Synology C2 vs LucidLink for Remote Video Editing (2026)

Short answer: A Synology NAS is cheaper over time and fast for editors in the same building, but C2 is a backup and sync layer, not a streaming drive for remote editors. LucidLink streams footage from the cloud to editors anywhere, at a higher monthly price. Choose Synology for a fixed office, LucidLink for distributed editing. Shade (from $29.75 per seat per month, billed annually) is a streaming option with review.

The one-line version: Synology puts your storage in a box you own and uses C2 to back it up or share it between sites. LucidLink has no box: the files live in the cloud and stream to each editor. The gap between those two ideas decides almost everything below.

What is the difference between Synology C2 and LucidLink?

How Synology and C2 work

Synology sells network-attached storage (NAS) hardware that runs its DSM software. "Synology C2" is the cloud side of the ecosystem. As of Synology's June 22, 2026 change, C2 Storage for Hyper Backup and Hybrid Share and C2 Object Storage moved into a single subscription called C2 OneStorage, described as one storage pool shared across cloud and hybrid services. New customers must use it. Existing C2 subscribers have until December 22, 2026 to transition, and after that auto-renewing legacy plans are converted (per NAScompares' coverage; Synology's own release confirms the June 22 date and the unified plan).

The three pieces that matter for video:

• The NAS itself. Editors on the office network open files over SMB at LAN speed. This is where fast local editing comes from.

• Hyper Backup to C2. An encrypted backup copy of the NAS in the cloud. It protects the data but is not meant as a drive that editors work from.

• Hybrid Share. Puts a folder's authoritative copy in C2 and lets up to 10 Synology NAS units mount it, each keeping a local cache. Synology's spec page says the local cache must be at least 300 GB, least recently used data is evicted (pinned items stay), and the folder can be reached by SMB, NFS, WebDAV, File Station and Synology Drive. It targets multiple offices that each have a Synology NAS.

Remote individual editors usually connect to the home NAS through a VPN, QuickConnect, Synology Drive or File Station. That works, but the editor's speed is then limited by the NAS site's upload bandwidth and the editor's own connection.

How LucidLink works

LucidLink stores files once in cloud object storage as encrypted blocks. Its desktop app mounts a shared "filespace" as a normal drive on any Mac or Windows computer. When Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve reads a clip, LucidLink fetches only the blocks the app asks for and keeps recent data in a local cache. There is no hardware to buy or office to be in. See our LucidLink pricing guide for more detail.

Synology C2 vs LucidLink: side-by-side comparison

List prices checked on November 10, 2026, on each vendor's own pricing page (Synology C2 prices are for the North America data center, before VAT). Hardware costs are our estimates.

How does remote editing really perform?

Short version: in the office, the NAS wins. Outside it, LucidLink is more predictable.

Synology in the office. A modern NAS with 10GbE can feed several editors working on high-bitrate footage at LAN speed with no cloud in the way. For in-office work, a local array on a fast network is hard to beat. LucidLink's answer is TeamCache, an Enterprise add-on that runs on your own on-site server and serves cached files at local-network speed; writes still go to the cloud.

Synology for a remote editor. The editor's NLE reads over a VPN or Synology Drive from the office NAS. Playback depends on the office's upload speed and the editor's download speed, so a remote editor on a typical business connection often relies on proxies or a synced copy. This is general industry experience, not a test we ran. Teams that need remote editing from a NAS can read our guide to accessing a NAS remotely for video editing.

Synology with Hybrid Share. Hybrid Share helps when each site has its own Synology NAS: each site gets local-speed access to its cached files and syncs changes through C2. It needs a Synology NAS at every site (Btrfs, 2 GB memory and DSM 7.0.1 or later per Synology's spec page), so it is a multi-office tool, not a drive for a lone freelancer's laptop. Synology lists a 768 GB maximum file size. Files that are not yet in a site's local cache come from C2, so the first open depends on that site's internet connection.

LucidLink. Everyone sees the same live files from wherever they are. A new clip is visible to others when it finishes uploading, and playback of uncached footage depends on the editor's internet. Editors typically pin project media to the cache or cut with proxies for the first pass.

How much do Synology C2 and LucidLink cost for 10 TB?

Synology C2 plans

Synology's C2 pricing page lists C2 OneStorage as one plan covering C2 Storage for Hyper Backup, C2 Storage for Hybrid Share, C2 Object Storage and Surveillance365, with a 30-day free trial. For the North America data center it shows $79.99 per TB per year on annual billing or $7.99 per TB per month on monthly billing, before VAT. You can buy up to 200 TB online; above that, Synology asks you to contact a representative.

LucidLink plans

Business is at the top of LucidLink's recommended range at 10 TB, so a library that will keep growing may need an Enterprise quote.

Example: 5 and 15 people with 10 TB

Examples only. Assumptions: LucidLink Business at list price on annual billing, every seat active. Synology hardware figures are our estimates from typical US retail prices (they vary by region and seller, so check Synology's Where to Buy page or an authorized reseller): about $2,000 for a 5-person setup (a 4-bay NAS with 10GbE, drives with headroom for 10 TB usable with redundancy, basic network gear) and about $5,000 for a 15-person setup (an 8-bay 10GbE NAS, more drives, a 10GbE switch). C2 cost is a 10 TB backup at Synology's listed $79.99 per TB per year. Cost over 3 years, before tax, shipping, power, VPN and admin time.

