)

Does this monitors and marks the changes real time like MS's Sharepoint does?
Does anyone knows of an alternative to Sharepoint so I can sync online and/or offline files and easily back them up, duplicating the whole structure or sections of it into a spare drive?
It's the natural next step for products like FolderMatch, I think...
Thanks in advance!

Using Windows 7. Installed fine but cannot find the start menu or desktop icon. Had to run directly from Program Files. Have Norton 360 and no issues.

Was able to compare with a mapped network drive and a UNC file share without issue. Seemed faster than Beyond Compare. Default mode is "sync".

Not bad - UI is a bit confusing, and I wouldn't pay $35 for it but it works as advertised.

I use this program to copy/move and backup 20gb+ VM's. It allows me to adjust the chunk size (copy buffer) which allows for faster file transfers. I then check the file transfer with the crc32 option to ensure all bits made it over. I bought the 3.5 version - have windows x64 and will start using this version. By the way, it thinapp's very well and performs very well.

This program caused my Outpost to go bonkers. A program really needs permission to bypass my proxy and reveal my actual IP address to be installed? I don't think so.

#14, the problem is your use of Norton360, not with your use of this offering. N360 almost certainly was reacting to the (harmless) GAOTD code which gets inserted into every offering.

FWIW, life became much simpler for me when I switched AV's.

I am a novice in desperate need of some De-Dupe software. I therefore can't give a detailed comparison of this to alternatives. However, although not as simple to use as others I have tried, the ability to sync files making the Dupes easier to remove makes it more suited to my personal requirements. Many thanks to GOTD and the Salty Brine Software team.

Norton360 stopped and removed the setup.exe file of this program 'because it acted strangely and dangerously on the computer'.

If you simply want to compare the difference between two folder or files then the free and open source alternative is to use "WinMerge" http://winmerge.org/

I use open source programs whenever possible.

If you want to backup some files or folders then I use the free "EASEUS Todo Backup"
or just copy them to another source such as a hard drive or flash drive.

Apart from the fact that I'm not interested in this type of software due to the many freeware alternatives, the errors noted in their revision history concern me. It may damage your Windows installation, I'll let mike be the guinea pig: "3.6.2 06/29/2011 FIXED: On 64-bit OS, the Windows\System32 folder is being redirected to Windows\SysWOW64 by the Windows file system. So any scans of this folder produce the wrong results. The redirection has been turned off."

@ Kellox

You should carry on the install using the ignore option.
The ocx was probably in use by another application.
I doubt it will cause a problem if you have the latest version of microsoft Visual Basic.

For whoever asked if the program takes account of duplicate files in system folders (in the wrong section)

This is a folder sync program, if somebody uses it so sync or compare a system directory they are
A: going to cause problems with their machine and
B: a fool who shouldn't be using this kind of software.

It isn't up to programmers to babysit consumers.
Use the program correctly and it will do its job and nothing more.

I tried Winmerge and whilst it does the job, the results interface layout I found messy, which I can't yet find a way to change to make more readable.

Then I tried FolderMatch which gave useful results and a layout which is clear and makes immediate sense.

I would say that $20 is a more realistic price but for me so far it does the job which it claims to do.

I also agree with Harrym, WinMerge has all you need for folder/file comparison.

@ Felix Ker,
You agree with Harrym but you are trying to "sell" a product that is up to 6 times as expensive.
Looks like an advertisement...

When attempting to install I received a message similar to Kellox #2, the only difference being it was a different ocx file.
I chose the “Ignore” option even though it was not recommended, my reasoning being that if it was there it did not need to be replaced.
It continued installation without incident and registered in a similar fashion. On opening a pleasant clean interface was presented with useful hints appearing when the mouse hovered over an icon.
It certainly looks good enough to retain and eventually to test.
I see in “Improvements,” portability and system resources are tied together yet again, portability does not affect system resources so please don't vote for this madness.

I have Win7 64-bit and don´t have any problem using the program.

This program isn´t up2date. The GUI is so oldish to look at, that I wouldn´t pay 1 cent for the program.

"FolderMatch is an award-winning Windows 2000/2003/XP/Vista/7"
This make the program 11 years old ! It do explain the GUI, but the program don´t "win" any customers with that $35 bill you get !

I´m a big fan of programs with option, settings and what ever they´re called. But in this program there is a lot of confusing options that you can´t get an overview on !

To the developer:
Make 1 (one) folder (Option) and list all the settings there. Don´t use subfolders that is confusing.

I use treecomp. It's free and compares folders, subfolders and by ftp.

Installed ok on win7 64bit, no desktop icon or autorun but fired up ok from programs. Doesnt seem to be any autosync but seems to have a good standard of options, filters etc for manual syncing of duplicate files.

I agree to what Harrym said. I'm a big fan of Araxis Merge though. Been using it since 2008 till today. :)

During installation on XP-3 I got the following error message:
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\Comdlg.ocx
An error occured while trying to replace the existing file:
DeleteFile failed; code 5.
Entry denied."
Options are Retry, Ignore (not recommended), Abort.
As retrying didn't work, I had to abort.

For comparing, no other product can match the free and open-source WinMerge.
There are also very good free alternatives to the other functions it can do.
So I really don't understand the $35 bill of today's offering.