ActionCheeseComparison
ActionCheese Sync vs Syncaila
Both line up multicam footage by its sound instead of timecode. Syncaila is a mature paid app for Mac and Windows that works with almost every editor. ActionCheese Sync is free and open source, made for Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve on Apple silicon Macs. Here's how to choose.
Download ActionCheese Sync for Mac
Free and open source (GPL-3.0), signed and notarized by Apple. Mac with Apple silicon, macOS 11 or later. Help · Source on GitHub
Side by side
| ActionCheese Sync 0.1 | Syncaila 3.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source (GPL-3.0) | Paid lifetime licences (FULL, SYNC-3) or a 6-month SEASON licence; free mode limited to 20 clips on 2 tracks |
| Limits | No clip or track limits | By licence: SYNC-3 covers 3 tracks |
| Platforms | macOS 11+, Apple silicon | macOS 11+ and Windows 10+ |
| Formats | Final Cut Pro 7 XML | FCPXML, Final Cut Pro 7 XML, AAF |
| Editors | Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve | Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Media Composer, Vegas, Edius |
| Input without a timeline | Yes: folders straight off the cards | Works from an editor timeline (XML or AAF) |
| Recorder drift | Measured and corrected on long takes | Not described on its site |
| Internet | Never needed | Needed for the trial and the SEASON licence |
| Source code | Public on GitHub | Closed |
Syncaila details from syncaila.com (version 3.1, released 13 October 2026), checked 22 October 2026. Syncaila doesn't list prices on its site without going through the purchase flow.
Which one fits
Choose Syncaila if
- You edit in Final Cut Pro, Media Composer, Edius or Vegas.
- You work on Windows or an Intel Mac.
- You want a long-established tool with years of large productions behind it.
Choose ActionCheese Sync if
- You edit in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve on an Apple silicon Mac.
- You want it free, with no clip or track limits and no internet check.
- You'd rather start from the folders on your cards than build a timeline first.
- You shoot Sony cameras (it reads the card's own start times) or long recorder takes that drift.
- You film with ActionCheese: its iPhones arrive already in sync.
What ActionCheese Sync doesn't do (yet)
- Mac with Apple silicon only. No Windows and no Intel Macs.
- Final Cut Pro 7 XML in and out. That covers Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve. It doesn't read or write Final Cut Pro (FCPXML) or Avid AAF.
- Every camera needs sound. Even a scratch mic. A silent camera can still be placed by its clock once one of its clips has matched.
Questions
Is there a free alternative to Syncaila?
ActionCheese Sync is free and open source, with no clip or track limits. It covers the Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve workflow on Macs with Apple silicon.
What does Syncaila's free version allow?
As of October 2026, Syncaila's free mode syncs up to 20 clips on 2 tracks, after a 20-day trial of the full version. Unlimited use needs a paid licence: FULL (all tracks, lifetime), SYNC-3 (3 tracks, lifetime) or SEASON (all tracks, 6 months).
Which one should I use with Final Cut Pro or Avid?
Syncaila. It reads and writes FCPXML and AAF, so it works with Final Cut Pro, Media Composer and Edius. ActionCheese Sync only handles Final Cut Pro 7 XML.
Which one should I use on Windows?
Syncaila. ActionCheese Sync runs only on Macs with Apple silicon.