QNAP myQNAPcloud vs Synology Drive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Synology Drive grades higher than QNAP myQNAPcloud: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
QNAP myQNAPcloud grades higher on ease of use. Synology Drive grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and features.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
QNAP myQNAPcloud
Remote access to a QNAP NAS, plus QNAP-hosted cloud storage
Synology Drive
Private-cloud file sync and sharing that runs on a Synology NAS
Which one is for you
Pick QNAP myQNAPcloud if
- Fits if you own a QNAP NAS and want to reach it from outside
- Works for NAS owners who want a hosted backup copy
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you do not own a QNAP NAS, as it is not a standalone drive
- Watch out: capacity tiers and billing basis could not be read
- Watch out: the free amount named is 16 GB of storage, not remote access
- Skip it if you want phone and desktop apps, as none are listed
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
| 2.0GPAQNAP myQNAPcloudFair | 2.2GPASynology DriveFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CmyQNAPcloud One starts from $8.39 a month, but capacity and billing basis are not shown, so it cannot be set against the category. | CNo license fee, but it runs only on a NAS you buy, which counts as self-hosting. |
| Free plan and trial | C16 GB of hosted storage free, mainly for NAS backup. It is not clear that remote access itself is free. | CFree to install, but you need the NAS first, and storage and users depend on the model. |
| Features | CRemote NAS access, a SmartURL, shared links, hosted backup and S3-compatible object storage. It depends on owning a QNAP NAS. | CSync, sharing and team folders, but only on a Synology NAS, and user limits vary by model. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and a NAS has to be set up first. | DYou set up a NAS and install the package yourself. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb only on record, with Hybrid Backup Sync and QuTScloud. | AWeb, Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, iPhone, iPad and Android clients, with 3 integrations. |
| Best for | remote access and backup for QNAP NAS owners | 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: QNAP myQNAPcloud and Synology Drive. How we grade
Price against what you get
QNAP myQNAPcloud starts at $8.39 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Synology Drive has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
Synology Drive scores higher and starts $8.39 a month lower. Of the other file storage and sync services on the chart, 39 score higher than QNAP myQNAPcloud 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
- QNAP myQNAPcloud also covers file management.
- Synology Drive also covers file sync.
At a glance
| QNAP myQNAPcloud | Synology Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $8.39 per month and up (myQNAPcloud One list price; capacity not shown) | Free |
| Free plan | MyQNAPcloud Storage offers 16 GB free, according to the product page. | No license fee; installed from the DSM Package Center on a Synology NAS. Storage and user limits depend on the NAS model. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | QNAP Systems, Inc. | Synology Inc. |
| Price read from | qnap.com | synology.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
QNAP myQNAPcloud
- Remote access is built around owning a QNAP NAS; this is not a standalone consumer drive.
- The plan page loads its capacity tiers with JavaScript, so only the 'starts from USD 8.39/month' figure could be read.
- The page text we read does not state whether the remote-access feature itself is free; the free amount named is 16 GB of myQNAPcloud Storage.
- The roster entry points to QNAP's regional site; the product pages were read on QNAP's global English site.
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
QNAP myQNAPcloud
- Remote NAS access
- Sign in to the myQNAPcloud website in a browser and connect to a QNAP NAS over the internet.
- SmartURL
- myQNAPcloud Link gives the NAS a unique domain name, so manual DDNS setup is not needed, and a relay connection sits between the internet and the device.
- Shared links
- A file or shared folder can be shared quickly by link from the NAS.
- Hosted backup storage
- myQNAPcloud Storage is described as a backup target for QNAP NAS tools such as Hybrid Backup Sync, with object-lock immutability and 13 data centers.
- S3-compatible object storage
- myQNAPcloud Object is QNAP's S3-compatible service, sharing a quota with Storage under the One plan.
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
QNAP myQNAPcloud
myQNAPcloud Storage free tier$0
16 GB of QNAP-hosted file storage, mainly for backing up NAS data.
myQNAPcloud One$8.39
per month and up, capacity and billing basis not shown
Shared quota for myQNAPcloud Storage and myQNAPcloud Object. Charges are for storage only, with no fees for data transmission or API requests.
Synology Drive
Synology Drive$0
License-free software; storage comes from the Synology NAS you choose.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, QNAP myQNAPcloud or Synology Drive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Synology Drive is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $8.39 a month for QNAP myQNAPcloud. QNAP myQNAPcloud starts at $8.39 per month and up (myQNAPcloud One list price; capacity not shown), and Synology Drive is free.
Which has a free plan, QNAP myQNAPcloud or Synology Drive?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both QNAP myQNAPcloud and Synology Drive have a free plan.
Which platforms do QNAP myQNAPcloud and Synology Drive run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Synology Drive lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. 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.