Comparison

DS file vs NASDL Manager

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DS file

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
Read full description

**You must own a Synology NAS to run this app, and have upgraded to DSM 5.2 to get the complete set of features** DS file is ideal to manage files stored on your DiskStation, upload or download between the NAS and the iDevice itself, or do basic editing tasks. And always securely with HTTPS support. Besides file management, DS file is also a useful tool to do anything from browsing pictures, watching videos or checking work documents when you are on the go.

About

NASDL Manager

Manage your Synology NAS downloads and system activity efficiently from your mobile device. Monitor download progress, access NAS settings, and view system information with this third-party client.

Highlights
  • List NAS downloads
  • Detailed download info
  • Open links via Share menu
  • Add/remove downloads
  • Sort and filter downloads
  • Change download properties
  • View NAS system info
  • Manage Download Station settings
Features
Read full description

This mobile application is designed by a long-time Synology user for fellow Synology enthusiasts, providing an efficient way to manage DS tasks and monitor activity on Synology NAS devices. This app is an independent third-party client and is not affiliated with Synology Inc. Key features are: • Presenting a list of NAS downloads • Display detailed information on each download process • Open links from Safari using Share menu • Open magnet links from any browser • Easy to add or remove downloads • Sort and filter downloads • Change downloads' properties • Display detailed system information for the NAS itself and VPN connection status (Admin rights for account required) • Display and change the key settings of Download Station application • Access to the NAS using the DDNS service (whitelisted IP-address required) • Access to the NAS using QuickConnect • Two-factor authentication supported • Search • RSS • Visual representation of the available disk space on your NAS (Admin and File Station access rights for the account required) • Connection history with the option of iCloud synchronization across all user devices • Widgets What user rights are required for use: • Access to Download Station – required • Access to File Station – optional, to select the download folder and get the info about storage system. Please note that the user must have the default download folder set, otherwise tasks will not be added. You can set the default folder from the application in the Download Station settings (if you have access to File Station), or through the web version of Download Station in the settings. • Administrator rights – optional. If the user has administrator rights, access to NAS system information such as VPN connection status, disk information, etc. will be available. In addition, a user without administrator rights can only see their own downloads. Downloads created by other users will not be displayed All personal data is securely stored in the Keychain (iPhone, iCloud). No data of any kind, including anonymized data, is collected. Synology NAS with DSM version 6.0+ and Download Station installed are required. Some features may only be available for Download Station version 4.0 or later. Please direct any comments or suggestions to support@joinersoft.app. We appreciate your support and cooperation in advance! Disclaimer: This application does not host, provide, or promote any downloadable content or links. Support for custom URL schemes and external connections is provided solely to allow users to manage their own systems, such as personal NAS devices. All use of the application must comply with applicable laws and remains the sole responsibility of the user. By downloading the application, you accept the Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

DS file4 screens
NASDL Manager4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: NASDL Manager at 95% against DS file's 31%. NASDL Manager also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.8) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). DS file's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. NASDL Manager sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. DS file asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NASDL Manager holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 357 and 124 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of DS file's written reviews are positive against 95% of NASDL Manager's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DS file ships an update every 4 months, NASDL Manager monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DS file versus NASDL Manager: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDS fileNASDL Manager
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (357 ratings)4.7 (124 ratings) — better
Positive reviews31.2% of reviews94.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings357 — better124
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.616.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size121 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSynology Inc.Grigory Stolyarov

Customer experience

DS file

All ratings357 ratings
Positive33.6%
Neutral17.6%
Negative48.7%
Written reviews330 reviews
Positive31.2%
Neutral20.3%
Negative48.5%

NASDL Manager

All ratings124 ratings
Positive92.7%
Neutral1.6%
Negative5.6%
Written reviews471 reviews
Positive94.7%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.6%

User reviews

DS file

From 357 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

NASDL Manager

From 124 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple, clean and reliable
  • 👍 Great replacement for DSGET
  • 👍 Easy to use and reliable connection
  • 👍 Worthy replacement to DS Get
  • 👍 Works really well on iPhone and iPad

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or connection issues
  • 🔍 No option to select files before download starts
  • 🔍 No search feature for torrents
  • 🐛 Buggy after recent update, slow and unresponsive

Bugs and requests

DS file

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

5 requests
  • 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

NASDL Manager

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login screen freezes or shows 'Permission denied' error
  • Incompatible with some Synology NAS models or DSM versions
  • Crashes or connection issues after recent updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to select download folder before starting
  • Ability to add multiple downloads at once
  • iPad version or Mac app
  • Integrate with built-in Synology Download Station search

In-app purchases

None

DS file

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

NASDL Manager

Subscriptions1
  • Sponsored Version (1 year)$3.491 Year
One-time1
  • Sponsored Version (Lifetime)$8.49

Questions

Is DS file free?
DS file is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is NASDL Manager free?
NASDL Manager is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DS file or NASDL Manager?
NASDL Manager is rated higher. DS file averages 2.8 out of 5 from 357 ratings, while NASDL Manager averages 4.7 from 124 ratings.
Do DS file or NASDL Manager have ads?
Neither DS file nor NASDL Manager shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DS file or NASDL Manager?
DS file ships an update every 4 months, and NASDL Manager monthly. Most recently, DS file was updated on September 26, 2026 and NASDL Manager on September 25, 2026.

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