Synology Surveillance Station storage & licenses
By Devin Chua · Data checked by Owen Nakamura · Updated Synology Surveillance Station includes 2 camera licenses free; beyond that you buy licenses (about CA$70–90 per camera as a one-time cost). Storage is the same NVR maths — a 4K H.265 camera needs ~105 GB/day (~3.2 TB/month) — and any DiskStation with enough bays and licenses works. The calculator sizes the drives and NAS; the license reality is below.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon.ca.
Size it exactly
Pre-filled for this question — change any input to model your own setup.
12.7 TB of footage over 30 days, +20% overhead = 15.2 TB
The license reality
Surveillance Station is free software on DSM, but each DiskStation includes only 2 device licenses. Additional cameras need paid Synology Camera License Packs — roughly CA$70–90 per camera as a one-time purchase, sold in 1-, 4- and 8-packs. So an eight-camera system means six extra licenses on top of the NAS and drives; budget that in. (This is the honest catch that surprises people: the app is free, the cameras past two are not.)
Sizing and which Synology fits
Storage is standard NVR maths — the calculator handles it — but Surveillance Station also adds a small database and index overhead, so the built-in ~20% overhead is about right. For hardware: Synology's own guidance ties supported camera counts to the model's RAM and CPU, not just bays. A DS224+/DS425+ comfortably handles a handful of cameras; a DS925+ or DS1525+ (more RAM, more bays) suits larger installs with more channels and 4K streams. Whichever you pick, fit WD Purple or SkyHawk drives for the 24/7 write load. See the best NAS for surveillance for the model ranking.
Frequently asked questions
How many camera licenses does Synology Surveillance Station include?
Two device licenses per DiskStation, free. Additional cameras need paid Synology Camera License Packs — roughly CA$70–90 per camera, one-time, sold in 1/4/8 packs. Budget those on top of the NAS and drives for larger systems.
How much storage does Synology Surveillance Station need?
The standard NVR maths: about 105 GB/day (~3.2 TB/month) per 4K H.265 camera, less at 1080p, plus a small overhead for its database and indexes. The calculator sizes it for your cameras and retention.
Which Synology NAS is best for Surveillance Station?
One with enough bays for the storage and enough RAM/CPU for your camera count — a DS224+/DS425+ for a few cameras, a DS925+ or DS1525+ for larger 4K installs. Fit surveillance drives (WD Purple, SkyHawk). See the best-NAS-for-surveillance ranking.
Is Synology Surveillance Station free?
The software is free on DSM and includes two camera licenses. Beyond two cameras you pay a one-time license per camera (~CA$70–90). The NAS, the drives and any extra licenses are the real costs.
Read more
Devin Chua works out which drives, RAM and NVMe cache fit which NAS model at nasdrives.ca, and what the RAID choice means for usable capacity, checked against what is in stock on Amazon.ca.
Data checked by Owen Nakamura, Technical editor (data checking)