Nextcloud vs Synology Drive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Nextcloud grades higher than Synology Drive: 3.2 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Nextcloud grades higher on value for money, the free plan and features. They get the same grade on ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Nextcloud
Open source, self-hosted file sync and collaboration platform
Synology Drive
Private-cloud file sync and sharing that runs on a Synology NAS
Which one is for you
Pick Nextcloud if
- Fits if your files have to stay on a server you control, as at a school or public body with data rules
- Works for technical people who are happy running a server or a Docker image
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you just want to sign up and start syncing, as Nextcloud doesn't host your data itself
- Not for you if nobody on hand can look after installs, updates and backups
- Tight if you're a small team wanting official support, since Enterprise subscriptions start at 100 users
- Pricey if you want Talk, groupware or the office suites under Enterprise, as they cost extra there
- Watch out: Enterprise prices are in euros per user per year before VAT, from 71.29€
Pick Synology Drive if
- Fits if you already own a Synology NAS and want your own sync
- Works for a home or office that wants files kept on its own hardware
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't own a Synology NAS, as there is no hosted option
- Tight if you want unlimited users: maximum and concurrent users vary by NAS model
- Watch out: desktop clients cover Windows, macOS and Ubuntu only
- Watch out: storage is whatever your NAS holds, so capacity is a hardware cost
How we grade them
| 3.2GPANextcloudVery good | 2.2GPASynology DriveFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AThe server software is free under the AGPL, and so are the desktop and phone apps, in a category whose middle plan is $5 a month per person for ever. You supply the server. The paid Enterprise subscriptions buy support, and they start at 100 users from 71.29€ a user a year before VAT. | CNo license fee, but it runs only on a NAS you buy, which counts as self-hosting. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, not a plan with walls: the whole server, every app and community support, with no user cap and no feature held back for payers. There's an instant online trial too, if you want a look before installing anything. | CFree to install, but you need the NAS first, and storage and users depend on the model. |
| Features | BSync and share, Talk for chat and calls, groupware, and documents edited together through Collabora or Euro-Office. Two things in the listing hold it back, though: Nextcloud hosts nothing for you, and in Enterprise plans Talk, groupware and the office suites cost extra. | CSync, sharing and team folders, but only on a Synology NAS, and user limits vary by model. |
| Ease of use | DYou host it yourself, which is the definition of a hard start: installation, updates and backups are yours, even with the All-in-One Docker image to lean on. The iPhone app's 4.7 from about 10,400 ratings is about the app, not the server behind it. | DYou set up a NAS and install the package yourself. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWeb, Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, the full set, and it talks to Collabora Online, Euro-Office, Thinkfree Office, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft's Office Online Server. | AWeb, Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, iPhone, iPad and Android clients, with 3 integrations. |
| Best for | running your own file sync on your own server | private file sync on your own Synology NAS |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Nextcloud and Synology Drive. How we grade
Price against what you get
Nextcloud starts at about $6.64 a month for each person and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Synology Drive has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
Nextcloud scores higher, and starts $6.64 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other file storage and sync services on the chart, 10 score higher than Nextcloud for less, and none scores higher than Synology Drive for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Nextcloud is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Nextcloud also covers video calls.
At a glance
| Nextcloud | Synology Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | 71.29€ per user / year, excl. VAT (from 100 users) | Free |
| Free plan | The Nextcloud server software is free to download and self-host under the AGPL license, and the Nextcloud desktop and mobile apps are free. | No license fee; installed from the DSM Package Center on a Synology NAS. Storage and user limits depend on the NAS model. |
| Free trial | Nextcloud Enterprise can be tried for free, and an instant online trial is offered | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Nextcloud GmbH | Synology Inc. |
| Price read from | nextcloud.com | synology.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Nextcloud
- Nextcloud does not host data itself: you self-host, sign up with a third-party provider, or use the partner-run Nextcloud One service.
