Alternatives to Synology Drive
A file sync and sharing package for Synology NAS devices, with desktop and mobile clients. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Synology Drive
A file sync and sharing package for Synology NAS devices, with desktop and mobile clients.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Synology Drive.
Nextcloud
A file sync and collaboration server you run yourself, with desktop and mobile clients that behave like Dropbox.
Nextcloud is a GPL-2.0 self-hosted sync server that runs on hardware you choose rather than only Synology NAS, adding calendar, contacts and an app store.
Seafile
Self-hosted file sync and share with optional client-side encryption.
Seafile is open-source self-hosted sync with block-level deduplication and per-library client-side encryption, not tied to NAS hardware, though self-hosting requires a database.
ownCloud
Self-hosted file sync and share platform for teams.
ownCloud is an open-source self-hosted sync and share platform with clients for every major platform, including Linux, with enterprise features and support paid.
Pydio Cells
Self-hosted document sharing and management platform.
Pydio Cells is an AGPL-3.0 self-hosted platform adding granular permissions, workflows and audit trails, with sync clients for every platform, but it is heavier to operate.
ownCloud Infinite Scale
Go rewrite of ownCloud built as microservices with no database.
ownCloud Infinite Scale deploys as a single Go binary with no database on your own Linux server, though parity with classic ownCloud still differs.
FileRun
Self-hosted file manager and sync server that uses your existing folders.
FileRun is a self-hosted file manager and sync server that uses your existing folders, but needs a paid licence and a PHP web server.
Dropbox
The original file sync service, with clients on every platform.
Dropbox moves files to a hosted service with a mature sync engine and clients on every platform, but the free tier is only a few gigabytes.
Resilio Sync
Peer-to-peer file sync with no cloud server in the middle.
Resilio Sync syncs directly between your devices with no central server or NAS, but both devices must be online at the same time.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Synology Drive as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Möbius Sync
Third-party iOS app that brings Syncthing file synchronization to iPhone and iPad.
Synology Drive syncs iPhone and desktop files through your own Synology NAS rather than peer to peer, but it requires Synology hardware and is closed source.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync
A QNAP NAS app for backing up, restoring and syncing data across local, remote and cloud storage.
Syncthing
Keeps folders identical across your own machines, directly between them, with no cloud account in the middle.
PhotoSync
A mobile app that transfers and backs up photos and videos between phones, computers, NAS devices and clouds.
Samba
Open-source SMB file and print server that can also run as an Active Directory domain controller.
FileBrowser Quantum
A self-hosted web file manager with user management, sharing, file previews and editing.
Garage
Distributed S3-compatible object store built for unreliable hardware.
