The Synology DiskStation DS923+ is better for users who need large storage capacities, data redundancy, and local control. Google One 5TB Plan is better for users who prioritize ease of use, accessibility from any device, and integration with Google services.
| Attribute | Synology DiskStation DS923+ | Google One 5TB Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | 4 bays (3.5" SATA HDDs and 2.5" SATA SSDs), Maximum internal storage capacity of 72TB (using four 18TB drives), Expandable to 152TB with DX517 expansion unit (9 drives total), Two M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots for caching or storage pools, Supports up to 54 TB of total solid-state drive capacity | 5TB |
| Data Redundancy Options | Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, SHR provides balanced performance and data protection | Google Cloud Storage uses default replication designed to provide redundancy across regions. For newly written objects, the target is 99.9% redundancy within one hour and 100% within 12 hours. Consider creating separate buckets in each region and using Storage Transfer Service event-driven transfers or cross-bucket replication to keep the buckets in sync. Turbo replication provides faster redundancy across regions for data in your dual-region buckets, which reduces the risk of data loss exposure and helps support uninterrupted service following a regional outage. |
| Data Security Features | Hardware encryption engine (AES-NI), Btrfs file system (metadata mirroring, file self-healing, snapshot replication), Snapshot Replication app, Windows Access Control List (ACL) support, Two-factor authentication (Synology Secure SignIn app), Antivirus Essential package | Includes VPN access for Android and iOS users. Also offers a dark web report (in the U.S.) to monitor for stolen personal information. |
| File Sharing Capabilities | SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, WebDAV, CalDAV, iSCSI, Telnet, SSH, SNMP, VPN (PPTP, OpenVPN, L2TP) networking protocols, Synology Drive (remote file access and sharing), File Station (virtual drives and remote folders) | Google Drive has strong file sharing capabilities. You can share the storage with up to 5 other accounts, that all must be in the same country/location. |
| Remote Access Features | Synology Drive (file syncing and sharing), QuickConnect account (accessing the NAS over the internet), Mobile apps, VPN server functionality | Users can upload, open, share, and edit files from any device. Accessible online from any connected device by logging into your Google account. |
| Backup and Restore Functionality | Synology's Active Backup Suite (Windows, Linux, Hyper-V/VMware VMs, Microsoft 365/Google Workspace accounts), Hyper Backup app (local, remote, Rsync, cloud, iSCSI LUN backups), Snapshot Replication (point-in-time snapshots), Offsite backups to another Synology NAS or cloud service | Automatically backs up photos, videos, contacts, and more. |
| Scalability | Expandable up to 9 drives (Synology DX517 expansion unit), RAM expandable up to 32 GB, Supports 10GbE networking (upgrade module) | Google One allows you to scale your storage effortlessly from 15 GB to 5 TB per user, plus the ability to request additional storage. |
| Subscription Cost | Synology DSM comes standard with a complete package of backup solutions available at no extra cost. A premium plan for Active Insights cloud console is available for a cost. | $24.99 per month or $249.99 per year |
| Hardware Specifications | CPU: AMD Ryzen R1600 Dual-Core 2.6 GHz (base) / 3.1 GHz (turbo), RAM: 4 GB DDR4 ECC SODIMM, expandable up to 32 GB (16 GB x 2), Two 1GbE LAN ports (Link Aggregation/Failover support), Two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, One eSATA port, Two M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots | Not available |
| Supported Operating Systems | Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) | Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. |
| Mobile App Availability | Synology has mobile apps for iOS and Android. DS Finder app can be downloaded to find the NAS and start the installation process. Synology Drive has a phone app. | Yes. |
| Ease of Use | Designed for easy setup (quick start guide, DSM setup wizard), DSM operating system (user-friendly interface), Hot-swappable drives | Google Drive has become easier to use locally. |
| Price | Around $600 (initial cost). Additional costs include hard drives, expansion units, RAM upgrades, and a 10GbE network upgrade module. | $24.99 per month or $249.99 per year |
| Pros | Easy setup with quick start guide and DSM setup wizard, User-friendly DSM operating system, Hot-swappable drives, Comprehensive backup solutions included with Synology DSM, Expandable storage capacity and RAM, Supports 10GbE networking via upgrade module, ECC RAM support protects against data corruption, Data protection features include Btrfs file system and Snapshot Replication, Synology NAS devices are known for their reliability and durability | Streamlined for families and groups to store documents and photos, Strong file sharing capabilities, Accessible from any connected device, Automatic backup of photos, videos, contacts, and more, Scalable storage options, VPN access for Android and iOS users, Dark web report (in the U.S.), Integrates with many third-party online apps, Access to Google experts |
| Cons | Additional costs for hard drives, expansion units, RAM upgrades, and 10GbE network upgrade module, Premium plan for Active Insights cloud console available for a cost | Not available |