If you're the proud owner of one of the best gaming PCs or laptops, you understand the importance of safeguarding your valuable data. Whether it's stored on a top SSD or on large external hard drives, ensuring your files, photos, and other essential content are secure is crucial. This is where a great NAS (Network-Attached Storage) drive, such as our top pick, the Synology DiskStation DS224+, shines. A NAS drive offers significant storage capacity and seamlessly integrates into your home network, enabling quick data transfers across your devices, including smartphones, tablets, desktops, and laptops. Perfect for managing digital media libraries, a NAS can sync your devices effortlessly. However, given the investment, it's wise to choose wisely. We've selected eight outstanding options to suit various needs.
TL;DR – These are the Best NAS Devices:
Our Top Pick### Synology DiskStation DS224+
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### UGREEN NASync DXP2800
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### Synology DiskStation DS223j
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### Asustor Lockerstor 2 AS6602T
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### Synology DiskStation DS1821+
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### QNAP TS-264-8G
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### SynologyDiskStation DS923+
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### ioSafe Duo Pro
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Synology DiskStation DS224+
Best NAS
Our Top Pick### Synology DiskStation DS224+
0The Synology DiskStation DS224+ offers an easy-to-use, high-speed NAS with two drive bays, two Gigabit LAN ports, and a powerful Intel Celeron processor with 2GB upgradable RAM. Ideal for those who want a capable yet straightforward NAS, it supports up to 32TB of storage and RAID 1 configurations for data redundancy. While it lacks multi-gig LAN support, its versatile apps and software make it perfect for storing security camera footage, running as a Plex server, or securely managing files and photos. Its quad-core processor ensures smooth 4K media transcoding and video streaming.
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Product Specifications Connection: Ethernet, USB 3.2 RAID Level: SHR, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1 Storage: 2 x 3.5"/2.5" bays Size: 9.02" x 9.13" x 6.5"
PROS
- Easy-to-use interface
- Fast quad-core processor
CONS
- No multi-gig LAN port
UGreen NASync DXP2800
Best Budget NAS
### UGREEN NASync DXP2800
0With its stylish design and quality hardware at a midrange price, the UGreen NASync DXP2800 is equipped with dual drive bays and an Intel N100 quad-core processor with 8GB of RAM. It's perfect for backing up files and creating a personal cloud server. Although Plex isn't native, it's easily installable via Docker. It supports up to 24TB per drive bay and features two M.2 slots for NVMe SSDs, along with a 2.5Gb ethernet port for speedy transfers.
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Product Specifications Connection: Ethernet, USB, HDMI RAID Level: JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, Basic Storage: 2 x 2.5"/3.5" bays, 2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe slots Size: Not listed
PROS
- Comprehensive OS and apps
- Multi-gig ethernet
CONS
- No native Plex
Synology DiskStation DS223j
Most Affordable NAS
### Synology DiskStation DS223j
0The Synology DiskStation DS223j is an ultra-affordable and user-friendly NAS, ideal for beginners. It features Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) OS, ensuring easy file management across devices. While built with mostly plastic and requiring a screwdriver for drive installation, it offers reliable hardware and supports up to 32TB across two 3.5" SATA bays.
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Product Specifications Connection: Ethernet, USB RAID Level: Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, SHR Storage: 2 x 3.5" bays Size: 6.5" x 3.94" x 8.9"
PROS
- Reliable hardware
- Easy to use
CONS
- Lacks multi-gig ethernet port
Asustor Lockerstor 2 AS6602T
Best NAS for Power Users and Professionals
### Asustor Lockerstor 2 AS6602T
0The Asustor Lockerstor AS6602T is designed for power users, featuring an Intel Celeron quad-core processor, 4GB upgradable RAM, and support for 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA drives. With two additional M.2 PCIe NVMe slots and dual 2.5Gb ethernet ports, it's perfect for high-speed backups, virtualization, and media centers. It supports 10-bit 4K hardware decoding for an enhanced 4K HDR experience.
