Comparison

DS finder vs DSLoad Station

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DS finder

Easily set up and manage your Synology NAS directly from your phone. Receive important NAS notifications and access the Synology app ecosystem. Simplifies NAS management and setup, eliminating the need for complex computer-based configurations.

Highlights
  • NAS setup and management
  • NAS-related notifications
  • Access Synology apps
  • Simplified mobile interface
  • DSM installation support
Features
Read full description

*You must own a Synology NAS to run this app, and be running the latest DSM 6.0 or above version to get the complete set of features.* DS finder allows you to set up and manage your Synology NAS, sends you NAS-related notifications, and opens your door to the world of Synology apps. And yes, all these features can be accessed directly from your phone, so wave goodbye to complicated setup and management with DS finder! .DS finder only supports installing DSM on most models (rack mount models, desktop models of FS and XS series, and EDS14 excluded).

About

DSLoad Station

Manage your Synology Download Station remotely with a secure, private, and feature-rich mobile client. Control downloads, monitor your NAS, and automate tasks with an intuitive interface. Offers seamless iOS integration for convenient access.

Highlights
  • Secure and private connection
  • Full download task control
  • Add tasks from URLs or browser
  • Background notifications
  • Browse DiskStation folders
  • Integrated RSS feed manager
  • Home & Lock Screen Widgets
Features
Read full description

DSLoad Station is the ultimate mobile client for managing your Synology Download Station. Take full control of your downloads with a secure, private, and feature-rich interface for DSM 6.0 and DSM 7.0+. SECURE & PRIVATE CONNECTION • End-to-end encryption for your credentials • Your data never leaves your device and your NAS • No tracking, no ads, complete privacy guaranteed • Connect seamlessly on your local network or remotely via QuickConnect • Full support for SSL/TLS encryption & two-factor authentication (2FA) POWERFUL DOWNLOAD MANAGEMENT • Full control over your tasks: start, pause, resume, delete, and clear • Add tasks from URLs, files, or directly from your browser with the share sheet • Advanced filtering to sort and find your downloads easily • Get real-time updates with background notifications • Select specific files within a task before downloading ADVANCED NAS FEATURES • Browse your DiskStation folders to choose where downloads go • Monitor your NAS storage, VPN status, and system health • Integrated RSS feed manager to automate your downloads • Powerful search to find new content with your Download Station search modules • Manage multiple Synology NAS servers from one app SEAMLESS iOS INTEGRATION • Home & Lock Screen Widgets: Keep an eye on your tasks, storage, and VPN status. • Live Activities: Track your active downloads on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. • Face ID & Touch ID: Secure your app and your saved connections. • Dark Mode: A beautiful interface that’s easy on the eyes. • Siri & Shortcuts: Automate your download workflow. EASY TO USE • Quick setup in minutes — no technical knowledge required • Intuitive and modern interface designed for iOS • Manage your favorite servers and accounts with ease • In-app browser for easy navigation and task creation Whether you’re at home or on the go, DSLoad Station provides the most complete and secure way to manage your Synology Download Station. Made by the Synology community for Synology users. Need help? Have a suggestion or feature request? Email me at contact@dsload.app! --- Some features require DSLoad Station Pro: yearly subscription or lifetime purchase. Free trial available. Family Sharing included. DSLoad Station is not affiliated with Synology Inc. Terms of use: https://dsload.app/resources/terms.html

Screenshots

DS finder4 screens
DSLoad Station4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: DSLoad Station at 4.5 against DS finder's 2.5. DSLoad Station also leads on review sentiment (60% vs 26%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). DS finder's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. DSLoad Station sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. DS finder asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DSLoad Station holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 123 and 572 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of DS finder's written reviews are positive against 60% of DSLoad Station's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DS finder ships an update every 4 months, DSLoad Station every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
DS finder versus DSLoad Station: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDS finderDSLoad Station
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (123 ratings)4.5 (572 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.5% of reviews59.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings123572 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size69 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSynology Inc.Thomas Le gravier

Customer experience

DS finder

All ratings123 ratings
Positive30.1%
Neutral13.8%
Negative56.1%
Written reviews337 reviews
Positive25.5%
Neutral18.4%
Negative56.1%