- Enterprise subscriptions are available only from 100 users, with prices in euros per year excluding VAT.
- In Enterprise plans, Talk, Groupware and the office suites are optional components that cost extra.
- Running the free server means handling installation, updates and backups yourself.
Synology Drive
- It needs a Synology NAS; storage capacity and user counts follow the model you buy.
- There is no hosted option on the page: Drive installs through the NAS Package Center.
- Desktop clients cover Windows, macOS and Ubuntu; mobile covers iOS, iPadOS and Android.
- Maximum users and concurrent users vary by NAS model.
Key features
Nextcloud
- Nextcloud Files
- File sync and share across platforms, internally and with third parties. Desktop clients keep one or more local folders synchronized with the server.
- Self-hosting
- The server runs on your own hardware or private cloud. Nextcloud GmbH maintains an All-in-One Docker image intended for home or cloud installs.
- Nextcloud Talk
- Group chat, calls, screen sharing and web conferencing. In Enterprise subscriptions Talk is an optional component at extra cost, listed from 42€ per user / year.
- Office document editing
- Office documents can be edited together inside Nextcloud through Euro-Office, Collabora Online or Thinkfree Office, each an optional extra in Enterprise plans.
- Nextcloud Assistant and Flow
- A local AI assistant summarizes email threads, suggests text and translates chat messages, and Flow automates workflows. Both are included in Enterprise Ultimate only.
- Enterprise capabilities
- SAML authentication, Windows Network Drive support, password policies and audit-ready logging are included in every Enterprise subscription.
Synology Drive
- Sync on demand
- Files can stream to a device only when requested, or be pinned for a permanent local copy. On-demand sync needs Windows 10 1809 or later.
- Version history
- Previous file and folder versions are restored from the client, and the Intelliversioning algorithm keeps the most significant changes.
- Share links and requests
- Links carry role-based permissions, and request links let outside people upload files straight to your NAS.
- Backup and ShareSync
- Real-time or scheduled backup of chosen folders, and ShareSync keeps folders in step between Synology systems.
- Admin console and auditing
- A dashboard tracks clients and activity, and audit logs cover up to 40 action types. Watermarks and remote wipe are available.
- Co-editing in Synology Office
- Microsoft or OpenDocument files can be converted and edited together in Synology Office, with file locking against conflicts.
Plans
Nextcloud
Nextcloud serverFree
Open source server software to host yourself, with free desktop and mobile apps and community support.
Enterprise Standard71.29€
per user / year, excl. VAT, starting at 100 users
Nextcloud Files with enterprise capabilities, a 1-year maintenance life cycle and a 2-business-day reaction time.
Enterprise Premium104.99€
per user / year, excl. VAT, starting at 100 users
Adds a 5+ year maintenance life cycle, 1-business-day reaction time, upgrade stand-by support and support for clustered instances.
Enterprise Ultimate204.75€
per user / year, excl. VAT, starting at 100 users
Adds Nextcloud Assistant, Flow and Whiteboard, reaction times from 1 hour and phone support up to 24/7.
Synology Drive
Synology Drive$0
License-free software; storage comes from the Synology NAS you choose.
Ways to pay less
Nextcloud
- Other savings
Lower per-user price from 200 users
From 200 users the listed Enterprise prices fall to 53.17€ for Standard, 81.99€ for Premium and 183.75€ for Ultimate, per user / year.
- Education
Education program, priced by quote
The pricing page lists an Education program for schools, universities and other educational institutes, alongside a Public Sector program. Both are quoted on request.
Synology Drive
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Nextcloud or Synology Drive?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Synology Drive is cheaper to start with: it is free, against about $6.64 a month for each person for Nextcloud. Nextcloud starts at 71.29€ per user / year, excl. VAT (from 100 users), and Synology Drive is free.
Which has a free plan, Nextcloud or Synology Drive?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Nextcloud and Synology Drive have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.