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Product Specifications Connection: Ethernet, USB 3.0, HDMI RAID Level: JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1 Storage: 2 x 3.5"/2.5" bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe slots Size: 9.06" x 4.25" x 6.44"
PROS
- Dual M.2 PCIe NVMe slots for additional storage
- Supports 10-bit 4K hardware decoding
CONS
- Drive installation is more involved
Synology DiskStation DS1821+
Best Multi-Bay NAS
### Synology DiskStation DS1821+
0For those needing extensive storage, the Synology DiskStation DS1821+ offers eight drive bays, totaling 128TB capacity, and includes M.2 2280 NVMe slots for high-speed caching. Powered by a quad-core AMD Ryzen CPU and 4GB upgradable DDR4 ECC memory, it supports multiple RAID configurations and hot-swappable drives, though it can be noisy.
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Product Specifications Connection: Ethernet, USB 3.2 RAID Level: JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) Storage: 8 x 3.5"/2.5" bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe slots Size: 18.2" x 14.4" x 12.5"
PROS
- Wild 128TB capacity
- Hot-swappable drives
CONS
- Can get noisy
QNAP TS-264-8G
Best NAS for Media Streaming
### QNAP TS-264-8G
0Designed for streaming, the QNAP TS-264-8G features dual 2.5Gb ethernet ports and a 4K HDMI output, making it ideal for centralizing your media library. With two 3.5-inch drive bays and two M.2 PCIe slots, it's powered by an Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 quad-core processor and 8GB DDR4 memory, ensuring smooth 4K video streaming with hardware transcoding.
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Product Specifications Connection: Ethernet, USB 3.2, HDMI RAID Level: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, JBOD Storage: 2 x 3.5"/2.5" bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe slots Size: 8.1" x 6.6" x 4.1"
PROS
- Compact design
- Impressive hardware
CONS
- Software is harder to master
Synology DiskStation DS923+
Best Network Attached Storage for RAID Configurations
### SynologyDiskStation DS923+
0The Synology DiskStation DS923+ is perfect for those prioritizing data security with its four drive bays supporting various RAID configurations, including RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, and SHR. It includes two M.2 2280 NVMe SSD slots for fast caching and is powered by a dual-core AMD Ryzen processor with 4GB upgradable DDR4 RAM.
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Product Specifications Connection: Ethernet, USB 3.2, eSATA RAID Level: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), Basic, JBOD Storage: 4 x 3.5"/2.5" bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe slots Size: 6.5" x 7.8" x 8.7"
PROS
- Offers various RAID levels
- Expandable storage and RAM
CONS
- No multi-gig LAN port
ioSafe Duo Pro
Best Rugged NAS
### ioSafe Duo Pro
0While not technically a NAS, the ioSafe Duo Pro drive offers fireproof and water-resistant protection with an IP68 rating, safeguarding your data from physical damage. It supports RAID configurations and provides robust, long-lasting drive bays. Data recovery services are available, but note that it requires additional setup for network storage.
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Product Specifications Connection: USB 3.2 RAID Level: RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, SPAN Storage: 2 x 3.5"/2.5" bays Size: 11.50" x 5.91" x 9.06"
PROS
- Fireproof and water-resistant
- Offers two robust, long-lasting drive bays
CONS
- Not designed to be a NAS
What to Look for in NAS
If you share a network with others and want to streamline file sharing and backups, a NAS device could be your solution. It's perfect for those who need to access the same tools or files across multiple devices, not just for storage but also for ease of access.
What are you using it for?
A NAS is invaluable if you're looking to centralize access to a large media library or share files across multiple devices. It can be transformed into a Plex server, providing swift access to movies, TV shows, and music throughout your home.
Go diskless? How many bays?
Most NAS devices come diskless, requiring you to purchase drives separately. Ensure compatibility with the manufacturer's recommendations. The number of bays determines your storage potential; two or more are ideal, with multimedia systems often requiring more.
