I get that ditching cable is hard, but there are viable alternatives if you're looking to build your own media library and break the cycle of incessant price hikes. Plex is a media platform that stands out as the best option in this category; it's easy to set up and use, and it has a growing library of content. The best way to install and manage Plex is on a NAS server, and there are models that excel at this use case.

I've been using NAS servers for well over a decade now, and I crossed 500TB of storage in my homelab across all storage servers. I tested all major 4-bay NAS models available at the moment, and UGREEN's DXP4800 Pro gets my vote. I tested the DXP4800 Pro a few weeks ago, and there's no doubt in my mind that this is the best 4-bay Plex NAS you can buy in 2026.

The DXP4800 Pro launched at the end of last year for $699, and it got a price hike to $719 because of the RAM crisis. But right now, you can get it for $639 on Amazon during Prime Day, its lowest price yet and a decent $80 discount.

• Prime Day 2026 is June 23-26: see the full list of deals

✅Recommended if: You need a powerful 4-bay Plex server. With an Intel Core i3-1315U platform, 10GbE connectivity, M.2 slots, 8GB RAM and built-in SSD, the DXP4800 Pro has outstanding hardware.

❌Skip this deal if: You don't need 10GbE connectivity. If you need a more affordable choice, the DH4300 Plus may be a better bet — and it costs half as much right now.

If you're already using a NAS, it can be a bit of a hassle to switch to a new brand. I understand that sentiment quite well, and that's actually a big part of why DiskStation models continue to sell so well — that familiarity is a big draw.

But with the DXP4800 Pro, you're getting a NAS with considerable hardware upgrades. The 10GbE connectivity by itself is a huge bonus against the DS925+, and you also get a 2.5GbE connector, faster Intel platform, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and a built-in SSD.

In short, this is one of the best mainstream 4-bay NAS servers around today. The DXP4800 Pro is an outstanding Plex server, so if you're looking at a home NAS that's aimed at media streaming and hardware transcoding, I wouldn't consider any other model. It's also great as a hobbyist NAS, so if you're looking to run containers and build hobby projects, this is the one I'd get.

The software was a big limitation when UGREEN made its debut in this category two years ago, but the brand made decent inroads, particularly over the last six months. You'll get all the basics around data storage, plugging into public cloud servers, photo and video organization, and advanced tools around virtualization. There's also the inherent advantage of being able to run TrueNAS or any other media server platform if you want additional flexibility.

Basically, the DXP4800 Pro has everything you need in a 4-bay Plex NAS, and with the deal bringing it down to $639, this is the best time to get the server.

More Prime Day 2026 - quick links

• Phones: major savings on Pixel, Samsung, and beyond
• Wearables: up to 50% off Garmin, Galaxy Watch, and Fitbit
• Headphones/earbuds: huge discounts on Beats, Sony, and more
• Smart Home: up to 60% off Alexa devices
• Tablets: Galaxy Tab, Kindle, and Amazon tablets from $50
• Smart TVs: cheap smart TVs from $69.99
• Chromebooks: discounts on ASUS, HP, and Lenovo

The prices on memory and storage devices are at an all-time high, and with the growing demands of AI infrastructure, the crisis is unlikely to go away any time soon. That being said, it's not all bad news, as Amazon is currently slashing prices on a bunch of popular external storage devices during Prime Day 2026.

Whether you need a portable SSD for on-the-go file management or a powerful NAS for Plex, I've dropped a selection of my favorite active storage deals below. Some of these devices have dropped the price of external storage down to $0.20 per GB or less, so take a look and see what you can find.

Prices might get even lower as Prime Day progresses, and maybe something you didn't find might today might go on sale a little later. So, keep checking back here as I will be adding all the best storage deals to this buying guide as they go live.

• Amazon Prime Day returns June 23-26: see the full list of early deals

SSD and flash drive deals

NAS deals

When is Prime Day 2026?

Prime Day 2026 kicked off from June 23rd and will run through the 26th, which gives you four full days to explore some of the best tech deals of the year.

Do I have to be a member to shop during Amazon Prime Day? 

Although some deals will be available to the general public, the best offers will be reserved for Amazon Prime members. Haven't signed up yet? Don't forget that Amazon offers a 30-day free trial so you can explore all of the benefits of Prime — such as free shipping and unlimited streaming — without paying a cent. You can even cancel as soon as the sale is over with zero hassle.

Why are storage devices so expensive right now?

Although there are a number of factors at play, the current RAM and storage crisis is largely happening because of the rapid growth of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Simply put, AI data centers require a staggering amount of storage, and this has resulted in a supply shortage for consumer-grade devices. Tech that uses onboard storage and RAM (such as Android phones) is also getting more expensive because of the shortage, so upcoming sales like Amazon Prime Day are more crucial than ever before.

It's no secret that storage has become increasingly expensive in recent months, so I'm quick to report NAS deals whenever I find them. Unfortunately, discounts on these storage systems are pretty rare, and it takes an event like Amazon's Big Spring Sale to uncover the truly hefty deals. 

Case in point: Amazon is slashing up to 20% OFF UGREEN and Terramaster NAS servers for home. The problem is that the sale is set to expire tonight, March 31st, which means you might only have a few hours to take advantage of these deals before they're gone for good (or at least until the next Prime Day in July). 

To make life easier, I've gathered a selection of my favorite NAS deals from the sale below, with some storage systems going for as little as $175.99. Take a look and see if anything catches your eye. Unfamiliar with the ins and outs of NAS (network-attached storage)? We have a lot of content that should break down the basics for you. 

• See the full list of deals at Amazon's Big Spring Sale - ends March 31st

My favorite NAS deals from Amazon's Big Spring Sale

I like what TerraMaster is doing with NAS servers in general; the brand polished its software last year, delivering a clean interface with plenty of useful features. At the same time, it refreshed its design, with new models like the F4-424 Max coming with a sleek design and better ventilation.

Where the brand really stands out is with its all-SSD enclosures such as the F8 SSD and F8 SSD Plus, and they let you make the switch to M.2 storage with minimum hassle. Now, TerraMaster took the idea of the F4 SSD and turned it into just a storage drive, resulting in the D4 SSD. This is just an SSD enclosure that can house four 8TB M.2 2280 drives, giving you 32TB of storage.

The D4 SSD doesn't have any internal hardware, so you can't use it as a NAS. However, if you need to extend the storage of your Windows or macOS notebook or just want an all-SSD external storage drive that you can connect via USB-C, the D4 SSD is a pretty great choice. And right now, the D4 SSD is down to $239 for Cyber Monday, which is $60 off its usual selling price of $299.

✅Recommended if: You want a robust SSD enclosure. The D4 SSD needs external power, and it can easily slot in four M.2 SSDs. It connects over just about any USB standard: USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, USB 4, and Thunderbolt 3/4/5. Regardless of what device you connect it to, you will be able to take advantage of this enclosure.

❌Skip this deal if: You need a portable SSD storage drive. As it needs to be plugged in, the D4 SSD isn't portable.

The D4 SSD looks nearly identical to the F4 SSD, and what I like the most about it is that there's active cooling — which is a must-have in an SSD enclosure. It's easy to slot in SSDs into the device, and it has good passive airflow thanks to the vents located up top. You get a built-in fan, but it isn't loud, so if you have this positioned on a desk, it's not going to annoy you.

The D4 SSD has the ability to house four NVMe drives, going up to 8TB each. That means you get 32TB of addressable storage, and that is higher than what's possible with most products in this category. The only issue is that the D4 SSD isn't portable; it needs to be connected to a wall outlet, so you can't just throw it in a bag and take it around.

Connectivity is where the D4 SSD truly shines, with the USB-C port integrating all USB standards, including USB 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, and USB 4.0. It also gets Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 3, so you can be guaranteed that you can use this thing with just about any device. With a 40Gbps bandwidth, you can easily move data to and from the device, and it is an ideal choice if you need a fast external drive to store videos — that's how I used the D4 SSD over the last six months.

Obviously, the bandwidth is reliant on the drives you slot in, and I used the D4 SSD with WD's excellent SN770 Gen 4 SSDs, and it proved to be a great choice. If you want to extend the storage of your workstation and need an all-SSD solution, the D4 SSD gets my recommendation. With the deal bringing it down to $239, now is as good a time as any to buy the enclosure.

The discount madness may have started on Black Friday, but Cyber Monday is making sure it continues. So if you don't have a NAS, now is the best time to remedy that, as they can get pretty expensive.

A network attached storage server allows you to store all vital data in a centralized location, and you can also use it as a media server. I tested dozens of NAS models over the last decade, and I now manage over 500TB of data in total. In the last two years, I've been using UGREEN's NAS servers like the DXP4800 Plus and DXP6800 Pro. UGREEN is a new entrant in this category, but it made waves thanks to its strong hardware offerings, and the DXP4800 Plus is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best NAS models you can buy today.

While the NAS usually costs $699, it is now down to just $559, bringing it down to its lowest price yet. There's no question that this is one of the best-selling NAS models available today, and if you've been waiting on this deal to go live, now is the time to act.

✅Recommended if: You need a powerful NAS. The DXP4800 Plus comes with 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, all the ports you need, and it has hardware transcoding.

❌Skip this deal if: You want the best software. UGREEN is doing much better in this area now, but UGOS still has some way to go.

Obviously, the hardware is the biggest selling point of the DXP4800 Plus. UGREEN somehow managed to deliver the best hardware in this category, and having this level of power in a 4-bay NAS is just great. The 12th Gen Intel platform does a terrific job, and you get hardware transcoding, a must-have if you use Plex and need it on older devices.

The 8GB of RAM and built-in SSD that houses the OS is good to see, and you get four HDD bays, two M.2 slots, and a metal chassis that's built to last. Another differentiator is 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, ensuring the NAS easily holds its own for several years to come. What I also like is that there's 2.5GbE connectivity alongside it.

I also like the sheer customizability. If you don't like the software, you can just install TrueNAS Scale on the NAS, and that's just highly convenient. This is a big deal, and it makes using the DXP4800 Plus that much more enticing, as you can easily switch out the software — this isn't the case with most NAS brands. If you need a new 4-bay NAS, there isn't anything better in this category, and you should get the DXP4800 Plus while it's still down to $559.

More Cyber Monday & Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: early discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: early price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line
  
  More Black Friday coverage
• The best Google Pixel deals of Black Friday
• The best Samsung deals of Black Friday
• The best Motorola deals of Black Friday

Black Friday typically features some of the year's best deals on smartphones, tablets, and other Android devices, but as we all know: with great tech comes great storage needs.

Luckily, many of the best Black Friday sales on the web have brought some amazing storage deals in tow, whether you want a pocket-sized hard drive or a gargantuan 8-bay NAS server for your desk. Indeed, these are some of the best storage deals I've seen in my 10+ years of working sale events just like this, and the savings are so immense you might never need to buy a physical storage device again.

These offers include deals like 44% OFF this portable 2TB SSD by Crucial, or this rare NAS deal that drops over 100 bucks off the 2-Bay TerraMaster F2-424. There are also a ton of deals on flash drives if you need something even more compact and portable. Keep reading for more of my top favorite storage deals from the Black Friday sales so far, and bring all of your files back home where they belong. Bye-bye, Cloud!

More Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: early discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: early price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line
  
  More Black Friday coverage
• The best Google Pixel deals of Black Friday
• The best Samsung deals of Black Friday
• The best Motorola deals of Black Friday
• The best NAS deals of Black Friday

A network-attached-storage (or NAS) server is a powerful solution for all of your storage needs, and unlike Cloud storage, this hardware puts you - not some faraway tech company - right in the driver's seat. That being said, if you need to store a ton of large files, you can expect to pay a pretty penny without some deal attached.

That's where Black Friday sales come in handy, as retailers all over the web are finally beginning to discount their best NAS servers. Whether you need something simple and approachable or a lightning-fast storage beast, keep reading for all of the best NAS deals of Black Friday 2025 (so far).

What is a NAS? 

A NAS, or Network Attached Storage, is a physical piece of hardware that's designed specifically for large file storage. Unlike Cloud storage, which holds your files in some remote location, a NAS enclosure is a physical server in your home that you can access and manage at any time with any device you own.

NAS servers are more than just glorified flash drives, however. These enclosures boast their own operating systems, RAM, and transfer speed, so you're paying for the hardware just as much as the storage capacity. They aren't for everyone, but if you want the ability to store all of your media in one centralized location, a NAS server is a great buy.

Which NAS is best?

Although it depends on your individual needs, we generally recommend the Synology DiskStation DS224+ as the best NAS for most people. This enclosure boasts powerful hardware with lightning-fast transfer speeds, and two 18TB bays. Unfortunately, the DS224+ hasn't received a Black Friday discount just yet, but I'll update this guide immediately if that changes.

When is Black Friday 2025?

Black Friday is technically set for November 28th, the day after the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. That being said, retailers like Walmart and Amazon have already launched their sale events early, so you don't need to wait if an offer catches your eye.

More Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• Best Buy: up to 60% off Chromebooks, Android phones, and more
• Amazon: early discounts on headphones, smart home tech
• Walmart: early price drops on ASUS laptops, locked phones
• Samsung: new Galaxy XR headset, trade-in opportunities
• Verizon: free phones with new line, trade-in
• T-Mobile: free Galaxy phones, $300 back w/ 5G Home Internet
• Mint Mobile: 50% off Pixel 10, BOGO Unlimited plans
• AT&T: get a free Z Flip 7 with trade-in, new line
  
  More Black Friday coverage
• The best Google Pixel deals of Black Friday
• The best Samsung deals of Black Friday
• The best Motorola deals of Black Friday

TerraMaster is proving that it can deliver high-end NAS servers with powerful internals and standout connectivity. I didn't get to use the F6-424 Max, but I used the 4-bay alternative — the F4-424 Max — and the only difference between the two NAS models is that the F6-424 Max gets two additional drive bays.

That makes the NAS a great choice if you've got an extensive media collection and need the versatility of adding additional HDDs down the line as your storage requirements inevitably grow. The F6-424 Max usually costs $999, but it is now available for $899 on Amazon as part of Memorial Day savings, bringing the NAS down to its lowest price. If you need 10GbE connectivity to set up a high-end Plex NAS, this is the one to get.

• See the 20 best deals from Amazon's Memorial Day sale

✅Recommended if: You want the best Plex NAS. With a native Plex client, six HDD bays, dual 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and powerful Intel hardware with transcoding, the F6-424 Max is a powerhouse of a NAS.

❌Skip this deal if: You need the best software features.

TerraMaster nailed the brief when it comes to designing the F6-424 Max. The NAS has a clean aesthetic with excellent build quality, and it doesn't attract attention to itself. There's good passive and active airflow, and it has the best connectivity of any NAS in this category.

You get two 10 Gigabit ports, HDMI, USB-A ports, and USB-C that lets you add even more drive bays should you need it down the line. The 8GB of RAM is more than adequate to get you started, and there are two M.2 slots if you want to add SSD storage in addition to traditional mechanical drives.

Where the F6-424 Max truly comes into its own is as a Plex server; it gets a 10-core Intel Core i5 1235U platform, and with transcoding, it is effortless at handling 4K content on Plex or any other service. TerraMaster is doing a much better job with the software as well, and the F6-424 Max does well in this regard.

Basically, if you've used a NAS and are mulling a switch to a powerful model with 10 Gigabit connectivity, the F6-424 Max is the best upgrade choice, and coming at $899, it is just that little bit more affordable.

Network attached storage servers are the perfect solution if you have a large library of files to manage, but NAS deals can be few and far between. It also doesn't help that NAS servers are generally quite expensive, and with new tariffs and other price increases coming down the pipeline all the time, you're not the only one on the lookout for a good discount. 

Fortunately, there are always a few deals scattered around if you know where to look, and I've collected some of the best offers on the web below. Whether you need the best NAS for Plex streaming or a no-frills NAS for home use, keep reading for all of the best NAS deals available today. Didn't find anything? Check back later, I'll keep adding new discounts every month. 

Quick links

• TerraMaster F4-424 Pro: was $699.99 now $559.99 w/ coupon at Amazon
• UGREEN NASync 4-Bay Desktop: was $699.99 now $594.99 at Amazon
• Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS923+: was $642.99 now $599.99 at Newegg
• TerraMaster F2-423 2-Bay: was $299.99 now $239.99 at Amazon
• TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus 8-Bay: was $799.99 now $699.99 at Amazon
• Asustor AS3304T Drivestor 4 Pro 4-Bay: was $397 now $339 at Walmart
• Synology 1-Bay DiskStation DS-124: was $179.99 now $149.99 at Amazon
• Seagate Expansion 14TB HDD: was $319.99 now $199.99 at Best Buy
• More NAS deals: Amazon | Newegg | Best Buy | Walmart

My top NAS deals

With over 13 million devices sold, there's no question that Synology is the biggest manufacturer of NAS systems globally. But this category has changed quite significantly in the last 15 months; UGREEN made its grand debut with the introduction of the DXP4800 Plus and DXP2800, delivering sturdy designs with terrific hardware.

TerraMaster and ASUSTOR also did a much better job last year, polishing their software and overhauling their product lines to deliver better differentiation. By contrast, Synology had a quiet year and a half, with the brand's older models — the DiskStation DS923+, DS224+, and DS723+ — doing most of the heavy lifting.

