SyncGene and Hetk both sync calendars across Google, Outlook, and iCloud. But they differ in pricing, sync speed, and privacy controls. Those differences matter depending on your workflow.
Quick comparison
| Hetk | SyncGene | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $15/yr Personal, $50/yr Pro | Not shown on SyncGene’s pricing page; its successor CiraHub starts at $8/month billed yearly ($96/year) |
| Early adopter pricing | $10/yr Personal, $35/yr Pro | None |
| Free tier | None — 21-day full trial, no card | Limited free plan |
| Providers | Google, Outlook, iCloud | Google, Outlook, iCloud, Exchange |
| Sync speed | Real-time (webhooks) | Periodic (polling) |
| Sync direction | One-way and bi-directional | One-way and two-way |
| Privacy controls | Replace the details with “Busy”, Flag the copy as private, title templates | No |
| Duplicate detection | Automatic | No |
| Also syncs | Calendars only | Contacts, tasks, and calendars |
| Mobile app | No (syncs to native calendar apps) | iOS and Android |
| Data storage | Events encrypted at rest | No data stored (pass-through) |
Sync speed
This is the biggest technical difference.
Hetk uses push notifications. Changes in Google Calendar and Outlook usually arrive within seconds, through push notifications. A safety check runs every 15 minutes in case a notification is missed. Apple iCloud has no push. Hetk checks iCloud every 5 minutes, and less often for a calendar that has been quiet.
SyncGene uses periodic polling. It checks your calendars on a schedule and syncs any changes. Changes can take minutes to appear. For most people this is fine. But if you’re back-to-back in meetings and need changes now, the delay causes double-bookings.
Bottom line: If real-time sync matters, Hetk is faster. If you’re okay with a few minutes of delay, both work.
Privacy controls
This is where the two tools differ most.
Hetk lets you control what gets synced:
- Replace the details with “Busy”: Synced events appear as “Busy” blocks. Title, description, location, and attendees are stripped. Your coworkers see you’re busy, but not why.
- Flag the copy as private: The provider’s private flag is set, so people the calendar is shared with see only “Busy”, not event details.
- Title templates: Label synced events with a pattern you write, like
[Client A], so you can tell events apart without exposing details. - Confidential visibility: Events marked as confidential in Outlook keep their sensitivity level when synced to Google (and vice versa).
SyncGene syncs events as-is. No option to strip content, mark events as private, or control visibility. Every event is copied exactly, including titles, descriptions, and attendee lists.
Bottom line: If you sync personal events to a work calendar, Hetk’s privacy controls prevent your employer from seeing “Dentist appointment at 2pm” or your client list. SyncGene doesn’t offer this.
Pricing
Hetk has two plans:
- Personal ($15/year or $2/month): Unlimited calendars, up to 3 sync pairs, bi-directional sync, privacy controls. Early adopter pricing: $10/year or $1/month.
- Professional ($50/year or $6/month): Unlimited calendars, up to 8 sync pairs, everything in Personal. Early adopter pricing: $35/year or $3/month.
Both include a 21-day free trial with full feature access, no credit card required.
SyncGene has three tiers:
- Free: Limited sync with restrictions on number of sources and sync frequency
- Premium: Unlimited sources, automatic sync, folder mapping, calendar sharing. SyncGene’s pricing page no longer shows a Premium price; its successor CiraHub starts at $8/month billed yearly ($96/year).
- Team (varies): Up to 4 members with shared billing
- Enterprise (custom): 5–100 members, dedicated account manager
Bottom line: Hetk Personal is $15/year, which is 84% below CiraHub’s starting price. SyncGene’s free tier is useful for testing but limited. Hetk’s 21-day trial gives you full access without restrictions.
Setup and usability
Hetk setup takes about 2 minutes:
- Sign in with Google or Microsoft
- Connect your other calendar provider(s)
- Select which calendars to sync
- Choose sync direction and privacy settings
- Sync starts automatically
No admin approval required for personal accounts. The interface focuses on sync with no clutter from contacts or tasks.
SyncGene setup is similar but more complex because it handles contacts, calendars, and tasks in one dashboard. You need to:
- Create a SyncGene account
- Add your calendar sources
- Configure folder mapping (which calendar syncs to which)
- Set sync direction
- Start sync
The dashboard can feel cluttered if you only want calendar sync. SyncGene is designed as a broader synchronization platform.
Bottom line: Both are straightforward. Hetk is simpler if you only need calendar sync. SyncGene is more capable if you also need to sync contacts and tasks.
What SyncGene does that Hetk doesn’t
- Contact sync: Sync contacts across Google, iCloud, Outlook, and Exchange. If you need contacts and calendars synced together, SyncGene handles both.
- Task sync: Sync tasks and reminders between platforms.
- Exchange support: Direct Exchange server connectivity (not just Outlook/Microsoft 365).
- Free tier: A limited free plan for basic sync needs.
- Mobile app: Dedicated iOS and Android apps.
What Hetk does that SyncGene doesn’t
- Real-time sync: Webhook-based instant sync vs. polling.
- Privacy controls: Replace event details with “Busy”, flag copies as private, use title templates.
- Duplicate detection: Automatically prevents the same event from being synced twice.
- Confidential visibility preservation: Outlook’s “confidential” sensitivity maps correctly to Google’s “private” visibility and back.
- Source-wins conflict resolution: If a synced event is deleted on the target calendar, Hetk restores it from the source — preventing accidental data loss.
SyncGene is merging with CiraHub
SyncGene is being merged into CiraHub, an enterprise-focused product from the same company. SyncGene as a standalone product may change significantly. Features could move, pricing could shift, or the product could eventually shut down in favor of CiraHub.
If you’re choosing a sync tool for the long term, this is worth considering. Hetk is independent with no planned mergers or acquisitions.
Which one should you choose?
Pick Hetk if:
- You want the cheapest paid option ($15/year vs CiraHub from $96/year)
- Real-time sync matters (seconds, not minutes)
- You need privacy controls (syncing personal ↔ work calendars)
- You only need calendar sync, not contacts or tasks
- You prefer a focused, simple interface
Pick SyncGene if:
- You need to sync contacts and tasks alongside calendars
- You need direct Exchange server support
- You want a free tier for basic sync
- You’re already using CiraHub or plan to migrate to it
Try Hetk free for 21 days
Hetk offers a 21-day free trial with full feature access, no credit card required. Connect your Google, Outlook, or iCloud calendars and watch your events sync in real time.