The Synology Drive Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Synology Drive in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Synology Drive
The Insider’s Guide
Private-cloud file sync and sharing that runs on a Synology NAS
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among file storage and sync services, read from Synology Drive’s own pages.
Made by Synology Inc. · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Synology Drive’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Synology Drive’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 34 of the 91 other file storage and sync services we grade
Synology Drive is file storage, sync and sharing software that runs on a Synology NAS rather than in a vendor's cloud. Desktop and mobile clients sync and back up files, share links carry permissions, and Synology Office supports co-editing. The software has no license fee, but you need a compatible Synology device.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Synology Drive, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It needs that hardware, storage and user limits follow the model you buy, and there is no hosted option.
- 1
Best for private file sync on your own Synology NAS
Synology Drive is private-cloud file sync with no license fee, installed on a Synology NAS.
- 2
It is free
Synology Drive has no paid plan at all. No license fee; installed from the DSM Package Center on a Synology NAS. Storage and user limits depend on the NAS model.
- 3
It runs on 6 platforms
Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 4
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.
- 5
Version history
Previous file and folder versions are restored from the client, and the Intelliversioning algorithm keeps the most significant changes.
- 6
Share links and requests
Links carry role-based permissions, and request links let outside people upload files straight to your NAS.
- 7
A 2.2 GPA, above 34 of 91
That is against the other file storage and sync services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Synology Drive is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Synology Drive at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Synology Inc.
- Category
- File Storage & Sync
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for private file sync on your own Synology NAS
Synology Drive is private-cloud file sync with no license fee, installed on a Synology NAS. It needs that hardware, storage and user limits follow the model you buy, and there is no hosted option.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No license fee, but it runs only on a NAS you buy, which counts as self-hosting. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Free to install, but you need the NAS first, and storage and users depend on the model. |
| Features | C | Sync, sharing and team folders, but only on a Synology NAS, and user limits vary by model. |
| Ease of use | D | You set up a NAS and install the package yourself. No store rating on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Windows, Mac, Ubuntu, iPhone, iPad and Android clients, with 3 integrations. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Synology Drive is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- People who already own a Synology NAS and want a private cloud on it
- Offices replacing a Windows file server with sync and sharing
- Teams that want data kept on hardware they control
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Synology Drive is free to use.
No license fee, but it runs only on a NAS you buy, which counts as self-hosting.
Synology Drive
$0
License-free software; storage comes from the Synology NAS you choose.
The free plan
No license fee; installed from the DSM Package Center on a Synology NAS. Storage and user limits depend on the NAS model.
Read from synology.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
6
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Private-cloud file sync and sharing that runs on a Synology NAS. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: real-time collaboration, file sync, file sharing.
Sync, sharing and team folders, but only on a Synology NAS, and user limits vary by model.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- Synology Office
- Windows Active Directory
- Hybrid Share
Synology Drive is made by Synology Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
34/91
Other file storage and sync services it is graded above
Synology Drive's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 34 of the 91 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (A, above 70 of 91) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Synology Drive has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 92 file storage and sync services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Synology Drive’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 14 of 91
- CFree plan and trialAbove 18 of 91
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 91
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 91
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 70 of 91
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 66 file storage and sync services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Synology Drive is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Synology Drive is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could not
- Files kept in step across devices without losing one.
- Storing and serving files for other people.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- What a company asks for before it lets staff use something: audit logs and roles and permissions.
What this rests on. Synology Drive’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Nextcloud, ownCloud, Seafile, Syncthing and Resilio Sync
The 5 tools Synology Drive is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Nextcloud
Free plan · from €71.29/yr
Open source, self-hosted file sync and collaboration platform.
- Nextcloud is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Nextcloud also covers video calls.
- 2.4GPA
ownCloud
Free plan
Open-source file sync and share you can host yourself.
- Only Synology Drive lists a Linux app.
- ownCloud is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Seafile
Free plan · from $8/mo
Open-source file sync and share, self-hosted or in the cloud.
- Seafile is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Syncthing
Free
Free, open source file sync directly between your own devices.
- Only Synology Drive lists a web app.
- Only Synology Drive lists iOS and Android apps.
- Syncthing is open source, according to its own site.
- 1.6GPA
Resilio Sync
Paid
Device-to-device file sync with an enterprise edition.
- Synology Drive has a free plan. Resilio Sync does not.
- Only Synology Drive lists a web app.
- Only Synology Drive lists macOS, iOS and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
10
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Synology Drive free?
Yes. Synology Drive is free to use.
How much does Synology Drive cost?
Synology Drive lists one plan. Synology Drive: $0.
What platforms does Synology Drive work on?
Synology Drive is available on Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Is Synology Drive open source?
Synology Drive is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does Synology Drive integrate with?
Synology Drive's listing names Synology Office, Windows Active Directory and Hybrid Share.
Who makes Synology Drive?
Synology Drive is made by Synology Inc.
What are the alternatives to Synology Drive?
The closest alternatives to Synology Drive in our directory are Nextcloud, ownCloud, Seafile, Syncthing and Resilio Sync.
How does Synology Drive compare with other file storage and sync services?
Synology Drive's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 34 of the 91 other file storage and sync services we grade, and level with 9.
Is Synology Drive good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Synology Drive C for value for money. Synology Drive has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Synology Drive?
Synology Drive is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Synology Drive’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Synology Drive's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Synology Inc. Prices change, so check synology.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Synology Drive, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/synology-drive
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Synology Drive: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/synology-drive
Know someone choosing between file storage and sync services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/synology-drive/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded file storage and sync services after Synology Drive, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- File Storage & Sync Insider's GuideEvery one of the 92 file storage and sync services we grade, compared
- Google Drive Insider's GuideCloud storage tied to Google Docs, Gmail and Photos3.6 GPA
- Filen Insider's GuideEnd-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Germany with open source apps3.4 GPA
- Microsoft OneDrive Insider's GuideMicrosoft's cloud storage, bundled with Microsoft 365 plans3.4 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Synology Drive’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Synology Drive is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Synology Inc. Prices and plans change: check synology.com before you buy.