# MateCam vs Synology Photos

The clearest difference is rating: Synology Photos at 3.0 against MateCam's 1.7. Synology Photos also leads on review sentiment (33% vs 7%) and ratings volume (589 vs 14). MateCam's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Synology Photos holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Synology Photos has 589 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 7% of MateCam's written reviews are positive against 33% of Synology Photos's.

MateCam ships an update every 2 months, Synology Photos every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MateCam | Synology Photos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matecam/id1148542016/reviews) | **[3.0 (589 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synology-photos/id1484764501/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **589** |
| Positive reviews | 7.1% of reviews | **32.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 28 MB | 175 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [宇峰 顾](https://appshunter.io/developer/578546165) | [Synology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/321493109) |

## What reviewers say

### MateCam

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/matecam/id1148542016)

This mobile application is designed for smart sports DV devices, allowing users to better manage and utilize their equipment. It aims to help users capture and share inspiring life experiences, making life more exciting.

**Highlights:** Manage smart sports DV devices, Utilize sports DV equipment, Capture life experiences, Share inspiring moments, Enhance daily life

**In-app purchases:** none


### Synology Photos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synology-photos/id1484764501)

Back up and browse your photo library chronologically or by folder. Discover memories through AI-powered recognition and automatically generated albums. Organize photos by themes and enjoy your cherished moments anywhere.

**Highlights:** Photo backup, Chronological browsing, Folder structure browsing, AI recognition, Auto-created albums, Theme-based grouping

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and efficient backup
- 👍 Intuitive user interface
- 💡 Conditional albums based on metadata
- 🔒 Secure local storage

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable background sync
- 🔋 Drains battery when running
- ⏱️ Slow upload speeds
- 🤔 Lacks basic photo editing tools

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent handling of Live Photos
- Crashes when processing large videos
- Incorrect date/time stamps on imported photos
- Syncing issues after iOS 16 update

**Requested features**

- Ability to rotate/edit photos within the app
- Automatic HEIC to JPEG conversion
- Duplicate photo detection and removal
- Customizable backup schedules and settings
- Apple TV app support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MateCam free?

MateCam is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Synology Photos free?

Synology Photos is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MateCam or Synology Photos?

Synology Photos is rated higher. MateCam averages 1.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Synology Photos averages 3.0 from 589 ratings.

### Do MateCam or Synology Photos have ads?

Neither MateCam nor Synology Photos shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MateCam or Synology Photos?

MateCam ships an update every 2 months, and Synology Photos every 3 months. Most recently, MateCam was updated on November 2, 2026 and Synology Photos on November 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*