CYNC vs CiraSync vs PowerShell
Three approaches to syncing Entra ID contacts to Exchange Online. Compare architecture, pricing, security, and operations — then pick what fits your organisation.
At a glance
Three approaches, compared
CYNCRecommended
On-premise · Graph-native · From €0.29/user
- Data stays on your server
- No EWS dependency
- 10-user free tier
- Certificate auth & audit trail
CiraSync
Cloud SaaS · ~$5/user (reported)
- Fully managed cloud service
- Broad feature set (public folders, shared mailboxes)
- Mature, well-reviewed on AppSource
- Higher per-user cost
PowerShell
DIY scripts · Free (+ admin time)
- No licence cost
- EWS-dependent — deprecated Oct 2026
- No monitoring or dashboard
- Fragile name-based correlation
Feature-by-feature
Detailed comparison
30+ criteria across five categories. Where CYNC leads, it's highlighted — where another option is stronger, we say so.
Architecture & Deployment
Architecture
Data residency
Installation
Server Core support
Remote administration
Upgrades
| Feature | CYNC | CiraSync | PowerShell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | On-premise Windows Service | Cloud SaaS | Scheduled script |
| Data residency | Customer's own server | Third-party cloud infrastructure | Customer's server (if managed) |
| Installation | MSI with silent-install support | Browser-based setup | Manual script deployment |
| Server Core support | Yes — headless service mode | N/A (cloud) | Manual — no dashboard |
| Remote administration | gRPC over HTTPS with Windows-integrated auth | Web portal | RDP / SSH |
| Upgrades | WiX MSI with silent upgrade (/quiet) | Automatic (cloud) | Manual maintenance |
Microsoft 365 Integration
API technology
EWS dependency
Delta sync
Contact correlation
Photo sync
Graph throttling
| Feature | CYNC | CiraSync | PowerShell |
|---|---|---|---|
| API technology | Microsoft Graph API only | Graph + legacy EWS | EWS (deprecated Oct 2026) |
| EWS dependency | None — fully Graph-native | Partial — some features rely on EWS | Complete — stops working after EWS sunset |
| Delta sync | Yes — /users/delta, only changes | Partial | Re-fetches everything each run |
| Contact correlation | Graph Open Extension (stable ID) | Name / email matching | Name matching (fragile) |
| Photo sync | One toggle | Supported | Custom code required |
| Graph throttling | Auto retry + exponential backoff | Handled by provider | Manual rate limiting |
Pricing & Licensing
Starting price
500 users (monthly)
Free tier
Volume discounts
Annual billing discount
| Feature | CYNC | CiraSync | PowerShell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €0.29 /user/month | ~$5 /user/month (reported) | Free (+ admin time) |
| 500 users (monthly) | ~€122.50 /month | ~$2,500 /month (est.) | Free (+ risk) |
| Free tier | 10 users per tenant | None | N/A |
| Volume discounts | Automatic bracket-based (down to €0.18) | Contact sales | N/A |
| Annual billing discount | Yes — up to 38% off | Contact sales | N/A |
Security & Compliance
Data path
Authentication
Binary protection
Audit trail
Data sovereignty
| Feature | CYNC | CiraSync | PowerShell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data path | Server → Graph API (direct) | Cloud → Tenant | Script → EWS (direct but legacy) |
| Authentication | Certificate-based (Windows Cert Store) | OAuth via browser | Stored credentials or OAuth |
| Binary protection | Obfuscar obfuscation | N/A (hosted) | Plain-text script |
| Audit trail | Full sync history in local SQLite | Cloud logs | Log files (if configured) |
| Data sovereignty | Data never leaves your network | Data routed through third-party servers | Data stays local (if configured) |
Operations & Monitoring
Dashboard
Sync monitoring
Failure alerting
Sync scheduling
Multi-tenant support
| Feature | CYNC | CiraSync | PowerShell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dashboard | WinUI 3 native dashboard | Web dashboard | None |
| Sync monitoring | Real-time via gRPC streaming | Web portal | Manual log review |
| Failure alerting | Windows Event Log + dashboard alerts | Email notifications | None (failures are silent) |
| Sync scheduling | Configurable interval, immediate trigger | Provider-managed schedule | Windows Task Scheduler |
| Multi-tenant support | One install per tenant (free tier applies per-tenant) | Centralised multi-tenant | One script per tenant |
Cost impact
Pricing at scale
CYNC's volume-discounted pricing starts at €0.29/user/month (down to €0.18 on annual). CiraSync does not publish pricing publicly; widely-reported figures put it around $5/user/month. Here's how that compounds.
