Most effective NAS for dwelling in 2023

NAS enclosures are designed for storing a form of files and running some apps and products and services, making them a gigantic addition to a busy household. Whether or no longer you and your loved ones contributors need someplace to stash files and backups, otherwise it’s good to produce your very hold media streaming service, now we like rounded up our popular enclosures that we take into narrative to be the very most effective NAS for houses.

Our top picks for most effective NAS for the dwelling

Offer: Synology

Synology DiskStation DS224+

Most effective NAS for dwelling

The undisputed most effective NAS for even the busiest of households

The Synology DiskStation DS224+ is the command successor to the popular DS220+, which was praised for the price it equipped to patrons having a peep to aquire their first enclosure. The DS224+ has an Intel Celeron processor, 2GB of DDR4 RAM, and enhance for Synology’s very good DSM running gadget and catalog of apps.

Trace

Synology

CPU

Intel Celeron J4125

Memory

2 GB DDR4

Drive Bays

2

Ports

2x 1GbE, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

Caching

No

OS

Synology DSM

Label

$300

Dimensions

165 x 108 x 232.2 mm

Weight

1.3 kg

Mavens

• Mammoth price
• Improbable DSM OS
• Worthy Intel processor

Cons

• Most effective 1 GbE networking
• Miniature upgrades
• No growth enhance

The Synology DiskStation DS224+ is an very good NAS, replacing the popular DS220+ which launched in 2020. Whereas this more fresh enclosure did no longer approach with the overall upgrades many at some level of the NAS community had been hoping for, Synology hasn’t elevated the MSRP over the predecessor, effectively offering a CPU upgrade free of price. The Intel Celeron J4125 is a neatly-recognized processor and was conceal at some level of the Synology DiskStation DS920+. This enclousre was regarded as one amongst among the finest NAS for Plex, making this DS224+ a compelling desire for the dwelling.

In our intensive testing, we stumbled on the NAS to design good as neatly as its predecessor with valuable improvements in media transcoding and running extra intensive apps. The sooner processor is in a position to doing all responsibilities with fewer gadget sources, allowing other responsibilities to be flee or accounts to connect with the enclosure with out slowing down overall efficiency. 2GB of DDR4 RAM would possibly also honest calm be ample to initiate, but it undoubtedly would possibly also honest moreover be expanded to a most of 6GB, as supported by Synology.

There’s no reach to connect a selection unit, nor are there any M.2 slots. Once it’s seemingly you’ll also honest like completely loaded this NAS with files, you’ll favor to take into narrative a replace with extra bays. It is a respectable region to initiate for a dwelling NAS, on the different hand, with its good price and reasonable ticket tag. Appropriate undergo in mind to element in the worth of NAS drives.

Offer: TerraMaster

TerraMaster F2-223

Runner-up most effective NAS for dwelling

A gigantic replace for the 2-bay Synology NAS

The TerraMaster F2-223 is one amongst the extra extraordinary two-bay NAS from the pricetag, rocking a capable Intel processor, two drive bays, extra than one 2.5GbE ports, and a respectable OS. Here is a respectable price desire for home householders looking for a serious enclosure.

Trace

TerraMaster

CPU

Intel Celeron N4505

Memory

4 GB DDR4 (max. 32 GB)

Drive Bays

2

Expansion

2x M.2 SSD

Ports

2x 2.5 GbE, 1x HDMI, 2x USB-A 3.1

Caching

Optimistic

OS

TOS

Label

$260

Dimensions

227 x 119 x 133 mm

Weight

2.4 kg

Mavens

• Mammoth price
• Worthy Intel processor
• 32GB RAM skill and M.2 slots

Cons

• Rougher OS UI
• Weaker app enhance
• HDMI port can’t be earlier for media

The TerraMaster F2-223 provides gigantic price when in comparison against our top advice. The corporate managed to price this NAS at $260 while offering an Intel Celeron N4505 processor, supporting as much as 32GB of RAM — which is extra than what some like of their desktop PCs — and M.2 slots for good measure. No longer entirely is that this NAS in a position to coping with a busier household, but it undoubtedly’s moreover a respectable pick for a smaller Plex Media Server set up. Salvage no longer learn too extraordinary into the available HDMI port, as TerraMaster has but to enable this for media playback.

TerraMaster F2-223

Calm, the specifications and worth compose this a gigantic pick for those attempting among the finest bang for his or her buck. The two 2.5GbE connections on the rear are supreme for taking advantage of further network bandwidth or to maintain scope for infrastructure upgrades in due course. We conceal in our testing for overview that the TerraMaster F2-223 entirely suffered from a restricted app selection, ensuing in the corporate relying on community-maintained choices, and a downgrade in cloud enhance in comparison to Synology.

For those who are buying for a NAS to be earlier as native storage with out cloud-backed products and services, the TerraMaster F2-223 would be the greater fit over the Synology DiskStation DS224+.

