# IDrive Online Backup vs DS cloud

The clearest difference is rating: IDrive Online Backup at 4.3 against DS cloud's 2.5. IDrive Online Backup also leads on ratings volume (5K vs 72) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). DS cloud's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 16.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IDrive Online Backup sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. DS cloud asks for nothing beyond the download.

IDrive Online Backup holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IDrive Online Backup has 5K ratings behind it against 72, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of IDrive Online Backup's written reviews are positive against 23% of DS cloud's.

IDrive Online Backup ships an update every 3 weeks, DS cloud every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IDrive Online Backup | DS cloud |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idrive-online-backup/id427956708/reviews)** | [2.5 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-cloud/id590216612/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **5K** | 72 |
| Positive reviews | **35.8% of reviews** | 23.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 111 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **8.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IDrive Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/295113649) | [Synology Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/321493109) |

## What reviewers say

### IDrive Online Backup

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idrive-online-backup/id427956708)

Securely back up and sync your mobile data with private key encryption for maximum security. Access your files from anywhere, on any device, and share them easily. Protect photos and videos automatically as they are taken.

**Highlights:** Private key encryption, Backup and restore contacts, photos, videos, calendars, Sync files across devices, Access data from anywhere, Selective backup and restore, Share files and folders securely, Automatic photo/video upload

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| IDrive Pro Mobile | $0.99 | one-time |
| IDrive 100GB at $2.99 | $2.99 | one-time |
| IDrive 100GB at $3.99 | $3.99 | one-time |
| IDrive Mobile Unlimited | $4.99 | one-time |
| IDrive 500GB at $9.99 | $9.99 | one-time |
| IDrive 1TB at $14.99 | $14.99 | one-time |
| IDrive 1TB at $15.99 | $15.99 | one-time |
| IDrive 2TB at $54.99 | $54.99 | one-time |
| IDrive 1TB at $59.99 | $59.99 | one-time |
| IDrive 5TB at $59.99 | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and efficient
- 🚀 Great backup solution
- 🔒 Secure backup
- 💰 Affordable pricing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app, crashes frequently
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find backed up files
- 🔋 Drains battery when running in the background
- 🤖 Poor customer support

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when trying to access backed up data
- Inconsistent backup progress reporting
- Fails to backup all photos and videos
- Sync issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Add option to view backed up files in folder structure
- Improve upload and download speeds
- Allow background uploads without pausing
- Add facial recognition and photo organization features


### DS cloud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ds-cloud/id590216612)

Access and sync selected folders from your Synology NAS to your mobile device. Enjoy offline viewing of your files anywhere, with customizable sync settings for file size and type.

**Highlights:** Folder synchronization, Offline file viewing, Customizable sync settings, File size limits, File type filtering

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💾 Effective file synchronization between devices
- 🔒 Private cloud storage without third-party servers
- 📱 Works well with iPad and iPhone for document management
- ⚡ Fast sync speeds on local networks
- 🎯 Good integration with iWork applications

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes frequently on iOS 14+ versions
- ❌ Not compatible with DSM 7.0
- ⚠️ Version mismatch errors preventing login
- 🚫 Hasn't been updated in 3+ years
- 📉 Poor performance on newer iPhone models

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch with iOS 14.2+
- Face ID causes app to crash immediately
- Touch ID crashes app on iPhone X/XS
- Version not up-to-date error despite fresh installation
- PDF files crash app when opened (2+ pages)

**Requested features**

- Update app for iOS 14+ compatibility
- DSM 7.0 support
- Background synchronization capability
- On-demand file download (like Dropbox)
- Face ID and Touch ID support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IDrive Online Backup free?

IDrive Online Backup is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is DS cloud free?

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

### Which has better reviews, IDrive Online Backup or DS cloud?

IDrive Online Backup is rated higher. IDrive Online Backup averages 4.3 out of 5 from 5K ratings, while DS cloud averages 2.5 from 72 ratings.

### Do IDrive Online Backup or DS cloud have ads?

Neither IDrive Online Backup nor DS cloud shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, IDrive Online Backup or DS cloud?

IDrive Online Backup ships an update every 3 weeks, and DS cloud every 2 months. Most recently, IDrive Online Backup was updated on September 28, 2026 and DS cloud on September 16, 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.*