Synology Active Backup for SaaS vs Synology Photos
Synology Active Backup for SaaS
synology.com
Synology Photos
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| Figure | Synology Active Backup for SaaS | Synology Photos |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 2 | 2 |
| Spec score · Storage Migration Software | 7.8 (#9) | 8.2 (#4) |
| Spec score · Google Workspace Backup Software | 7.9 (#11) | 8.2 (#7) |
| Spec score · NAS Backup Software | 7.9 (#25) | 8.3 (#20) |
| Spec score · Note-taking apps | 7.8 (#146) | 8.2 (#95) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Headquarters | Banqiao District, New Taipei City, Taiwan | Banqiao District, New Taipei City, Taiwan |
| Integrations | The suite integrates with Synology Snapshot Replication and Hyper Backup for copies to other Synology NAS devices and cloud services. | Synology Photos works with Synology Image Assistant, whose desktop app and browser extension generate previews for formats including HEIC and HEVC media. |
| System requirements | The Google Workspace product page lists DSM 6.1-15217 or later as a requirement. | 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. |
Plans
Synology Active Backup for SaaS
- Active Backup for SaaSFree
- Active Backup for SaaS (Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace)Free
In their own words
Synology Active Backup for SaaS
Synology Active Backup for SaaS backs up Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace data to Synology NAS servers for recovery after data loss or service downtime. Microsoft 365 coverage includes OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, and Teams. Google Workspace coverage includes Drive, Gmail, Contacts, and Calendar, including shared drives, labels, and attachments. Microsoft 365 backups can run continuously, manually, or on a schedule; continuous intervals adjust from one to ten minutes based on detected API request rates. Both services support file versioning, and Google Workspace versions can be retained for a chosen period or kept in full. The Microsoft 365 Recovery Portal lets administrators and employees restore or export backed-up data, with self-service access dependent on configuration. The product is a free add-on for a compatible Synology NAS, with unlimited accounts subject to NAS storage capacity. Active Backup for Microsoft 365 requires DSM 6.1-15217 or later. Deduplication requires an x64 NAS using Btrfs, and neither service supports secondary backups. Google Workspace setup requires configuring the Drive SDK API and creating a service key.
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.