Best NAS for home 2024

The best NAS server for home is one that lets you stream your media collection and back up all the devices on your network seamlessly. NAS is short for network attached storage, and as the name suggests, it essentially lets you create your own private Netflix or Spotify, gibing you the ability to stream content you already own. 

If you're looking to build your own media server or need a solution for backing up data, these are the best NAS servers for your home. I'd suggest going with the latest DiskStation DS723+, but if you need a budget model or are looking to get more drive bays, I've outlined several home servers down below. 

At a glance

Best overall

Synology DiskStation DS723+ review

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
Best overall

Reasons to buy

+
Upgraded AMD hardware is outstanding
+
You can use M.2 SSDs for storage
+
Extensive software features
+
Native Plex media server
+
Memory extendable to 32GB

Reasons to avoid

-
No integrated GPU
-
Only Gigabit Ethernet ports

Right now, the DiskStation DS723+ is the best NAS server you can get for your home. It is powered by AMD's Ryzen R1600 and works really well in daily use, offering a lag-free web interface that allows you to back up photos, documents, videos, and other data from all the machines in your home with ease. 

There's 2GB of RAM out of the box, and that's adequate for most users. But if you intend to run a lot of utilities on the NAS, you can always add up to 32GB of memory. You'll find two drive bays here, and you can slot in 18TB drives in each, giving you a potential total storage of 36TB. 

What's particularly interesting about the DS723+ is that it also lets you use the two M.2 slots at the bottom for storage. This wasn't feasible with its predecessors, so if you want fast storage transfers, you can take advantage of the SSD slots. 

The best reason for suggesting the DS723+ is the software. It features DSM 7.1 out of the box, and you get an extensive set of utilities out of the box, including Plex, Tailscale, Docker, and Jellyfin. You also get native services that let you stream your audio and video media collection, set up a mail server, custom office suite, note-taking utility, and so much more.

There's no multi-Gigabit connectivity, but you can add a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port for an additional $150. All things considered, the DS723+ is a fabulous choice if you're just getting started or need a faster NAS for home use. 

Best software

Synology DiskStation DS220+

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

2. Synology DiskStation DS220+

Best software

Reasons to buy

+
Ideal for 4K Plex streaming
+
Up to 32TB of storage across two bays
+
Two Gigabit Ethernet ports
+
Versatile software with plenty of features
+
Powerful internal hardware

Reasons to avoid

-
No M.2 caching
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No eSATA port

The DiskStation 220+ is the best Synology NAS if you're in the market for a 2-bay server that excels at the basics. The two drive bays can hold 16TB of storage each, meaning you can slot in a total of 32TB of storage. 

The upgraded Intel Celeron J4025 chipset handles everything you throw at it with ease, and there's 2GB of RAM installed as standard. You can add another 4GB if you need more memory.

The DS220+ has two Gigabit Ethernet ports at the back, and you can use Link Aggregation to bridge the ports and double the data transfer rates when sending or receiving files from the NAS. You get two USB 3.0 ports as well, and you can plug in a USB drive or an external drive and easily transfer its contents over to the NAS.

One of the best parts about the DS220+ is the offered software. You can host your own email server, audio and media streaming services, and even your own VPN server on the NAS. A great use case for the NAS is 4K Plex streaming, and if you have a decent local library of media content at 4K resolution, the NAS does a fantastic job streaming the content to all devices on your home network. 

You can also easily back up all the devices on your home network, including the best Android phones, iPhones, MacBooks or Windows computers, and just about any device.

If you're interested in picking up the DS220+, I recommend two 4TB Seagate IronWolf drives. If you need more storage, you can get the 6TB mode or the 8TB version.

Best cheap NAS

Synology DiskStation DS220j

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
Best cheap NAS

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent value
+
Same great software features
+
Gigabit Ethernet port
+
Runs quiet
+
Two bays with up to 32TB of storage

Reasons to avoid

-
Not particularly great with 4K transcodes
-
Limited memory

If you like what the DiskStation DS220+ has to offer but don't want to spend that much money on a NAS, the DiskStation DS220j is the ideal best cheap NAS. You get the ability to slot in up to 32TB of storage across two drive bays and two USB 3.0 ports, but there's a single Gigabit Ethernet port at the back and 512GB of RAM as standard.

But the single biggest reason for getting the DS220j is the software. You get a similar set of software features as the DS220+ as it also runs DSM 7.0, making the DS220j a fantastic choice if you're in the market for a budget-focused NAS. Sure, you may not be able to transcode 4K videos, but if you just need to stream 4K content to all devices on your home network, there should be no issues whatsoever.

As for hard drives, I would suggest 4TB IronWolf drives. You could always pick up a single 8TB IronWolf to get things started and pick up one more down the road.