Offer: QNAP

QNAP TS-464

Most effective NAS for Plex

The NAS to aquire for running your hold media server

The QNAP TS-464 is and extraordinary NAS, rocking an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM out of the box, and even two M.2 slots and a single PCIe growth slot. It has every little thing it’s good to flee a Plex Media Server, alongside side dedicated HDMI output.

Trace

QNAP

CPU

Intel Celeron N5095

Memory

4 GB DDR4 (max 16 GB)

Drive Bays

4

Expansion

1x PCIe 3, 2x M.2

Ports

2x 2.5GbE, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, 2x USB-A 2.0, 1x HDMI

Caching

Optimistic

OS

QNAP QTS

Label

$549

Dimensions

168 x 170 x 226 mm

Weight

2.26 kg

Mavens

• Worthy Intel processor
• HDMI output for TV
• Expansion enhance

Running Plex Media Server would possibly also honest moreover be an intensive course of for a NAS to address, in particular when extra than one streams are running and transcoding is taking region. The greater the processor, the simpler the NAS will almost definitely be in a position to address streaming and the QNAP TS-464 has the mighty Intel Celeron N5095 with its four bodily cores and a most burst flee of 2.9GHz. 4GB of RAM included with the NAS is tall gadget reminiscence for running Plex and other products and services, and QNAP supports a most skill of 16GB, which will transform this correct into a extraordinary dwelling server.

To boot to the processor and expandable RAM, QNAP included two M.2 NVMe slots for no longer entirely alongside side caching enhance to toughen efficiency, but these can moreover be earlier to expand the storage pool with rapid SSD drives. There’s moreover a single PCIe 3.0 growth slot for expanding the capabilities of the NAS, equivalent to 10GbE networking. By default, the QNAP TS-464 comprises two 2.5GbE networking ports for excessive bandwidth connections, an HDMI port for command playback to a TV, and an IR sensor for far off preserve a watch on enhance.

We stumbled on the NAS to be completely suited to running Plex Media Server in our testing and stumbled on no disorders with transcoding extra than one 4K streams at varied settings with out experiencing gradual playback. It might be regarded as overkill for total storage usage and is priced accordingly, but whenever you intend on running a media server, this NAS can advantage attach you money long duration of time by the cancelation of streaming products and services. We moreover in comparison the Synology DiskStation DS923+ vs. QNAP TS-464, which reveals the adaptations between the 2 NAS for running Plex.

Offer: ASUSTOR

Asustor Flashstor 6 FS6706T

Most effective SSD NAS

Glide all-out with flash storage for most effective efficiency

For those who are buying for a NAS with very good switch charges, peep no further than the Asustor Flashstor 6 FS6706T. This thing is rapid, with six M.2 slots available for rapid SSD drives. There’s 2.5GbE networking, HDMI output, growth enhance, and expandable RAM, making the FS6706T a resounding NAS.

Trace

Asustor

CPU

Quad-core Intel Celeron N5105

Memory

4 GB DDR4 (max 16 GB)

Drive Bays

6

Expansion

Optimistic

Ports

2x 2.5GbE, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2×1, 2x USB 2.0

Caching

Optimistic

OS

Asustor ADM

Label

$500

Dimensions

Forty eight.3 x 308.26 x 193 mm

Weight

1.35 kg

Mavens

• Six M.2 SSD slots
• Quieter and no longer more energy design
• HDMI output for TV

Cons

• Costly
• PCIe and LAN bottlenecks
• M.2 NVMe SSDs are pricey

Spinning mechanical drives provide among the finest price in phrases of ticket-per-GB, but they’re loud, having motors that purpose vibrations, and do not appear to be terribly legit. Inspiring parts just like the next likelihood of breaking than motionless parts, which is why SSDs are turning into extra same earlier in NAS. Asustor went above and past with the Asustor Flashstor FS6706T by offering no 3.5-drag drive bays. As an alternative, this enclosure houses six M.2 NVMe drive slots for rapid stable-direct storage.

This opens up score correct of entry to to many potentialities for rising a dwelling server with out the noise, excessive energy design, and vibrations. The usage of SSDs will almost definitely be extra pricey than mechanical drives, in particular when buying those designed for NAS usage, but it undoubtedly will almost definitely be worth it whenever you desire among the finest patience. This NAS might be a respectable match for storing files and running some products and services or rising a media streaming platform. The Intel Celeron N5095 is one now we like considered in loads of among the finest NAS in the market and 4GB of DDR4 RAM is a gigantic starting level.

