Comparison

DS cloud vs Sync

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Folder synchronization
  • Offline file viewing
  • Customizable sync settings
  • File size limits
  • File type filtering
Features
Read full description

*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

About

Sync

Securely store, access, and share your files with end-to-end encryption. This cloud storage solution allows you to sync data across all your devices and collaborate with others through shared folders. Protect your sensitive information with robust privacy features.

Highlights
  • 5 GB free secure cloud storage
  • Access files from any device
  • Secure file sharing via links
  • Collaborate with shared folders
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Access controls
Features
Read full description

Sync’s encrypted cloud storage keeps your files safe, secure and private. Access your files from all of your computers and devices easily, and share your files securely with anyone. Features: * Get 5 GB of secure cloud storage free * Access files stored on any computer or device, from your phone or tablet * Upload your photos and videos to Sync * Send large files easily with links * Collaborate and share with teams through shared folders * Protect your files with built-in encryption and access controls How Sync protects your privacy: Sync's end-to-end encrypted cloud storage ensures that only you can access your data. We can't read your files - nor would we want to - ensuring that your documents, photos and videos are safeguarded from unauthorized access. We'd love your feedback! Contact us using the support link below.

Screenshots

DS cloud4 screens
Sync4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sync at 4.1 against DS cloud's 2.5. Sync also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 23%) and ratings volume (805 vs 72). DS cloud's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Sync holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 2.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sync has 805 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 50% of Sync's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DS cloud ships an update every 2 months, Sync monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
DS cloud versus Sync: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDS cloudSync
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.5 (72 ratings)4.1 (805 ratings) — better
Positive reviews23.4% of reviews50.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings72805 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB53 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSynology Inc.Sync.com Inc.

Customer experience

DS cloud

All ratings72 ratings
Positive36.1%
Neutral8.3%
Negative55.6%
Written reviews342 reviews
Positive23.4%
Neutral13.2%
Negative63.5%

Sync

All ratings805 ratings
Positive77.3%
Neutral4.5%
Negative18.3%
Written reviews512 reviews
Positive50.2%
Neutral9.6%
Negative40.2%

User reviews

DS cloud

From 72 App Store ratings

What 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

Sync

From 805 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 User-friendly
  • 🔒 Secure cloud storage
  • 💡 Great value for the price
  • 🚀 Fast and reliable
  • 🇨🇦 Canadian-based company

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 🔍 Lack of search functionality
  • 🚧 Outdated and basic UI
  • 🔻 Slow upload/download speeds
  • 📂 Limited file management options

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)
Show 9 more
  • 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
Show 11 more
  • 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

Sync

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Unreliable camera roll backup
  • Inconsistent file sync across devices
  • Frequent app crashes and freezes
  • Inability to access offline files
  • Sync issues when switching devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved iOS app integration with Files app
  • Video playback and streaming support
  • Bulk file management (rename, move, delete)
  • Advanced sharing options and controls
  • Better background sync for photos/videos

In-app purchases

None

DS cloud

No in-app purchases

None

Sync

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is DS cloud free?
DS cloud is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sync free?
Sync is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, DS cloud or Sync?
Sync is rated higher. DS cloud averages 2.5 out of 5 from 72 ratings, while Sync averages 4.1 from 805 ratings.
Do DS cloud or Sync have ads?
Neither DS cloud nor Sync shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DS cloud or Sync?
DS cloud ships an update every 2 months, and Sync monthly. Most recently, DS cloud was updated on September 16, 2026 and Sync on September 27, 2026.

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