The most effective dwelling community hooked up storage (NAS) server provides you the pliability to retailer all of your treasured information in a single location, and it has highly effective instruments that allow you to profit from your media assortment. NAS servers are notably helpful in case you have a big music or media library; you’ll be able to simply stream content material to all related units, and the accessibility makes it extremely handy.
There’s a lot extra you are able to do with a NAS; the servers highlighted under make it effortlessly straightforward to again up pictures and movies from your entire telephones, again up paperwork and some other information out of your Home windows or macOS machines, and a lot extra.
So should you’ve already dabbled on this section or wish to get your fingers in your first NAS, you will discover loads of nice selections under. I highlighted servers which can be ideally fitted to dwelling customers, whether or not that is media streaming by way of Plex, backing up information, or getting began with a price range NAS that has the necessities.
At a look
1. Synology DiskStation DS224+
Finest general
The DiskStation DS224+ continues to be your best option should you want a house NAS in 2024. It has terrific {hardware}, the perfect software program on this section, and loads of helpful additions. When you want a dependable 2-bay NAS with an in depth feature-set, you can not go mistaken with the DS224+.Â
2. Synology DiskStation DS223j
Finest price range NAS
The DiskStation DS223j is a terrific alternative should you want a value-focused NAS that also excels on the fundamentals. The NAS has related software program options as its costlier siblings, and whereas the {hardware} is not probably the most highly effective, it’s sufficient for many dwelling utilization situations.
3. Synology BeeStation 4TB
Finest newbie NAS
The BeeStation is an all-in-one unit comes with a 4TB laborious drive, and it effortlessly backs up pictures and movies, in addition to some other information. It would not have media streaming or any of the software program options that you just get with most different NAS servers, however should you simply want native storage, it’s very best.
Finest {hardware}
When you want a house NAS with the perfect {hardware}, ASUSTOR’s AS5402T must be on the prime of your record. This 2-bay NAS has 4 M.2 slots, twin 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and highly effective Intel {hardware} that makes it a terrific media streamer.
5. Synology DiskStation DS423+
Finest for media streaming
The DiskStation DS423+ is a 4-bay NAS that’s ideally fitted to Plex media streaming. The highly effective {hardware} is nice for transcodes, you get twin M.2 slots so as to add SSD storage, and the DS423+ has the perfect software program options on this section.
Finest SSD NAS
UGREEN is making its debut within the NAS section with the DXP480T Plus, and this all-flash NAS combines excellent {hardware}, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity in a diminutive bundle.
Finest general
The DiskStation DS224+ remains to be the perfect dwelling NAS round, and that is not more likely to change anytime quickly. It is not a single factor that provides the DS224+ an edge; as a substitute, it is a mixture of {hardware}, software program options, and positioning. The {hardware} is not the perfect you will discover on this section because it would not have any 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports or M.2 SSD slots, however these are minor limitations that in the end have a bearing in every day use.
That mentioned, the remainder of the {hardware} is terrific; the DS224+ is powered by the Intel Celeron J4125, and it’s the default alternative for the perfect Plex NAS servers. It even has the power to transcode Plex content material, making it that rather more attractive. So in case you have a big media library and wish to arrange a NAS, it is best to decide up the DS224+. The two-bay NAS has 2GB of RAM out of the field, twin Gigabit Ethernet ports, and two USB 3.0 ports.
The largest differentiator for the DS224+ is the software program; the DiskStation Supervisor interface has a cultured design and loads of options, and better of all, it is easy to make use of. You may arrange Synology Photographs and have a Google Photographs various that shops information in your personal home, and the utility by itself makes the DS224+ worthy. In the same vein, you’ll be able to again up information from nearly any gadget mechanically, entry your media library whenever you’re away from your private home, and an entire lot extra.
Finally, the DS224+ has the requisite {hardware} and software program to actually stand out, and it’s a simple alternative should you want a strong dwelling NAS server.
Finest price range NAS
Do not want all of the extras that the DS224+ has to supply? Then you definitely’ll need to check out the DiskStation DS223j. That is additionally a 2-bay NAS, however it would not have the identical caliber of {hardware}; it’s powered by a Realtek RTD1619B chip, has 1GB of reminiscence, and a single Gigabit Ethernet port on the again.
The upside is that it prices beneath $200, and that makes it extremely attractive. You continue to get many of the software program options which can be current within the DS224+, and whilst you miss out on containerization and digital machines, these aren’t options that make a distinction to dwelling customers anyway.
Whereas there are many price range NAS servers, I at all times advocate the DS223j for the confirmed software program. It’s considerably simpler to make use of, and Synology’s cell apps permit you to stream your media from anyplace on this planet. And the perfect half is that it has a local Plex shopper, so you’ll be able to arrange a media server with none points.
When you simply want a NAS to retailer information in a single location and stream media on a price range, the DS223j is your best option obtainable at this time.
Finest newbie NAS
You want a dependable method to retailer pictures and invaluable information, however do not wish to put money into a full-fledged NAS. That is the place the BeeStation is available in; that is an all-in-one unit that homes a 4TB laborious drive (a HAT3300 Plus), so you may get began right away. The aim with the BeeStation is to focus on shoppers that do not but have a NAS and wish to get reasonably priced native storage that is related to the community.