Thankfully, that's changing with the debut of the DiskStation DS925+. The successor to the best-selling DS923+ shares the same design, but it comes with dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports as standard, and it has upgraded internals thanks to a quad-core Ryzen V1500B. It has four standard drive bays in addition to dual M.2 slots, and you can use SSDs to store data in addition to caching.

• NAS deals: Amazon | Newegg | Best Buy | Walmart

However, the launch isn't without controversy; with the DiskStation DS925+, Synology is limiting its Plus models to its own hard drives, so you can't use Seagate's IronWolf, Exos, or Western Digital's Red Plus HDDs with the NAS. While this restriction came into effect on the brand's business models four years ago, it confirmed at the time that consumer models won't be affected — that's clearly not the case now.

So if you've been using an older NAS model and are considering an upgrade, this is what you need to know about the DiskStation DS925+.

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Pricing and availability

Synology unveiled the DiskStation DS925+ in select Asian markets on April 23, with a global launch slated for May 2025. That's when the NAS will be available in the U.S., U.K., and other western markets. Interestingly, the DS925+ is debuting in countries like India, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan ahead of the brand's home market, Taiwan.

Given that retail availability varies in individual regions, Synology didn't share what the NAS costs in most countries. It will retail for ₹65,205 ($763) in India, which is a smidgen costlier than the ₹62,500 ($731) that the DS923+ costs in the country. The pricing indicates the DS925+ will slot in at roughly the same $599 figure as its predecessor in the U.S., but it isn't unlikely to think it might go up to $649 (or higher) given the tariffs situation.

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Design

Synology hasn't changed its design in nearly 10 years, so if you've used any of the brand's NAS servers in the past, you'll feel right at home with the DiskStation DS925+. The NAS has a black aesthetic with good ventilation — both active and passive — and the unassuming design allows it to blend in with ease.

The sides have a ventilated design that lets air into the chassis, and the NAS has the same dimensions as its predecessor. Build quality is great, and I haven't really seen any issues with any of the brand's NAS servers in the last 10 years. The DS925+ uses an external power brick, and it's able to go up to 120W. It doesn't use anywhere close to that in real use though, and the NAS has two 92mm fans at the back that are quiet even under load.

I used the NAS in my office, and I didn't have any problems with noise levels even with heavy use. The front has the standard drive bays, and you can easily install 3.5-inch HDDs without any tools; the individual bays can also be locked, and there's a USB-A port on the right. Other than that, you get the usual power button at the bottom, and the LEDs that indicate system, HDD, and LAN status.

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Features and connectivity

The big talking point with the internals is that the DiskStation DS925+ gets dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports. With every other brand making the switch to 2.5GbE and 10GbE years ago, the DiskStation DS923+ was notable for its use of Gigabit ports, and thankfully, that's not a problem on the DS925+.

The NAS is powered by a quad-core Ryzen V1500B platform; it has better headroom overall, and the difference is noticeable even in daily use. The NAS still comes with just 4GB of RAM out of the box, and while that's enough for most tasks, you'll need to slot in another module if you intend to use Docker. Most NAS servers in this segment have at least 8GB of RAM as standard, so it's a little shortsighted that the DS925+ is hobbled in this area.

You still get two M.2 slots on the underside, and they can be used to house M.2 2280 SSDs. The SSDs can be used to store data, and you can easily create storage pools. A notable uptick this time is a USB-C port at the back; this is used to expand drive bays down the line, and works with the new DX525 unit. This is a positive move as the older eSATA connector was clearly showing its age.

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Performance

I've been testing Synology NAS servers for nearly 10 years now, and in that time, I predominantly used Seagate's IronWolf and WD Red drives. When setting up the DS925+, I slotted in two 6TB IronWolf drives as I usually do with all NAS reviews, but it wouldn't even install DiskStation Manager (DSM). I got a dialog box noting the drives were unrecognized, and that I had to do a manual install — which wasn't possible as I was testing the NAS under embargo.

For reasons I don't follow, Synology chose to enforce the use of its own hard drives in consumer DiskStation models — which is exactly what it said it wouldn't do in 2021. The brand says it conducted "rigorous testing" with its HAT3300, HAT3310, HAT5300, and HAT5310 drives, and using that as the reason to lock down the DS925+ to just these drives.

It also notes that its drives deliver "higher reliability," but doesn't provide any details as to how they're better than Seagate's Exos drives — my go-to choice right now. Then there's the issue with pricing; in broad strokes, Synology's drives are considerably costlier than their immediate rivals. To give you some context, Seagate's terrific 24TB Exos X24 drive is down to $479 right now, and while Synology doesn't have a 24TB drive, the 20TB HAT5310 retails for $719, a premium of 34% while providing less storage.

Are you getting anything that justifies the added cost? No. Synology's HAT5310 has the same warranty as Seagate's Exos X24, the same 2.5 million hours mean time between failure (MTBF), and identical 550TB/year endurance. There's no meaningful gains to be had, and you're ultimately paying more to get less storage.

Basically, the move is designed to lock users into the brand's ecosystem, and not being able to use IronWolf, Exos, or WD Red drives is a huge limitation. That said, if you're migrating from an older NAS and using the same drives, then there's no issue — I tested this IronWolf drives taken from the DS224+, and it booted without a problem. But if you're setting up a new NAS and want to use Seagate, Western Digital, or any other drives, that's just not possible.

There is a workaround to add Seagate and WD drives to the verified list, and this is what I've been doing on the DiskStation DS1823xs+ for nearly a year now. But that isn't possible with the DS925+, as it doesn't even allow you to create a storage pool and install DSM unless you're using a Synology hard drive. This policy is true when it comes to M.2 drives as well, so you can't use any other SSD other than the brand's own limited choices. This move will lose the brand a lot of loyal users, and the worst part is that Synology is just using relabeled Toshiba drives.

I had to switch to HAT3000 and HAT3310 drives to install the web-based DSM 7.2 interface and test the DS925+. It was straightforward after moving to the brand's drives, and setting up DSM took under 10 minutes. If you're coming from an older model, the interface itself will be familiar; the visuals are identical, and the only difference I noticed is that the DS925+ is better at launching containers.

A big allure with Synology's NAS systems is the software, and DSM 7.2 continues to lead the way in this regard. The interface is clean, has plenty of customizable utilities, and has an exhaustive list of useful services. I use Synology Photos daily to back up photos and videos automatically from all my phones, and it is a viable alternative to Google Photos. Synology's software suite has a good design, tight integration with mobile platforms — both iOS and Android — and it covers the essentials.

Whether you need to store photos and videos, share documents, have a local productivity suite, custom mail server, host a website, or use a text editor, DSM 7.2 has you covered. And if there isn't anything available as standard, you can just use Docker to create a container.

The best use case with the DS925+ is media streaming, and it does a terrific job as a Plex media server. The Ryzen V1500B platform doesn't have hardware transcoding, and if you don't care about that, there's plenty to like. It handles 4K high bitrate content without breaking a sweat, and I didn't run into any issues whatsoever — it proved to be just as reliable as the DS923+.

Where the brand has a distinct advantage is with its mobile clients; Synology does a better job than just about every other manufacturer in this area, and it's extremely easy to view and manage the data on your NAS while on the go. This is still the biggest differentiator, and why I continue to use the DS1823xs+ as my main NAS system.

Synology DiskStation DS925+: The competition

UGREEN's DXP4800 Plus is my go-to choice these days if you need a 4-bay Plex NAS server. The NAS retails for $594 as of writing, and it has powerful hardware, 8GB of RAM, M.2 slots, and 10GbE in addition to 2.5GbE connectivity. While the hardware is arguably better than the DS925+, the software doesn't quite measure up to DSM, but UGREEN has shown that it is interested in building out the ecosystem. The bonus is that you don't have any restrictions on what drives you can use, or even what software you can install — it's easy to switch to TrueNAS Scale.

If you need even better hardware, TerraMaster's F4-424 Max gets my vote. The NAS is costly at $899, but you get a 10-core 12th Gen Intel Core i5 1235U, 8GB of RAM, and dual 10GbE connectivity. There are two M.2 slots as well, and the NAS is a Plex powerhouse like no other. The TOS 6 software is a definite move in the right direction, and while it's lacking some polish, you get most utilities as standard, and TerraMaster is doing a decent enough job with its mobile clients.

Synology DiskStation DS925+: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

• You need a 4-bay NAS with the best software
• You want a high-end Plex server
• You need 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet

You shouldn't buy this if:

• You want to use Seagate or WD Red drives
• You want 10GbE connectivity

I'm conflicted when it comes to the DiskStation DS925+; the NAS finally brings upgrades that have been overdue, but it does so at the cost of other limitations. Having to use Synology's drives is a big pain point, and it doesn't make much sense. There's no end-user benefit to enforcing this rule, and it ultimately curbs what is an otherwise great NAS. It's clear that the brand's hubris got in the way of clear-headed strategy, and it is bound to pay the price as a result.

At the end of the day, if you're used to Synology and want a familiar interface and don't mind buying the brand's hard drives — they cost more than their rival IronWolf and WD Red options — the DiskStation DS925+ is still a great option. But if you don't want to go down this route (understandably), there are better choices available.

Synology could have pulled off a move like this two years ago, but the NAS ecosystem has changed drastically in the intervening time, and there's no shortage of standout products in the market now. If you need to upgrade, I'd suggest getting the UGREEN DXP4800 Plus. It has better hardware, and while the software isn't as good as DSM 7.2, you can easily install TrueNAS, and there are absolutely no limitations.

It's no secret that TerraMaster makes some of the best NAS servers on the market, but it's unusual to see great deals outside of sales and major shopping events. Or is it? While I was scouring the web today in search of Android discounts to cover, I discovered that Amazon was quietly pairing the top-rated TerraMaster F4-423 (4-bay) server with a $69 coupon, you just need to check the Apply button before you add it to your cart. 

It's the biggest discount that the 4-bay version of this best NAS for Plex has ever received from Amazon, but you could easily miss it if you aren't being particularly vigilant. The problem is that the coupon expires on February 7th at midnight EST, so act fast if you're trying to upgrade your storage setup. 

• NAS deals: Amazon | Newegg | Best Buy | Walmart

As described in our detailed 4.5/5-star review, the TerraMaster F4-423 has some of the best hardware in its class, coming complete with a Celeron N5095 quad-core processor, Dual 2.5GbE Ethernet connectivity, and 80TB of total raw capacity. You also get an HDMI port on the back and a built-in M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slot if you need to add more memory.

Sure, the F4-423 isn't the absolute best NAS server ever built (and it's recently been supplanted by the newer TerrMaster F4-424 Max), but if you're looking for a slightly more-affordable storage solution, the value here is unmatched. We're unlikely to see another NAS deal of this caliber until the spring sales kick off, so if you're ready to drop some cash today, now's your chance. 

It's high time I sorted out my home server mess. I use a couple of ancient desktop PCs in a closet filled with hard drives, and everything is patched together, so I have somewhere to store all of my stuff.

I also realize I don't need a NAS designed for enterprise speed and multiple users connecting to it at once, but I do need to save as much money as humanly possible. It's just my wife and me here, storing pictures or music along with the occasional document that can't get lost. A Raspberry Pi and a few hard drives are exactly what I need, and Black Friday is the time to get it all.

Here's what I need to build a NAS

You'll need a Raspberry Pi to run everything. A model 4 can work, but the newer model 5 is a lot better. We don't need excessive speed, but nobody wants to make things slower on purpose. Unless you already have one up and running, buy a kit. It will come with the board itself, a power supply, a case with heat sinks and a fan, and extras like an SD card and cables. You're going to save some money this way.

This one has it all, and it's on sale for a great price.

Grab yourself a powered USB Type-A hub, too. A Raspberry Pi is tiny and doesn't have a robust power control circuit, so running everything from the Pi's internal USB power isn't a great idea. Using a powered hub means you're not going to see issues copying files back and forth because there isn't enough juice to go around.

Next is somewhere to put the storage. I'm 3D printing an enclosure for everything and using individual SATA to USB cables, but a drive dock is a lot easier. You can connect multiple storage drives using one USB cable, which can add up to a ton of storage.

Buying something like this one from MAIWO means you can mix and match 2.5 and 3.5-inch drives, and there's even a built-in drive cloning feature for when you decide to go bigger.

When all is said and done you'll have this dock and your Raspberry Pi case beside it so you won't need much room for it all.

With room for four hard drives, you're going to need at least one. Most people choose spinning disk drives rather than solid-state drives for storage because they have higher capacities and cost less. Since you're not trying to run applications from the drive, speed isn't as important, and the cost-benefit makes it well worth the trade-off.

I already bought some 12TB drives over the summer because I knew I was going to do this, but to get started these 6TB drives are great. The Black Friday sale price can't be beat, either.

Whether you spend $150 bucks on a Raspberry Pi and HDD dock or $500 on a NAS from a company like Synology you're going to have to buy the hard drives.

Putting it together is easy. Follow an online guide to get your Raspberry Pi up and running once you've put the kit together. Connect the USB hub to the Pi and a wall socket, connect the HDD bay to the Hub and a wall socket, plug in your drives, and turn it all on.

You don't need any special NAS software because everything you need to share a drive across your home network (or the internet!) is built into the Raspberry Pi's operating system.

Use an online tutorial to set up Samba for sharing, and make sure you mind your permissions. Once that's done, your files and folders stored on your homemade NAS will show up through the standard Windows, Mac, and iOS "files" application, and there are plenty of Android file apps that can connect to network-shared storage.

Of course, you can go a step further and set up something like Plex or a network-aware music player on the Raspberry Pi and do more than just store stuff. You can even install OMV, a NAS operating system on the Pi, and get all the features you'll find on expensive models, too.

Enjoy doing it yourself and saving a boatload of money. I do ☺️.

The best home network attached storage (NAS) server gives you the flexibility to store all your precious data in a single location, and it has powerful tools that let you make the most of your media collection. A NAS server is particularly useful if you have a large music or media library; you can easily stream content to all connected devices, and the accessibility makes it highly convenient. With Prime Day 2026 just around the corner — the sale event is set to run June 23 to 26 — this is the best time to buy a home NAS server, and I'll be listing all the deals as soon as they go live.

There's so much more you can do with a NAS; the servers highlighted below make it effortlessly easy to back up photos and videos from all of your phones, back up documents and any other data from your Windows or macOS machines, and so much more.

So if you've already dabbled in this segment or are looking to get your hands on your first NAS, you'll find plenty of great choices below. I highlighted servers that are ideally suited for home users, whether that's media streaming via Plex, backing up data, or getting started with a budget NAS that has all the essentials.

At a glance

Best overall

The DiskStation DS225+ is the NAS to buy if you want a reliable 2-bay model with the best software. Yes, it has issues; the hardware transcoding drivers aren't enabled by default, and you'll need to use a workaround to get Plex to use it — which is just annoying to say the least. There still isn't an M.2 slot, so you will be relying on traditional HDDs. The 2GB soldered RAM is nowhere enough if you want to use containers, and you will inevitably have to buy a memory module.

That said, the addition of 2.5GbE connectivity makes the NAS a much better choice. The upgrade gives the DS225+ greater flexibility if you've got a multi-Gigabit network, and it's a necessary upgrade.

The DS225+ wins out due to its software; it has the best pre-installed software features in this category, and that's the only reason why it's still on this list in 2026. There are other NAS servers that give you much better hardware, but if you're just starting out and don't want to tinker, the built-in software that comes with the DS225+ is the ideal starting point.

Best budget NAS

Don't need all the extras that the DS225+ has to offer? Then you'll want to take a look at the DiskStation DS223j. This is also a 2-bay NAS, but it doesn't have the same caliber of hardware; it is powered by a Realtek RTD1619B chip, has 1GB of memory, and a single Gigabit Ethernet port at the back.

The upside is that it costs under $200, and that makes it highly enticing. You still get most of the software features that are present in the DS224+, and while you miss out on containerization and virtual machines, those aren't features that make a difference to home users anyway.

While there are plenty of budget NAS servers, I always recommend the DS223j for the proven software. It is significantly easier to use, and Synology's mobile apps allow you to stream your media from anywhere in the world. And the best part is that it has a native Plex client, so you can set up a media server without any issues.

If you just need a NAS to store data in a single location and stream media on a budget, the DS223j is the best choice available today.

Best beginner NAS

You need a reliable way to store photos and valuable data, but don't want to invest in a full-fledged NAS. That's where the BeeStation comes in; this is an all-in-one unit that houses a 4TB hard drive (a HAT3300 Plus), so you can get started straight away. The goal with the BeeStation is to target consumers that don't yet have a NAS and are looking to get affordable local storage that's connected to the network.

Therefore, you don't get a lot of software features; there's the ability to back up photos and videos, and files from any of your connected machines. That's it. You don't get the usual DiskStation Manager software, and the interface is as barebones as it can get. That said, the BeePhotos mobile client makes it easy to back up photos and videos, and in the four months that I used the BeeStation, it has proven to be reliable.

The biggest limitation is the lack of media streaming. You can store your media library on the device, but you can't do much with it. The BeeStation is instead designed as a private cloud solution; instead of storing photos and documents on Google Drive and other public cloud providers, the idea is that you back it up to this device.

To that effect, the BeeStation integrates with Google Drive and other storage providers, and you can transfer the data from those services to the BeeStation easily. So if you need an easy way to back up photos and videos and don't need many additional features, the BeeStation is a good choice.

