SMBDrop vs PhotoSync
By Isaac Griffiths, developer of SMBDrop ·
Disclosure: I make SMBDrop, so read this with that in mind. I've tried to be fair to PhotoSync (it's a well-established app that does more than SMBDrop in several ways), and I say plainly below when it's the better choice. PhotoSync details are from its App Store listing and support pages as of October 2026; check them before buying, since pricing and features change.
If you're looking for an iPhone app to get photos onto a NAS, you'll quickly run into PhotoSync. It's been around for years, it supports almost every destination you can think of, and it has a loyal following. SMBDrop is newer and much narrower: it does one job, sending originals to SMB shares, and tries to do it with as few decisions as possible.
So the real question isn't "which is better" but "which shape fits you". Here's how they compare.
At a glance
| SMBDrop | PhotoSync | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2.99 once. No in-app purchases. | Free tier; Pro one-off (~$5.99 US); Premium ~$0.99/month, ~$6.49/year or ~$24.99 lifetime (US) |
| Automatic backup | Included | Premium (Autotransfer) |
| Destinations | SMB shares only | SMB, SFTP, FTP, WebDAV, computers, many cloud services, and more |
| Originals | Always: no conversion, metadata kept | On paid tiers; the free version converts HEIC and RAW to JPEG |
| Live Photos | Both halves (photo + video) | Options: Apple native, Motion Photo JPEG, or both |
| Automation triggers | When you open the app, and overnight while charging | Arriving at a location, a set time while charging, Siri/Shortcuts |
| Import from NAS to iPhone | Yes, verified byte-for-byte; never overwrites | Yes, transfers work in both directions |
| Account | None | None required |
| Platforms | iPhone, iOS 17+ | iPhone and iPad (iOS 15+), plus Android and desktop companion apps |
Where PhotoSync is stronger
Far more destinations
This is the big one. PhotoSync can send to SMB, SFTP, FTP and WebDAV servers, to Mac and Windows computers via its companion app, and to a long list of cloud services, with Premium adding S3-compatible storage like Backblaze and Wasabi. If you want a NAS copy and a cloud copy from one app, or your server doesn't speak SMB, PhotoSync does it and SMBDrop doesn't.
More automation triggers
PhotoSync's Autotransfer can kick off when you arrive at a saved location, at a set time while charging, or from Siri and Shortcuts, which is handy if you want backups to start the moment you get home. SMBDrop's Automatic Backup runs when you open the app and overnight while charging, and that's it.
More control
PhotoSync exposes a lot of options: file formats, Live Photo handling, naming, folder structures, encryption on Premium. If you like tuning exactly how files land, it gives you the knobs.
More platforms
PhotoSync runs on iPad and Android as well, so a mixed-device household can use one tool. SMBDrop is iPhone-only.
Where SMBDrop is stronger
Simpler pricing
One price, £2.99, and automatic backup is included. With PhotoSync, full-quality originals need Pro, and automatic transfers need Premium (a subscription or a larger lifetime purchase). Neither is expensive for what you get, but SMBDrop is the simpler deal if SMB is all you need.
Fewer decisions
SMBDrop has no format settings because it only does one thing: send the original. HEIC stays HEIC, video isn't re-encoded, metadata stays in the file, and Live Photos go as both halves. There's no way to accidentally choose a converted export.
Setup that avoids typos
Find Shares lists the shares your server actually exports, and Test Connection must pass before you can save, so the classic "share not found" mistake is hard to make.
A careful import side
Both apps can bring files back from a server. SMBDrop's imports are verified byte-for-byte, never overwrite a file on the phone, and live in an imports library where you can preview, share, save to Photos or send on to another share.
Privacy by absence
No account, no analytics, no tracking, no cloud relay. Transfers go device-to-server and passwords live only in the iOS Keychain. PhotoSync doesn't require an account either; SMBDrop simply has nothing beyond the SMB connection to configure or trust.
Background transfers: the same iOS rules for both
No iPhone app can back up continuously in the background, because iOS decides when apps get to run. PhotoSync's own support pages note how short background time is, which is why it uses triggers like location arrival. SMBDrop keeps sends running after you leave the app, keeps a durable retry queue, and does Automatic Backup when you open it and overnight while charging. Neither can promise a photo reaches your NAS seconds after you take it; both get there.
Which should you choose?
Choose PhotoSync if:
- you want to send to cloud services, computers or non-SMB servers as well as (or instead of) a NAS;
- you want location- or schedule-triggered backups and lots of configuration;
- you need iPad or Android support.
Choose SMBDrop if:
- your destination is an SMB share (a NAS, Windows or Mac shared folder, or Samba);
- you want originals by default and automatic backup without a subscription;
- you'd rather have fewer settings and a one-off £2.99.
If you're still weighing it up, the full comparison of NAS backup options includes the free routes too: Synology Photos, QNAP's apps, Immich and the built-in Files app.
FAQ
Is PhotoSync free?
There's a free version that can transfer to a NAS, but it sends photos and videos in reduced quality and converts HEIC and RAW to JPEG. The one-off Pro purchase removes those limits, and automatic transfers need Premium (subscription or lifetime). Check the App Store for current prices.
Does SMBDrop have a subscription?
No. SMBDrop is £2.99 once, with no subscription, no ads and no in-app purchases. Automatic Backup is included.
Can PhotoSync and SMBDrop both send to a Synology NAS?
Yes. Both can send to a Synology shared folder over SMB. PhotoSync can also use other protocols such as WebDAV or SFTP if you enable them on the NAS.
Which one keeps Live Photos?
Both can. SMBDrop always sends the photo and the video. PhotoSync lets you choose Apple's native format, a Motion Photo JPEG, or both.
More guides
- Best ways to back up iPhone photos to a NAS (2026)
- How to back up an iPhone without iCloud
- How to back up iPhone photos to a Synology NAS
- How to send iPhone photos and files to Unraid or TrueNAS over SMB
- How to copy files from an iPhone to a Windows shared folder
- The iPhone Files app's Connect to Server: what it can and can't do
- Live Photos and original iPhone files on a NAS: what actually gets copied
Try SMBDrop
Send original photos, videos and files from your iPhone straight to your own SMB share. One purchase, no account, no subscription.
£2.99 once · no subscription · iOS 17+