Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Synology Photos

synology.com

Free plan WebWindowsmacOSiOSAndroidSelf-hosted
Visit synology.com
Spec score 8.3 #3 of 21 in Google Workspace Administration Software

What it is

Synology Photos is a photo and video management service in DSM for browsing, organizing, searching, sharing, uploading, and previewing media. It requires a Synology NAS for private photo storage, and its mobile app can back up photos and videos to that NAS automatically. Users can share individual items or albums through links with passwords or expiration dates. Shared Space lets selected users collaborate, with access and editing rights assigned by folder. Organization tools include custom and conditional albums, automatic grouping, and facial and object recognition on supported NAS models. RAW files are supported; previews for HEIC/HEVC files and compressed videos require Synology Image Assistant. Mobile apps require iOS 16 or later or Android 11 or later; TV apps support Apple TV and Android TV. Chrome and Safari are recommended for web use. Synology Photos is free, with no paid premium tiers listed.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Synology Photos provides photo and video browsing, management, sharing, search, album grouping, upload, and preview workflows in DSM.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Free plan
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · synology.com
Integrations
Synology Photos works with Synology Image Assistant, whose desktop app and browser extension generate previews for formats including HEIC and HEVC media.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Headquarters
Banqiao District, New Taipei City, TaiwanRead 28 Sep 2026 · synology.com
Founded
2000Read 28 Sep 2026 · synology.com
Automatic albums
The package can automatically group media into People, Subjects, Places, Tags, Videos, and Recently Added albums.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Backup
The mobile app can automatically back up photos and videos to the user's Synology NAS.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Browser support
Synology Photos recommends Chrome and Safari for web use.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Collaboration
Shared Space allows selected users to collaborate, with access and editing rights set at folder level.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Company facts
LinkedIn lists Synology as founded in 2000, headquartered in New Taipei City, Taiwan, with 501–1,000 employees.Read 21 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company name and ownership
LinkedIn identifies the company as Synology and lists it as a public company.Read 21 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company review rating
Synology’s Trustpilot company profile shows 1.6 out of 5 from 318 reviews; this is a company-wide rating, not a Synology Photos product rating.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Conditional albums
Conditional albums automatically include photos that match the conditions a user sets.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Developer API
The pages reviewed did not provide an official Synology Photos API guide; community documentation describes reverse-engineered Foto and FotoTeam web APIs for browsing, searching, albums, and downloads.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Documentation and install
Synology’s Quick Start guide explains installation through DSM Package Center, setup of personal and shared spaces, and basic web and mobile navigation.Read 21 Oct 2026 · kb.synology.com
Extensibility
The community API documentation describes authentication through Synology’s API endpoints and lists separate API families for Personal Space and Shared Space.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Face recognition
People albums use face recognition, and users can name, hide, or merge recognized faces.Read 21 Oct 2026 · kb.synology.com
Format compatibility
The listed image formats include common formats such as JPEG, PNG, WebP, and RAW variants; additional previews for HEIC, HEIF, and HIF require Image Assistant.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Formats
RAW files are supported, while HEIC/HEVC previews or compressed videos require Synology Image Assistant.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Hosting model
Synology Photos requires a Synology NAS and stores the library on that NAS, making it a self-hosted product rather than a standalone cloud service.Read 21 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Image Assistant requirements
The Image Assistant desktop app supports Windows 11 22H2 or later on non-ARM computers and macOS 12.3 or later, while its extension supports Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Limit: backup reliability and organization
An App Store reviewer reported incomplete mobile uploads and said large libraries were hard to organize because albums and tags appeared in flat lists.Read 21 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Limit: format changes
A Trustpilot reviewer complained that a recent update removed support for some image formats in Synology Photos.Read 21 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Limit: NAS dependency
Synology Photos cannot be used without a Synology NAS, and the Android listing requires DSM 7.0 or later.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Maker founded
Synology says it was founded in 2000.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Mobile backup
The mobile app can automatically back up new phone photos and videos to the NAS.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Mobile platforms
Synology Photos Mobile supports iOS 16 or above and Android 11 or above.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
NAS requirement
Synology Photos requires a Synology NAS to privately store photos.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Notable limits
Face and object recognition are available only on certain NAS models; drag-and-drop uploads support up to 5,000 files per upload.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Notable news
Synology announced DSM 7.2.2 on August 28, 2024, describing client-side media processing through Image Assistant and reporting faster thumbnail processing in its stated test.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Object recognition
Subject albums group photos based on recognized objects or themes; object recognition requires DSM 7.2 or later and a supported NAS model with at least 4 GB of memory.Read 21 Oct 2026 · kb.synology.com
Organization
Features include custom and conditional albums, automatic grouping, and facial and object recognition on supported NAS models.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Photo organization
Users can edit photo dates, descriptions, tags, and ratings, and add photos to multiple albums without duplicating files.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Photo views
Users can browse their libraries chronologically or by folder structure.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Praise: combined photo management
StorageReview described the package as combining functions from Photo Station and Moments, with manual and automatic tools for organizing and sharing media.Read 21 Oct 2026 · storagereview.com
Praise: local photo access
One App Store reviewer praised using the app to back up photos to a NAS and view them on an iPad without relying on cloud storage.Read 21 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Product overview
Synology Photos is a photo and video management package that runs in DSM on a Synology NAS.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Rating on Apple App Store
3.0 out of 5 from 574 ratings.Read 21 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Google Play
3.0 out of 5 from 7,240 reviews.Read 21 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Search and filters
Search filters include file type, date, people, location, tags, ratings, camera, lens, focal length, exposure time, aperture, and ISO.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Security advisory
Synology published a moderate-severity Photos advisory and lists fixed releases for DSM 7.2 and DSM 7.1.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Security and access
Synology describes the photo library as stored on the owner’s NAS and says access is controlled by the owner’s permissions; sharing supports passwords and expiration dates.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Shared Space
Shared Space lets users collaborate on a shared media library with folder-level access permissions.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Sharing
Users can share individual photos, videos, or albums using links with access passwords or expiration dates.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
Sharing controls
Shared links can be public or limited to assigned users, protected by a password, and configured to expire on a chosen date.Read 21 Oct 2026 · kb.synology.com
Supported browsers
Synology lists Chrome and Safari as recommended browsers for the Photos package.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
System requirements
The package requires DSM 7.0 or later and a Synology NAS; its technical specification lists Node.js 12 and Synology Application Service as dependencies.Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com
TV apps
The Synology Photos TV App supports Apple TV and Android TV.Read 3 Oct 2026 · synology.com
TV viewing
Synology Photos supports viewing on Apple TV and Android TV, as well as casting from mobile devices using Chromecast or AirPlay.Read 21 Oct 2026 · kb.synology.com

