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A recent update significantly outperforms Google Photos for Synology Photos

Until last year, limitless photo storage was Google Photos’ major selling feature. Google is encouraging customers to upgrade to a paid Google One plan if they need more space than the 15 GB that comes standard with every Google account. After learning that Google Photos will no longer offer limitless storage, I set out to find a suitable replacement.

I quickly realised that Synology Photos is a practical option. I’ve been backing up high-resolution images and movies from all of our phones to a DiskStation DS1019+ and DS1520+, so the decision was simple. Using a network attached storage (NAS) server to house your media has a number of benefits, the most important of which is undoubtedly increased safety for your files. I prepared a post explaining why a network attached storage (NAS) server is the best offline alternative to Google Photographs since your data never leaves your home and you have complete control over your photos and movies.

Synology has done a fantastic job consolidating its many photo and video backup services into a single product they’ve dubbed Synology Photos. Having used Synology Photos since its inception, I can say that the decision to switch was a good one, especially because it came at the same time as Google discontinued its free unlimited storage for Google Photos. When compared to Google Photographs, especially when dealing with huge albums containing hundreds or thousands of photos, Synology Photos is far faster at uploading them because you’re only doing it within your home network.

Synology Photos also provides superior photo management by allowing you to arrange your images in a variety of ways, such as by date, location, camera used, file name, and more. Since I usually hunt for product photos using file names in my searches, this makes a huge difference for me. While we’re on the topic, keep in mind that Google Photos’ storage fees can quickly pile up if you require a lot of space. If I wanted to save all the images I’ve taken over the last three years at their original resolution, I’d need to sign up for the 10TB tier, which would cost me $49 per month, or $600 per year. That’s the price of two 18TB Red Pro drives, so I’d be purchasing what I know I need.

To further pique your interest in Synology Photos, the newest edition includes native clients for Android TV and Apple TV, making it as easy as possible to view your media library on the TV. The Android and iOS Synology Photographs clients perform an excellent job of transferring photos to the NAS, and the ease with which those photos can be seen on the leading smart TV platforms demonstrates Synology’s dedication to make its photo management service one of the finest available. I noticed this improvement after having mentioned this problem in my review of the service last year.

Don’t get me wrong — there are many reasons why many people prefer Google Photos to other options. However, if you’re a prolific photographer or videographer like I am, it’s more practical to invest in an offline solution for keeping all of your high-resolution media files safe and secure. The DiskStation DS220+ is still my favourite home NAS and a good place to start if you’re considering making the transition. To help you migrate your data, I’ve also penned a tutorial on how to move your photographs from Google Photos to Synology Photos.