Reliable hardware

ASUSTOR is doing all the right things with its home NAS servers, and the AS5402T is a testament to how far the brand has come in the last two years. The 2-bay NAS has the best hardware package in this category; it is powered by Intel's Celeron J5105, has 4GB of RAM with the ability to upgrade to 16GB, four M.2 slots in total, two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports.

There's also an HDMI port at the back that lets you connect the AS5402T to a TV, and the Intel hardware makes the NAS a standout choice if you need a powerful Plex server. It easily handles transcodes and playback without any issues, and in my testing, it did a better job than just about any other 2-bay NAS.

But it's the connectivity that allows it to stand out; with two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, the AS5402T is future-proof, and you don't need to switch to another NAS when you upgrade your home network. ASUSTOR's software still isn't as polished or easy to use, but it has gotten better over the last two years, and it comes with much better security this time around.

Best for media streaming

TerraMaster's F4-424 Max is costlier than other models on this list, but you're also getting what is arguably the best hardware in this segment. The NAS is powered by Intel's Alder Lake 10-core Core i5 1235U platform, and it demolishes all the Celeron-based models in synthetic workloads.

But where it truly shines is at Plex; the server manages to run high bitrate transcodes without breaking a sweat, and it is the ideal option if you have a sizeable local collection. While most Celeron-based NAS models also do a good job, they're not as effective at 4K transcodes as the F4-424 Max.

Another differentiator is the connectivity. With two 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports available, the NAS has a distinct edge in this regard, and there's no worries about the network being the bottleneck. It's a similar situation with the memory — you get 8GB of DDR5 RAM installed, and you can install a total of 64GB should you need it.

TerraMaster's software was unreliable in the past, but that's changing with TOS 6. It has a cleaner interface and better utilities, and while the associated mobile clients still need polish, all the basics are covered. Basically, TerraMaster is doing all the right things with the F4-424 Max, and if you need a high-end Plex NAS, this is the one to get.

Best SSD NAS

TerraMaster is changing its strategy, with the Taiwanese brand turning its attention to the high-end category. The result is the F8 SSD Plus, an SSD-only NAS that is the best you can get today. The NAS isn't as wide as a regular 2-bay unit, but you get the ability to slot a total of eight M.2 SSDs — four on each side — making it a fantastic choice if you're ready to switch to fast SSD storage.

It is powered by Intel's i3 N305 and comes with 16GB of DDR5 memory, and it is one of the fastest NAS models I used this year. You get 10GbE connectivity as standard, and while there isn't Thunderbolt 4, the USB-C port allows a lot of extensibility down the line.

The software is much better than previous years as well, with TOS 6 providing a polished interface with plenty of useful features. There's a native Plex client, container management, and a host of utilities to back up data.

SSDs are affordable enough that you can legitimately build a NAS with only M.2 storage, and if you're interested in going that route, you need to get the F8 SSD Plus.

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How to choose

If you're looking for the best NAS for home use, the DiskStation DS225+ is a good choice if you're just starting out. Need more drive bays? The F4-424 Max is the ideal choice. If you want a NAS with an HDMI port to connect to your TV, the AS5402T is a good model to consider. The 2-bay NAS has powerful hardware and gives you great value for your money.

What is the best NAS drive for home use?

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. Seagate also makes 30TB IronWolf Pro drives now, but they're overkill if you're just looking at home use.

If I had to suggest a drive, it would be the Seagate IronWolf. I have over 150TB 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.

FAQ

Amazon's 48-hour Big Deal Days sale is now live, and there are enticing deals to be had if you're looking to pick up NAS storage drives or new servers. 

The best NAS servers allow you to seamlessly stream media, back up photos and videos, and so much more. Having a centralized storage hub makes things highly convenient, and honestly, my DiskStation DS1823xs+ is the storehouse for all the data that I value — photos, videos, documents, and my extensive media collection.

All the best NAS deals are now live, with the DiskStation DS224+ and DiskStation DS923+ down to their lowest prices yet. What's great about this time is that there are plenty of standout NAS drive deals as well, including a huge discount on Seagate's massive 24TB IronWolf Pro, which is down to $399. There are plenty of other deals available, so if you need a new server or are interested in picking up NAS drives, this is what you need to know. 

Quick links

• Amazon Prime Day — see top deals that are currently active
• Amazon Prime 30-day FREE trial: Most deals are Prime-exclusive 
• Synology DiskStation DS224+: $299 $239 at B&H Photo
• Synology DiskStation DS923+: $599 $479 at B&H Photo
• TerraMaster F4-423: $459 $367 at Amazon
• TerraMaster F2-424: $379 $303 at Amazon
• Asustor AS5304T 4-Bay NAS: $459 $365 at Amazon
• TerraMaster F4-424 Max 4-Bay NAS: $899 $799 with coupon at Amazon
• BUFFALO LinkStation 210 6TB 1-Bay NAS: $232 $209 at Amazon
• QNAP TS-462-4G-US 4-Bay NAS: $489 $417 at Amazon
• Buffalo LinkStation 220: $254 $229 at Amazon
• Seagate IronWolf 8TB NAS Drive: $159 $149 at Amazon
• Seagate IronWolf 12TB: $239 $199 at Amazon
• Seagate IronWolf Pro 16TB NAS Drive: $314 $249 at Amazon
• Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB NAS Drive: $649 $399 at Amazon
• WD Elements 16TB External Drive: $309 $239 at Amazon
• WD Elements 20TB External Drive: $349 $265 at Amazon
• WD Easystore 22TB External Drive: $509 $369 at Best Buy
• More NAS deals: Amazon | Newegg | Best Buy | Walmart 

Best NAS deals

Best NAS HDD deals

FAQ

Which NAS should I buy? 

The first question you need to ask yourself is how much storage you're going to need. That sets the basis for whether you should get a two-bay, four-bay, or a larger NAS server.

Synology is the largest manufacturer of NAS servers, and it sells dozens of products across various categories. Synology is known for its high-quality offerings, and its products are built to last. But the defining feature of Synology's NAS models is the software, with the web-based DiskStation Manager setting the standard for this category.

If this is the first NAS you're buying and you don't want to invest a lot of money into a server, the DS223j is a great starter choice. The DiskStation DS224+ is the upgrade pick if you want a powerful 2-bay home NAS, and if you're setting up a home Plex server, you should just get the DiskStation DS923+ instead. 

If you need multi-Gigabit connectivity, look to the TerraMaster F4-423; it has great hardware, good software, and plenty of configurability. 

How do I choose a hard drive for my NAS? 

Choosing the right hard drive for your NAS is just as vital as selecting the right enclosure. As NAS enclosures are designed to run 24/7, there are NAS-focused hard drives available in the market. These models feature vibration resistance and are designed to handle the stresses of a 24/7 environment, and differ from your regular hard drives.

Another factor to consider when choosing a NAS hard drive is the speed. HDDs are usually available in either 5400rpm or 7200rpm, and the latter delivers better performance because the spindle moves at 7,200 rounds per minute. I've used 5400rpm drives in NAS enclosures tailored for media streaming for years without any issues, but if you're building a more enthusiast-focused NAS and are looking for better performance, pick a model with a 7200rpm. 

There are several NAS-focused hard drive product lines, with WD Red Plus and Seagate IronWolf dominating the sales charts. With drives starting out at 1TB and going all the way to 20TB, there's no shortage of options available across either product line. I'd recommend the 8TB IronWolf if you're just starting out. 

When is October Prime Day?

Amazon's second Prime Day sale event of the year, Prime Big Deal Days begins on October 8th and runs through the 9th. 

Do I have to be a Prime member to buy products during Prime Day?

Yes, the vast majority of October Prime Day deals will only be available to Prime subscribers. If you're interested in buying products during the sale and you aren't a member just yet, we recommend taking advantage of Amazon's 30-day free trial so you can get the benefits of Prime Day without paying a cent. Alternatively, you could just wait and see if Amazon's biggest rivals will launch rival sales that don't require a membership. 

Whether you're planning to reorganize your vast media library or level up your storage setup, choosing the best NAS for Plex can be easier said than done. Fortunately, I've tested dozens of models over the years and can tell you what you should buy and where each option might need a little improvement. With Prime Day starting very soon, now is the best time to think about getting a new NAS.

In case you're unfamiliar, Plex is a terrific platform that lets you manage your media library with ease, and it offers a ton of useful extras for video playback. The best part is that the Plex client is available on just about every platform, making it straightforward to stream your content on any device — and from anywhere.

And you don't need to pay anything to get started. You can do plenty of other things with a NAS, including backing up photos and videos from all of your phones, setting up virtual machines, and accessing powerful productivity software that doesn't need any monthly fee.

Best overall NAS for Plex

If you're new to Plex and just want a NAS that lets you stream your media collection, you should just buy the UGREEN DXP2800. This 2-bay NAS has it all: powerful Intel hardware with transcoding in Plex, 8GB of RAM and a built-in SSD that houses the software, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and M.2 slots.

Honestly, there isn't anything missing. While the software isn't quite as extensive as what you get with other brands, that's a minor criticism; with containerization available, you can easily install just about any utility you need.

That's what makes the DXP2800 such a good choice; the hardware is leagues beyond what you get with the DiskStation DS225+, and there are no inherent limitations. That's why I'm confident in recommending the DXP2800 even though UGREEN is a relatively new entrant — the combination of hardware along with its sensible software policy makes it a great choice in 2026.

Best 4-bay NAS for Plex

Just like the DXP2800, the DXP4800 Pro stands unchallenged in the 4-bay NAS category. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this is the best 4-bay Plex server you can buy today.

It isn't just about the hardware either, even though that is a clear differentiator. With a powerful Intel Core i3-1315u platform, 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD, and M.2 slots, you don't miss out on anything. Then there's the 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity alongside a 2.5GbE port, and you start to see why the NAS is constantly at the top of NAS best-sellers lists.

The build quality is among the best around, it excels as a Plex server — I got several 4K transcodes running simultaneously without any issues — and it has all the software features you need. If you're using a NAS and are mulling an upgrade in 2026, there isn't a better choice than the DXP4800 Pro. Yes, it is costly at $719, but you're also getting hardware that puts the DiskStation DS925+ to shame.

Also great

ASUSTOR's AS5402T has one of the best hardware in its category, and the 2-bay NAS has everything you need in a Plex server. The Intel Celeron J5105 is outstanding in daily use; you get 4GB of RAM, four M.2 slots, and dual 2.5GbE ports as standard.

Interestingly, there's also an HDMI port at the back that lets you connect the NAS straight to your TV — a good option if you don't want to stream over the network.

Basically, the AS5402T doesn't have any hardware shortcomings, so if you want multi-Gigabit connectivity and plenty of M.2 bays, the NAS is the way to go. The Celeron J5105 is great at transcodes too, so if you have Plex Pass, you can use hardware transcodes on devices that can't natively play back content.

The ADM software is decent, too; you get a native Plex client, containerization, and a ton of useful utilities. The interface isn't quite as polished as DSM, and the mobile clients aren't as refined, but on the whole, ASUSTOR is doing a good job on the software side of things as well.

The AS5402T has better hardware than other 2-bay servers in this segment, so if that is your main consideration, you'll find plenty to like with the NAS.

Best high-end NAS for Plex

Want a high-end NAS that holds 10 drives in total? You need the ZimaCube 2. This is a seriously powerful NAS with so many extras that you don't get anywhere else. Let's start with the hardware: it has an Intel i3-1215 platform, dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, four M.2 slots in addition to six HDDs, and the ability to slot in 64GB of RAM and a network card if you want 10GbE.

Oh, and there's dual Thunderbolt 4 connectivity as well. I tested the original ZimaCube when it came out, and the ZimaCube 2 brings a lot of welcome upgrades. The software is pretty great too, and honestly, you get a lot of extensibility that you just don't find with other models.

The ZimaCube 2 is a terrific Plex server, and it handles 4K transcodes without breaking a sweat. The design may not be to everyone's tastes, but the ventilation is good, and you get good thermal management. If you're willing to try out a relatively new brand, you'll like what the ZimaCube 2 has to offer.

Best software

Look, I'm adding the DiskStation DS925+ to this list as it continues to deliver the best software features out of the box. If you have Plex Pass and regularly rely on hardware transcoding, you should get the DXP4800 Pro instead — it costs about the same, and will serve you better.

The reason for including the DS925+ is simple; it has the best software around, and that's a big draw if you don't want transcoding and are looking for a NAS that handles the basics.

Beyond that, I like that the NAS has dual 2.5 Gigabit ports — it has been a long time coming. The hardware as such isn't as powerful as what you get with most 4-bay models now, but it has proven reliability.

Best budget NAS for Plex

The DiskStation DS223j doesn't have powerful hardware, but it still manages to do a great job when it comes to Plex. You can install the native Plex client and stream content to devices on your home network, but the Realtek hardware doesn't have transcoding.

You may think 1GB of RAM is too low, but it's more than adequate for the DSM software, and it is double that of its predecessor — the DiskStation DS220j — offered. As it is an entry-level model, the DS223j doesn't have any upgradability; the RAM modules are soldered, and you can't add multi-Gigabit connectivity.

That said, if you just need an affordable NAS to store your media collection and back up photos and videos, the DS223j is a good choice. The DSM software is easily the best in this category, and while you don't get the more advanced features, all the basics are covered.

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Best NAS for Plex FAQ

What makes Plex such a good media server?

As a high-level overview, Plex is a free media server utility that catalogs your media collection and makes it available for streaming on all of the connected devices in your home.

It is often considered the best media server around, and for good reason. First up is the fact that it's available on just about any ecosystem: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Android TV, all streaming dongles, and most smart TVs. Basically, you can install Plex on all the devices you own.

Plex also does a great job of organizing media. It sorts your music, movies, and TV shows into relevant categories and automatically adds high-resolution album art, covers, trailers, and metadata. Also, because the content is streamed locally on your home network, it doesn't count toward your internet bandwidth usage.

What is Plex transcode, and how does it work?

The biggest reason for Plex's dominance is that it can play any file on any device. Plex has a powerful transcoding service baked in, and if you have the paid Plex Pass plan, you can unlock hardware acceleration — that makes a huge difference for transcoding 4K files.

Even if you're using an iPhone, iPad, Amazon tablet, an older smart TV, or an Android phone, you can confidently play your media library on any device without any issues. Plex handles transcodes automatically, so there's no intervention needed from your side — and that makes it a fantastic media streaming service.

Plex streaming generally falls into three categories:

• Direct Play: This is when the Plex client (your TV or streaming box) natively handles the video container and just streams the file as-is without any issues. This uses minimal resources.
• Direct Stream: In this scenario, the client device you're using can play the video and audio streams, but does not work with the container (like .mkv or .m4a), so Plex will copy those streams to a compatible container and send them to your device. This mode uses few resources and isn't demanding on the server.
• Transcode: Plex will transcode files when a client device cannot play the video or audio streams, converting them into a file that can be played on the device. This is due to the lack of audio or video codecs (H.265, HEVC, H.264) on the client device. This is the most CPU-intensive option and needs a powerful NAS.

How to choose

There are a few things you'll need to pay attention to if you're interested in a Plex NAS.

CPU

This is a key consideration when choosing a Plex NAS, as you'll need a powerful CPU for transcodes. Most servers over $400 meet this criterion, but as a general rule, you'll need a recent Intel chipset.

Celeron models are good for home use, but if you're sharing your Plex server with friends and family and need more bandwidth, you'll need to look at servers featuring Intel Core hardware.

While AMD has made inroads into the NAS category, Intel is still king here. If you want the ability to transcode 4K content in Plex, you'll need to buy a NAS server with a recent-gen Intel Celeron or Core CPU.

Memory

Basically, you'll need a decent amount of RAM to avoid bottlenecks. Plex isn't memory-intensive, but if you have many other services running on the NAS, it could become an issue.

Generally, 2GB of RAM is the bare minimum in this category, and if you're looking to run a lot of services, I'd suggest getting an 8GB memory module and slotting it in.

Most NAS servers let you upgrade the RAM with ease, so you shouldn't have any issues slotting in 8GB or more memory within the server, should you need it.

Connectivity

Most NAS servers have two Gigabit ports as standard, and that should be adequate for home use. But if you're sharing your Plex instance and need additional bandwidth, you should consider a server with 2.5 GbE or even 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.

That said, if you switch to a NAS with multi-Gigabit connectivity, you'll need to upgrade your switch and router to take full advantage of the additional bandwidth. It isn't as costly as it used to be to switch to a 10GbE home network, but you'll still need to factor in those additional costs.

For now, Gigabit Ethernet is more than adequate for handling a few Plex 4K streams without any issues.

Some NAS models feature an HDMI port that lets you connect the server to a TV or monitor. This is useful because you can then play media stored on the NAS directly, without having to stream it wirelessly over your home network.

What is the best Plex server?

There are plenty of options if you want the best NAS for home use, and you can choose between entry-level picks with a single or two drive bays and four-bay models designed to last.

But if you're on the best Plex server, there are a few additional points to consider. For one thing, Plex transcoding is very CPU-intensive, so you will need to look for NAS enclosures with a powerful chipset.

Thankfully, the biggest NAS manufacturers — Synology, UGREEN, TerraMaster, and ASUSTOR — offer models tailored for Plex media streaming.