Plans and prices

Free Free Requires a Synology NAS Read 21 Sep 2026 · synology.com
Synology Photos Free No paid premium tier · Requires a Synology NAS running DSM 7.0 or later Read 21 Oct 2026 · synology.com

Every Synology Photos plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Automatically backs up mobile photos and videos to a Synology NAS
  • Shares photos, videos, and albums with link controls
  • Supports custom and conditional albums
  • Includes RAW file support
  • Offers mobile apps and Apple TV and Android TV apps

Limits

  • Requires a Synology NAS for private storage
  • Face and object recognition is limited to certain NAS models
  • HEIC/HEVC previews require Synology Image Assistant
  • Drag-and-drop uploads are limited to 5,000 files per upload

Who it suits

It suits Synology NAS owners who want to organize, back up, and share photos and videos. It may also suit households or groups using folder-level collaboration in Shared Space.

Synology Photos in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

Synology Photos is a photo and video manager built into DSM for people who want to keep their library on a Synology NAS. It suits households and individual photographers who value local storage, mobile backup and controlled sharing; it is not a standalone cloud photo service.

Its strongest case is straightforward: back up from a phone, organize and browse the collection, then share selected items without moving the library to a separate storage service. The trade-off is that both the NAS and, for some formats and recognition features, compatible supporting software or hardware are part of the setup.

Key features

Backup and organization

The mobile app can automatically back up photos and videos to a Synology NAS, giving phone users a continuing backup path into their own storage. Albums can be custom or conditional, and automatic grouping helps organize a collection. Face and object recognition, along with face search, can make a large library easier to navigate, but recognition works only on certain NAS models. Check model support 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 lets selected users collaborate, with access and editing rights managed at folder level. These controls work well for a household or small group with someone willing to administer shared folders; they are less appealing if you want sharing without NAS-based account and folder management.

