DS file vs DS Download Manager
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- File management on Synology NAS
- Upload and download files
- Basic file editing
- Secure HTTPS access
- Browse pictures and videos
- Access work documents
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**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.
DS Download Manager
Manage your Synology Download Station remotely with this companion app. Securely log in, control download tasks, and add new ones from your mobile device. Features include task filtering, location selection, and RSS feed integration.
- Secure login with OTP
- Network scanner to find NAS
- View and control active download tasks
- Add new tasks with location selection
- RSS feed integration for instant task creation
- Integrated browser
- Widgets and Lock Screen Live Activities
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DS Download Manager – Synology NAS download manager for iPhone & iPad Take full control of your Synology NAS download tasks with DS Download Manager, the ultimate unofficial companion app for Synology Download Station (DSM 6.0+ and DSM 7.0+). Search, add, and manage all your download tasks — files, URLs, and RSS feeds — from your iPhone or iPad, anytime, anywhere. Key Features: - Secure login with optional OTP and Keychain storage for all your credentials - Connect to your NAS via QuickConnect, or find it with the built-in network scanner - View all active download tasks with detailed status, progress, and history - Filter, pause, resume, or delete tasks with a single tap - Manage trackers for a download — view, add, or remove them right from the task detail screen - Add new tasks, choose download locations, or upload task files directly - Start tasks from Safari or the share extension for instant downloads - Create tasks automatically from RSS feeds or search modules - Integrated browser to quickly find and add downloads - Widgets for an at-a-glance overview of tasks from your Home Screen - Notifications when tasks complete - Live Activities to track active downloads in real time on your Lock Screen - See your NAS model, DSM version, and storage usage at a glance - Dark Mode and full iPad support for a seamless experience All features are unlocked with a single one-time purchase — no subscriptions. A modern DS Get (DSGet) app for Synology, DS Download Manager takes your Download Station experience to the next level. For questions, feature requests, or bug reports, contact me at dsdownload@appsley.nl. DS Download Manager is not affiliated with Synology.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: DS Download Manager at 75% against DS file's 29%. DS Download Manager also leads on rating (4.7 vs 2.8) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). DS file's advantage is price (Free vs $4.99) and ratings volume (360 vs 14). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
DS file is free to download; DS Download Manager costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
DS Download Manager holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DS file has 360 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 29% of DS file's written reviews are positive against 75% of DS Download Manager's.
DS file ships an update every 4 months, DS Download Manager monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DS file | DS Download Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 2.8 (360 ratings) | 4.7 (14 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 360 — better | 14 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 16.2 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 121 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Synology Inc. | Wesley Hilhorst |
Customer experience
DS file
DS Download Manager
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
DS Download Manager
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
DS file
No in-app purchases
DS Download Manager
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DS file free?
Is DS Download Manager free?
Which has better reviews, DS file or DS Download Manager?
Do DS file or DS Download Manager have ads?
Which is updated more often, DS file or DS Download Manager?
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