50 users
CYNC is ~20× cheaper
200 users
CYNC is ~17× cheaper
500 users
CYNC is ~19× cheaper
1000 users
CYNC is ~20× cheaper
| Users | CYNC (monthly) | CYNC (annual) | CiraSync | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | €11.60/mo | €139.20/yr | $250/mo | ~20× |
| 200 | €53.20/mo | €615.60/yr | $1,000/mo | ~17× |
| 500 | €122.50/mo | €1,234.80/yr | $2,500/mo | ~19× |
| 1000 | €227.70/mo | €2,138.40/yr | $5,000/mo | ~20× |
CYNC prices include volume discounts. CiraSync does not publish pricing publicly; figures shown use the widely-reported ~$5/user/month rate and are estimates only — request a current quote. CYNC prices in EUR, CiraSync in USD (no FX conversion applied). First 10 users per tenant are free with CYNC.
Verdict
Who should choose CYNC?
CYNC isn't for everyone. Here's where it excels.
Small teams (≤10 users)
CYNC's free tier covers you at no cost. No cloud subscription, no scripts to maintain.
IT admins who want control
On-premise architecture, certificate auth, and full audit trail. Your data stays on your server.
MSPs managing multiple tenants
Per-tenant free tier, volume pricing down to €0.18/user, and silent MSI deploy across clients.
Regulated industries
Zero third-party data routing. Contact data flows directly between your server and Microsoft Graph — never through an intermediary.
Deep Dive
Head-to-head comparisons
Want a closer look at a specific competitor? Read the full breakdown.
FAQ
Common questions
Is CiraSync a bad product?
No — CiraSync is a mature, well-reviewed solution on AppSource. It works well for organisations that prefer a fully cloud-managed approach and can absorb the per-user cost (widely reported around $5/user/month; contact their sales for an exact quote). CYNC targets a different niche: IT teams that prefer on-premise control, need data sovereignty, or find cloud per-user costs prohibitive.
Why is CYNC so much cheaper than CiraSync?
CYNC is a lean Windows Service with no cloud infrastructure to maintain — no multi-tenant SaaS platform, no hosted servers processing your data. That architectural simplicity translates to dramatically lower operating costs, which we pass on as lower prices.
Should I switch from PowerShell scripts?
If your scripts use EWS, you must migrate before Microsoft retires EWS in October 2026. Even Graph-based scripts lack monitoring, delta sync, throttle handling, and audit trails. CYNC replaces all of that with a single install.
Does CYNC support the same features as CiraSync?
CYNC focuses on the core use case: syncing Entra ID user profiles as Exchange Online contacts. CiraSync offers additional features like shared-mailbox sync and public-folder sync. If you only need user-to-contact sync, CYNC covers it at a fraction of the cost.
Can I try CYNC for free?
Yes. CYNC includes a permanent free tier for up to 10 users per tenant — no credit card required, no time limit. Download, install, and sync immediately.
What about EWS deprecation?
CYNC is built entirely on Microsoft Graph API — zero EWS dependency. Read our detailed EWS deprecation guide for the full timeline and migration options.
Ready to see the difference?
Download CYNC, sync your first 10 users free, and compare it firsthand against whatever you're running today.