ownCloud vs Synology Drive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, ownCloud grades higher than Synology Drive: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
ownCloud grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Synology Drive
Private-cloud file sync and sharing that runs on a Synology NAS
Which one is for you
Pick ownCloud if
- Fits if you have someone who can run a server and want files on your own hardware
- Works for an organisation that needs unlimited users on Community
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't want to run a server: you host and update it yourself
- Skip it if you need support, as Community has the forum only
- Watch out: Enterprise and Standard start at 25 users with a yearly commitment
- Watch out: no price is published for Enterprise, Standard or ownCloud Online
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
| 2.4GPAownCloudFair | 2.2GPASynology DriveFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CCommunity is free but self-managed, which needs a server and counts as a C. Paid editions are quoted. | CNo license fee, but it runs only on a NAS you buy, which counts as self-hosting. |
| Free plan and trial | BCommunity is free with unlimited users, and there are 30-day and 14-day trials of paid editions. | CFree to install, but you need the NAS first, and storage and users depend on the model. |
| Features | CFile sync and sharing with apps, but Community lacks the support and features of Enterprise. | CSync, sharing and team folders, but only on a Synology NAS, and user limits vary by model. |
| Ease of use | DYou install and update the server yourself unless you buy ownCloud Online. No store rating on record. | DYou set up a NAS and install the package yourself. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android apps, and 5 integrations listed. No Linux client is listed. | AWeb, Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, iPhone, iPad and Android clients, with 3 integrations. |
| Best for | self-hosted file sync for IT teams | 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: ownCloud and Synology Drive. How we grade
Where they differ
- ownCloud is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
At a glance
| ownCloud | Synology Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | Not published | Free |
| Free plan | Community edition: free, open source and self-managed, with unlimited users and community forum support only. | No license fee; installed from the DSM Package Center on a Synology NAS. Storage and user limits depend on the NAS model. |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial of the Enterprise features; 14-day trial of ownCloud Online | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | ownCloud GmbH | Synology Inc. |
| Price read from | owncloud.com | synology.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
ownCloud
- Prices for Enterprise, Standard and ownCloud Online are not published; the page gives only a figure from EUR 1.85 per user per year for large or education deployments.
- The Community edition has no customer support beyond the forum.
- Enterprise and Standard start at 25 users with a yearly commitment.
- You run and update the server yourself unless you buy ownCloud Online.
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
ownCloud
- Self-hosted file sync and share
- The server runs on your own infrastructure, with desktop apps for Finder or Explorer and mobile apps for Android and iOS.
- Open source core
- The Community edition is 100% open source and has no user cap; Enterprise adds a commercial license for core and enterprise modules.
- Hosted option in Germany
- ownCloud Online hosts storage in Germany, with 180 days of file recovery, multi-factor authentication and guest accounts.
- Office editing integrations
- The site lists Collabora Online, ONLYOFFICE and Microsoft 365 integrations for editing documents in the browser.
- Enterprise support
- Paid editions include a customer portal and email support with a stated 2-hour reaction time.
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
ownCloud
Community$0
Self-managed on your own server, unlimited users, community apps and forum. No customer support.
EnterpriseCustom
From 25 users, yearly commitment, 12x5 phone and email support with 2-hour reaction, pro app features. No price published.
StandardCustom
From 25 users, on-premises, yearly commitment, 9x5 email support with 2-hour reaction. Contact sales; no price published.
ownCloud OnlineCustom
Hosted in Germany. 1,000 GB for teams from 5 users, 500 GB for 1 to 4 users. The page shows no prices.
Synology Drive
Synology Drive$0
License-free software; storage comes from the Synology NAS you choose.
Ways to pay less
ownCloud
- Education
Special pricing for large and education deployments
ownCloud quotes individual pricing for large deployments and educational institutions, starting at EUR 1.85 per user per year.
Synology Drive
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, ownCloud or Synology Drive?
As of Nov 12, 2026, ownCloud publishes no starting price, and Synology Drive is free.
Which has a free plan, ownCloud or Synology Drive?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both ownCloud and Synology Drive have a free plan.
Which platforms do ownCloud and Synology Drive run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Synology Drive lists a Linux app. Both list a web app and macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
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.