Cloudwards.net may earn a small commission from some purchases made through our site. However, any earnings do not affect how we review services. Learn more about our editorial integrity and research process.
If you need a cloud backup solution, Synology C2 Backup is an option worth considering. It’s reasonably priced and has good security and privacy, as you will learn in our Synology C2 review.
Key Takeaways: What Is Synology C2 & Is It Good to Use?
Synology C2 Backup is an online backup service that you can use to store your data. It is a good service, though light on features.
Synology C2 offers a range of products, such as online backup for individuals or businesses.
Security and privacy are strong, as your account has zero-knowledge encryption and only you know the encrypted password.
Top Use Cases for Synology C2
Synology NAS: If you have a Synology NAS device, then using the C2 products, including C2 Backup, is like having an “easy” button due to the ease of use and seamless integration.
Backup only: Synology C2 Backup does not have a lot of extra features that you might find elsewhere. However, if all you want is a solid cloud backup solution or something tailor-made for your Synology NAS, C2 is a good option.
Location choice: You can choose from three data center storage options when you first create your account.
C2’s cloud backup service is one of several cloud-based products available from Synology. It works just like many of the best online backup services. Using Synology C2 Backup will protect your data from permanent loss and allow you to manage and restore it. This Synology C2 review digs into all the details of this service.
Synology C2 Backup is easy to use and works across many platforms. Best of all, you don’t need a network-attached storage device to use it. The main drawback is that it is pretty barebones when it comes to features. If you are an advanced user, you might find it a bit lacking overall.
What Is Synology C2 Suite & Who Is It For?
Synology is a brand name well known for its network-attached storage (NAS) devices. However, it offers far more than just hardware with its C2 line of cloud-based and hybrid products. The backup software, which is the main focus of this article, lets you back up your data to the cloud and restore it when needed.
Beyond its cloud backup service, C2 offers a suite of other products. It has cloud storage and a password manager, and offers backup services for businesses. Other products include a dedicated file transfer service and identity management software. If you need object storage, Synology has an option for that, too.
Release date: March 2017
Developer: Synology, Taiwan
Platforms: PC and Mac
Operating systems: Windows and macOS
Notable features: Backup scheduler, folder and file restoration, and excellent security
Pricing: Starting at $34.99 per year for 500GB
The Cloudwards Expert Opinion
Jason is an expert in storage solutions, both software and hardware, having written extensively about cloud storage, backup, network-attached storage and hard drives.
Synology C2 Backup is an easy answer if you already use a Synology NAS device. The seamless integration and interoperability are excellent. As a standalone online backup provider, Synology C2 does a fine job. It is secure and fast, making it easy to transfer data with peace of mind.
Where Synology C2 Backup is lacking is in its slim selection of features. It covers the basics well enough, but if you want the most bang for your buck, you can find similar plans that offer more. However, if you don’t mind a simple but well-made online backup solution, Synology C2 Backup will meet your needs.
Many of the features that come with Synology C2 cloud backup are what you would expect from any online backup service. Synology C2 Backup does these well, but you won’t find much more beyond the basics.
A Synology NAS comes in different models and storage amounts while also working with several of the C2 suite of products.
Backup Policy
The backup policy, which is Synology’s terminology for managing your backup settings, lets you determine the scope of the backup — either your entire device or specific volumes — as well as set a recurring schedule and a retention policy. You can apply this policy to each of the devices attached to your account.
You can customize your Synology cloud backup settings, including backing up your entire system by default, by accessing the backup policy section.
The main issue with the backup policy, and Synology C2 Backup in general, is that it does not support folder or file selection options. You can’t back up specific documents or picture folders. Synology will back up either your entire system or a specific volume — you have little control over what it backs up.
Custom Scheduling
Synology C2 Backup lets you determine the frequency of when your backups run. The default is automated daily cloud backups. In the dropdown, you can choose no backups or event-triggered backups, or set a custom schedule. Options include daily or weekly, and you can establish the time of day for the backup to run.
Synology lets you customize your backup schedule by changing the days of the week or setting the time of day your backup runs.