DSLoad Station

All ratings572 ratings
Positive87.6%
Neutral2.3%
Negative10.1%
Written reviews196 reviews
Positive59.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative33.2%

User reviews

DS finder

From 123 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✅ Quick access to basic NAS status and monitoring
  • 🔍 Easy device discovery on local network
  • 📊 Useful storage usage visualization with pie charts
  • ⚡ Fast connection when properly configured
  • 🎯 Simple and straightforward interface for basic tasks

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent connection failures and timeouts
  • ❌ Two-factor authentication (2FA) not supported
  • 🌐 DDNS and Quick Connect unreliable
  • 📵 Wake-on-LAN (WOL) broken or non-functional
  • 🔐 Password and login issues persist across updates

DSLoad Station

From 572 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great app and great support
  • 🚀 Reliable and stable
  • 👍 Excellent layout, features, and functionality
  • 👍 Convenient to use
  • 👍 Responsive developer

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional login issues and authentication problems
  • 🐛 Search not working at times
  • 🔒 Concerns about security and data privacy
  • 💰 Paid app when previous app was free
  • 💰 Expensive subscription model

Bugs and requests

DS finder

Reported bugs

20 issues
  • Server unreachable error with DDNS connections
  • 400 Bad Request HTTP/HTTPS port mismatch
  • App fails to detect devices on network
  • 2FA causes cryptic login errors
  • Wake-on-LAN crashes the app
Show 15 more
  • App crashes on iPhone launch
  • Desktop mode zoom gets stuck after text field input
  • Desktop mode windows cannot be resized or moved
  • Package Center window scaling issues
  • Notifications crash the app when accessed
  • Face ID authentication causes connection failures after 24-48 hours
  • Invalid password errors despite correct credentials
  • Push notifications not received
  • App forgets configured devices after updates
  • DSM Mobile displays 'connection is not private' error
  • Quick Connect verification requests fail or hang indefinitely
  • Setup wizard incompatible with Safari browser
  • Setup windows don't scale properly
  • Password manager integration issues during registration
  • Slow login with no error indication

Requested features

17 requests
  • Dark mode support
  • Two-factor authentication (2FA) support
  • Landscape mode for iPad
  • Siri Shortcuts integration
  • Wake-on-LAN over internet
Show 12 more
  • CPU and RAM usage monitoring
  • Network activity and connected users display
  • System logs viewing capability
  • Remote package installation and management
  • Ability to mount encrypted shared folders
  • Mobile-friendly views for File Station, Video Station, Audio Station, Package Center
  • Improved notification management and clearing
  • VPN toggle functionality
  • Ability to add multiple devices with same IP on different ports
  • Better zoom and pan controls in desktop mode
  • IPv6 support with port specification
  • Landscape mode support on iPhone

DSLoad Station

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes and freezes on iPad
  • Unreliable connection to NAS
  • Inconsistent performance and functionality

Requested features

4 requests
  • Custom user-agent for specific sources
  • Ability to save default download folder
  • Integration with browser to push downloads directly
  • Support for more advanced download management features

In-app purchases

None

DS finder

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

DSLoad Station

Subscriptions7
  • Full access - Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Full access - Yearly7 Days trial$3.491 Year
  • Full access - Yearly7 Days trial$4.491 Year
Show 4 more
  • Full access - Yearly7 Days trial$5.991 Year
  • Full access - Yearly3 Days trial$6.991 Year
  • Full access - Yearly7 Days trial$7.991 Year
  • Full access - Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full access - Lifetime$17.99

Questions

Is DS finder free?
DS finder is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DSLoad Station free?
DSLoad Station is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DS finder or DSLoad Station?
DSLoad Station is rated higher. DS finder averages 2.5 out of 5 from 123 ratings, while DSLoad Station averages 4.5 from 572 ratings.
Do DS finder or DSLoad Station have ads?
Neither DS finder nor DSLoad Station shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DS finder or DSLoad Station?
DS finder ships an update every 4 months, and DSLoad Station every 2 weeks. Most recently, DS finder was updated on October 29, 2026 and DSLoad Station on October 30, 2026.

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