Which Plex NAS should you buy?

Right now, if you're looking to pick up a NAS for Plex streaming, the best option is the UGREEN DXP2800. The internal hardware makes it an enticing model in this category, and with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity and good software, the NAS has all the basics covered.

The ZimaCube 2 is my recommendation if you need up to 10 drive bays across HDDs and SSDs. Otherwise, the DXP4800 Pro is the obvious choice if you want a powerful 4-bay Plex server.

How we test

Our testing methodology for the best Plex server

There are a few things I consider when deciding what NAS servers to recommend for Plex streaming. First up is the CPU; I run a few synthetic tests to determine its performance potential, looking at single and multi-core scores.

Then I set up a native Plex install on the NAS and run multimedia streaming tests to see resource usage in real-world scenarios when streaming 720p, 1080p, and 4K files on the local network.

I also evaluate transcoding potential by streaming a 4K file to a device that doesn't handle the native container — this is a great way to determine if the NAS can handle on-the-fly transcodes for 4K files with high bitrates.

Finally, I look at sequential read/write potential by transferring an image library containing over 5,000 files (all under 1MB), and a dozen media files over 1GB in size.

Ultimately, the best Plex server needs to be able to stream your local media library to all devices on your home network (and over the internet), and it should be able to do so consistently for several years.

All of the NAS models highlighted in this post can do just that, so if you're looking to get your hands on a Plex NAS server, you can go ahead and pick up any models in this list with confidence.

Prime Day is the best time to pick up storage servers and hard drives, and that's true this year as well. I usually suggest Synology as the brand has the best software feature-set in the industry, and best-sellers like the DiskStation DS224+ and DiskStation DS923+ are down to their lowest price right now. 

So if you're interested in upgrading an existing NAS server or looking to get started with this category, these are my Prime Day recommendations.

Synology DiskStation DS223j

The DiskStation DS223j is my go-to choice for anyone looking to venture into NAS servers. The budget 2-bay NAS doesn't have the best hardware, but it is an affordable gateway to the brand's terrific software, and that alone is worth the asking price.

Here's an easy way to position the DS223j; say you're mulling the idea of getting a home server to back up photos and documents, and you also want to stream media from a centralized location. You don't need an extensive feature-set, but want something that can handle the basics with ease. This is where the DS223j excels — the NAS makes it effortless to get started with home servers, and is a great starting point if you're new to the ecosystem.

Synology DiskStation DS224+

If you got a NAS and want to upgrade, the DiskStation DS224+ is the way to go. This 2-bay NAS has great hardware, and gives you access to the entire suite of features available with the DiskStation Manager software. Thanks to the Intel Celeron J4125, the DS224+ is a powerhouse of a NAS when it comes to Plex media streaming.

It doesn't quite have all the extras that you get with mid-range NAS servers — like multi-Gigabit connectivity and M.2 slots — but if you want a 2-bay NAS server that has power to spare, you should just buy the DS224+.

The NAS launched 15 months ago, and with its successor still at least the same amount of time away, the DS224+ is the default choice if you need a powerful 2-bay server.

Synology DiskStation DS923+

Need more than two drive bays? Then your search ends at the DiskStation DS923+. This NAS is powered by AMD's Ryzen R1600 platform, has 4GB of RAM, two M.2 slots, and comes with a slot that lets you add in a 10GbE networking port should you need multi-Gigabit connectivity down the line.

Basically, the DS923+ is the best NAS you can get in the mid-range segment, and to give you an idea of the demand it commands, it was regularly out of stock several months after it launched.

TerraMaster F4-423

TerraMaster is slowly gaining momentum, and the F4-423 has one of the best packages around. But the bigger deal is that the brand finally rolled out a new iteration of its UI, and it is modern and significantly easier to use. That's a good thing, because it was the software that held the NAS back in the past.

Thankfully, there isn't anything missing when it comes to the hardware; you get an Intel Celeron N5095, two 2.5GbE ports, 4GB of RAM, dual M.2 slots, and four drive bays that can hold a total of 80TB of storage. 

NAS HDDs

Prime Day isn't just a great time to buy a server, but also the ideal window to pick up hard drives. Most NAS-focused hard drives will be heavily discounted next month, and if you're looking to boost storage in your existing server or get drives to slot into a new NAS, there will be plenty of deals.

I've always recommended Seagate's IronWolf drives, and that's continuing in 2024. My older 14TB IronWolf Pro drives lasted well over 50,000 hours before I switched over to a new server, and they combine 24/7 reliability with fast transfers and long-term durability — everything you need in a NAS HDD.

Prime Day is just around the corner, and although we don't know when Amazon's summer sales extravaganza kicks off, it will be sometime in July — just like previous years. We are already seeing early Prime Day deals, but a majority of deals will only go live as we get closer to the sales event.

I usually highlight Prime Day deals as and when they go live, but this time, I wanted to do things a little differently; in this post, I'll serve up recommendations on NAS servers worthy of consideration. At this point, I don't know if the servers listed below will go on sale during Prime Day, but I've been covering storage products for the better part of a decade now, and I have a good inkling of the servers that tend to get discounted.

Previous sales also offer up valuable data in this regard; the DiskStation DS923+ and DS723+ were heavily discounted during Prime Day 2023, and that's likely to be the case this time as well. With NAS servers having a longer product lifecycle than phones, it's not that hard to gauge what goes on sale.

Prime Day is usually the best time to pick up storage servers and hard drives, and I don't see that changing in 2024. So if you're interested in upgrading an existing NAS server or looking to get started with this category, these are my current recommendations.

ASUSTOR AS5402T

ASUSTOR's 2-bay AS5402T is easily one of the best home NAS servers I used over the course of the last 12 months. It has one of the best hardware packages in this segment thanks to an Intel Celeron N5105, 4GB of RAM, dual 2.5GbE ports, and three USB ports. The best part is that you get four M.2 slots in addition to the two 3.5-inch hard drive bays, so if you're interested in adding fast SSD storage to your home server, this is the ideal choice.

ASUSTOR is also doing a lot of the right things on the software side of things, and the AS5402T has a decent interface with a ton of useful features. It isn't the most refined UI around, but you can easily back up data and stream media via Plex without any issues. ASUSTOR needs to retune its mobile efforts as its current offerings don't quite measure up, but on the whole, the AS5402T ticks all the right boxes if you want a full-featured Plex NAS.

The AS5402T usually retails for $369, and that's decent in its own right, but if it's discounted by anywhere close to the 20% mark, it becomes an instant buy.

Synology DiskStation DS223j

The DiskStation DS223j is my go-to choice for anyone looking to venture into NAS servers. The budget 2-bay NAS doesn't have the best hardware, but it is an affordable gateway to the brand's terrific software, and that alone is worth the asking price.

Here's an easy way to position the DS223j; say you're mulling the idea of getting a home server to back up photos and documents, and you also want to stream media from a centralized location. You don't need an extensive feature-set, but want something that can handle the basics with ease. This is where the DS223j excels — the NAS makes it effortless to get started with home servers, and is a great starting point if you're new to the ecosystem.

Synology DiskStation DS224+

If you got a NAS and want to upgrade, the DiskStation DS224+ is the way to go. This 2-bay NAS has great hardware, and gives you access to the entire suite of features available with the DiskStation Manager software. Thanks to the Intel Celeron J4125, the DS224+ is a powerhouse of a NAS when it comes to Plex media streaming.

It doesn't quite have all the extras that you get with mid-range NAS servers — like multi-Gigabit connectivity and M.2 slots — but if you want a 2-bay NAS server that has power to spare, you should just buy the DS224+.

The NAS launched 15 months ago, and with its successor still at least the same amount of time away, the DS224+ is the default choice if you need a powerful 2-bay server.

Synology DiskStation DS923+

Need more than two drive bays? Then your search ends at the DiskStation DS923+. This NAS is powered by AMD's Ryzen R1600 platform, has 4GB of RAM, two M.2 slots, and comes with a slot that lets you add in a 10GbE networking port should you need multi-Gigabit connectivity down the line.

Basically, the DS923+ is the best NAS you can get in the mid-range segment, and to give you an idea of the demand it commands, it was regularly out of stock several months after it launched.

TerraMaster F4-423

TerraMaster is slowly gaining momentum, and the $459 F4-423 has one of the best packages around. But the bigger deal is that the brand finally rolled out a new iteration of its UI, and it is modern and significantly easier to use. That's a good thing, because it was the software that held the NAS back in the past.

Thankfully, there isn't anything missing when it comes to the hardware; you get an Intel Celeron N5095, two 2.5GbE ports, 4GB of RAM, dual M.2 slots, and four drive bays that can hold a total of 80TB of storage. 

NAS HDDs

Prime Day isn't just a great time to buy a server, but also the ideal window to pick up hard drives. Most NAS-focused hard drives will be heavily discounted next month, and if you're looking to boost storage in your existing server or get drives to slot into a new NAS, there will be plenty of deals.

I've always recommended Seagate's IronWolf drives, and that's continuing in 2024. My older 14TB IronWolf Pro drives lasted well over 50,000 hours before I switched over to a new server, and they combine 24/7 reliability with fast transfers and long-term durability — everything you need in a NAS HDD.

UGREEN is known for its GaN chargers and power banks, and over the last 12 months the Chinese manufacturer branched out into docking stations, power stations, and a variety of accessories. Now, UGREEN is making its debut into what is possibly its most ambitious category yet: NAS servers.

Dubbed the NASync series, UGREEN is rolling out six models at launch: a 2-bay DXP2800, 4-bay DXP4800 and DXP4800 Plus (which I'm reviewing), a 6-bay DXP6800 Pro, an 8-bay DXP8800 Plus, and a 4-bay DXP480T Plus that uses all-flash storage. The 2-bay and 4-bay models are aimed at home users, with the 6-bay and 8-bay servers targeted at businesses and enthusiast users. I'll get to the Pro models a little later, and considering they have Intel Core i5 hardware, there's clearly a lot on offer.

But right now, it's the DXP4800 Plus that stands out in the brand's portfolio. This 4-bay NAS is powered by the Intel's Alder Lake-based Pentium Gold 8505, comes with 8GB of RAM as standard, has a 128GB SSD installed out of the box, and has four HDD drive bays in addition to two M.2 slots. And there's a 10GbE port along with a 2.5GbE port at the back, and there really isn't much missing on the hardware side of things.

What you'll really like is the pricing; UGREEN is taking the unconventional route of crowdfunding, and the DXP4800 Plus can be bought for just $419 as a result. I can't think of another 4-bay NAS with this caliber of hardware that's available for under $550, and while there's usually a downside to backing a relative unknown brand, UGREEN has its bases covered.

I used the DXP4800 Plus for just over two weeks, and here's why you should consider the NAS server if you're looking to upgrade. 

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus: Pricing and release date

UGREEN unveiled the NASync series on March 26, and the products are now available on Kickstarter. You can back the DXP4800 Plus for $419, and UGREEN mentions that the retail model will debut at $699 once it starts selling on its website and Amazon.

There's a standard DXP4800 that is powered by the Intel N100 platform, and it comes with the same four drive bays and two NVMe slots, but you get dual 2.5GbE ports instead. There's 8GB of RAM, 32GB of eMMC storage, and the same set of ports as the Plus model. The DXP4800 is going for $359, and it will cost $599 at retail.

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus: Design

UGREEN's products have a distinct design aesthetic, with the brand favoring a metallic grey color scheme. The DXP4800 Plus has a similar aesthetic, and it ends up looking elegant. The chassis is made out of aluminum, and it is clearly built to last — it has a reassuring heft to it.

I would have liked to see vented sides to deliver passive airflow, but other than that quibble, I don't have any issues on the design front. The drive trays are numbered, and there's a single fan at the back that's covered by a dust filter. While most NAS servers use this fan as the exhaust, it works as an intake on the DXP4800 Plus, with hot air blowing out the front in between the drive trays. The fan itself is quiet, and it isn't audible even when the NAS is under load; the HDDs are noisier by some margin.

Talking about HDDs, the DXP4800 Plus has four drive bays, and you can easily install 3.5-inch drives without any tools. UGREEN has a pretty cool mechanism that uses a lever to extend the height of the drive tray, allowing you to slot in an HDD. It is an overengineered solution to a problem that didn't need solving, but it looks cool nonetheless.

I don't see any slots for mounting a 2.5-inch SATA SSD, so if you're thinking of using flash storage, you'll need to rely on the dual M.2 slots that are located at the underside. The power button is located below the drive bays, and you get status LEDs next to it; there's also an SD card reader, a USB-C, and USB-A connectivity at the front.

There's UGREEN branding on both sides, but it meshes into the design and is barely noticeable. On the whole, I think UGREEN did a great job with the design of the DXP4800 Plus, and the NAS server looks good and has excellent build quality.

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus: Connectivity and hardware

Coming to connectivity, there's plenty to like on the DXP4800 Plus. There are dual USB 2.0 ports along with a USB 3.2 port at the back, and you get an HDMI port that lets you connect the NAS to a TV. You can always stream media from the NAS via DLNA, but HDMI makes things easier.

The DXP4800 Plus has a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port alongside a 10 Gigabit port, and you don't really see many enclosures in this segment that have 10GbE connectivity. Like I said, there really isn't much missing in this area.

The NAS comes with 8GB of RAM as standard, and there are two SO-DIMM slots on the underside, so you can easily add more memory should you wish to do so. The system is able to handle up to 64GB of RAM — 32GB in each slot — so there's no shortage of upgradability. You also get two M.2 2280 slots on the underside, and UGREEN bundled foam pads that do a good job managing thermals when you install an SSD.

You also get two Cat7 cables in the package, and that's an added bonus. The DXP4800 Plus is quite heavy on its own, but UGREEN uses an external power brick to drive the NAS.

As for the hardware, the DXP4800 Plus has what is arguably the best package in this segment. Intel's Pentium Gold 8505 is a tier above the Celeron N4125 and N5105 that's used in most NAS servers these days, and it has plenty of power to spare. As the software isn't quite ready just yet, I'm not going to share detailed performance metrics — I'll do so in an update.

That said, I transferred several hundred Gigabytes of data to the NAS and used it with M.2 SSDs over my 10GbE home network, and it handled transfers just as well as other 10GbE NAS servers I tested. There were two instances where the SMB share failed to show up, but a reboot solved the issue.

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus: Software

UGREEN sent me the DXP4800 Plus two weeks ahead of its Kickstarter debut, and the brand mentioned that the software is still in beta. That's an understatement; there are many issues with the UI, and weird translation errors throughout the interface, and it isn't close to being ready for consumer use as of writing.

That said, the UI itself looks clean, and it's clear that UGREEN is trying to emulate DiskStation Manager. Synology is the brand to beat in this area, so it's good to see UGREEN trying to copy from the best. Considering the state of the software, I'm not going into too much detail, but you get a settings page that lets you tweak the fan settings, add and change user accounts, set up storage pools, and so on.

There's remote access as well, and you need a UGREEN cloud account to access the NAS from outside your home network. However, there's no way to enable 2FA on the account, so I wouldn't suggest setting it up until that feature is live. Also, while I created an account and signed in on day one, I wasn't able to get back in the next day — I had to register again using the same email address.

There's no icon management on the home screen, and other than dragging the icons around, you can't change much. The package center doesn't have many utilities; the Universal Search does a good job indexing the data stored on the NAS and pulling up useful information, but there is no native Plex client as of writing, or Docker containerization.

You don't even get a built-in media or audio service, and UGREEN notes that these are being added. While I didn't have any issues creating a storage pool with Seagate IronWolf drives, I got an error message a few days later stating the drives are incompatible; UGREEN said it won't impose any limitations around HDD use, and that all NAS HDDs should work without any issues.

I'll revisit this section once UGREEN rolls out software updates to the NAS, but as of now, know that the DXP4800 Plus doesn't have much to offer from a software point of view.

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus: The competition

ASUSTOR's AS5404T is a good choice if you want a 4-bay NAS with powerful hardware and the ability to transcode Plex content. It is powered by the Intel Celeron N5105 platform, has 4GB of RAM, four M.2 slots, and dual 2.5GbE connectivity. ASUSTOR made a lot of changes to its software in the last 12 months, and you get a good UI along with a ton of useful features. Coming in at $529, the AS5404T is costlier than the DXP4800 Plus, and you miss out on 10GbE connectivity.

If you need the best software features, the DiskStation DS923+ is still a terrific choice. That said, the hardware is distinctly second-best; you only get Gigabit Ethernet ports, and while the Ryzen R1600 is plenty fast, it doesn't do transcodes. Retailing for $599, the DS923+ is considerably costlier, and while you don't get the best hardware, the software is why you're paying a premium.

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

• You want the best 4-bay NAS hardware
• You need 10GbE connectivity
• You want the convenience of HDD storage as well as M.2 slots
• You need plenty of memory and an easy way to upgrade down the line

You shouldn't buy this if:

• You want a native Plex client and Docker out of the box
• You need secure remote access

Overall, UGREEN has a strong showing with its NASync series, and the DXP4800 Plus has the potential to be one of the best 4-bay NAS servers around. The hardware clearly is in a league of its own, and you don't get the same feature-set on any other $500 NAS today. The fact that it features an Intel 8505 platform along with 10GbE connectivity gives the DXP4800 Plus a distinct edge.

