Is Synology Cloud Free? Understanding Costs, Features, and What Businesses Should Expect
Is the Synology Cloud free? What You Need to Know
Synology has one of the most flexible cloud ecosystems in the data storage business. It combines the power of on-premises NAS with cloud extensions. But a lot of business owners and IT managers want to know the same thing: Is Synology Cloud free?
The short answer is that Synology Cloud is partly free, but most of the advanced features, especially those that businesses need, are only available with paid plans. It’s important to know the different kinds of “cloud” services that Synology offers in order to understand this better.
Synology NAS Comes with Free Cloud Features
Synology has several free services that make using the NAS better without needing a subscription:
1. QuickConnect (No cost)
QuickConnect lets you access your NAS from a distance without having to set up complicated port forwarding.
It’s completely free and great for small groups that need to connect to the internet from afar without setting up a VPN.
2. Synology Hybrid Share (Limited Free Tier)
With Hybrid Share, you can sync files between Synology NAS devices.
There is a free tier, but for serious use, especially for businesses, you usually need more storage through Synology C2.
3. Free Synology Drive
Like Google Drive or OneDrive, Synology Drive lets you sync, share, and manage files on different devices.
You don’t have to pay for the software or features, but the amount of storage you have depends on the drives and hardware in your NAS, not Synology’s cloud.
4. Free to Use DSM Apps
You don’t have to pay anything extra for tools like File Station, Hyper Backup, Active Insight (basic features), and Note Station.
These free features are great, but they only work with your own NAS hardware, not Synology’s cloud infrastructure.
How much do Synology C2 Cloud Services cost?
Synology C2 is where the costs start. It is Synology’s paid cloud platform that is hosted in safe data centers around the world.
These are the main services that cost money:
1. C2 Backup (Paid)
Used for:
- Backups for PCs
- Backups for Microsoft 365
- Backups at the server or NAS level
The price depends on the amount (for example, 1TB, 2TB, or 5TB).
2. C2 Storage for Hyper Backup (Paid)
If you use Hyper Backup to store a second copy of your NAS data in the cloud, you will be charged monthly or yearly for the space.
3. C2 Identity, C2 Password, and C2 Key Vault (Paid Plans)
These are advanced tools for organizations to manage identities and keep credentials safe.
4. C2 Surveillance (Paid)
Let’s you record safely and store it in the cloud for Synology Surveillance Station.
5. Paid C2 Object Storage
A cloud storage solution that can grow with your business’s needs.
In short, Synology’s cloud isn’t completely free. The free options let you use NAS features, but if you need a lot of cloud storage or backup space, you’ll need to pay for Synology C2 plans.
Why Businesses Should Be Ready to Pay for Cloud Backup
Free tiers are useful, but businesses that care about redundancy, compliance, and business continuity almost always need to pay for cloud services.
Paid C2 cloud gives companies:
- Copies kept off-site for disaster recovery
- Faster ability to restore
- Storage that is ready for compliance
- Scalability without limits
- Strong encryption and checking
For most businesses, using only the free features of Synology is not enough to keep their data safe or secure in the long term.
How Epis Technology Helps Companies Get the Most Out of Synology Cloud
Epis Technology is an expert at making safe, fast backup systems with Synology and Synology C2.
We help businesses build hybrid-cloud systems that combine the speed of a local NAS with the security of an encrypted cloud backup.
To keep your data safe all year long, we handle configuration, monitoring, backup workflows, disaster recovery testing, and planning for long-term storage.
Epis Technology offers enterprise-level solutions that are tailored to your needs, whether you need Microsoft 365 backups, Google Workspace protection, large-storage systems, or fully managed Synology support.
So, is it free to use Synology Cloud?
Remote access, syncing, and NAS-bound features are the only free ones.
But you have to pay for all cloud-hosted storage, backup, and business-level services.
Synology’s paid C2 platform is the safest and most scalable option for businesses that care about uptime and data resilience.