Subsequently, you do not get a variety of software program options; there’s the power to again up pictures and movies, and recordsdata from any of your related machines. That is it. You do not get the same old DiskStation Supervisor software program, and the interface is as barebones as it could possibly get. That mentioned, the BeePhotos cell shopper makes it straightforward to again up pictures and movies, and within the 4 months that I used the BeeStation, it has confirmed to be dependable.
The largest limitation is the dearth of media streaming. You may retailer your media library on the gadget, however you’ll be able to’t do a lot with it. The BeeStation is as a substitute designed as a non-public cloud resolution; as a substitute of storing pictures and paperwork on Google Drive and different public cloud suppliers, the thought is that you just again it as much as this gadget.
To that impact, the BeeStation integrates with Google Drive and different storage suppliers, and you’ll switch the info from these providers to the BeeStation simply. So should you want a simple method to again up pictures and movies and do not want many extra options, the BeeStation is an efficient alternative.
Finest {hardware}
ASUSTOR is doing all the appropriate issues with its dwelling NAS servers, and the AS5402T is a testomony to how far the model has come within the final two years. The two-bay NAS has the perfect {hardware} bundle on this class; it’s powered by Intel’s Celeron J5105, has 4GB of RAM with the power to improve to 16GB, 4 M.2 slots in whole, two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports.
There’s additionally an HDMI port on the again that allows you to join the AS5402T to a TV, and the Intel {hardware} makes the NAS a standout alternative should you want a strong Plex server. It simply handles transcodes and playback with none points, and in my testing, it did a greater job than simply about some other 2-bay NAS.
But it surely’s the connectivity that permits it to face out; with two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, the AS5402T is future-proof, and also you need not change to a different NAS whenever you improve your private home community. ASUSTOR’s software program nonetheless is not as polished or straightforward to make use of, however it has gotten higher over the past two years, and it comes with a lot better safety this time round.
Finest for media streaming
The DiskStation DS423+ is just like the DiskStation DS920+, however there are just a few minor modifications. It’s powered by the Intel Celeron J4125, has 2GB of RAM, 4 drive bays that maintain a complete of 72TB of storage, twin Gigabit Ethernet ports, and two M.2 slots that permits you to add SSD storage.
Briefly, the DS423+ is the go-to alternative should you want a strong Plex media server. I desire it to the DiskStation DS923+ because it comes with the power to deal with Plex transcodes, and that’s its largest benefit. It does a improbable job taking part in again excessive bitrate 4K content material by way of Plex or some other media streaming resolution, and the 4 drive bays offer you loads of room to improve drives down the road.
You get the identical nice software program options because the DS224+, and whereas I’d have appreciated to see multi-Gigabit connectivity, the DS423+ is a good alternative nonetheless.
Finest SSD NAS
The DXP480T Plus is a singular NAS in that it would not have conventional laborious drive bays — you as a substitute get 4 M.2 2280 slots to deal with SSDs. The all-flash NAS is geared toward lovers, and should you do not wish to use mechanical drives and are as a substitute trying to go all in on SSD storage, that is your best option.
The largest differentiator for the DXP480T Plus is the {hardware}; it has a twelfth Gen Intel Core i5-1235U mixed with 8GB of RAM, 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity on the again, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity as properly. The {hardware} is overkill for many dwelling utilization situations, however in case you have a variety of invaluable information and want blazing-fast transfers, the DXP480T Plus is in a league of its personal.
UGREEN hasn’t sorted out the software program simply but, however that is set to vary by the tip of Could, and that’s when the DXP480T Plus might be obtainable basically sale. Till then, you may get it for lots lower than its retail value by way of the crowdfunded route.
I am nonetheless keen on mechanical HDDs, however having used the DXP480T Plus extensively, I’ll admit that the all-flash NAS is a terrific alternative if you wish to transfer to SSD storage.
How to decide on
When you’re searching for the perfect NAS for dwelling use, the DiskStation DS224+ is the perfect general alternative proper now. The upgraded {hardware} makes it a really perfect choice for almost any use case, and with DSM 7.2, you get probably the most polished software program interface of any model on this section.Â
Want extra drive bays? The DiskStation DS423+ is the perfect alternative. In order for you a NAS with an HDMI port to attach on to your TV, the AS5402T is a improbable alternative. The two-bay NAS has highly effective {hardware} and provides you nice worth to your cash.Â
What’s the finest NAS drive for dwelling use?
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Our professional reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services so you’ll be able to select the perfect for you. Discover out extra about how we take a look at.
As a NAS server is designed to run 24/7, you’ll be able to’t use a typical laborious drive. Fortunately, there are drives designed only for NAS use, and I’ve rounded up the perfect laborious drives for NAS in a standalone article.Â
At a high-level overview, you will want to purchase both Seagate’s IronWolf or IronWolf Professional sequence or Western Digital’s Crimson Plus or Crimson Professional laborious drives. I’ve used all of those drives for practically a decade now, and so they’ve confirmed to be dependable.Â
If I needed to counsel a drive for dwelling use, it will be the Seagate IronWolf. I’ve over 50TB of IronWolf drives in numerous servers, and it’s hands-down probably the most dependable NAS drive that I’ve used. It begins off at 2TB and goes as much as 18TB, and for dwelling use, something over 4TB must be a really perfect alternative.Â