On monthly LucidLink billing ($32 per member), both teams pay $800 per month in this example.

What the table does not show:

• Synology's hidden cost is people and risk. Someone has to maintain the NAS, replace drives, manage a UPS and a VPN, and make sure the office has enough upload bandwidth for remote editors. We have not priced that time. Hardware also needs replacing after several years.

• LucidLink's hidden cost is storage growth. The bill follows your library at $8 per 100 GB above the included amount, so a fast-growing archive gets expensive. At 10 TB the cost is closer to $80 per TB per month, which is much higher than C2's $7.99 per TB per month on monthly billing.

• The two prices buy different things. Synology is cheaper per TB. LucidLink's price buys remote streaming and no hardware, which Synology does not provide for individual remote editors.

Which is better for security, backup and control?

Synology gives you control: data lives on your hardware, Hybrid Share uses AES-256 end-to-end encryption per Synology's spec page, and Hybrid Share supports recovery points (up to 32, one scheduled per 24 hours). You own the maintenance, access policy and physical security.

LucidLink uses zero-knowledge encryption, so neither LucidLink nor its storage provider can read your files. It lists SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, GDPR and TPN. It includes snapshot recovery of 30 days on Business and unlimited on Enterprise.

For a studio that needs a physical copy it controls, Synology fits. For a team that does not want to run infrastructure, LucidLink is simpler.

Which should you pick: Synology C2 or LucidLink?

Use both if

Many teams keep a Synology NAS for the archive, finished projects and local backup, and use a streaming drive for active remote work.

Is there an option that streams like LucidLink and includes review?

Yes. We make Shade, so weigh this section accordingly.

Shade is a cloud post-production platform for video and creative teams, which it calls an intelligent cloud NAS:

• Streams like LucidLink. Shade's drive mounts like a local drive and streams only the bytes your app needs.

• Review is built in. Review and approval includes timestamped comments, annotations and guest access.

• Search inside footage. AI search finds shots by description, faces and transcripts.

• Security. SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 and TPN certified; HIPAA and GDPR compliant.

Pricing: Growth is $29.75 per seat per month billed annually ($35 monthly), with 500 GB of active storage per seat and up to 15 seats. Enterprise is custom, with 1 TB per seat, SSO, SCIM and bring-your-own storage (Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Backblaze or Wasabi, per Shade's help docs). Add-on storage is priced on request; ask Shade for a quote. See Shade pricing, Shade vs Synology QuickConnect and our guide to the best cloud NAS for video editing teams.

Where Shade is not the right fit

• A single fast office with big libraries. A Synology NAS on 10GbE gives local speed and far lower cost per TB than any cloud drive, Shade included.

• Large archives on a budget. Shade's 500 GB per seat and add-on pricing on request will not beat a NAS on cost per TB.

• More than 15 people on self-serve pricing. Shade Growth stops at 15 seats; above that you need an Enterprise quote.

• Teams that need zero-knowledge encryption. AI search and automatic proxies need the platform to process media.

• Teams already happy with LucidLink. If it works and fits the budget, there is no urgent reason to move.

More options are in our guide to LucidLink alternatives.

FAQ

Is Synology C2 the same as LucidLink?

No. C2 is Synology's cloud service for backing up and extending a Synology NAS (Hyper Backup, Hybrid Share and object storage under C2 OneStorage). LucidLink is a cloud-native streaming file system with no NAS. They can be used together.

Can you edit video directly from Synology C2 Storage?

Not in the way you edit from a mounted drive. C2 Storage for Hyper Backup is a backup target. Hybrid Share lets a Synology NAS mount a cloud-held folder with a local cache, and you edit from that NAS. A single remote editor usually connects to an office NAS, not to C2 directly.

How much does Synology C2 cost?

Synology's C2 pricing page lists C2 OneStorage, one plan for Hyper Backup, Hybrid Share and object storage, at $79.99 per TB per year on annual billing or $7.99 per TB per month on monthly billing (North America data center, before VAT), with a 30-day free trial. Prices checked November 10, 2026.

Is a Synology NAS cheaper than LucidLink?

Usually, yes over time. In our 10 TB examples, a Synology NAS plus C2 backup costs about $4,400 (5 people) or $7,400 (15 people) over 3 years, estimates including hardware, against $26,100 to $27,900 for LucidLink Business. The NAS does not give remote editors streaming access.

Can a Synology NAS work for remote video editing?

Yes, with limits. Remote editors can reach the NAS through VPN, QuickConnect or Synology Drive, but playback depends on the office's upload speed and the editor's connection. Teams often use proxies, or add a second NAS with Hybrid Share for another office.

Does Synology Hybrid Share work for individual editors?

Hybrid Share mounts on Synology NAS units (up to 10 per folder), not directly on laptops. Individual editors connect to the nearest NAS, which keeps a local cache of the shared folder.

Which is better for a small video team: Synology or LucidLink?

If everyone works in one office, Synology. If editors are in different places, LucidLink. If you want both local speed and remote access, some teams run a NAS plus a streaming drive.