The build quality is on par with the best home NAS servers, the enclosure is quiet in daily use, and 8GB of RAM is more than what you get in this segment. That said, UGREEN still needs to do a lot of work on the software front; there's no native Plex client or Docker containerization, and UGOS Pro is missing a built-in media and audio servers.

UGREEN clearly states that the software is in beta, and that it will roll out updates with new features in the coming weeks. I'll update this post once those features go live, but the little I've seen on the software shows a lot of promise. While I'm generally wary of recommending crowdfunded products, UGREEN is a brand with a proven history of delivering reliable products — I use its GaN chargers and docks throughout my home — so I'm willing to recommend the DXP4800 Plus.

If you don't mind waiting a few weeks for the software features, the DXP4800 Plus is an easy recommendation at $419 — there's nothing else in this segment that gives you as good a value.

The 3-2-1 backup rule has been around for over two decades, and it states that you need to store three copies of your data across two different kinds of media, and one at an offsite location. While this strategy made a lot of sense when it was introduced, data usage has changed considerably over the last two decades; these days, it's incredibly easy to put your data on a public cloud service and have it accessible from anywhere.

The downside to relying on public cloud providers is privacy — you don't have much say where your data is stored. So when I was strategizing on how to back up my data, I came up with a modified version of the 3-2-1 rule that made the most amount of sense for my particular use case. I'll start by saying that I have outsized storage requirements that are definitely not the norm — I currently use over 300TB of storage.

Out of that 300TB, just over 100TB is the actual data; it consists of all the photos and videos that my wife and I have taken over the past decade, a sizeable music library, and our media collection. The primary storehouse of the data is a DiskStation DS1823xs+ with seven NAS HDDs, totaling 128TB of storage. I then back up the NAS to a DiskStation DS3622xs+, which has a dozen 12TB drives.

The third copy of this data is on an older DiskStation DS1019+; this was my primary home NAS until a few months ago, until I decided to switch to the DS1823xs+. As I was using brand-new HDDs in the DS1823xs+, I just left the DS1019+ and its data intact; I intend to move it to my parents house in a few weeks, and it will serve as the default offsite backup.

The missing piece of the puzzle is a cloud backup solution; I used Google Workspace until the end of last year to back up all the data from the DS1019+ to the cloud, which was encrypted with Hyper Backup. This was possible as Google didn't enforce any data limits with Workspace accounts — making the $20 monthly fee the best deal in the world of backups — but that isn't the case now.

I still use Google Photos to back up photos taken from phones, but other than that and storing documents in Drive, I don't have much need of cloud storage. Even if I decided to back up all that data, it would be absurdly costly to do so. 

Utilities like Tailscale make it extremely easy to access a NAS from anywhere, and with the sheer amount of data I have, it just doesn't make sense to back up to a cloud provider. Also, every time I consider storing data on a remote server, I'm reminded of this quote from Dune: "The power to destroy a thing is the absolute control over it."

Technically, the 3-2-1 rule mentions you need to store data in two different media types, but that's unnecessary for my own needs, so I use mechanical hard drives throughout. Flash storage is still too costly, but I am considering picking up a quartet of 4TB WD Red NVMe drives and seeing how they hold up.

I know it's not feasible for everyone to store data in three different locations, but it makes sense to at least back up data to an external medium. This is one of the biggest selling points of a NAS, and the best home NAS servers make it easier than ever to store your data and media collection in a centralized location. 

But if you don't want to go that route, I recommend an external SSD; the Crucial X9 Pro is the one I use the most, and the 4TB variant is going for as low as $259. 

You don't need to spend a ton of cash if you just want centralized local storage; there are plenty of cheap NAS servers that get the job done for much less than you might imagine. And with Prime Day 2026 just around the corner, this is the best time to consider upgrading to a local server. Most of the NAS models listed below should get decent deals, and I'll be highlighting these as soon as they go live.

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) server is a great way to store your data in a centralized location. Most servers have powerful software features that let you stream content on all the devices on your home network, back up photos and videos from connected phones, and so much more.

Think of a NAS as a private cloud solution; instead of your data being stored in a remote cloud server somewhere — which is the case with public cloud providers like Google Drive and Apple iCloud — you essentially have full control of it, and that means you get guaranteed privacy. NAS servers have evolved considerably in the last three years, and you get plenty of options these days that offer robust hardware and multi-Gigabit connectivity on a budget. I test NAS servers extensively and used most models that launched in the last ten years, so if you're interested in setting up a budget home NAS, these are the best servers currently available.

At a glance

Best overall

Synology makes the best home NAS servers, and the brand is particularly great in the budget segment, where it continues to deliver a standout value. The DiskStation DS223j is the best-seller in brand's value-focused portfolio, and it combines a stylish design with a few upgrades. The NAS comes with 1GB of RAM as standard, and that's double that of its predecessor, the DiskStation DS220j. While the DS23j is a few years old at this point, it's still a great choice if you're looking to test the waters in 2026 and want an entry-level NAS.

When I reviewed the DiskStation DS223j, I found the additional memory to be the biggest differentiator in daily use; it gives the NAS much better headroom to run demanding software utilities. While costlier NAS models let you upgrade the RAM if you want to add more down the line, that isn't possible here — the RAM is soldered to the mainboard, and there's no way to increase it beyond 1GB.

While it isn't enough on a phone, 1GB of memory is adequate to run the brand's DiskStation Manager (DSM) software. And while the DS223j has decent hardware — the Realtek chip is fast, you get a single Gigabit Ethernet port — it's really the software that makes the NAS stand out over its rivals.

You get a polished interface, plenty of useful software features like Synology Photos and DS Audio/DS Video that make it effortlessly easy to back up photos and videos from your phones to the NAS, and then stream your media collection and audio library to any device on your home network. The best part is that you can easily connect to the NAS even when you're outside your home.

The DS223j doesn't have much in the way of upgradability, and the hardware is on the lower end of the scale. That said, it is a fantastic value at $189, and it is the ideal starter NAS to test the waters.

The runner-up

The DiskStation DS223 is the next step up within Synology's portfolio, and it uses a different design aesthetic that delivers good passive and active cooling. This NAS is also powered by the same Realtek hardware as the DS223j, but you get 2GB of RAM, allowing it to stand out just that bit more. There should be a new model in this series sometime later this year, but for now, the DS223 is the best choice if you need an affordable NAS — or you can switch to the DS225+ that's highlighted a little below in this guide.

In my DiskStation DS223 review, I called the NAS the best value in this segment. The increased memory combined with the easier-to-use design with slide-out drive bays make the DS223 a great choice, and while you don't get containerization, most of the software features that you get in DiskStation Manager are intact.

The DS223 does a good job with Plex as well, provided you don't need hardware transcoding. The streaming platform has a native client, and setting it up is about as straightforward as it gets. And just like the DS223j, you can easily store your photos, videos, and other data on the NAS with relative ease, and there are terrific mobile apps that provide access to that data from anywhere in the world.

Best connectivity

UGREEN is clearly onto a winner with the DXP2800. This 2-bay NAS is powered by Intel's N100 platform, and it is noticeably better than the usual Celeron-powered models that are standard in this category. You also get 8GB of RAM as standard, and that's good to see.

The NAS is costlier than other options on this list, but you get the best build quality thanks to an aluminum alloy chassis, and there's 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity at the back. The switch to multi-Gigabit connectivity makes the DXP2800 the best choice if you have transfer-intensive use cases, and it does a fantastic job in this area.

The two drive bays can slot in regular 3.5-inch HDDs, and if you really want to take full advantage of the NAS, there are two M.2 slots where you can install NVMe drives. The UGOS Pro software has the basics, and while you don't get as many utilities as other brands, Docker integration allows you to install just about any service you might need.

There's also the convenience of installing TrueNAS if that's something of interest. The combination of hardware and connectivity means the DXP2800 is a standout choice if you want 2.5GbE networking.

Best software

The DiskStation DS225+ comes with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, addressing the biggest pain point of its predecessor, the DiskStation DS224+. You still don't get any M.2 slots, and if that's something you absolutely need, you should just get the UGREEN DXP2800 instead.

The DS225+ doesn't change things too much, and that's a good thing. You get the same design, the same features, and the same Intel platform. What's annoying, though, is that the long-standing hardware transcoding feature is not available natively on the DS225+, and that's due to a driver that isn't enabled. You can install the driver on your own and use the feature again, but it is a needless hassle that could have easily been avoided.

Another potential issue at launch was around HDD use; the DS225+ was initially limited to just Synology's drives, but that is not the case in 2026. I used Seagate's IronWolf drives with the NAS and didn't see any issues whatsoever.

The biggest reason to buy the NAS is the software; the DSM 7.3 build doesn't have too many new features, but it continues to dominate thanks to the level of polish and tight integration with services you actually use. All things considered, the DS225+ is a great choice if you want a NAS with the best software.

Best value

The BeeStation isn't a NAS in the technical sense of the word, but it offers a reliable way to back up data, and is easier to set up and use than a traditional NAS. It houses a 4TB hard drive within a plastic shell, and you get a Gigabit Ethernet port at the back.

It doesn't have DiskStation Manager; instead, you get barebones software that is designed to back up files and photos and videos — that's it. There is no way to store media on the NAS and stream it using Plex, so if that's what you're after, you should consider one of the other alternatives on this list.

But if you don't want a full-fledged NAS and are instead looking to just get an all-in-one solution to store photos and videos that you take on your phone and back up data from your Windows or macOS machine, you should consider the BeeStation. The product is similar to Western Digital's My Cloud series, and is aimed at users just looking for an affordable way to back up data without investing in a traditional NAS.

The biggest draw with the BeeStation is the ease-of-use and value; it costs just $219, and that includes a 4TB drive designed for 24/7 use. Head to my BeeStation review if you're interested in seeing more about the software before you make up your mind.

Upgrade pick

ASUSTOR's AS5402T isn't exactly affordable, but it has one of the best overall packages in this segment. The NAS has two drive bays, but what's great is that you get four M.2 slots, so if you're looking to augment traditional HDD storage with fast NVMe drives, this is the best way to do so.

As I noted in my AS5402T review, the NAS is powered by Intel's Celeron J5105 platform, and it does a terrific job as a Plex server — better than most of the models listed here. You also get 4GB of RAM as standard, two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and there's an HDMI port at the back that lets you connect the NAS to a TV.

ASUSTOR ticked all the boxes when it comes to the hardware, and there is a lot to like with the software as well. While the UI isn't as polished or sleek as DSM, you get an extensive set of features, and ASUSTOR tightened up the security of its servers.

If you want a budget NAS with the best hardware potential and the ability to use M.2 drives down the line, there isn't a better choice than the AS5402T. It is closer to mid-range territory than most of the models in this list, but you are getting a lot of value regardless.

Honorable mentions

I extensively tested the products listed above, but there are a few options in this category that I haven't gotten to yet but still think are a good choice, and I'm highlighting those in this section.

How to choose

If you're not sure about which model to pick, there are a few things to note. Ideally, a 2-bay NAS is going to be more than adequate if you haven't used a home server in the past; you can load it up with two 4TB or 8TB drives and have plenty of storage for all of your media, photos, videos, documents, and any other data.

My current go-to choice in this category is the DiskStation DS223j; this 2-bay NAS has decent hardware, and there are no issues in daily use. The biggest advantage is that you get to use all the software features available in DSM, and more often than not, the DS223j is the gateway to costlier models, such as the DiskStation DS925+ and the DS1823xs+.

If you want better connectivity options, the DXP2800 is the ideal choice. Multi-gig connectivity in this category is a huge deal, and while the NAS doesn't have polished software, UGREEN is doing a much better job in this area, and you get a great all-rounder.

And if it's high-end hardware you're looking for, you should just get the AS5402T. ASUSTOR did a wonderful job with the 2-bay server, and it delivers everything you need in a starter NAS, and then some: just the fact that you get four M.2 slots is an achievement. If you think you may need more than two HDD drive bays, ASUSTOR also sells a 4-bay version of the AS5402T, dubbed the AS5404T.

Ultimately, if you're just getting started out, you can't go wrong with any of the products listed in this guide.

How we test

I've been using NAS servers for the better part of a decade, and in that time, I've used several dozen products. I have a 10GbE home network with over 500TB of active storage, and I use all NAS devices from major manufacturers extensively.

When testing a new NAS, I slot in fresh drives designed to be used 24/7. The brand sending the product usually provides NAS-focused HDDs to test, but I also have several IronWolf drives on hand that I use solely for testing.

I integrate new NAS servers into my existing home network, and use each product for at least two weeks before starting a review. I conduct rigorous testing, including seeing how the servers hold up at basic tasks like backing up data and streaming video to connected devices, to advanced productivity use cases, VM instances, and high-availability tasks.

ASUSTOR is looking to reinvent its NAS portfolio with the Nimbustor 2 Gen2 AS5402T, and the 2-bay NAS gets a lot right. It uses Intel's proven hardware platform, has four M.2 slots — more than any other NAS in this segment — and comes with 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.

The biggest issue with ASUSTOR servers in the past was the software, and the brand was the target of a ransomware attack two years ago. So it overhauled the software, beefed up its security measures, and rolled out a ton of new useful features.

ASUSTOR is betting on value to get potential customers to pick up the AS5402T over other products in this segment, and this is the best hardware package of any 2-bay NAS in the sub-$500 category. I used the AS5402T for just over three months, and here's why I think it has a lot of potential.

ASUSTOR AS5402T: Pricing and specs

ASUSTOR unveiled the AS5402T alongside the 4-bay AS5404T back in May 2023, and the NAS is now available globally. The AS5402T retails for $369 on Amazon in the U.S., and it is available from all major retailers. Over in the U.K., the NAS costs £374 ($473). ASUSTOR offers a three-year warranty as standard with the NAS. Calling a product Nimbustor 2 Gen2 AS5402T gets annoying really quickly, so I'm just going to refer to it as the AS5402T in the rest of the review.

ASUSTOR AS5402T: Design

NAS manufacturers don't usually change the design of their products, and that is the case with the AS5402T as well. It has the same design language as ASUSTOR's earlier offerings, and the unassuming design means it easily blends into the background. You don't get any vents on the sides, but there is a 70mm fan at the back that does a good job ensuring the drives don't get too hot.

That said, ASUSTOR went with a geometric pattern throughout that looks quite good, and it gives the NAS a little bit of character. The NAS has two drive bays, and they easily slide out. There is a shroud covering the drive bays, and it attaches magnetically to the enclosure. While the rest of the AS5402T has a plastic design with a matte texture that doesn't pick up dust easily, the shroud is made out of glossy plastic, and it is a dust magnet.

There are status LEDs for the hard drives, network ports, and USB ports, and you get a USB-A port on the left. Installation of 3.5-inch HDDs is tool-free, but you'll need to use screws if you're mounting 2.5-inch SSDs or HDDs. One of the best features of the AS5402T is that it has four M.2 2280 slots. The downside is that accessing these slots isn't easy; you'll need to remove the screws at the back of the enclosure, take out the hard drive bays, and then slide the front cover back.

This lets you access the innards of the chassis, with the M.2 slots located at the top. Installing the SSDs is easy enough once you get to the slots, but a slide-out panel would have made things considerably easier. There are vents above the M.2 slots that offer some amount of passive cooling, but I would have liked to see thermal pads installed underneath each slot. And considering a screwdriver is necessary to get to the M.2 slots, ASUSTOR should have included one in the box — like TerraMaster.

Other than that drawback, I didn't notice any issues with the design. ASUSTOR did a good job maintaining design consistency with previous generations, and the fan at the back manages thermals well without getting too loud.

ASUSTOR AS5402T: Ports

ASUSTOR is known for delivering a good value with its NAS servers, and the AS5402T is no different. The NAS has two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports at the back, and you get dual USB-A ports as well. What I particularly like is the inclusion of an HDMI 2.0 port; this allows the NAS to be connected to a TV.

All three USB-A ports now use the USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard, and they get the full 10Gbps bandwidth, so if you're looking to connect external drives to the NAS, you'll get fast transfers. The big differentiator is the quad M.2 slots on the NAS, so if you're looking to mix traditional HDDs with fast SSD storage, you can do that with the AS5402T.

Interestingly, the AS5402T reuses the same M.2 backplane as the costlier AS6707T, and the HDD backplane is the same as the AS5302T. This doesn't affect the usability of the NAS in any way, and there are lots of other brands that use the same hardware across their products. But given how ASUSTOR labels its model number on all the parts, it's straightforward to see what servers they were designed for. 

ASUSTOR AS5402T: Software

ASUSTOR was the target of a ransomware attack two years ago, and following the incident, the brand overhauled its security measures. The ASUSTOR Data Master (ADM) web-based interface suggests ways to tighten the security of the NAS after you log in, and it picked up a visual refresh — it now has a distinct gaming aesthetic, and the bold styling looks good.

The interface still doesn't look quite as polished as what you get with DSM, but ASUSTOR did a good job adding a lot of features. Icon management is a little intuitive, and settings could have been organized better, but on the whole, you get a ton of useful utilities, including the likes of Home Assistant, Tailscale, Plex, AdGuard, and more.

ASUSTOR also has a suite of mobile apps that let you back up photos and videos, and while they do a decent job, they are in need of an overhaul.

