Synology C2 vs Synology Drive (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Synology Drive grades higher than Synology C2: 2.2 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Synology C2 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.
Synology C2
Synology's cloud storage and backup for NAS and S3 workloads
Synology Drive
Private-cloud file sync and sharing that runs on a Synology NAS
Which one is for you
Pick Synology C2 if
- Fits if you own a Synology NAS and want an offsite copy
- Works for teams that want S3 object storage at a flat per-terabyte rate
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a consumer file sync app, because C2 is built around Synology NAS and S3 workloads
- Skip it if you don't own Synology hardware or an S3 tool to connect
- Watch out: prices exclude VAT, which is added at checkout
- Tight if you want deduplication or custom rotation, which need the Advanced plan of C2 Storage for Hyper Backup
- Watch out: OneStorage pricing is shown only by a capacity calculator
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
| 2.0GPASynology C2Fair | 2.2GPASynology DriveFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$7.99 a TB a month for Object Storage, before VAT, which is between the middle ($7) and the dearer quarter ($9.99) of file storage. OneStorage has no readable price. | CNo license fee, but it runs only on a NAS you buy, which counts as self-hosting. |
| Free plan and trial | CA 30-day free trial with no credit card needed. There's no free plan. | CFree to install, but you need the NAS first, and storage and users depend on the model. |
| Features | CHyper Backup storage, Hybrid Share, S3 object storage, web restore and Express Box. But it's built for Synology NAS, and deduplication and custom rotation need the Advanced plan. | CSync, sharing and team folders, but only on a Synology NAS, and user limits vary by model. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record. You connect it from a Synology NAS or an S3 tool and set up your own backup jobs. | DYou set up a NAS and install the package yourself. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb portal plus Mac, Windows and Linux programs, with Veeam, Cyberduck and Synology DSM. No phone app is named. | AWeb, Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, iPhone, iPad and Android clients, with 3 integrations. |
| Best for | backing up a Synology NAS to the cloud | 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: Synology C2 and Synology Drive. How we grade
Price against what you get
Synology C2 starts at $7.99 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 $7.99 a month lower. Of the other file storage and sync services on the chart, 21 score higher than Synology C2 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
- Synology C2 is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Synology C2 also covers file management.
- Synology Drive also covers file sharing.
At a glance
| Synology C2 | Synology Drive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Free |
| Starts at | $7.99 per TB / month (C2 Object Storage) | Free |
| Free plan | None | 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, no credit card required | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Synology Inc. | Synology Inc. |
| Price read from | c2.synology.com | synology.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Synology C2
- C2 Storage is designed for Synology NAS; it is not a general-purpose consumer file sync app.
- The OneStorage price is shown only by a capacity calculator, so no figure was readable; $7.99 per TB is the Object Storage rate on its page.
- Prices exclude VAT, which is added at checkout by billing address.
- Deduplication and custom rotation need the Advanced plan of C2 Storage for Hyper Backup.
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
Synology C2
- C2 Storage for Hyper Backup
- Backs up Synology NAS data with versioning, deduplication on the Advanced plan and client-side AES-256 encryption.
- Hybrid Share
- Connects branch-office NAS devices to central cloud storage, streaming requested files and caching frequent ones locally.
- C2 Object Storage
- S3-compatible API with versioning and Object Lock, in EU and US data centers, with 11 nines of durability.
- Web portal restore
- Browse and download backed-up files from a browser, or restore with Hyper Backup Explorer on Windows, Mac and Linux.
- C2 Express Box
- A physical device for moving the first large batch of data into C2; options are available by contacting Synology.
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
Synology C2
C2 Object Storage$7.99
per TB / month
S3-compatible storage with free retrieval, no API or deletion fees and no minimum storage duration.
C2 OneStorageCustom
One capacity plan covering Hyper Backup, Hybrid Share, Object Storage and Surveillance365; price shown by a calculator.
Synology Drive
Synology Drive$0
License-free software; storage comes from the Synology NAS you choose.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Synology C2 or Synology Drive?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Synology Drive is cheaper to start with: it is free, against $7.99 a month for Synology C2. Synology C2 starts at $7.99 per TB / month (C2 Object Storage), and Synology Drive is free.
Which has a free plan, Synology C2 or Synology Drive?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Synology Drive has a free plan. Synology C2 does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Synology C2 and Synology Drive run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Synology Drive lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app and macOS, Windows and Linux 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.