# DS file vs ntfy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ntfy at 78% against DS file's 29%. ntfy also leads on rating (4.8 vs 2.8) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, 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.

ntfy holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 357 and 452 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of DS file's written reviews are positive against 78% of ntfy's.

DS file ships an update every 4 months, ntfy fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | DS file | ntfy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (357 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-file/id416751772/reviews) | **[4.8 (452 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ntfy/id1625396347/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 357 | **452** |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews | **78.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 121 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Synology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/321493109) | [Philipp Heckel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1625396349) |

## 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


### ntfy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ntfy/id1625396347)

This app allows you to send push notifications to your phone from scripts or other applications using simple HTTP requests. It acts as a client for a free, open-source pub-sub service, enabling you to receive alerts and updates directly on your device.

**Highlights:** Send notifications via REST API, Subscribe to topics, Publish messages via HTTP, Integrates with Bash/PowerShell, Free and open source client

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and easy to use
- 🔒 Great for self-hosting
- 👍 Reliable and works as expected
- 🚀 Quick and easy to set up
- 🚀 Lightweight and functional

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Notification issues on iOS
- 🔍 Limited features compared to other platforms
- 🔍 Lacks customization options
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or delivery issues

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working on iOS
- Broken click URLs in notifications
- Compatibility issues with iOS notification summarizing

**Requested features**

- Ability to change notification sounds
- Support for Apple Watch
- Customizable topic names/aliases
- Improved iOS notification handling
- All topics view and read/unread indicators


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DS file free?

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

### Is ntfy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DS file or ntfy?

ntfy is rated higher. DS file averages 2.8 out of 5 from 357 ratings, while ntfy averages 4.8 from 452 ratings.

### Do DS file or ntfy have ads?

Neither DS file nor ntfy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DS file or ntfy?

DS file ships an update every 4 months, and ntfy fortnightly. Most recently, DS file was updated on October 15, 2026 and ntfy on October 15, 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.*