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iCloud Photos vs Synology Photos: catalog facts
iCloud Photos	Synology Photos
Freemium Uses the storage in the user's iCloud plan.	Free Included at no extra cost with a Synology NAS.
macOS, iOS, Web	Android, iOS, Web, Self-hosted, Browser extension
Syncs automatically across Apple devices Web access for viewing and sharing	Photos stay on hardware you own Automatic phone backup through mobile apps
Tied to an Apple account Closed source cloud service	Requires a Synology NAS Closed source
Web application, Hosted service	Downloadable app, Self-hosted, Browser extension
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
Account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.