# DS file vs LabCompanion

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DS file at none against LabCompanion's 1. DS file also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. LabCompanion sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. DS file asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DS file | LabCompanion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[2.8 (360 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-file/id416751772/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **360** | — |
| Positive reviews | 28.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 121 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Synology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/321493109) | [AT productions](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864404253) |

## 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


### LabCompanion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labcompanion-bench-toolkit/id6770509131)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lab Notebook (Premium) | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DS file free?

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

### Is LabCompanion free?

LabCompanion is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do DS file or LabCompanion have ads?

LabCompanion shows ads; DS file does not.

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

DS file ships an update every 4 months, and LabCompanion every 4 months. Most recently, DS file was updated on November 6, 2026 and LabCompanion on November 5, 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.*