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Google Drive is great for storing files in the cloud, accessing them when needed, and collaborating with a team. However, the internet isn't always reliable and can cause issues when accessing files. In such cases, you need an offline solution, and Synology may have the best options. Synology has awesome NAS enclosures. Its accompanying software, Synology Drive, packs goodies similar to Google Drive while adding an extra layer of privacy.

Businesses and individuals can benefit from the perks Synology Drive brings. Here's everything you need to know about setting up Synology Drive as a Google Drive alternative.

When to use Synology instead of Google Drive

Image shows a NAS enclosure with one of its hard drives unlocked and sliding out.

Google Drive is accessible and a more feasible option for many users when compared with a Synology NAS (network-attached storage). This is particularly true if you need the tool for a single purpose, like backing up data.

Google Drive could be your best bet for purposes requiring less than a terabyte of data. It has plenty of integrated bells and whistles, and the introductory rates are affordable. It all boils down to how much value you place on your personal or business data and how important it is to keep your files in your storage space instead of in someone else's cloud servers.

If you need more storage space, check out Google One. This subscription service includes Google Drive storage, Google VPN, and other niceties. The payment plans start at $2 a month or $20 yearly for 100GB of storage. Plans go as high as $300 a month for 30TB of storage. The sweet spot is $10 a month or $100 a year for 2TB of data, which is cheaper than most 2TB HDDs.

With a NAS, you don't need to pay a monthly fee, but there's an upfront cost attached, and it's a hefty one. Even if you pay a monthly fee for Google Drive, it takes years to match what you'll pay for your network storage. Still, there are cases, such as shared team projects, where you need spacious local storage, creating a more compelling need for the switch to a Synology NAS.

If you're looking for a solid starter Synology NAS, the DiskStation DS220+ is a great option. Check out our comparison between DiskStation DS923+ vs. DS920+ and investigate the best NAS hard drives to improve your setup.

How to manage your files on a Synology NAS

Synology has file management systems with some overlap, which can be confusing if you're new to this. Consider the following as you decide what works best for how you plan to use your network drive.

Map your Synology NAS to Finder or File Explorer on your Mac or Windows PC

File managers on Mac and Windows can connect to your network drive, giving you access to your files on Synology, like from internal storage. You don't need to log in to your NAS's interface, and your files remain accessible in the same files app you're used to without taking up space on your computer's storage. Here's how to set it up:

  1. Go to your Synology DSM in a web browser and open Control Panel.
  2. Select File Services.
    Screenshot of a computer screen showing Synology NAS opened in a web browser and control panel being selected.
  3. Under the SMB tab, turn on the SMB and WS-Discovery options and click Apply.
    Screenshot shows the SMB page of control panel for the Synology NAS, and arrows selecting WS-Discovery
  4. In Mac's Finder, click Go in the top menu bar.
  5. Select Connect to Server or press Cmd + K.
    Screenshot shows Mac OS with finder open, arrows pointing to the 'Go' option in the top bar and the 'Connect to server' option at the bottom of the menu.
  6. Enter your NAS's local address. This address could be a custom name you've given, like smb://xyz.local, or a local IP address your router assigned to the NAS, usually in the 192.168.X.XXX format.
    Screenshot shows the 'Connect to Server' pop up with arrows pointing to a filled in section for local IP address and the 'Connect' option.
  7. For Windows, right click This PC in File Explorer and select Map network drive.
    Screenshot shows Windows File Explorer with arrow pointing to 'Map network drive' in menu after right clicking 'This PC'.
  8. Click Browse and select the drive label.
    Screenshot shows 'Map Network Drive' pop up with a red circle around the 'Browse' button.
  9. Select your Synology NAS from the list.
    Screenshot shows the 'Browse' pop up with an arrow pointing to the relevant drive option.
  10. Enter your login credentials.
    Screenshot shows 'Enter network credentials' pop up with arrows pointing to fillable boxes and the 'OK' button.

Your Synology NAS is visible in Finder or File Explorer. Pin the folders you frequently use to the sidebar for quick access. After mounting a local network drive, the files are only accessible when you're on your home network.

Give Synology permission to back up and sync your computer's folders

Synology Drive supports syncing and backup for your computer, which functions similarly to the sync tool Google Drive offers. This is handy when you want to sync some of your folders with multiple devices and people on your network. It only takes a handful of steps to get Synology Drive up and running.

  1. Go to your Synology DSM in a web browser and open Package Center.
  2. Search for Synology Drive Server.
  3. Click the Install button and let it run until the process is complete.
    Screenshot shows the 'Package Center' pop up after opening Synology drive in web browser.
  4. The Drive app installs along with the admin console. You can now use Drive's web app to transfer files from other directories.
  5. Download the Synology Drive Client for your computer from the Synology website. You're asked to provide details about your NAS model, its OS version, and your login credentials.
    Screenshot shows the download page on the Synology website with arrows pointing to the Drive Client download.
  6. Select Backup Task.
    Screenshot shows next step of Driver Client download. Both Sync and Backup are shown with an arrow pointing to next.
  7. Select the folders you want Synology to keep a copy of.
    Screenshot shows options to select backup sources and filetypes, arrow pointing to next.
  8. Select your backup preferences.
    Screenshot shows next step in the Driver Client download, with options for continuous, manual, and scheduled backup.
  9. Check your backup information, then select Done.
    Screenshot shows final step of Drive Client download, displaying the Server and account names, backup details, and an arrow pointing to 'Done'.
  10. Create a new Sync Task from the Drive app on your computer.
    Screenshot shows the Drive Client with arrows pointing to 'Sync Tasks' and 'Create'.
  11. Select the folders on your NAS and computer that you want to keep in sync, then click Done.
    Screenshot shows the next step in the Drive Client sync option, showing locations for where to sync from and where to sync to.
  12. To alter advanced settings for the sync, select it and click Sync Rules.
    Screenshot shows the Drive Client Sync Tasks page with arrows pointing to 'Sync Rules' and 'My Drive'

Use the backup tool to back up and access your files through the NAS by mapping them to your computer's file manager. By activating syncing, a copy of the files and folders is created and takes up space on the internal storage of all synced computers. They are distinct features that have some overlap. You can use one method or both simultaneously.

