I loved Synology… until they did THIS

Synology has long been synonymous with reliability and innovation in the world of home NAS, and the brand has equipped my home for many years. When I needed to equip myself, I immediately thought of Synology, and when my NAS broke down, it was replaced with a newer model from the brand. However, Synology is currently facing a profound period of questioning. Several recent decisions, deemed restrictive, have indeed shaken the trust of users. Removal of popular applications, limitation on hardware transcoding, and tightening restrictions on hard drive compatibility: these strategic choices have sparked a wave of discontent in recent months. These obstacles directly harm the daily uses of individuals, who rely on their NAS to manage their photo storage, video library, automated backups, or, as is my case, to host virtual machines dedicated to home automation and various essential services.

In short:

• The trust in Synology has been undermined by unpopular strategic decisions.
• The removal of major applications and technical limitations worry a community of passionate and demanding users.
• Competitors like QNAP, Ugreen, TerraMaster, and Asustor are quickly gaining ground.
• New offerings now compete with Synology in terms of power, diversity, and price, opening the market to other solutions.

Loss of trust in Synology: causes, impacts on users, and consequences for the NAS market

Behind these developments lies a palpable tension within the community. Many users express their frustration regarding the maintenance of 1 Gb/s on the majority of Synology references, as demand for multi-Gig connections skyrockets. This choice, recently revised in some models, has, however, not been enough to restore the long-shaken trust. On specialized forums, the paradox is striking: the brand once enjoyed an almost untouchable status, but its image of innovation is cracking due to a strategy perceived as too conservative.

Notably, we will remember these very controversial decisions:

Through these examples, the diversity of expectations clearly emerges: my own needs alternate between backup, family streaming, and home automation management, making each limitation particularly sensitive. For Synology, regaining trust requires a revamp of its product vision and a more active listening to users. Unfortunately, while trust can be lost very quickly, it will now take a long time to recover after these poorly received decisions.

Available competing solutions

In the face of these disappointments, competitive dynamics are intensifying. Synology’s weakness has favored the rise of new players, eager to meet previously unfulfilled expectations. TerraMaster, for example, offers powerful and affordable models that attract both technically and through their software openness. Ugreen also stands out in the functionality/price ratio segment, while QNAP targets users looking for customization and multi-Gig performance.

If Synology previously held a leading position, the market for personal NAS is becoming more contested, with each player betting on trust and a deep understanding of uses: family photos, streaming videos, critical backups, or management of virtual machines for home automation. Today, upgrading or renewing equipment requires increased vigilance: many users are now scrutinizing the evolution of Synology’s strategy before considering a new purchase. In this climate, only a profound and concrete reassessment can allow the brand to regain this precious lost trust sustainably.

And you, which NAS have you turned to? Personally, after seeing the Ugreen models at IFA Berlin, I must admit that this emerging brand piques my curiosity… We shall see the day I have to change…