# DS file vs DS Download Manager

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | DS file | DS Download Manager |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [2.8 (360 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-file/id416751772/reviews) | **[4.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-download-manager/id1658365944/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **360** | 14 |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 121 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Synology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/321493109) | [Wesley Hilhorst](https://appshunter.io/developer/1658365947) |

## 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


### DS Download Manager

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-download-manager/id1658365944)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DS file free?

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

### Is DS Download Manager free?

DS Download Manager costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DS file or DS Download Manager?

DS Download Manager is rated higher. DS file averages 2.8 out of 5 from 360 ratings, while DS Download Manager averages 4.7 from 14 ratings.

### Do DS file or DS Download Manager have ads?

Neither DS file nor DS Download Manager shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DS file or DS Download Manager?

DS file ships an update every 4 months, and DS Download Manager monthly. Most recently, DS file was updated on November 6, 2026 and DS Download Manager on November 8, 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.*