SMBDrop vs Synology Photos
By Isaac Griffiths, developer of SMBDrop ·
Disclosure: I make SMBDrop, so weigh what follows with that in mind. Synology Photos is a very good free app, and for a lot of Synology owners it's the right answer. I say so plainly below. Synology Photos details are from Synology's own documentation and App Store listing as of October 2026.
If you own a Synology NAS, Synology Photos is the obvious first stop for iPhone photo backup: it's free, it's made by Synology, and it turns your NAS into something like a private Google Photos. SMBDrop does something narrower. It copies your original files into a plain shared folder over SMB, on a Synology or anything else.
They answer different questions. Synology Photos asks "where do you want to browse your photos?". SMBDrop asks "where do you want your original files?".
At a glance
| SMBDrop | Synology Photos | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2.99 once | Free with a Synology NAS |
| Works with | Any SMB share: Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, UGREEN, Unraid, Windows, macOS, Samba | Synology NAS running the Synology Photos package |
| Where photos go | A shared folder you choose, as plain files | Your Synology Photos library (personal or shared space) |
| Browsing | None: use Finder, Explorer or any app | Timeline, albums, people and object grouping, search, sharing links |
| Backup | You pick what to send; background sends and a retry queue | Automatic camera roll backup, within iOS background limits |
| Originals and Live Photos | Always originals; both Live Photo halves | Backs up photos and videos including Live Photos; check the app's backup settings |
| Account | None; just the share's username and password | Your DSM account |
| Away from home | Through a VPN such as Tailscale | QuickConnect or your own domain |
| Import back to iPhone | Yes, checked byte-for-byte, never overwrites | Yes, you can download photos from the library |
| Also sends other files | Yes: any file, plus Share → SMBDrop from other apps | Photos and videos |
When to pick Synology Photos
- You want a photo library, not just a backup. Timeline, albums, face grouping and search on your own hardware, across phone, browser and TV. SMBDrop has none of that.
- You want backup to happen on its own. Synology Photos backs up your camera roll automatically. Synology recommends turning on its notifications and charging the phone to keep it moving, because iOS limits background work for every app.
- You share photos with family. Shared spaces, shared albums and links are built in.
- You only use Synology, and want it free. It costs nothing if you already own the NAS.
When to pick SMBDrop
- You want untouched originals in a folder you control. HEIC stays HEIC, videos aren't re-encoded, metadata stays, Live Photos keep both halves, and files land exactly where you point them, named as they are on the phone.
- Your storage isn't only Synology. The same app sends to a QNAP, a Windows PC, a Mac or an Unraid box, and nothing changes if you switch NAS brands.
- You don't want a photo service at all. No package to install, no library to index, no account beyond an SMB user.
- You move more than photos. Documents, exports and downloads go through the same share sheet, and you can pull files back onto the phone.
Using both
This is common, and it's what I'd suggest to many Synology owners. Let Synology Photos back up the camera roll for everyday browsing, and send originals with SMBDrop into a separate shared folder that has snapshots turned on, as an archive that doesn't depend on any app's database. If you ever stop using Synology Photos, the archive is still just files.
The Synology setup guide walks through the SMB side step by step: turning on SMB, creating a shared folder and a dedicated user.
FAQ
Is Synology Photos free?
Yes. Synology Photos is a free package for Synology NAS devices, with free iPhone and Android apps. You need a Synology NAS to use it.
Can Synology Photos and SMBDrop be used together?
Yes. They're independent. A common setup is Synology Photos for browsing and an SMB copy of the originals in a separate snapshotted shared folder as the archive.
Does SMBDrop work without a Synology?
Yes. It works with any SMB share, including QNAP, TrueNAS, UGREEN, Unraid, Windows and macOS shared folders, and Samba on Linux.
Which is better for keeping original files?
SMBDrop always sends the original files as they are in your library, into a plain folder. Synology Photos backs up into its own library; check its backup settings if keeping the exact originals matters to you.
More guides
- How to back up iPhone photos to a Synology NAS
- SMBDrop vs PhotoSync
- SMBDrop vs the iPhone Files app
- Best ways to back up iPhone photos to a NAS (2026)
- Live Photos and original iPhone files on a NAS: what actually gets copied
- How to send iPhone photos to your NAS over Tailscale, without opening ports
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+