Now that Box Drive has “Mark for Offline” one might naively assume that feature essentially duplicates Box Sync.
Not so!
The different is *very* subtle, but worth knowing as you are going to lose this.protection when Box Sync goes away.
Here it is: Box Sync will sync YOUR files on YOUR device to box.
Box Drive will sync your files IN BOX to your device.
Box Sync: YOU own the files and control access.
Box Drive: BOX owns the files and controls access.
The difference is you DEPEND on your Box subscription to access those files in Box Drive.
You DO NOT NEED BOX to access those files in Box SYNC.
So let’s say your credit card changes, and your Box subscription lapses. YOUR FILES ARE GONE (until you restore your subscription). With Box Sync you do not--they’re on your local drive.
Let’s say you decide to end your Box subscription: YOU HAVE TO COPY YOUR FILES OUT BEFORE. With Box Sync you do not--they’re already on your local drive.
Let’s say there’s a bug in Box, and altho you’re subscribed, they think you’re not--you LOSE ACCESS to your files. With Box Sync you do not--they’re on your local drive.
Let’s say there’s a bug in your Box login--you LOSE ACCESS to your Box Drive files. But not Box Sync.
And now you might see why all these companies love drive and hate sync. Drive makes you dependent on them. Sync makes you independent, dependent only on yourself.
Now you are informed.