Best starter NAS

Synology DiskStation DS120j

(Image credit: Synology)

4. Synology DiskStation DS120j

Best starter NAS

Reasons to buy

+
Great value for your money
+
Can accommodate up to 16TB of storage
+
Gigabit Ethernet connectivity
+
Great software features
+
Runs quiet

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited to USB 2.0
-
Single drive doesn't allow for data protection

The DiskStation DS120j is the most affordable way to get into Synology's extensive NAS portfolio. The single-bay NAS holds up to 16TB, you get Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, a USB 2.0 port for plugging in a USB drive, and it runs quietly.

I haven't used this model myself, but it is identical to the DS220j albeit with one drive bay. The main reason you're buying this NAS is for the software. You get the same great options to stream locally stored audio and video files across all devices on your home network — and over the internet — and that makes the DS120j a particularly great choice if you're buying a NAS for the first time.

Sure, the hardware on offer isn't groundbreaking, but the NAS delivers excellent value, and you get most of the standout features that make Synology the go-to brand in this segment. As for a hard drive to pair with the DS120j, I recommend the 4TB IronWolf.

Best for media streaming

Synology DiskStation DS920+

(Image credit: Synology DiskStation DS220j)
Best for media streaming

Reasons to buy

+
Powerful Plex 4K media server
+
Robust internal hardware
+
Outstanding software features
+
Up to 64TB of storage
+
M.2 SSD caching

Reasons to avoid

-
No 10GbE (10 Gigabit Ethernet) ports

If you want the best NAS for Plex, the DiskStation DS920+ should be your go-to option. The NAS is powered by an Intel Celeron J4125 chipset and comes with 4GB of RAM as standard — you get the option of adding another 4GB of memory.

You can add up to 64TB of storage via the four drive bays, and the DS920+ excels at 4K transcoding. It will stream 4K content to all devices on your home network without breaking a sweat, and it has an exhaustive list of software features that include running Docker containers, your own email or VPN server, iTunes server, and so much more. There are M.2 slots for SSD caching, and the DS920+ has two Gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB 3.0 ports.

If you're not content with just 64TB of storage, you can hook up a DX517 expansion unit, giving you the ability to add up to 80TB of extra storage to the NAS. If you don't want to fill up the NAS just yet, the ideal drive option for the DS920+ is the 8TB IronWolf.

Best with 2.5GbE connectivity

Asustor AS6604T NAS review

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)
Best with 2.5GbE connectivity

Reasons to buy

+
Comes with an HDMI port
+
Two 2.5Gbps ports deliver next-gen connectivity
+
Great for 4K Plex streaming
+
Dual USB 3.0 ports
+
Good software features

Reasons to avoid

-
No tool-less HDD installation
-
Security issues
-
No PCIe slot 

Asustor's Lockerstor AS6604T could just be one of the best options if you're looking for next-gen connectivity. The NAS comes with two 2.5Gbps ports, and you also get an HDMI port, giving you the ability to plug the NAS into your TV.

The four-bay model lets you slot in up to 64TB of storage. It is powered by the Celeron J4125 chipset and has 4GB of RAM installed out of the box. The hardware makes the NAS a great option for a 4K media server running Plex, and it also has a robust set of software features that let you back up data, run Docker containers, and so much more.

The connectivity makes the AS6604T an ideal option for content creators looking to offload video projects to an external storage device. Asustor also touts the AS5202T as a streaming-oriented NAS, and you get a decent set of features that let you stream directly to Twitch or YouTube. 

How to choose

Synology DiskStation DS723+ review

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

If you're looking for the best NAS for home use, the DiskStation DS723+ is the best overall choice right now. The upgraded hardware makes it an ideal option for just about any use case, and with DSM 7.1, you get the most polished software interface of any brand in this segment. 

Need more drive bays? The DiskStation DS920+ is the ideal choice, delivering slightly better connectivity and the ability to extend to a total of nine drive bays. 

If you want a NAS with an HDMI port to connect directly to your TV, the AS6604T is a fantastic choice. The 4-bay NAS has powerful hardware and gives you great value for your money. 

What is the best NAS drive for home use?

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Synology DiskStation DS723+ review

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

As a NAS server is designed to run 24/7, you can't use a standard hard drive. Thankfully, there are drives designed just for NAS use, and I've rounded up the best hard drives for NAS in a standalone article. 

At a high-level overview, you'll need to buy either Seagate's IronWolf or IronWolf Pro series or Western Digital's Red Plus or Red Pro hard drives. I've used all of these drives for nearly a decade now, and they've proven to be reliable. 

If I had to suggest a drive for home use, it would be the Seagate IronWolf. I have over 50TB of IronWolf drives in various servers, and it is hands-down the most reliable NAS drive that I have used. It starts off at 2TB and goes up to 18TB, and for home use, anything over 4TB should be an ideal choice. 

Harish Jonnalagadda
Senior Editor - Asia

Harish Jonnalagadda is a Senior Editor overseeing Asia at Android Central. He leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, contributing to reviews, features, and buying guides. He also writes about storage servers, audio products, and the semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.

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