# DS file vs Plex Dash

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Plex Dash at 81% against DS file's 31%. Plex Dash also leads on rating (4.6 vs 2.8) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). DS file's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Plex Dash holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Plex Dash has 2.2K ratings behind it against 357, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of DS file's written reviews are positive against 81% of Plex Dash's.

DS file ships an update every 4 months, Plex Dash monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DS file | Plex Dash |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (357 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-file/id416751772/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plex-dash/id1500797677/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 357 | **2.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 31.2% of reviews | **81.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 121 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Synology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/321493109) | [Plex Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/383457676) |

## What reviewers say

### DS file

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-file/id416751772)

Access, manage, and edit files stored on your Synology NAS from your mobile device. Upload, download, and securely browse documents, pictures, and videos on the go.

**Highlights:** File management on Synology NAS, Upload and download files, Basic file editing, Secure HTTPS access, Browse pictures and videos, Access work documents

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and efficient file management
- 🚀 Fast file access and transfer
- 💡 Useful photo backup feature
- 🔒 Secure remote access to NAS

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes, especially after updates
- 🔍 Inconsistent file format support (e.g. .MOV, .HEIC)
- 🔍 Lack of advanced features like multi-select and sorting
- 🔍 Slow performance, especially on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues, unable to connect to NAS
- Video playback not working, especially on iOS 12+
- Excessive storage usage and cache issues
- Inconsistent behavior after iOS updates

**Requested features**

- Integrate with iOS Files app
- Add support for more file formats
- Improve photo/video backup functionality
- Implement dark mode
- Allow multi-file selection and batch operations


### Plex Dash

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plex-dash/id1500797677)

Monitor your Plex Media Server in real-time. Track streams, DVR recordings, and server resources with detailed graphs. Manage media artwork and refresh libraries directly from your device.

**Highlights:** Real-time playback status, DVR recording monitoring, Bandwidth and resource graphs, Top media and user history, Artwork management, Library refresh, Server log inspection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for monitoring server status
- 🚀 Convenient mobile access to server information
- 💡 Ability to change artwork remotely
- 🔒 Works seamlessly with Plex account
- 👍 Easy to set up and use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🔍 Limited functionality compared to web interface
- 🔍 Clunky navigation and user interface
- 🔍 Lacking advanced server management features
- 🔍 Slow to update or refresh server information

**Reported bugs**

- Difficulty connecting to server or finding servers
- Crashes when viewing server graphs
- Inaccurate or incomplete playback history

**Requested features**

- Add ability to manage users and permissions
- Integrate more server administration functions
- Improve library browsing and media details
- Provide more detailed playback statistics
- Add support for GPU monitoring


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DS file free?

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

### Is Plex Dash free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DS file or Plex Dash?

Plex Dash is rated higher. DS file averages 2.8 out of 5 from 357 ratings, while Plex Dash averages 4.6 from 2.2K ratings.

### Do DS file or Plex Dash have ads?

Neither DS file nor Plex Dash shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DS file or Plex Dash?

DS file ships an update every 4 months, and Plex Dash monthly. Most recently, DS file was updated on September 24, 2026 and Plex Dash on September 22, 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.*