Versioning
Synology C2 Backup gives you full control over versioning under the retention policy. It defaults to 14 days, but you can change that to always keep all versions. Additionally, you can set the versions to a number limit instead of by day. There is a lot of flexibility with versioning; it is one of the service’s best features.
Synology versioning lets you restore older versions of your data from previous backups, which helps enhance your data protection.
Bandwidth Management
You can limit, slow down or cap the data upload speed for a given backup. Each backup policy provides the maximum speed. However, you can set an overall limit or establish a period of time during the day when you want the backup to slow down on bandwidth usage.
Synology NAS Integration
If you have one of Synology’s NAS devices, you can use the C2 suite of products. Once you set up a “quick connect” to your NAS device, you can access the package center to download apps. For example, the Hyper Backup lets you back up your data from your NAS to Synology C2 Storage account.
The Hyper Backup application lets you back up the contents of your Synology NAS to your C2 online backup account.
The integration with your NAS extends to other C2 products, like object storage. The “cloud sync” app, similar to the hyper backup, lets you connect to your Synology C2 object storage account. Additionally, the cloud sync apps let you transfer data to other cloud storage providers, like Dropbox.
The cloud sync app lets you sync the data on your Synology NAS with the C2 object storage service or other cloud storage services like Google Drive.
Before you begin to back up your data, you’ll need to download the Synology interface to your PC or Mac. Once downloaded and installed, Synology will open another browser window for you to log in again. After this first login, you will see your device listed in your account on the website.
There’s nothing abnormal about the process of setting up and connecting your account to your device. However, Synology adds a wrinkle if you want to make changes. When you try to log in again, you may see a field called “organization domain.” To avoid this, make sure you use your email address and not your username.
Device & Platform Support
Synology C2 Backup supports Windows and macOS computers. It works fine with either one, but it comes with some additional built-in support for Microsoft OneDrive. You can log in and back up the contents of your OneDrive account. Unfortunately, Synology C2 Backup does not support mobile devices.
Synology C2 User Interface Layout
The web interface is the primary way to interact with your account to review the settings or monitor an active backup.
Once you’ve created an account, you’ll find that the web interface is simple. It will be familiar to anyone already using a cloud-based storage or backup product. There is a simple navigation sidebar on the left; some options, including account management, along the top; and the main bulk of the page for your data.
Personal computer: This option shows you all the devices connected to your Synology C2 Backup account.
Backup policy: Accessing this tab lets you review and customize different settings related to your backup.
Storage: This displays how much of your available storage you’ve used.
Manage subscription: This button takes you to your subscription details, letting you change your plan or payment method. You’ll also see your payment history and the option to cancel auto-renewal.
Manage account: You can manage your account from the upper right corner of the page, including your login credentials and encryption key.
What Is the C2 Identity Agent?
The C2 Identity agent is a separate, optional tool you can use to manage user identity and access management. It lets you monitor users and devices attached to your account, such as checking the status of a backup or enabling single sign-on access. It is designed mainly for business plans but would work well for anyone.
There is a free plan, which is especially helpful if you need to manage many devices or users — it provides for up to 250 users or 10 devices. C2 Identity also has a paid plan option, which supports unlimited users and up to 2,500 devices.
Synology C2 Pricing: How Much Does Synology C2 Backup Cost?
75 % – Good
Synology C2 Backup is neither the most nor the least expensive service available. It falls right in the middle, making it a decent option for the price. Less expensive alternatives include IDrive’s 100GB plan for $2.95 per year. However, there are far more expensive options as well.
Synology C2 Backup is free to try for 30 days. However, you will need to choose a subscription and enter your payment information. Remember to cancel before the end of the 30 days or you will be charged. If you just want to try out the service, choose the monthly 500GB option.
Synology C2 Pricing Plan Breakdown: Cost & Cloud Storage Capacity
There are three paid plans to choose from: 500GB, 2TB or 5TB. The 500GB plan costs $34.99 per year or $3.49 per month, the 2TB plan is $99.99 per year or $9.99 per month, and 5TB will cost you $249.99 per year or $24.99 per month. All plans come with the same features and functionality, so you only need to choose how much storage you need.