ASUSTOR AS5402T: Performance

ASUSTOR is continuing to offer Intel hardware on its NAS enclosures, and the AS5402T is powered by the quad-core Celeron N5105, delivering sizeable gains over the N4xxx series. It is plenty fast in daily use, and it an outstanding choice if you want to set up a powerful Plex server.

The AS5402T does a great job with hardware transcoding in general, and if you're looking to use the feature in Plex, this is one of the best home NAS servers available. It is better than the DiskStation DS224+ — my current 2-bay pick — when it comes to Plex streaming, and it holds up particularly well with high bitrate content.

The AS5402T has 4GB of DDR4 RAM out of the box, and there's another SO-DIMM slot available that lets you add up to an 8GB module. ASUSTOR doesn't hobble the NAS in any way, so the best NAS hard drives will work without any issues on the AS5402T, including the IronWolf Pro and WD's Red Pro series. You can even slot in the new 24TB IronWolf Pro drives in the NAS, but seeing as how they cost $549 at the moment, you're better off buying 8TB IronWolf HDDs.

I tested the AS5402T with dual 6TB IronWolf drives, and it was easy enough to saturate the transfer rate of the hard drives when moving data from the SSD of a Windows machine. The fact that you get 2.5GbE connectivity makes things significantly easier, and you don't need to worry about the network ports being the limitation in this area.

ASUSTOR AS5402T: The competition

If you like the look of the AS5402T but want something with more drive bays, you should consider the Nimbustor 4 Gen2 AS5404T. It has the same Celeron N5105 hardware, same number of ports at the back, and identical memory and M.2 slots. The only difference is that you get the ability to slot in four 3.5-inch drives, and outside of that, it is the same as the AS5402T.

The DiskStation DS224+ is more affordable, but you don't get anywhere close to the same level of hardware. You don't get any M.2 slots, you're limited to Gigabit Ethernet, and there's no hardware transcoding. The software features are the reason why the DS224+ is a big deal, but it doesn't measure up to the AS5402T in terms of the hardware.

ASUSTOR AS5402T: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

• You want a powerful Plex home server
• You need plenty of M.2 slots
• You want great hardware and multi-Gigabit connectivity

You shouldn't buy this if:

• You need polished software

On the whole, the AS5402T is one of the best home NAS servers you can get in this segment. The NAS has terrific hardware across the board, and it's clear that ASUSTOR is positioning it as a creator-focused model. The combination of M.2 slots and dual 2.5GbE connectivity makes it a great choice if you want to use SSD storage in addition to mechanical drives.

While ASUSTOR's software still needs a bit of work, the brand made a lot of positive moves in this area over the last 12 months. If you're looking to set up a powerful Plex server and want the best hardware, the AS5402T is an easy recommendation.

The one thing I can't get enough of is NAS HDDs; I have over 250TB of storage across three home servers, and while there's plenty of storage available at the moment, I'll eventually need more drives. Thankfully, Seagate is catering to that particular requirement with the introduction of 24TB IronWolf Pro drives. Like the rest of the series, the 24TB IronWolf drive is designed to be used 24/7 within a NAS enclosure, and it uses vibration sensors along with Seagate's custom AgileArray suite to ensure long-term reliability.

I used various configurations of IronWolf Pro drives over the years, and the current set of drives in use ticked over the 30,000-hour mark at the end of last year, and they're still going strong. The 24TB IronWolf Pro is based on the SATA 6Gb/s, and like the higher-end models in the series, it uses a helium-filled design that reduces drive friction over long-term use. The drive spins at 7,200rpm, goes up to 285MB/s during sustained transfers, and has a 512MB cache.

Seagate says it has a 300TB/year endurance rating, and an MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) of 2.5 million hours. You get a five-year standard warranty along with Seagate's data recovery services that are guaranteed up to three years.

All in all, the 24TB IronWolf Pro sounds like the ideal drive if you've got a lot of storage to back up, and while Seagate positions the drive as a business-focused option, I can see it doing just as well with enthusiasts that have high storage requirements (like me). The drive is now available for $649, and you can pick it up on Amazon.

That's a hefty increase over what existing IronWolf Pro models go for, with the 22TB model now selling at $399. I'd suggest getting the 22TB drive if you want to maximize value, but if you need more storage and don't mind shelling out a premium, the 24TB IronWolf Pro is the way to go.

One of the best features of a NAS server is the ability to access your files even when you're not on your home network. Synology has robust mobile clients to access your media collection and documents over the internet, and it does so using its secure tunneling service dubbed QuickConnect. 

I've used QuickConnect for several years now, and I'll provide a short walkthrough of what the service has to offer. But given the recent slate of ransomware attacks on mainstream NAS manufacturers, I decided to use a VPN to securely connect to my NAS when I'm outside my home network. 

Tailscale is that VPN utility, and in this post I'll talk about how you can set it up on your NAS, and why you should do so right now. 

QuickConnect: Synology's relay service gets a lot right

QuickConnect is Synology's built-in relay service that lets you connect to your home NAS over the internet. As a high-level overview, QuickConnect makes it easy to connect to your NAS without having to manually forward ports on your router. 

It does this by assigning each NAS a unique ID. So when you're trying to access your media collection with DS video, instead of writing your NAS IP address, you just enter the server ID and your username and password, and you'll be able to log in. 

When you're on your home network, it uses LAN detection to identify the NAS IP and connect to the server. But when you're on cellular data or trying to connect to your NAS from another location, QuickConnect sets up a virtual tunnel to see if the NAS is accessible via its WAN address. 

When that isn't feasible, the service leverages Synology's relay server to establish a connection between the client device you're using and your NAS. Synology has easy-to-understand documentation that talks about how QuickConnect works, and it also goes into detail about the service's security.

In short, QuickConnect delivers the easiest way to access your NAS remotely, and it works seamlessly with Synology's first-party utilities like DS audio, DS video, DS file, and so on. 

While I used QuickConnect for a long time, I wanted to use a Wireguard-based tunneling solution for increased security. So I disabled QuickConnect, and made the transition to Tailscale. 

Tailscale: Access your Synology NAS from anywhere

Tailscale is a zero-config VPN that lets you securely connect to devices over the internet. Unlike a traditional VPN that relies on a central server, Tailscale uses a peer-to-peer mesh network to facilitate connections. 

The best part about Tailscale is the fact that it takes less than 10 minutes to set it up. The service is based on the Wireguard protocol, uses hourly key rotation, and doesn't have any traffic going through Tailscale's servers. All traffic is encrypted by default, so you're guaranteed a secure connection. Let's take a look at how you can set up Tailscale on your NAS. 

Tailscale and Synology: How to set up and use

The key differentiator for Tailscale (other than the security) is just how easy it is to set up and use. The Tailscale client is available natively on DiskStation Manager, and installing it on your NAS takes a few minutes at most. Here's what you need to do: 

• Navigate to the Synology Package Center.
• In the Search box, enter Tailscale.
• Select Install.

After Tailscale has been installed on your NAS — I have it running on my DiskStation DS1522+ — you will need to log in to the service. Tailscale doesn't use its own authentication system; instead, it works with leading SSO identity providers including Google, Microsoft, GitHub, and more. 

All you need to do is authenticate with your Google or Microsoft account, and do the same on any of the client devices where you want to use Tailscale. 

After logging in, you'll get to the admin interface where you can see the machines that are connected to your Tailscale network (Tailnet). You should see your NAS listed here with its status showing as Connected. 

You should also see an IP address next to your NAS. This is the Tailscale IP, and that's what we'll use to connect the NAS to client devices. I'm using the Galaxy S22 Ultra as the client device for this guide, but you can download Tailscale on just about any platform. 

First up, you'll have to install Tailscale on Android, and once that's done, use the same identity provider you used with the NAS to log in to the service. After you log in, you'll see your phone name along with a unique IP, and the other devices on your Tailscale network, including the NAS. 

Select the toggle at the top to connect your phone to the Tailscale network, and you're connected to the secure Tailnet tunnel. Now all you need to do is use the Tailscale IP of the NAS to connect to your home NAS server. 

In the My Devices list, press and hold the NAS IP to copy it. Now go to DS file, DS audio, or any of the other Synology mobile clients that you want to use, and paste the NAS's Tailscale IP in the Address field. 

Then enter your NAS username and password, and hit Sign In to access the server. That's all there is to it! You can use the same system for other devices that you want to use with Tailscale; just install the service, connect to your Tailnet, and use the Tailscale NAS IP to connect to your home server.

Tailscale is the way forward

I've been using Tailscale for the better part of a year now, and it's honestly been a revelation. I had zero issues using the service to access my NAS when I'm outside my home network, and the ease of use combined with the security on offer makes it a no-brainer. 

If you're using a Synology NAS and are looking for a secure way to access your NAS via the internet, Tailscale is the way to go. Just make sure you disable QuickConnect after you're done switching. 

No matter how many hard drives I get, I always seem to be running out of storage. I'm currently at 148TB, but I'm down to the last 8TB on the primary NAS and need to pick up more drives in a few months' time. Thankfully, Seagate's latest announcement is aimed squarely at my usage needs: the brand has announced 20TB variants of the Exos and IronWolf Pro hard drives, with both models going on sale from later this month.

I already have over 40TB spread out over various IronWolf and IronWolf Pro drives, and I recommend them highly if you're interested in picking up one of the best NAS for Plex models. I first got started with two 14TB IronWolf drives three years ago, and they're holding up just fine in my primary NAS — a DiskStation DS1019+ — that runs 24/7.

So what do you get with the 10TB Exos and IronWolf Pro drives? Both drives are based on conventional magnetic recording (CMR) tech, so you will get long-term reliability, and they spin at 7200rpm and include five-year warranty as standard.

The 20TB Exos is designed for data center use cases, and goes up to 285MB/s for file transfers and has a low latency of 4.16ms. With a 2.5 million hour MTBF, the Exos is guaranteed to last several years under demanding 24/7 workloads.

The 20TB IronWolf Pro should be more relevant for NAS buyers, and like all Pro models over 10TB, it has a helium-sealed chassis for better durability. It has built-in rotational vibration sensors, and is designed for intense workloads, with Seagate touting 300TB/year endurance. It also goes up to 285MB/s for transfers, and includes the IronWolf Health Management system for monitoring the drive health and status. As is the case with all IronWolf Pro drives, you get three years of data recovery services as standard.

As for what these drives will cost, the 20TB Exos retails for $670, while the 20TB IronWolf Pro is available for $650. You'll be able to get your hands on the drives from later in the month. Don't want to wait for the 20TB drives? The 18TB variant of the IronWolf Pro is now on sale.

Seagate IronWolf Pro 18TB NAS HDD

The 18TB IronWolf Pro has a 256MB cache, five-year warranty, vibration resistance built-in, and spins at 7200rpm. In short, this is the ideal NAS hard drive if you want a lot of storage, and the discount makes it just that little bit more enticing.

• $450 at Amazon

Synology DiskStation DS220+

The DiskStation DS220+ has everything you're looking for in a NAS enclosure. The Intel Celeron J4025 chipset is ideal for running Plex, and the DSM 7.0 software delivers a vast array of features. The two-bay NAS holds up to 32TB of storage, and if you're buying a NAS for the first time or upgrading from an older model, the DS220+ is the perfect choice.

Synology DiskStation DS920+

The DiskStation DS920+ builds on the foundation of the DS220+ but offers four drive bays that can hold a total of 64TB of storage. It also has double the amount of RAM and features an eSATA port that lets you add more drives later on. You also get M.2 SSD caching, and the hardware on offer combined with the features make the DS920+ a great NAS for enthusiasts.

Synology has a diverse array of NAS enclosures available at all price points. The Plus series is aimed squarely at enthusiast users, with models in this range delivering powerful hardware and a vast selection of software features. Synology's current NAS portfolio is particularly interesting, so let's look at what the DS220+ and DS920+ have to offer and which NAS you should pick up.

DiskStation DS220+ vs DiskStation DS920+: Two variations of the same theme

The DiskStation DS220+ offers exciting hardware upgrades, making it a great choice if you are looking to buy a NAS enclosure right now. You get two drive bays that hold up to 32TB of storage, two Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation, and two USB 3.0 ports.

The DiskStation DS920+, meanwhile, offers beefier hardware and two additional drive bays, making it the best NAS for Plex. The NAS shares the same design as the DS220+ and offers dual Gigabit Ethernet ports along with two USB 3.0 ports, but you get the ability to add up to 64TB of storage.

The DS220+ is powered by a 2.0GHz dual-core Intel Celeron J4025 chipset, one of the best chipsets you'll find in this category. The NAS comes with 2GB of RAM, and you can add an extra module of up to 4GB, bringing the total available memory to 6GB.

As for the DS920+, the NAS is powered by a 2.0GHz quad-core Intel Celeron J4125 chipset, and the two added cores give it a decent performance boost. The DS920+ also offers 4GB of RAM out of the box, and you can add up to 8GB of memory.

But the biggest differentiator for the DS920+ is that it has M.2 slots and an eSATA port. The two M.2 slots located at the bottom of the NAS let you add NVMe drives for SSD caching, and the feature comes in handy if you're interested in running data-intensive workloads on the NAS.

Another standout feature on the DS920+ is the eSATA port. The NAS comes with four drive bays, but you also get the ability to add an expansion drive like the DX517 in the future and get five extra drive bays. That option is not available on the DS220+.

As for the software on offer, both NAS enclosures feature DiskStation Manager. Synology just rolled out DSM 7.0, a huge update that brings an exhaustive list of features and a modern UI, making the best NAS software even better. You get plenty of useful features for backing up your data, running your own email server or collaborative office suite, and mobile apps for all platforms.

Of course, if media streaming is your primary use case, the DS220+ is more than adequate. The NAS has all the power you're looking for, and it should deliver 24/7 reliability for several years. But if you want a more robust option with the ability to extend storage down the line and SSD caching, the DS920+ is the way to go.

DiskStation DS220+ vs DiskStation DS920+: Specs

DiskStation DS220+ vs DiskStation DS920+: It all comes down to value

The DS220+ is the ideal NAS for your home, and the 2-bay server combines great hardware with extensive software features. There are three key differences between the DS220+ and the DS920+: drive bays, memory, and SSD caching.

The DS920+ holds up to 64TB of storage over four drive bays, double that of the DS220+. That makes the NAS that much more flexible, and you also get the ability to add an external drive bay via the eSATA port and slot in five additional drives.

The DS920+ also comes with 4GB of RAM, and it offers M.2 slots for SSD caching, making it a better choice for office-focused workloads that involve a lot of data. For example, if you plan to run a lot of virtual machines on the NAS or host your own website or email server, SSD caching makes a lot of difference.

That said, the DS920+ costs nearly twice as much as the DS220+. So if you don't need the extra drives or SSD caching, the DS220+ offers the same caliber of hardware and the same great software features at a much more accessible price point.

The best Synology NAS enclosures make it straightforward to upgrade the RAM modules. Most NAS models released in the last three years feature upgradeable RAM, and if you're running into issues when multitasking on the NAS or need to use virtual machines, you can always increase the memory. And the best part is that it takes just five minutes to do so.

How to upgrade RAM in a Synology NAS

If you bought a NAS enclosure in the last three years, there's a good chance that it is running DDR4 memory. But just to be on the safe side, head to the product page of your Synology NAS to make sure whether the model you have is using DDR4 or the older DDR3 memory. Unfortunately, some models like the DiskStation DS220j don't let you upgrade the RAM, so make sure you have a NAS that has a memory slot available.

NAS enclosures have SO-DIMM (small outline dual in-line memory module) slots, and as the name suggests, these are smaller than the full-size memory slots that you usually find on desktops. Synology makes its own RAM module, but it is six times costlier than a similar module from another manufacturer. As such, there's no reason to pick up Synology's RAM module.

You can install any memory module in your NAS, and it will work just fine. My recommendation would be the Crucial 4GB SO-DIMM module; it delivers long-term reliability and goes up to 2400MHz — and you'll also find it in an 8GB version.

Now, the downside of using any other RAM module is that it isn't covered under warranty. So if you want to increase your NAS enclosure's memory and need to do it under warranty, you will have to get Synology's RAM modules.

You don't need a lot of RAM in your NAS, and most enclosures don't even utilize more than 6GB of memory. So if you are using a four-bay NAS or higher, you may want to go with an 8GB module. Otherwise, a 4GB RAM should be more than adequate. Here's how to upgrade the RAM in your Synology NAS:

1. Power down the NAS.
2. Take out the hard drive bays.
3. Locate the RAM module slot. It's usually on the same side as the power button.
4. If your NAS has a single RAM slot, remove the module already in that slot.
5. Insert the new RAM module in the slot — make sure to line up the notch on the memory module to that on the slot.
6. You'll hear a click, suggesting the module is now installed in the slot.
7. Re-insert the Drive bays.

Once you power on the NAS, go to Control Panel -> Info Center to view the amount of RAM installed. The amount listed should reflect the size of the memory module you just installed.

There are a lot of great choices if you're looking to set up a home server for the first time. A network attached storage (NAS) server lets you manage your media library from a centralized location, and then stream content to all connected devices on your home network. You also get the ability to back up photos and videos automatically from your phones, set up a custom mail server, run virtual machines, and so much more.

We've highlighted the best home NAS enclosures, and one model that has done well over the years is TerraMaster's F2 series. The budget 2-bay NAS in TerraMaster's portfolio has plenty to offer, with the F2-221 featuring two drive bays that can hold a total of 32TB of storage, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, HDMI connectivity, and a great overall value.

