SideSave review
A free Linux save manager with snapshots, branches, conflict detection, and peer-to-peer sync.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
SideSave is a free, open-source game-save synchronization tool for non-Steam games added to Steam as shortcuts. It runs on Linux and includes a desktop application, command-line client, background daemon, and Steam Deck Decky Loader plugin. Automatic game scanning and manual folder tracking let users select saves, while whole-save and single-file restoration provide manual recovery options. It is aimed at Linux users who need more control than a platform-specific cloud-save system provides.
Its strongest area is versioned synchronization. SideSave automatically creates snapshots when tracked save data changes, then organizes those snapshots with branches. Peer-to-peer synchronization works over a local network or through an internet relay room, while conflict detection uses sync lineage to identify divergent histories. This combination suits users who move saves between Linux devices and want to preserve multiple versions rather than simply overwrite one copy.
SideSave also mirrors snapshots to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV, webhooks, or a local/NAS folder. However, scheduled backups are not included, and restoration is manual. Setup requires building the application from source because the project currently does not publish releases. The public relay is not end-to-end encrypted, according to the project privacy document. Choose SideSave if Linux support, peer-to-peer transfer, branches, and file-level recovery are priorities. Choose an alternative if you need another operating system, scheduled backup jobs, or a packaged release workflow.
SideSave pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Automatic snapshots preserve changes as game save data updates.
- Branches and sync-lineage conflict detection protect versioned save history.
- LAN, relay, and optional cloud mirroring support flexible synchronization.
- Where it doesn't
- Linux is the only supported platform.
- Scheduled backups are not included.
- Building from source is required because releases are not published.
SideSave fact sheet, pricing and score →
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