Synology Photos

Overview

Synology Photos is a photo and video library tool for people who already own a Synology NAS. It is best suited to households and individuals who want mobile backup and control over where their collection is stored. The trade-off is clear: it costs nothing, but it is not a standalone photo service.

Key features

Backup and organization

The mobile app can automatically back up photos and videos to a Synology NAS, giving NAS owners a way to keep a phone library backed up without moving it to a separate cloud service. Custom and conditional albums and automatic grouping help organize a growing collection. Face and object recognition, along with face search, can make discovery easier, but recognition works only on certain NAS models; check compatibility if those tools are central to your choice.

Sharing and collaboration

Users can share individual photos, videos, or albums through links protected by a password or an expiration date. Shared Space allows selected users to collaborate, with folder-level settings for access and editing. This is useful for families or small groups who want managed access to a shared NAS library, though it is less convenient than a service that hosts the collection for you.

Formats and uploads

Synology Photos supports original-quality storage and RAW files. HEIC and HEVC previews, as well as compressed video playback, require Synology Image Assistant, which adds a dependency for people working with those formats. Drag-and-drop uploads support up to 5,000 files per upload, a practical constraint when importing a very large library at once.

Pricing

Synology Photos is free: both the Free and Synology Photos plans cost nothing, and there are no paid premium tiers. The plan includes original-quality storage, face search, shared albums, family sharing, a desktop app, and video backup. The important qualification is the hardware requirement: a Synology NAS is needed, so the software's zero price does not cover the storage device or make this a cloud account for users without a NAS.

Platforms

Synology Photos supports Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, web, and extension platforms, with TV apps for Apple TV and Android TV. The mobile app requires iOS 16 or above or Android 11 or above. Chrome and Safari are the recommended browsers for web use. RAW files work, while HEIC/HEVC previews and compressed videos need Synology Image Assistant.

Who it's for

Choose Synology Photos if you own a Synology NAS and want automatic mobile backup, original-quality storage, organized albums, and link sharing while keeping the library on your own NAS. It is especially suited to households that can make use of folder-controlled Shared Space. Look elsewhere if you need photo storage without buying or maintaining a Synology NAS, or if your preferred formats depend on previews and playback without an additional assistant app.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Free software includes mobile photo and video backup to a Synology NAS, with original-quality storage and RAW support.
• Pro: Passwords and expiration dates on shared links, plus folder-level collaboration controls, give owners useful ways to manage access.
• Con: A Synology NAS is required, ruling it out as a standalone cloud photo library.
• Con: Face and object recognition are limited to certain NAS models, and HEIC/HEVC previews or compressed video playback require Synology Image Assistant.
• Con: Drag-and-drop uploads stop at 5,000 files per upload, which can complicate large one-time imports.

Alternatives

For a different route to photo storage, compare Photo Storage Services or Photo Management Software. If the need is broader infrastructure rather than photo-library management, the NAS Backup Software category is a better starting point.

• Obstor is a free, Apache 2.0-licensed, self-hosted option for users looking for open-source storage software rather than a Synology photo manager.
• SeaweedFS offers free community support for any cluster size, but response time is not guaranteed; choose it when distributed storage is the need, not a ready-made photo workflow.
• LINBIT DRBD offers a free open-source community version with documentation, tech guides, and community support, while its LINBIT Starter plan costs $1,000 a year.
• XtreemFS is free, open-source BSD-licensed software for readers seeking self-hosted storage rather than photo organization and sharing.
• OpenEBS is free open-source Kubernetes storage, making it an infrastructure choice rather than a consumer photo library.
• Amazon S3 uses pay-as-you-use pricing with no minimum charge and charges across storage and related usage; consider it for usage-based object storage rather than Synology Photos' NAS-centered library.
• Longhorn is free open-source distributed block storage for Kubernetes, not a photo management service.
• Resilio Active Everywhere prices by devices or endpoints rather than data volume or transfer usage; consider it when that pricing basis suits your storage workflow.

Verdict

Synology Photos is a strong choice for Synology NAS owners who want free mobile backup, organized browsing, and controlled sharing without handing their photo library to a hosted service. Its main reason to choose it is the combination of NAS-based storage and useful household sharing at no software cost. Its main reason to look elsewhere is just as simple: without a Synology NAS, it is not the right tool.