So if you're looking to get started with a home server for the first time or are interested in upgrading from an older model, this is what you need to know about the F2-221.

TerraMaster F2-221 Price and availability

The TerraMaster F2-221 is available in most regions where the brand has an official presence, with the NAS retailing for $260 in the U.S. You can pick it up at Amazon, Newegg, and other major retailers, and TerraMaster provides a two-year warranty as standard. Over in the UK, you can get your hands on the F2-221 for £140.

TerraMaster F2-221 What I like

Most budget NAS enclosures you'll find today have a plastic chassis, but the F2-221 has a sturdy aluminum design that looks striking. Switching from the DiskStation DS220+ to the F2-221, there are clear differences in the design language.

The F2-221 has plenty to offer when it comes to features. The 2-bay NAS enclosure holds up to 32TB of storage, and you can easily slot in either 3.5-inch HDDs or 2.5-inch SSDs or HDDs. The plastic drive bays hold the hard drives securely, and the single 80mm fan at the back ensures the unit doesn't get too hot even under load.

The front of the F2-221 has status LEDs for the drives and LAN ports, and there's a power button at the bottom. The NAS has two Gigabit Ethernet ports that work in Link Aggregation mode, and you also get dual USB 3.0 ports. There's even an HDMI port if you're interested in connecting the NAS directly to a TV.

Under the hood, you'll find a dual-core Intel Celeron J3355 that goes up to 2.0GHz. There's 2GB of RAM installed, and you can upgrade to up to 6GB. There's no M.2 slots here or the ability to extend the storage, but if you're interested in a home NAS for storing your media collecting and backing up photos and videos, the F2-221 gets a lot right.

The F2-221 is powered by TerraMaster's TOS 4.2 software, and it has a lot of native utilities (including Plex), so you can get started with building a media library, running an iTunes server, or setting up a VPN server on the NAS without too much of an effort. The interface is easy enough to navigate, and you can configure the NAS for remote access so you can stream your media collection even when you're not connected to your home Wi-Fi.

The hardware on offer makes the F2-221 a decent option for Plex media streaming. The NAS struggles with 4K transcodes, but you shouldn't see any issues in the Direct Play mode, and the fact that Plex is available on just about every platform makes it the default choice for a media streaming solution.

TerraMaster F2-221 What needs work

While the F2-221 has a lot to offer on the hardware side of things, there are a few omissions. There's no tool-free installation for the hard drives; you will have to use the bundled screws to mount the drives securely to the drive bays. And while there are two USB 3.0 ports, both are located at the back — I like the front-mounted USB port on the DS220+ as it lets me easily plug in an external drive and transfer its contents over.

But the biggest issue with the F2-221 is the software. The NAS currently runs TOS 4.2, and it lacks the polish that Synology's DSM 7.0 brings to this category. TerraMaster needs to do a better job in this area, because even the basics like installing TOS on the NAS and configuring it for first-time use aren't straightforward.

The fact that TOS 4.2 doesn't have many first-party utilities is the biggest drawback with the software. Synology's custom services like Video Station, Cloud Sync, Audio Station, and Photos deliver meaningful value and are a big part of what makes the brand's NAS enclosures stand out. TerraMaster has to roll out its own alternatives if it wants to be a viable contender in this category.

TerraMaster F2-221 Rivals

If you're in the market for a starter NAS under $300, your default option should be the DiskStation DS220+. Synology's budget NAS doesn't have the same aluminum design as the F2-221, but it gives you a more powerful chipset, and much better software features.

Sure, the DS220+ costs $40 more than the F2-221, but at the end of the day, the polished software alone is worth the premium. There's a reason the DS220+ continues to be the best-selling NAS on Amazon a year after its release; it delivers everything you're looking for in a budget enclosure.

If you're looking to maximize the value, the entry-level DiskStation DS220j is a good option to consider as well. The NAS has limited memory and isn't as powerful, but it works well for basic use cases like backing up data and streaming content to your phones, tablets, and TVs.

TerraMaster F2-221 Should you buy?

You should buy this if ...

• You need a budget NAS for Plex streaming
• You want a central server for backing up data
• You want dual Gigabit connectivity
• You're in the market for value

You should not buy this if ...

• You want easy-to-use software
• You need mobile apps for your phone or tablet

Overall, TerraMaster got a lot of things right with the F2-221. The aluminum design makes it stand out, you get a powerful chipset with dual Ethernet connectivity and up to 32TB of storage, and the unit itself runs quietly.

4 out of 5

The F2-221 is a decent option if you're looking to save some cash. It retails for $40 less than the DS220+, and while the software isn't quite as robust, it gets the basics right. So if you're looking for a NAS enclosure for Plex streaming and backing up data, the F2-221 is a good option that costs less than its rivals.

TerraMaster F2-221

Bottom line: The TerraMaster F2-221 delivers great hardware in a sleek aluminum chassis. With a dual-core Intel chipset that excels at Plex streaming, dual Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, up to 32TB of storage, and an HDMI port, the F2-221 is on par with its rivals on the hardware front. The software still needs a bit of work, but if you're in the market for value, you'll like what the F2-221 has to offer.

• $260 at Amazon
• $260 at Newegg

Synology makes the best home NAS enclosures, and a big part of what makes its products stand out is the software. Over the years, DiskStation Manager (DSM) emerged as the runaway leader for NAS software thanks to its clean layout and robust feature-set. With DSM 6.0 in particular, Synology was able to carve out a healthy lead over its rivals.

That said, DSM 6.0 launched all the way back in 2016, and while Synology rolled out regular updates with new features and version releases like DSM 6.2, the interface was getting a bit long in the tooth. Synology is now aiming to fix that with DSM 7.0, its most ambitious software release yet. DSM 7.0 introduces a much more modern UI and comes with exciting new photo management and cloud features, and the best part is that it is available for all Synology NAS enclosures released within the last seven years.

I started using the beta build of DSM 7.0 on a DiskStation DS1520+ earlier this year, and switched to the release candidate as it became available in June. I've used DSM 7.0 for several months on the DS220+, DS1621+, DS1019+, and an older DS414+, so if you're interested in making the switch to the latest version of Synology's software, this is what you need to know.

Synology DSM 7.0: Now available widely

After seven months of testing, Synology released the stable build of DSM 7.0 on June 23. The new version is available for all Synology models released within the last seven years, but if you are using a RackStation or other business-focused models, you may have to wait a little while before you can download the update. For a full list of NAS enclosures that are getting the DSM 7.0 update right now, head here:

• Can I install DSM 7.0 on my NAS?
• How to manually install the DSM 7.0 update

Synology DSM 7.0: What's new?

DSM 7.0 has a lot of new features designed to make it easier to manage your photos and videos, safeguard your data, and connect to cloud services. A key new addition is Synology Photos; the feature combines features from three different services to deliver unified photo management.

Synology is also doubling down on hybrid cloud solutions with Hybrid Share, a business-focused feature that lets you easily back up data to a C2 cloud instance, only retaining the data that's regularly used on the NAS itself. Storage Manager has received a lot of new additions to manage hard drives, Active Insight lets admins manage dozens or hundreds of NAS enclosures with ease, and there are much-needed security additions like Secure SignIn and tweaks to user and account management.

Synology DSM 7.0: First things to do

If you're making the switch to DSM 7.0 from an older NAS, you have to make sure you're using the Btrfs file system. DSM 7.0 doesn't work with ext3, and there's no way to migrate the data from ext3 to Btrfs — you'll have to move your data off an existing storage pool, switch it to Btrfs, and then you can update to DSM 7.0.

After you install DSM 7.0, the first thing to do is make sure third-party services are working as usual. Some packages have been moved to beta status and a few don't work at all with the latest version, but for the most part, the stuff you'll use daily is unchanged.

Once you log in to DSM 7.0, you should consider using Secure SignIn. The feature lets you safeguard your account with two-factor authentication, and you can use the mobile app for password-less sign-in to your account.

Synology DSM 7.0: User interface

One of the biggest changes in DSM 7.0 is the interface. The entire interface has been overhauled with a focus on clean design, rounded edges, and new icons. The result is that DSM 7.0 looks much more modern, and the difference is immediately noticeable when you make the switch from DSM 6.2.

Then there's the fact that DSM 7.0 feels much better optimized; DSM 6.2 was no slouch, but in my usage, the latest version feels more responsive, particularly when it comes to logging in and generally navigating the interface. This is very evident on older NAS models — I switched to DSM 7.0 on the DS414+ and noticed the difference right away. So if you're using an older enclosure or one with limited memory, you should make the switch to DSM 7.0.

For Synology's default apps like Control Panel, you will find a cleaner layout with better categorization, and while File Station is unchanged, it also benefits from the new design. Package Center now highlights beta packages, and the Synology Drive admin console gets a dashboard with real-time storage use and the ability to defer indexing for later.

Synology has a walkthrough for first-time users making the switch to DSM 7.0, and the help section has detailed information on all the default packages. While the new UI is elegant and makes DSM look that much more polished, I would have liked to see dark mode. On the subject of change, Audio Station hasn't received any attention in DSM 7,0, so if you use the service frequently, it still has the same drawbacks.

Synology DSM 7.0: Feature rundown

DSM 7.0 comes with a suite of new services, including Synology Photos, Hybrid Share, Active Insight, changes to Storage Manager, and new security features. So let's take a look at the new additions, and what they have to offer.

Synology Photos

The marquee feature in DSM 7.0 has to be Synology Photos. Photo Station and Moments have been combined to form Synology Photos, and it now serves as the primary hub for managing photos and videos on your NAS.

I already highlighted how to transfer photos from Google Photos to Synology Photos, and it's relatively straightforward to do so. What makes Synology Photos a great choice is that it uses facial recognition to automatically create albums by tags or location; just like Google's offering. You get a timeline view with images sorted by date, it does a great job reading metadata information, and you get the ability to share albums or your photo library with your family members.

And like Google Photos, you can seamlessly back up photos and videos from your phones, and cast them to any Chromecast or AirPlay device. The number of features on offer makes Synology Photos a great choice if you want to locally host your photos and videos, and I'm glad there's now a unified solution for photo management.

Hybrid Share

Synology is making a play for a hybrid cloud solution with the launch of Hybrid Share. The service combines on-device storage with on-demand cloud storage, and is designed for office environments where there's cross-site file sharing. For businesses that need the same set of files across various location, these files are offloaded to the cloud, with only frequently-accessed data stored locally on the NAS. Think of it as a shared folder that's backed up to the cloud.

The idea behind Hybrid Share is to provide faster access to on-demand storage while cutting down on storage pools that host the same data across various locations. The service is available in a pay-as-you-go plan based on data requirements, and the data that's sent to the cloud is encrypted by default.

Hybrid Share is still in beta, and it is the first salvo in a new suite of services that rely on the C2 cloud platform. I already looked at C2 Password — Synology's free password manager — and in the coming months we'll see C2 Transfer and C2 Identity making their debut as well.

Active Insight

Active Insight is a great resource for businesses that have several NAS enclosures in use. Think of it as a unified resource monitor that gives you real-time data on all the enclosures using the same Synology account. The only caveat here is that NAS enclosures need to have at least 512MB of RAM for them to show up within Active Insight; which isn't an issue in an office environment.

The centralized monitoring service lets you see the status — including CPU and memory load, networking throughput, and storage utilization — for all the enclosures in an office network or using the same Synology account. You can view minute-by-minute metrics or get data evert 5, 15, or 60 minutes, and the data can be retained for up to a year.

The best part about Active Insight is that you can view the data on your phone as well, with an app available for Android 7.0 and above and iOS 11 and above. Like any monitoring service, you can set up custom alerts and get email as well as push notifications.

Storage Manager

With DSM 7.0, Storage Manager gets a visual overhaul with a cleaner design that makes it easy to understand what's going on with your hard drives and storage pools. You still have the ability to access detailed information for your drives, but the hierarchy-based layout means you get a better overview. And you even get a visual indicator of the drives in the NAS, making it that much easier to isolate a drive that may be having issues.

Storage Manager has a host of tools to minimize downtime if one of the drives in your storage pool is degraded. The Replace Drive feature allows you to seamlessly slot in a new drive into the storage pool if you're worried about an existing drive failing, and the best part in DSM 7.0 is that this can be automated.

With Auto Replacement, a failing drive is automatically replaced by a configured hot spare drive without any user intervention. Similarly, Fast Repair ensures a degraded storage pool is repaired quickly by focusing only on the used space of a volume. Then there's Auto Repair, which starts repairing a storage pool immediately after defective drives are switched out for new ones; it starts doing so even when a user is not logged into DSM. Here's a rundown of when one of these features comes in handy:

Synology is also making changes to how SSD caching works, including the ability to set up and remove SSD caches without interrupting system services. But the big addition here is the ability to pin all Btrfs metadata to SSD caches, so if you're using SSD caching in an environment that relies on a lot of small files, you should see a considerable uptick in performance.

Finally, Synology is enabling the creation of volumes that go up to a Petabyte, up from 200TB in DSM 6.2. This will be limited to XS/XS+, SA, and FS models with at least 64GB of memory, and the feature will debut in the coming months. FS models featuring Synology's SSDs will also get data deduplication soon.

Security features

DSM had two-factor authentication for a while, and with DSM 7.0, Synology is adding the ability to configure FIDO2 hardware security keys like a Yubikey or use the likes of Windows Hello for authentication. The feature is baked into Secure SignIn, and gives you the ability to safeguard your account.

With Secure SignIn, you get three different ways to set up two-factor authentication: get 2FA codes on your phone, approve sign-in by going to the Secure SignIn app — similar to how Google handles new sign-ins — or use a hardware key / biometric authentication in the form of Windows Hello. Alongside Secure SignIn, DSM 7.0 also gets user and account management and admin delegation for office-focused environments.

Synology DSM 7.0: Should you wait?

DSM 7.0 was in beta for seven months before the stable build rolled out, and even during the beta, there were no glaring issues. With the stable release now available for over 40 NAS enclosures, you don't have to worry about system stability issues.

The only thing to note before you make the switch is that third-party app integration is still not working perfectly, so if you use a lot of packages downloaded from outside Package Center, you may want to take a look and see if they will work in DSM 7.0. I had to fix my Plex installation after making the switch, but other than that it was smooth sailing.

Synology DSM 7.0: Bottom line

With DSM 7.0, Synology is extending its lead in the NAS category. The modern design combined with the new features give DSM 7.0 a distinct edge over its rivals, and the fact that the update is available for all NAS enclosures launched within the last seven years means older models aren't left out.

4.5 out of 5

Features like Synology Photos, Active Insight, Storage Manager, and Secure SignIn are meaningful additions that make the NAS that much more versatile, and with Hybrid Share, Synology is embarking on a new business model for its C2 cloud platform. Overall, DSM 7.0 isn't an evolutionary update, but it brings a modern UI and includes features you'll actually end up using.

Synology DSM 7.0

Bottom line: DSM 7.0 brings a much-needed visual overhaul while introducing key new features that extend Synology's lead in this category. Synology Photos offers a unified photo management service, Hybrid Share and Active Insight bring powerful cloud-based features, and there are several security-focused changes, making DSM 7.0 the best NAS software around.

• More info at Synology

Best answer: No. Several Synology NAS models have NVMe (M.2) slots for adding the latest SSDs, but you can only use them for caching. Synology has stated that heating issues prevent these drives from being used for storage.

NVMe (M.2) drives as NAS storage: Here's what you need to know

The best Synology NAS models have slots for NVMe (M.2) SSDs, but they are limited to caching. Synology has two forms of caching — read-only and read-write — and slotting in an M.2 SSD for caching does lead to a noticeable difference in performance in select use cases.

However, there's no option to use these M.2 slots for storage, and the main reason for that has to do with overheating. During the launch event for DSM 7.0, Synology has clarified that it doesn't allow the use of M.2 slots for storage because of heating issues. A NAS enclosure is designed to run 24/7, and even though they're not handling read/write tasks constantly, there is a higher chance of overheating.

M.2 drives generally tend to heat up; that's why most recent motherboards have built-in heatsinks around these slots to absorb the heat. While you may not see a difference in performance when they overheat, the high temperature isn't conducive to longevity. Because a NAS enclosure has limited options for active cooling — most models have one or two 90mm fans mounted at the back — it isn't feasible to cool an M.2 slot to the requisite levels to facilitate its use as a storage drive.

That's why Synology limits the use of M.2 slots on its NAS models to caching. That way, you still gain some benefit of using faster SSDs while not running the risk of heating the drives too much. Of course, this isn't the first instance of a manufacturer limiting M.2 slots on its devices; Sony still hasn't enabled the use of the M.2 slots on the PS5, and while it hasn't given an official statement on the matter, it is likely to do with heating issues.

So if you're looking to add an SSD as storage on your NAS, you'll have to go with 2.5-inch SATA SSDs and slot them directly in the drive bays. They still deliver significantly better performance than regular 3.5-inch hard drives, and you don't have to worry about overheating.

With Prime Day just around the corner, one of the best products to pick up during the two-day sale is a network-attached storage (NAS) enclosure. Having your own home server allows you to back up data from your phones and other devices seamlessly, stream your local music and media collection, and so much more.