For business customers, there are two plan options: Business or Enterprise. The Business plan costs $499.95 per year or $49.95 per month and comes with 5TB of storage. The Business plan supports 250 users and 50 teams. Enterprise costs $4999.75 per year or $499.75 per month for 25TB. The Enterprise plan supports unlimited users and teams.
Individual Plans
500GB
2TB
5TB
Cost
$34.99/year
$99.99/year
$249.99/year
Devices
Unlimited
Unlimited
Unlimited
Platforms
Windows 7 SP1, 10, 11; macOS 10.15.7 & above
Windows 7 SP1, 10, 11; macOS 10.15.7 & above
Windows 7 SP1, 10, 11; macOS 10.15.7 & above
Full-System Backup
Incremental Backup
Versioning
Customizable Backup Schedule
Business Plans
Business 5TB
Enterprise 25TB
Cost
$499.95/year
$4,999.75/year
Max Number of Users
250
Unlimited
Max Number of Teams
50
Unlimited
Max Number of Devices
Unlimited
Unlimited
Platforms
Windows 7 SP1, 10, 11; Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022; macOS 10.15.7 & above
Windows 7 SP1, 10, 11; Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, 2012, 2016, 2019, 2022; macOS 10.15.7 & above
Full-System Backup
Incremental Backup
Does Synology C2 Have Unlimited Storage?
No, Synology C2 Backup does not have unlimited storage. If you need unlimited storage, check out our recommendations for the best unlimited online backup providers.
Service:
Pricing
IDrive Mini 100GB
$2.95/year
Synology Personal 500GB
$34.99/year
Acronis True Image Essentials
$39.99/year
Carbonite Basic
$71.99/year
Backblaze Personal
$99/year
File Backup & Restoration
85 % – Very Good
Backup and restoration are two areas in which Synology C2 Backup does very well. With unlimited devices, you can connect and manage everything from one interface as long as you have the storage space. It will follow the schedule you set, but you can also start a backup whenever you want by clicking on the cloud icon next to the device.
Synology C2 Backup Types
The first time you back up your data, Synology will perform a full backup, including system settings and configurations. Going forward, it will use incremental backups to update only items that have been changed. Incremental backups save time and bandwidth compared to conducting a full backup every time.
Backing Up Files & Folders With Synology C2
You don’t have the option to back up individual folders or files. The most granular control you have over a backup is to specific volumes on your device. Otherwise, everything on your device will be backed up to your account.
Restoration
If you ever need to restore your data, you can do so with the desktop client or web interface by opening the recovery portal. Though you can’t determine which folders or files to back up, you can restore individual files. Additionally, you can restore from previous versions or older backups.
The Synology recovery portal, which you can access through the desktop app or the web interface, is where you can perform a restoration.
Once you select the files, folders or volume, click on the “download” icon that appears to recover your data. You can also conduct a bare-metal recovery if you need to recover your whole computer.
Synology C2 Speed & Performance
85 % – Very Good
Synology C2’s backup speeds are very competitive against other online backup services we’ve tested. Both the average upload and download speeds are very fast and performed as well as competitors in our tests.
Synology Speed Test Results
Upload Speeds
Test 1
Test 2
Average
0:07:35
0:06:58
0:07:17
Download Speeds
Test 1
Test 2
Average
0:08:21
0:08:27
0:08:24
Notes From the Lab: Our Detailed Speed Analysis
We tested Synology C2’s backup speeds using 5GB of data via a remote virtual server capped at 100 Mbps. We ran these tests twice to arrive at an average and also noted how well the service performed and how much of the CPU it needed to use.
Provider
Avg. Upload
Avg. Download
0:07:18
0:07:16
0:17:25
1:22:39
0:07:17
0:08:24
0:17:08
0:07:33
0:06:42
0:07:07
Security: Is Synology C2 Safe?
100 % – Excellent
A private encryption key and client-side encryption protect any data you backup with Synology C2. These two elements make your data about as secure and protected as it can be on a remote server.
