DS cloud vs pCloud
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DS cloud
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.
- Folder synchronization
- Offline file viewing
- Customizable sync settings
- File size limits
- File type filtering
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*You must own a Synology NAS to run this app. To get the full features of DS cloud, the version of the Cloud Station running on your DiskStation should be 4.0 and above. Versions starting from 2.10.4 would only support iOS 8 and onward* DS cloud is the mobile counterpart of Cloud Station on iOS devices. You can select the folders on your DiskStation that you wish to sync to your mobile devices, and make them available for offline viewing anywhere you go. DS cloud also allows you to decide how you'd like to sync: you can set the maximum file size as well as the types of file you wish to sync for each folder. Find out more features about the app on our website: www.synology.com > Solutions > File Syncing https://www.synology.com/dsm/6.1/software_spec/mobile#DScloud
pCloud
Securely store and access your photos, videos, and documents from any device. Automatically back up media to free up phone space and stream content on the go. Share large files easily with others.
- Up to 10 GB free storage
- Automatic photo and video backup
- Stream HD videos and music
- Send and receive large files
- Offline file access
- Military-grade encryption
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pCloud - Secure Cloud Storage for Your Files pCloud is the secure place for your photos, videos, and documents - all in one app. Access your files anytime, anywhere, and keep everything safely stored and organized across all your devices. Back up your memories automatically, free up space on your phone, and enjoy your content on the go. Preview and edit your photos, stream HD videos, and listen to your music without downloading. Easily share large files with anyone, even if they don’t use pCloud. Start with up to 10 GB of free storage. Optionally, you can expand up to 10 TB of storage with monthly, annual or lifetime plans. Features: • Up to 10 GB free storage upon registration • Store and access photos, videos, and files • Automatic photo and video backup • Access your files anytime, anywhere • Stream videos and music instantly • Share large files with a link • Sync across all your devices • Simple, intuitive and easy to use • Add zero-knowledge encryption Terms of service: https://www.pcloud.com/terms_and_conditions.html Privacy policy: https://www.pcloud.com/privacy_policy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: pCloud at 4.7 against DS cloud's 2.5. pCloud also leads on review sentiment (62% vs 23%) and ratings volume (8.1K vs 72). DS cloud's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). 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
Both are free to download. pCloud sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. DS cloud asks for nothing beyond the download.
pCloud holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: pCloud has 8.1K ratings behind it against 72, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of DS cloud's written reviews are positive against 62% of pCloud's.
DS cloud ships an update every 2 months, pCloud every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DS cloud | pCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.5 (72 ratings) | 4.7 (8.1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 23.4% of reviews | 62.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 72 | 8.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 77 MB | 112 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Synology Inc. | PCLOUD LTD |
Customer experience
DS cloud
pCloud
User reviews
DS cloud
From 72 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💾 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
Room to improve
- 🐛 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
pCloud
From 8.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast uploads and downloads
- 🔒 Secure and encrypted storage
- 👍 Convenient app integration across devices
- 💰 Affordable lifetime plans
- 📂 Flexible file organization
Room to improve
- 🐛 Unreliable auto-upload feature
- 🔍 Lacking advanced search and organization tools
- 🔇 Subpar media player functionality
- 🔒 Encryption features behind paywall
- 🤔 Confusing free storage limits
Bugs and requests
DS cloud
Reported bugs
14 issues- 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)
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- Subfolder synchronization not working
- Files appear as 0 bytes and cannot be opened
- Sync stops working after initial setup
- Connection errors on local network
- App freezes during file operations
- Share button functionality broken
- Unable to update credentials after password change
- Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
- Annotation function crashes app
Requested features
16 requests- 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
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- PDF editing and annotation tools
- Automatic photo backup from camera roll
- Integration with iOS Files app
- Split-screen support for iPad
- Password protection for app access
- Ability to change password without unlinking account
- Create folders from within the app
- Recursive subfolder synchronization
- Search functionality across subfolders
- Thumbnail view for images
- Selective file synchronization
pCloud
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent app crashes and freezes
- Inconsistent file syncing across devices
- Issues with downloading and sharing files
- Missing metadata and HEIC file support
Requested features
5 requests- Improved photo/video management and viewing
- Background sync and auto-upload
- Sorting and filtering options for files
- Built-in text editor and note-taking
- Gapless audio playback
In-app purchases
DS cloud
No in-app purchases
pCloud
- Premium$4.991 Month
- pCloud Encryption$4.991 Month
- Premium7 Days trial$4.991 Month
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- Premium1 Month trial$4.991 Month
- Premium Plus$9.991 Month
- Ultra 10TB Monthly$29.991 Month
- Premium$49.991 Year
- pCloud Encryption$49.991 Year
- Premium Plus$99.991 Year
- pCloud Encryption$149.99
- Premium$219.00
- Add Extra 2TB Lifetime Storage$279.00
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- Premium Plus$499.00