I collated the best Prime Day NAS deals, and while a few enclosures are already on sale right now, we'll have to wait until Prime Day kicks off in earnest on June 21 for some of the more recent additions like Synology's DiskStation DS220+ and DS920+ to pick up attractive discounts.

Although setting up your own server may sound intimidating, getting started with a NAS enclosure is very straightforward. Most modern enclosures have robust software features that make it extremely easy to get started, and their sheer versatility makes them a great option for homes and businesses.

But before all that, you may be wondering why you even need a NAS enclosure. I've used a few dozen NAS enclosures over the course of the last decade and manage over 150TB of data in my home server. So if you've never used a NAS and are thinking of picking one up during Prime Day, here are four things you need to know.

Build your own offline Google Photos

One of the best use cases for a NAS is backing up photos and videos. If you've used your phone for any meaningful amount of time, you would have accumulated at least a few gigabytes worth of photos and videos. Ideally, you'd back them up to a cloud service like Google Photos, but with Google now counting all uploads toward your storage quota, this is as good a time to think of a local alternative like a NAS.

I wrote a detailed post on how to set up a NAS as a Google Photos alternative, but the gist of it is that you can easily back up photos and videos from the myriad of phones in your household. Synology's NAS enclosures even offer a feature that lets you view memories of a particular date, sort albums by faces, and more — just like Google Photos.

I use my DiskStation DS1019+ to back up photos, videos, and data from my Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, iPhone 12, iPad Air, and the hundred or so review devices I get. My wife uses the same NAS to back up photos from her OnePlus 9 Pro and digital artwork from her iPad Pro.

You can set up individual user accounts on the NAS, ensuring your family members get their own storage pool on the home server. The best part about using a NAS for backing up photos and videos is that it does so automatically; all you have to do is set up the relevant utility — I use Synology Moments on my phones — and the service ensures that any new photos and videos I take are automatically saved to the NAS.

Seamlessly back up data

Alongside photos and videos from your phones and tablets, a NAS can also seamlessly back up data from your computers. Synology and QNAP have native clients for Windows and macOS, and you can easily configure what folders you want to back up to the NAS. And just like with photos, this is all done automatically; set a time for backing up files or select a frequency — every time you make changes — and you can rest assured that the data is safely transferred over to the NAS.

Stream your media library to all devices

Another great use case for a NAS is media streaming. If you have a large media library and want to stream it to your TV, phones, tablets, or other devices, all you have to do is pick up a NAS enclosure, transfer your media collection over to the server, and hook it up to a local streaming client like Plex.

Doing so lets you stream your local media library to all the connected devices in your home. Plex is available on just about every platform, including Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and most smart TVs, so you can effortlessly stream all your locally-stored videos, TV shows, and movies to any device in your home network.

Access your data from anywhere

Most NAS enclosures these days come with remote login, giving you the ability to access the data from outside your home network. I've used this particular feature hundreds of times over the years; it is particularly handy to be able to pull up a file that's stored on your NAS even when you're in another country.

A great use case for this feature is remote music and video streaming. I have my lossless music library stored on my NAS, and I use the built-in Audio Station service to effectively turn it into a music streaming service, using the mobile app to stream the tunes to my phone when I'm traveling. It is great to be able to access your music and media library even on the go, and with work travel resuming again, you may want to consider going this route if you want to listen to your own music library than rely on a streaming service.

It's time to buy a NAS

That's just a quick look at some of the things you can do with a NAS enclosure. If you're buying a NAS for the first time, you can get started with the DiskStation DS220j, which starts off at just $170 (it'll go below $150 for Prime Day) or the $300 DiskStation DS220+. Both of these enclosures have plenty of room for storage and let you access all the excellent software features Synology has to offer.

While Synology is the largest NAS manufacturer and the one with the best software features, you'll also find budget enclosures from the likes of TerraMaster and QNAP. I'll be highlighting the deals as and when they go live, but if you're interested in picking up a NAS, the time to do so is right now.

Rather than paying $10 per month to Google or Dropbox forever, build your own home server that can be used to privately and securely store all your files and movies. Once you set up a NAS, you can watch the videos you store on it from anywhere easily, and if your NAS is set up properly, even if one of the hard drives inside your multi-bay NAS enclosure goes bad, you'll never lose data because the data is redundantly backed up on multiple drives in the bay.

Blacky Friday is giving us deals of storage in every shape, size, and capacity, and while more general-purpose hard drives that you can use in your desktop or expand your new PS5 with, there are NAS-specific hard drives down to great prices, like the Western Digital Red Plus.

The Red Plus uses conventional magnetic recording to store its data — as opposed to the shingled magnetic recording used by the regular WD Red series — for better write performance and RAIDm rebuild support. The workload rate for the Red Plus series is 180TB a year, and the Red Plus series is made for NAS systems that support up to eight hard drive bays.

Western Digital drives are known for longevity and durability, and the drive comes with a three-year warranty. If you're building a NAS from scratch this Black Friday, you'll need to buy two of these, but given that this is the lowest price we've seen yet for the 10TB Red Plus, that should be easier to bear today. Having multiple drives and data redundancy means that when one of your multiple drives dies, you won't lose part of your data forever into the void.

A network-attached storage (NAS) enclosure is basically a home server that lets you stream media files across your home network, back up photos and files from phones and other devices, and so much more. If you're interested in setting up a Plex server or are looking for an offline Google Photos alternative, a NAS is the perfect way to get started.

Synology is the largest manufacturer of NAS enclosures, and the brand offers plenty of models across price points. In particular, its budget models are ideal for first-time buyers looking to pick up a home server for the first time. The DiskStation DS220j launched earlier this year, offering exciting upgrades from its predecessor, the DS218j.

The DiskStation DS220j is a 2-bay NAS enclosure that can hold up to a total of 32TB of storage, and you get USB 3.0 ports and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. The NAS is available for just $170, making it an enticing option in the budget segment. So let's see what the NAS has to offer and whether it is ideal for your use case.

Synology DiskStation DS220j Specs

The DiskStation DS220j is a budget 2-bay NAS enclosure, with each bay holding up to 16TB of storage. That means you get 32TB of storage across both drive bays, which should be more than enough for most home users. Here's a look at the hardware powering the NAS:

Synology DiskStation DS220j Features

The DiskStation DS220j has a white color scheme with a grey accent running across the front of the chassis. There are indicator lights for status, hard drives, and LAN, and the power button is located further down on the front fascia.

At the back, you'll find the single 92mm cooling fan, along with the two USB 3.0 ports and the Gigabit Ethernet port. While it is good to see that the NAS has two USB 3.0 ports, Synology should have added a port at the front as that would have made connecting external hard drives just that little bit easier.

You'll find the Synology logo on either side of the chassis, and at the bottom, the NAS has rubber feet that ensure it stays planted on a surface. You'll have to slide the front panel off to access the hard drives, and to do so, you have to remove the two screws at the back.

You'll have to use screws to secure the hard drives in the NAS, and it isn't as elegant as the tool-less drive bays that you get on the likes of the DS220+ and other enclosures. There's also no way to slot in a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD by default, and you have to pick up an additional disk holder if you're interested in doing so.

Setting up the DS220j is about as straightforward as it gets, and it takes just 10 minutes to install the web-based software OS, DiskStation Manager. All you have to do is slot in the hard drives, connect the Ethernet cable to your router or network switch, and connect the wall socket to a plug.

Then switch on the NAS and use Synology's Web Assistant to locate the NAS on your home network. Once the NAS has been detected, all you have to do is install DiskStation Manager (DSM), set up an administrator account and password, and set up Synology's QuickConnect service — which lets you access the NAS from anywhere in the world. You can always set up remote access later and configure additional users once you boot into DSM.

Synology DiskStation DS220j Performance

The DS220j is similar to the best Synology NAS enclosures in that it offers the same great software experience. The key differentiator for the manufacturer is DiskStation Manager — the web-based software has a ton of great features and a clean interface. You can set up your own audio, photo, media, and mail servers, and it even has a built-in productivity suite similar to Microsoft Office.

A key use case for those looking to pick up the DS220j is media streaming. There are two solutions in this front: either use the built-in Video Station to stream your locally-stored media collection across your home network, or use Plex. The Video Station utility has plenty to offer and is a robust solution — in conjunction with the audio-focused Audio Station — and I routinely use it on my NAS enclosure.

But Plex has a more refined interface and works on just about any platform you can think of. The Plex client is available for installation natively within Package Center, and all you need to do is install the client and set up the media server to get started. The DS220j is powered by a quad-core Realtek RTD1296 chipset and has 512MB of RAM, and the hardware on offer holds up just fine as a Plex server. I had no issues streaming 1080p content to phones and TVs in my home, and it did a passable job with 4K media.

That said, the DS220j lacks a hardware transcode engine, so you won't be able to transcode content. This isn't an issue as long as you're using a relatively new streaming box or TV — as they have the relevant containers and video codecs — so as long as you're using the direct play mode in Plex, the DS220j does a great job.

The other key use case is backing up files from all the connected devices in your home. This is where Synology Drive is particularly handy; the service is similar to Google Drive's back up and sync mode, and it automatically syncs data from Windows and macOS machines to the NAS.

As for photos, Photo Station is a robust solution that collates your photos and sorts them automatically. You'll have to use DS photo to upload photos from your phone to the NAS, and it a great alternative to using a cloud-based utility like Google Photos. With Google removing unlimited uploads in Photos from next year, using a NAS like the DS220j to back up your photos is a great alternative.

The DiskStation DS220j gets a lot right for a budget NAS and is a great way to get started with a home server for first-time buyers. That said, it misses out on features like M.2 SSD caching.

Premium models like the DiskStation DS920+ feature M.2 slots that let you add an NVMe SSD to the NAS for SSD caching, leading to much better performance in office-based workloads. The feature doesn't make a lot of difference for media streaming, so if you're just looking to buy a NAS to use as a Plex server and backing up data from connected devices, this isn't a major omission.

There are similar limitations elsewhere. There's also no Btrfs file system here, with the NAS limited to the EXT4 format. The only other downside with the DS220j is that it has limited memory. You get just 512MB of DRR4 RAM, and Synology should have added at least a 1GB module here, considering the memory module isn't upgradeable.

None of these issues affect the real-world performance of the DS220j. It is aimed at the value segment, and in that context, it does a fantastic job. It does miss out on some of the added features that you get on premium models, but when it comes to tasks like a Plex server or photos storage solution, the DS220j is one of the best options in this category.

Synology DiskStation DS220j The competition

There are a lot of options if you're looking for a budget NAS. TerraMaster's F2-210 is also a 2-bay NAS enclosure, and it is available for $149 — $30 less than the DS220j. TerraMaster's software isn't as polished as Synology, but the NAS lets you run Docker containers, has a quad-core chip that goes up to 1.4GHz, 1GB of RAM, and accommodates 2.5-inch HDDs and SSDs.

Suppose you want an all-in-one solution that has a built-in hard drive. In that case, the Buffalo LinkStation 210 4TB is a great option at $176. You get a 4TB drive built into the enclosure. While the software is nowhere as robust as DiskStation Manager, you can easily back up photos and other documents seamlessly and stream media to connected devices in your home.

Synology DiskStation DS220j Should you buy?

You should buy this if ...

You want to build a Plex media server

Looking to build an affordable Plex media server for streaming your media collection? The DS220j has native Plex integration and does a fantastic job in this area. Setting up Plex is about as straightforward as it gets, and you can easily stream your local media files on any connected device.

You need a solution for backing up photos

The DS220j lets you easily back up photos from all the phones that are connected to your home network, making it a great alternative to Google Photos. All the photos are stored locally on the NAS, and the Moments feature does a good job creating highlights from your photos.

You want an affordable home server

The affordability of the DS220j makes it a standout choice if you're just getting started with a home server. Basically, you're getting access to all the great software features that DiskStation Manager has to offer at an attractive price point.

You should not buy this if ...

You need more RAM

The DS220j has 512MB of RAM, and there's no way to upgrade the module. The RAM doesn't create a bottleneck yet, but it may turn into a problem later on.

You want all the extras

Need M.2 slots for SSD caching or dual Gigabit Ethernet ports? You'll need to pick up a model in the Plus series, like the $399 DiskStation DS720+.

The DiskStation DS220j delivers outstanding value for what you're paying here. With two drive bays that can hold a total of 32TB of storage and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and two USB 3.0 ports, it nails the basics.

Sure, the DS220j misses out on features that you'll find on the enthusiast Plus series models, but that's not the point of the NAS. The enclosure is aimed at first-time buyers that are looking to stream media and back up data and photos, and it does a fantastic job when it comes to these use cases.

4.5 out of 5

There's also the cost of the hard drives to consider. I'd recommend going with a Seagate 6TB IronWolf to get started. This drive will set you back another $155, but you get more than enough storage for your media collection, photos, and other files, and you get long-term reliability.

So if you're looking to buy a NAS enclosure for the first time and want to see if it fits your needs, the DiskStation DS220j is the perfect product. It's affordable enough that you're not spending too much money, you get to access the excellent DiskStation Manager software, and it is great as a Plex media server and offline photo storage solution.

Synology DiskStation DS220j

Bottom line: The DiskStation DS220j has everything you need in a budget home server. The NAS enclosure works great as a Plex media server, allowing you to stream media to all connected devices. You can also back up photos and other files with ease, and DiskStation Manager offers a ton of useful software features.

• $170 at Amazon
• $170 at Newegg
• $170 at B&H Photo

Best answer: An SSD cache delivers much better performance in select workloads involving intensive read/write operations, like running a database or a virtual machine on your NAS. The feature doesn't make a difference with sequential read/writes — such as streaming a video — so it isn't needed if you're using your NAS primarily for media playback.

• Everything you need: Synology DiskStation DS920+ ($550 at Amazon)
• The SSD to beat: Samsung 970 Pro M.2 SSD ($170 at Amazon)

SSD caching is useful for IOPS-intensive workloads

SSD cache is available on select Synology NAS enclosures, and it's aimed at increasing the performance versus using a traditional hard drive. An SSD cache is the ideal middle ground if you want to run file-intensive workloads on your NAS while still running affordable NAS-ready hard drives.

A hard drive consists of an actuator that moves the read/write arm, and a spindle that allows the platters — where data is stored — to move. A traditional hard drive works well for sequential reads, where data is stored in a single location and the read/write head doesn't have to change its position on a platter. However, when you're dealing with random read or write requests — where data is scattered all over the platter in small chunks — it leads to a noticeable latency as the read/write head has to change its position constantly.

This is where an SSD makes a difference. As an SSD consists of flash memory and no moving parts, it's much faster, delivering much better IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) performance. Adding an SSD as a cache to a traditional hard drive volume on your NAS delivers much better gains if you're working with a lot of small files — like a database or running an email server, website, or virtual machine directly on the NAS.

In these scenarios, having an SSD cache frequently-accessing data and working as a read/write buffer leads to noticeable gains in performance. There are two kinds of SSD caching on Synology NAS enclosures:

• Read-only cache: In this mode, only frequently-accessed data will be stored in the cache to increase random read speeds. As no writing is involved, there's no potential for data loss should the SSD run into any issues.
• Read-write cache: A read-write cache writes data to the SSD, and Synology recommends adding two SSDs in a RAID 1 configuration to ensure data integrity.

All of the best Synology NAS enclosures offer SSD caching, and if you are interested in adding an SSD cache to your NAS, you should consider at least a 400GB variant. The ideal option would be a 1TB SSD if you have over 80TB of storage on the NAS. You can install a regular 2.5-inch SSD, or use the M.2 slots in select NAS models for adding an SSD cache.

When choosing SSDs for caching, the main factor to consider is its longevity, usually measured in TBW (terabytes written). This number suggests how many terabytes of information can be written to the SSD before it wears out. That's why I recommend the Samsung 970 Pro M.2 SSD. With a 1200TBW endurance and a five-year warranty, the drive will last several years without any issues.

SSD caching won't make a difference with media playback

If your primary use case with a NAS is media playback across all devices on your home network via Plex or any other service, then SSD caching isn't going to make any difference. A Plex server reads metadata and other information, but when it comes to streaming the video files, it still relies on sequential reads.

So even if you pick up a powerful NAS like the DiskStation DS1019+, if you're using it mainly for streaming media, you don't need to add an SSD cache. The feature comes in handy for random read/write requests, but you won't see any tangible gains over a traditional hard drive for sequential read/writes.

NAS drives aren't cheap, but we recommend them over desktop-class HDDs because they're specifically designed and built to operate 24/7. Seagate has a sale on right now for the weekend of Black Friday across its IronWolf NAS HDD range, allowing you to pack your NAS full for less.

The cost per GB for the highlight 6TB deal is $0.023, making this a great value proposition for any NAS owner.

Seagate IronWolf 6TB HDD

$140 $180 $40 off

Seagate's IronWolf series of NAS drives come with many special features, including a speedy 7200 RPM motor, 256MB cache, support for up to 8 bays, and enhanced vibration and stability protection.

• See at Amazon

If you want even more storage capacity, Seagate has also discounted the 8TB version of its IronWolf NAS drive, slashing a full $70 off the original asking price. The cost per GB for the 8TB is also $0.024.

Seagate IronWolf 8TB HDD

$190 $260 $70 off

This 8TB variant is like the 6TB HDD we highlighted above in all ways aside from capacity. If you can stretch your budget a little further to include a few of these, you'll have plenty of space to spare for data.

• See at Amazon