Synology C2 Security Features
One of the first steps you take when creating your account is to establish a private encryption key or password. Synology does not store or have access to this key, making your account private. Whenever you want to access the data on your account — say, to recover it — you’ll need your private encryption key.
There are other steps you can take to protect your data and your account. The primary option is to enable two-factor authentication through the use of an authenticator app. You can also change your encryption key, download recovery codes or change your login credentials.
To set up two-factor authentication, navigate to the security section in your account settings.
Synology C2 Backup uses AES 256-bit encryption protocols to protect and encrypt your data at rest on its servers. For data transfers, all data is encrypted on your machine before being transferred. TLS/SSL encryption protocols are used to protect data in transit to or from your machine.
Privacy: Is Synology C2 Private?
100 % – Excellent
Synology C2 has many tools in place to protect your privacy, and its privacy policy is easy to read and understand. After reviewing the privacy policy and other privacy measures, such as its encryption methods, we can assure you that your data remains private with Synology.
Zero-Knowledge Encryption
By creating a private encryption key that only you possess — Synology does not store a copy on its servers — your account is protected by zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption. With zero-knowledge encryption, only you can decrypt your data. In addition, end-to-end, client-side encryption makes your data as secure as possible before transfers.
You create your encryption key when you create your account. However, you can change it at anytime from your account settings.
Synology C2 Privacy Policy
Synology C2’s privacy policy does a good job of telling you which data it collects and why. For example, it uses cookies to collect browsing preferences and your payment data to process payments. Another section outlines how Synology may be legally bound to comply with requests for data on rare occasions.
The Synology privacy policy is easy to read and comprehend without using a lot of legalese or industry jargon.
Most importantly, Synology does not share or sell your data to third-party entities except in rare instances. This greatly differs from other privacy policies, such as those of Google or Dropbox. It is also worth noting that you can choose where your data resides — in Europe (Frankfurt), North America (Seattle) or APAC (Taiwan).
Synology C2 Customer Support
75 % – Good
Synology C2 offers a few methods of getting help or having questions answered. The main way to do this is through the support page, which has a series of FAQs. However, you can find many answers and more information in the knowledge center.
FAQs
Knowledge center
Community forum
Email inquiry
Email Support Speed & Quality
Synology’s main page has what looks like a chat icon in the lower right corner. This is not a live chat feature, though. Instead, it redirects you to different sections of the support page.
When we contacted Synology, they told us that the expected turnaround time is 24 hours, which is typical. However, we didn’t receive a response to our query until several days later. They did answer our question effectively, though.
Synology C2 vs Other Cloud Backup Services: How Does It Compare?
Synology C2 Backup isn’t the only game in town, and it faces some difficult competition. As a consumer, it’s always best to shop around and compare. With that in mind, here are a few quick hits on how Synology compares to other options:
Synology vs Backblaze
The main difference between Synology and Backblaze is that Backblaze offers unlimited data storage. We cover all the details in our Backblaze review. However, a win for Synology is that it doesn’t limit the number of devices on the individual plan or on the Enterprise business plan.
Synology vs IDrive
Synology and IDrive share many similarities, including an affordable 500GB plan — though IDrive wins based on price — and few limits on how many devices you can back up. However, IDrive has far more subscription options and also supports mobile device backup for your documents and images. For more, check out our IDrive review.
Synology vs Acronis
Acronis has Synology beat on features, as it offers far more for the cost of a subscription, such as an archive section and a sync feature. However, from a user interface and experience perspective, Synology offers a more streamlined approach to interaction. For more, read our Acronis review.
Community Feedback: Synology C2 Reviews on Reddit & Social Media
Many of Synology’s customers appreciate that it is an affordable option, especially when it comes to large amounts of data. Others have pointed out that the price includes data recovery, which can be an additional cost with other competitors.
The main drawbacks to Synology C2 Backup that some consumers have pointed out are the lack of advanced features compared to other services and the potential issue of scalability, especially for larger businesses.
