Comparison

DS video vs Butterlist

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

Head to head
About

DS video

Stream your video collection from your Synology NAS to your mobile device. Automatically retrieves movie information and organizes content into libraries. Record and manage TV programs remotely if you have compatible HDHomeRun devices connected to your NAS.

Highlights
  • Stream video collection from Synology NAS
  • Automatic movie information retrieval
  • Organized video libraries
  • Record and manage TV programs
  • Remote TV schedule management
Features
Read full description

**You must own a Synology NAS to run this app, and be running the latest Video Station 2.3.0 to get the complete set of features** Use DS video to stream your video collection on your DiskStation from your iOS mobile device. Browsing is made easy as your videos are sorted in different libraries, and each movies has its information retrieved online automatically. And if you have connected HDHomeRun devices with DVB-T standard to the same local area network as your Synology NAS, you will also be able to record TV programs, as well as view the TV program to manage the recording schedule even when on the move. Find all detailed features about the app on our website: www.synology.com > NAS > DSM 7.1 > Apps > Mobile Apps > Software Specs https://www.synology.com/dsm/software_spec/mobile#DSvideo

About

Butterlist

Organize your movies and TV shows in one place. See where titles are streaming to easily find what to watch. Features a clean design, iCloud sync, and privacy-focused operation.

Highlights
  • Track movies and shows
  • See streaming availability
  • iCloud sync across Apple devices
  • Minimalist design
  • Privacy-first, no ads or tracking
  • Import/export data with CSV support
Read full description

Track your entertainment—without the clutter. Butterlist helps you collect movies and shows in one intuitive app built natively for Apple platforms. It organizes your watchlist by where each title is streaming, so you can quickly see what’s available to you and jump right in. Whether you're planning a movie night or catching up on your favorite shows, Butterlist makes it effortless to stay organized. KEY FEATURES • Minimal design — a clean, focused UI built just for Apple devices. • iCloud sync — keep your watchlist updated across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. • Streaming info — see where each movie or show is available to watch. • Privacy-first — no signups, no ads, no third-party tracking. • Rich details — browse over 1 million titles with artwork and info. • Favorites — mark your top picks for easy access. • Custom notes — jot down why you added something, who recommended it, or what episode you’re on. • CSV support — import and export your full list, anytime. • Built for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV — enjoy a consistent, buttery feel across all your Apple devices. Butterlist is designed to respect your privacy. No accounts, no ads, no tracking. Just a fast, delightful experience that works the way you expect. KNOW WHERE TO WATCH Quickly see which streaming platforms each title is available on, so you can jump right in. MINIMAL BY DESIGN Butterlist is clean, focused, and easy to use. No distractions—just a buttery-smooth experience that feels right at home on every Apple device. MAKE IT YOURS Light and dark modes. Add custom notes. Mark your favorites. Import and export your data anytime with full CSV support.

Screenshots

DS video4 screens
Butterlist4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Butterlist at 100% against DS video's 28%. Butterlist also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.8) and update cadence (daily vs every 2 months). DS video's advantage is ratings volume (257 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Butterlist holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DS video has 257 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 28% of DS video's written reviews are positive against 100% of Butterlist's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DS video ships an update every 2 months, Butterlist daily. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and June 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
DS video versus Butterlist: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDS videoButterlist
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (257 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews27.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings257 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TViPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB77 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSynology Inc.Zachary Spitulski

Customer experience

DS video

All ratings257 ratings
Positive37.4%
Neutral12.8%
Negative49.8%
Written reviews271 reviews
Positive27.7%
Neutral18.5%
Negative53.9%

Butterlist

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

DS video

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Playback controls not working on Apple TV
  • Subtitle display issues
  • Inability to play videos over encrypted connections
  • Synology NAS integration problems

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add support for more video formats
  • Improve playback controls (skip forward/backward, resume, etc.)
  • Implement auto-play next episode for TV shows
  • Add Picture-in-Picture support on iPad
  • Improve Chromecast and AirPlay support
Show 1 more
  • Enhance parental controls and content filtering

Butterlist

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

DS video

No in-app purchases

None

Butterlist

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DS video free?
DS video is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Butterlist free?
Butterlist is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DS video or Butterlist?
Butterlist is rated higher. DS video averages 2.8 out of 5 from 257 ratings, while Butterlist averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do DS video or Butterlist have ads?
Neither DS video nor Butterlist shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DS video or Butterlist?
DS video ships an update every 2 months, and Butterlist daily. Most recently, DS video was updated on August 26, 2026 and Butterlist on June 4, 2026.

Other comparisons