Boxifier Review — Features, Pricing, and Best AlternativesBoxifier is a desktop application designed to bridge local file systems and cloud storage, primarily focusing on Box.com integration. It lets you sync folders on your Windows or macOS machine (including external drives) with your Box account without relocating files into a Box-specific folder. Below is an in-depth review covering core features, user experience, pricing, security, pros and cons, and the best alternatives.
What is Boxifier?
Boxifier is a sync utility that enables selective syncing between your computer’s folders and your Box cloud storage. Unlike traditional cloud clients that require moving files into a designated “sync folder,” Boxifier lets you keep your current folder structure and selectively mirror chosen folders to the cloud. This is especially useful for users who want to keep local workflows intact while benefiting from cloud backup, versioning, and sharing.
Key Features
- Selective folder sync: Mirror any folder on your system to Box without changing its location.
- Support for external drives: Sync folders from USB drives and other external storage.
- Two-way sync: Changes made locally or on Box propagate both ways, keeping files consistent.
- Bandwidth throttling and scheduling: Control when and how fast Boxifier syncs to reduce impact on network usage.
- File versioning and recovery: Leverages Box’s versioning to restore prior file states.
- Simple sharing: Sync a folder to Box and share it using Box’s sharing links and permissions.
- Conflict resolution: Notifies users about sync conflicts and offers options to resolve them.
- Cross-platform client: Available for Windows and macOS (feature parity may vary).
User Experience & Setup
Installation is straightforward: download the client, sign into your Box account, and choose folders to sync. The UI is lightweight and unobtrusive — Boxifier runs in the system tray/menu bar, displaying sync status and recent activity. Setup wizards guide you through connecting external drives and configuring sync rules.
For power users, Boxifier offers advanced settings such as file size limits, exclusion patterns (ignore specific file types or folders), and command-line options for automation. For typical users, the default settings work well and require minimal maintenance.
Performance
Performance depends on network speed, file sizes, and the number of files. Initial syncs of large folders can take significant time, but incremental updates are usually fast. Boxifier’s ability to sync only changed files (rather than entire folders) helps efficiency. CPU and memory usage are modest during idle but can spike during large sync operations.
Security & Privacy
Boxifier uses Box’s APIs for communication, so it inherits Box’s security model, including HTTPS transmission, Box’s data centers, and Box account authentication (often supporting SSO and 2FA). Boxifier itself stores minimal metadata locally and does not re-encrypt files beyond what Box provides. Organizations concerned with strict client-side encryption should verify end-to-end encryption needs, as Boxifier does not add a separate encryption layer by default.
Pricing
Boxifier’s pricing model historically has included a one-time license or a subscription — check the vendor’s site for current rates. Because Boxifier requires a Box account, you’ll also need an appropriate Box plan (individual, business, or enterprise), which affects storage limits and enterprise features (SSO, admin controls, retention policies). In practice, total cost = Boxifier license + Box subscription.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Selective sync without moving files | Requires a Box account |
| Supports external drives | No built-in end-to-end encryption |
| Lightweight, easy to use | Initial sync of large datasets can be slow |
| Keeps local folder structure intact | Feature parity may differ between OS versions |
| Leverages Box’s sharing and versioning | Some advanced features require Box business plans |
Best Alternatives
- Box Drive (official Box client): Deep integration with Box, familiar workflow, and enterprise support — but requires using its designated sync model.
- rclone: Powerful command-line tool for syncing with many cloud providers, highly scriptable, and supports encryption via crypt remotes.
- Syncthing: Peer-to-peer open-source folder sync without cloud storage — good for direct device-to-device sync and privacy-focused users.
- Resilio Sync (formerly BitTorrent Sync): P2P syncing optimized for speed, especially across local networks — proprietary.
- GoodSync: Flexible sync and backup tool that supports many cloud providers and local destinations with granular options.
- Microsoft OneDrive / Google Drive clients: If migrating away from Box, their native clients integrate tightly with their ecosystems.
Who Should Use Boxifier?
- Users and teams who already use Box for storage but want to keep native folder structures on their machines.
- People with external drives they want mirrored to cloud storage.
- Small businesses needing simple sync without reworking workflows.
Final Verdict
Boxifier fills a specific niche: it offers selective, location-independent syncing to Box, preserving local workflows and supporting external drives. It’s best for Box-centric users who value convenience over additional encryption layers. If you need broader cloud-provider support, advanced encryption, or peer-to-peer syncing, consider one of the alternatives listed.
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