Pros and cons of leaving Google Drive for Synology

Synology Drive is a versatile tool with many smart features. Think of it as a spruced-up version of the regular file manager, which gives it some advantages and a few disadvantages that we discuss below.

Synology Drive for Android

The original Synology Drive app for Android was a step up from the company's deprecated file management app, DS File. Synology Drive recently got a design overhaul, bringing a modern and clutter-free interface that easily rivals Google Drive. The tabbed interface lets you quickly jump to your custom file selection, like the ones you recently visited, starred, or labeled. Additionally, you can browse the app based on the file kind, such as photos, videos, audio, and documents.

You can save files offline on your phone for offline access when you can't connect to the internet. The bottom navigation bar is dynamic, so it changes based on the app section you're in to show you the most relevant options depending on the content. While the app has long allowed you to back up your files on your phone to your NAS, this new app version supports data backup even on mobile data (as long as QuickConnect is activated on your Synology NAS).

Synology Drive added a built-in music player with a fun animation on the app's homepage. However, the app doesn't support opening common document file formats like PDF.

Connecting to your Synology NAS over the internet

Cloud storage apps like Google Drive have become popular partly because you can access your files anywhere. All you need is an internet connection. It's possible to do that with your NAS, and the simplest way is to use Synology's solution: QuickConnect.

You can turn it on by navigating to Control Panel > External Access > QuickConnect > Enable QuickConnect. Make sure you have a Synology account (not your NAS user account) linked to your NAS for the feature to work. This way, you get a custom web address where you can sign in to your NAS from virtually anywhere in the world.

Screenshot shows Synology NAS in a web browser with control panel pop up open. Arrows pointing to 'External Access' and 'Enable Quickconnect'.

Team sharing

A big perk of using Synology Drive is setting up sync across multiple devices and users so that everybody on the network has an updated copy of the shared files and folders. You can activate team sharing by selecting Synology Drive Admin Console > Team Folder. After selecting the relevant shared folders, click Enable.

Screenshot shows the Synology Drive Admin Console pop up with arrows ponting to 'Team Folder', 'Enable', and 'video'.

Repeat the sync/backup steps on other computers where you want the synced folders to appear. Only existing Shared Folders on your Synology can be added to the Team Folder, so make sure users have read/write permissions to that folder for the sync to work properly.

To change permissions:

  1. Select Control Panel > Shared Folder.
  2. Choose the folder.
  3. Select Edit.
    Screenshot shows Synology Drive 'Shared Folder' opened.
  4. Go to the Permissions tab and make the changes.
    Screenshot shows the permission pop up in the Synology Drive 'Shared Folder' tab.

Synology Office

Synology matches the industry standards for productivity apps. Installing the Synology Office package on your DSM integrates into the Drive app on the web. This allows Drive to open Microsoft Office files. You'll need to convert them to Synology's proprietary formats to edit them. While basic text-only files convert without formatting issues, complex documents could be more difficult.

Screenshot shows the Synology Office install option in the Package Center under 'All Packages'.

The editor screen should feel familiar. Synology keeps the basic formatting tools where they belong, so you'll feel at home. There are also options to export files in .docx and .pdf formats. Synology Office is good for basic work. Still, it isn't trying to replace sophisticated tools like Microsoft Office.

Screenshot shows an example of Synology Office with a text document open.

What you'll miss when you ditch Google Drive

Synology may have brought over many important Google Drive features to make users feel at home. But the biggest strength of Google Drive is the larger Google ecosystem and how ubiquitous Google's services are, which Synology doesn't match. When sharing a file with someone on Google Drive or collaborating in a Google Docs file, you can almost always assume the other person has a Google account.

When it comes to the convenience of storing and accessing your files, especially for consumers, Google Drive wins hands down because you can get started with just a Gmail account. Synology Drive has an initial setup process and a substantial upfront cost.

How to move files from Google Drive to Synology Drive

Now that you've set up everything on the Synology Drive side, move your existing files in Google Drive to your NAS. With the new Google Drive for Desktop tool, the process isn't complicated, though it can take some time when syncing several hundred GBs of data.

  1. Using the Google Drive widget on your computer (download the desktop app if you don't have it), go to Preferences.
    Screenshot shows account settings options with an arrow pointing to 'Preferences' in the Google Drive desktop widget.
  2. Click Google Drive.
    Screenshot shows option to select Google Drive in the Preferences screen.
  3. Select Mirror files and confirm the save location.
    Screenshot shows options to select 'Mirror Files' and 'Confirm location' for creating a copy of the files in drive.

This process downloads the files stored in the cloud onto your computer. If you're moving many files, have enough disk space or use an external hard disk. After the synced folder populates, upload those files to your Synology NAS using one of the two methods discussed earlier.

Use a Synology NAS to build your personal storage setup

It may take time to complete the switch, and it may not be for everyone, but the advantages of using Synology are undeniable. You can mirror your hard drive, sync important folders, and control a securely located backup source that is accessible anywhere. You might be able to cancel your Google One subscription, especially if you decide to move your Google Photos content to a Synology NAS.