Peer Global File Service vs Synology Photos
Peer Global File Service
peersoftware.com
Synology Photos
synology.comSide by side
| Figure | Peer Global File Service | Synology Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 0 | 2 |
| Spec score · Storage Migration Software | 7.7 (#10) | 8.2 (#4) |
| Spec score · Storage Replication Software | 7.7 (#12) | 8.3 (#6) |
| Founded | 1993 | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Peer Software lists its corporate headquarters at 340 N. Westlake Blvd., #155, Westlake Village, California 91362. | Banqiao District, New Taipei City, Taiwan |
| Integrations | PeerGFS integrates with Microsoft DFS Namespaces and supports object storage including Amazon S3 and Azure Blob. | Synology Photos works with Synology Image Assistant, whose desktop app and browser extension generate previews for formats including HEIC and HEVC media. |
| Purpose | PeerGFS is software for real-time file replication, management, and synchronization across sites, servers, platforms, clouds, and storage systems. | Synology Photos provides photo and video browsing, management, sharing, search, album grouping, upload, and preview workflows in DSM. |
Plans
In their own words
Peer Global File Service
Peer Global File Service (PeerGFS) replicates, manages, and synchronizes files across sites, platforms, clouds, and storage systems. It sends changes in real time for active-active file sharing, uses distributed file locking to help prevent conflicts, and transfers changed data rather than whole files through delta-level replication. The product supports SMB and NFS workloads and lists Windows and Linux file servers, NetApp, Nutanix Files, Dell systems, and cloud targets including S3 and Azure Blob. Microsoft DFS Namespaces can unify SMB access across sites and support failover and failback. Security descriptions include SSL-encrypted traffic up to AES-256, role-based controls through Active Directory, and monitoring for suspicious file activity. The product also lists local caching, edge synchronization, metadata and access preservation, cutover orchestration, and migration reporting. Capabilities depend on configuration: edge caching is limited to Windows file servers, and NFS supports only replication and synchronization jobs. Pricing is available on request. A trial request includes a guided proof of concept with the pre-sales team. Peer Software says it began in 1993.
Synology Photos
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.