Synology C2 Suite: More Products
Synology’s C2 suite has a host of other products from which you can choose. Some of the options include cloud storage, object storage, password management and system monitoring. We won’t cover all that C2 has to offer, but we’ll go over a few of the products available below:
Synology C2 Storage
Synology C2 Storage offers cloud storage services with strong security and a few basic features you’d expect from this type of service, like file sharing. If you have a Synology NAS device, C2 Storage integrates seamlessly.
Hybrid share: When using C2 Storage with a Synology NAS, you can connect more than one NAS to share data between devices in the cloud.
Strong encryption: The same client-side AES 256-bit encryption protects data stored in C2 Storage.
Synology storage functions like other cloud storage services, syncing your data and letting you share it.
Pricing
Synology C2 Storage offers two plans — Basic and Advanced — both of which have a 30-day free trial. The main difference between these two options is the amount of storage you get. The advanced plan includes a few more features, like data deduplication and a local cache for frequently accessed data.
C2 Object Storage offers a flexible and scalable option that does not charge you when you retrieve your data. With C2 Object Storage, you can build a data lake or archive your data. It is compatible with Amazon’s S3 API.
No hidden fees: C2 Object Storage does not charge for API requests or data deletion.
Object versioning: Object versioning allows you to restore your files to any previous version whenever you want.
Express Box: Express Box lets you transfer your data using a physical storage device that you send to Synology to upload to your account.
Similar to Amazon S3, Synology object storage offers affordable plans that you can scale as you grow.
Pricing
The first 15GB is free. After that, it will cost you $69.99 per TB per year, or $6.99 per TB per month.
Synology C2 Password Management
The Synology C2 password manager works like many other similar products. It will store your passwords, autofill on websites and offer strong password suggestions when you’re creating a new account.
Multiple devices: You can use the password manager on multiple devices, on web browsers with an extension and on mobile.
Autofill: The password manager will automatically enter your login credentials for any website or app for which it has the information.
Password check: The password manager will review your passwords and highlight weak ones or any that have been compromised.
Synology password manages all of your digital passwords, offering strong suggestions and auto-filling when visiting sites or using apps.
Pricing
Synology C2’s password manager is free to use on unlimited devices, but you are limited to one account. A paid plan increases the number of accounts and introduces a private vault. Paid plans offer a 30-day free trial and cost $4.99 per year. There’s also a Business plan that adds some additional features for $199.90 per year per 10 users.
Free
Plus
Business
$0
$4.99/year
$199.90/year/10 users
The Verdict: Is Synology C2 Worth It?
The Synology C2 cloud backup solution is a good choice for anyone looking for a secure, no-frills option. The choice becomes even easier if you have a Synology C2 NAS device. The account privacy is another win for Synology C2 Backup. However, better online backup solutions are available at competitive prices and with more features.
Have you tried any of Synology’s products? Will you give C2 Backup a try? Which other online backup solutions do you like? Let us know in the comments section below. Thanks for reading our article.
FAQ: Synology C2 Cloud Backup Solution
Synology C2 is worth it for those already invested in Synology’s ecosystem or for those who want an affordable option with great security and privacy.
The 3-2-1 backup rule states that you keep three copies of your data backed up, with two of those copies being identical and one copy stored offsite. It works with Synology C2 Backup and NAS devices.
Yes. When you create your account, you must enter a private encryption key that only you will know. This makes your account private with zero-knowledge encryption.
Synology C2 Backup for Surveillance is designed to store video footage from cameras or security systems. It is meant to be used on a Synology NAS device.
A freelance writer for over a decade, Jason joined Cloudwards in 2022. He graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a masters in IT. Jason enjoys helping people learn about tech products to make informed decisions. When not grappling with words, Jason spends his time reading, watching films, cooking and homebrewing.
Because the Cloudwards.net team is committed to delivering accurate content, we implemented an additional fact-checking step to our editorial process. Each article that we fact check is analyzed for inaccuracies so that the published content is as accurate as possible.
You can tell that an article is fact checked with the Facts checked by symbol, and you can also see which Cloudwards.net team member personally verified the facts within the article. However, providers frequently change aspects of their services, so if you see an inaccuracy in a fact-checked article, please email us at feedback[at]cloudwards[dot]net. We strive to eventually have every article on the site fact checked. Thank you.