Formats and upload limits

Original-quality storage and RAW files are supported. HEIC and HEVC previews, as well as compressed video playback, require Synology Image Assistant, an extra dependency for libraries that rely on those formats. Drag-and-drop uploads top out at 5,000 files per upload, a practical constraint for very large initial imports.

Pricing

Synology Photos is free, with no paid premium tiers or free trial. Two free entries describe the same basic proposition: the Free plan costs nothing, and Synology Photos costs nothing. Both require a Synology NAS, so the software price is zero but access depends on owning the required hardware. There are no paid tiers to choose between, and no seat, quota, trial or renewal terms are stated for these plans.

The free offer includes original-quality storage, face search, shared albums, family sharing, a desktop app and video backup. It fits existing Synology NAS owners who want photo management and backup without a software subscription. It is not a cheaper substitute for a cloud photo plan if you do not already have a NAS, because the NAS requirement remains.

Platforms

Synology Photos is listed for Android, iOS, macOS, web, Windows and extension use. The mobile app requires iOS 16 or later or Android 11 or later. TV apps support Apple TV and Android TV, while Chrome and Safari are the recommended browsers. The range covers phones, computers and televisions, though mobile users on older operating systems fall outside the stated requirements.

A moderate-severity security advisory has been published for Photos, with fixed releases identified for DSM 7.2 and DSM 7.1. NAS owners should keep DSM on a fixed release rather than treating a free app as maintenance-free.

Who it's for

Choose Synology Photos if you already own a Synology NAS, want original-quality files kept there, and need phone backup, albums and link-based sharing in one workflow. It is particularly suited to families or small groups that can use Shared Space and folder-level permissions. Look elsewhere if you need a standalone service, do not want to maintain NAS hardware, rely on recognition without checking model compatibility, or want HEIC and HEVC previews without installing Synology Image Assistant.

Pros and cons

Pros

No software charge: the listed plans cost nothing and there are no paid premium tiers.

NAS-centered backup: the mobile app can automatically back up both photos and videos to a Synology NAS.

Useful sharing controls: link passwords and expiration dates provide options for limiting access, while Shared Space adds folder-level collaboration rights.

Broad library support: RAW and original-quality storage are supported, alongside custom and conditional albums and face search.

Cons

Hardware prerequisite: a Synology NAS is required, so the free software is not a turnkey cloud destination.

Model-dependent recognition: face and object recognition are limited to certain NAS models.

Format caveat: HEIC and HEVC previews and compressed video playback require Synology Image Assistant.

Import ceiling: drag-and-drop uploads are limited to 5,000 files at a time.

Version floor for phones: mobile support requires iOS 16 or Android 11 at minimum.

Alternatives

For users who want a different backup product, IDrive has a free 10 GB Basic plan, a free trial and broad support across Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows; choose it when those platforms or a non-NAS backup route matter more than Synology Photos' NAS-based photo library. Acronis Cyber Disaster Recovery Cloud is a paid service with a free trial and coverage spanning desktop, mobile, web and self-hosted platforms, making it the alternative to consider for disaster recovery rather than a NAS photo manager. MSP360 Backup offers a free personal workstation backup plan with file and image-based backup for Linux, macOS and Windows; choose it when workstation backup is the priority instead of photo organization and sharing.

GWS Backup is another free option. CubeBackup is a paid alternative with a trial and an Education / Non-profit plan priced at $2 a year. Spanning Backup is a paid, trial-offering option with one all-inclusive plan. Kernel Google Workspace Backup and Restore has a Windows plan for Google Workspace backup to PST priced at $49, paid once. SysCloud Backup is a paid web-based alternative with a listed $18 a year plan for Slack/Salesforce at 500–999 users. These alternatives are worth considering when their backup focus or platform fit is a better match than a NAS-based photo library.

For broader category browsing, see Google Workspace Backup Software, Storage Replication Software, Storage Migration Software, NAS Backup Software, Photo Management Software and Photo Storage Services.

Verdict

Synology Photos is a strong choice for Synology NAS owners who want a free way to back up, organize and share a photo and video library while keeping the files on their own NAS. The NAS requirement is the decisive reason to choose it—and the decisive reason to look elsewhere if you want a standalone cloud service or do not already have that hardware.

Verdict

Synology Photos combines NAS-based storage with media organization, sharing, and mobile backup. Check the NAS requirement, device versions, and preview and recognition limits against your setup.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to Synology PhotosAll alternatives →