Having score correct of entry to to 6 M.2 slots for rapid NVMe drives is gigantic on its hold, but this requires essentially intensive bandwidth for it to be worth the funding. Unfortunately, as we highlighted in our overview, it be no longer that it’s seemingly you’ll mediate of to flee six PCIe 3.0 drives at paunchy flee and just like the very best switch charges of files. The CPU and two 2.5GbE network parts act as a bottleneck for the available storage slots. It’s no deal-breaker and would possibly also honest entirely have an effect on those looking for excessive speeds across the network. We stumbled on completely saturating the 2 2.5GbE ports to be good ample for the dwelling or office.

Offer: Synology

Synology DiskStation DS223j

Most effective budget NAS

A low-price NAS with score correct of entry to to Synology’s ecosystem

Synology’s DiskStation DS223j is the replace for the popular and neatly-obtained DS220j, an reasonable two-bay enclosure with score correct of entry to to the corporate’s very good DiskStation Manager (DSM) OS. Rocking a brand fresh ARM processor and extra RAM, it be a stable desire for fogeys who merely favor to store files and backups.

Trace

Synology

CPU

Realtek RTD1619B

Memory

1 GB DDR4

Drive Bays

2

Ports

1x 1 GbE, 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

OS

DSM

Label

$190

Dimensions

165 x 100 x 225.5 mm

Weight

0.88 kg

Mavens

• Sensible
• Mammoth for beginners and file storage
• Entry to DSM and Synology apps

Cons

• No growth enhance
• Weaker ARM processor
• Most effective a single 1GbE connection

For a NAS that will no longer price extraordinary, there might be minute reason to take into narrative something as a replace of the Synology DiskStation DS223j. Here is an enclosure that charges lower than $200, but manages to dwelling two 3.5-drag drive bays for as much as 40TB of raw storage skill. This makes it the supreme NAS for houses and NAS beginners the build extra intensive apps equivalent to Plex Media Server is per chance no longer build in. It is that it’s seemingly you’ll mediate of to movement media with this enclosure, but transcoding is out of the ask as a result of the ARM processor.

How Synology was in a position to compose this NAS so reasonable is by the exhaust of a Realtek RTD1619B processor. It’s an ARM chip and packs less of a punch than its Intel Celeron counterparts. This does suggest the enclosure draws less energy and would possibly also honest flee cooler. 1GB of DDR4 RAM is build in and right here is all it’s seemingly you’ll also exhaust as there might be no possibility to expand it. Appropriate love any other Synology NAS enclosures, the DS223j runs DiskStation Manager (DSM), providing score correct of entry to to among the finest-in-class running gadget.

We stumbled on the NAS to be an very good budget-friendly enclosure with entirely a pair of drawbacks when factoring in its low ticket. First, there might be the difficulty with restricted gadget sources. 1GB of RAM would possibly also honest no longer be ample for busier households with extra than one accounts attempting to design varied NAS-related responsibilities. The CPU is no longer the strongest now we like considered in an enclosure both. There’s no growth enhance and a single 1GbE connection to the network can like a flash change into saturated. Calm, the DS223j is a respectable reasonable NAS for most houses.

Offer: TerraMaster

TerraMaster F4-423

Most effective price NAS

A great combine of energy and affordability

TerraMaster’s F4-423 would possibly also no longer provide the same depth and breadth of aspects as alternate solutions from extra established opponents, but it undoubtedly’s a capable and no longer more pricey possibility that’ll attain every little thing most users need it to.

CPU

Intel Celeron N5095, Quad-Core 2.0 GHz

Memory

4GB, upgradeable to 32GB

Drive Bays

4

Caching

2x M.2 2280 NVMe Slot

OS

Terramaster TOS 5.1

Label

$500

Dimensions

227 x 225 x 136 mm

Weight

3.6 kg

Mavens

• Worthy Intel processor
• Up top 32GB RAM and M.2 slots
• Improbable price

Cons

• Rougher OS and weaker app enhance
• M.2 SSD slots can’t be earlier for storage
• HDMI port can’t be earlier for media

We counsel the mighty TerraMaster F4-423 because among the finest NAS in phrases of price. It’s no longer as reasonable because the Synology DiskStation Ds223j, nor TerraMaster’s hold F2-223, but right here is extremely the enclosure. The F4-423 has four drive bays, extraordinary love the QNAP TS-464. There is a extraordinary Intel Celeron course of within with 4GB of DDR4 RAM out the box, which will almost definitely be expanded as much as a whopping 32GB. Two M.2 NVMe slots are moreover conceal for bettering overall gadget efficiency by files caching with SSDs.

We’re immense followers of the TerraMaster F4-423, but did stumble upon is lack of developed aspects when in comparison to other branded NAS. There’s moreover the difficulty of hardware upgrades, namely the RAM and SSDs, no longer being a straightforward course of and requires the elimination of the outer shell. Then there might be the OS, which is no longer terrible but it undoubtedly’s moreover no longer as sophisticated as Synology, QNAP, and Asustor choices. You might possibly possibly also design most responsibilities with out effort but it undoubtedly might be good to peep TOS receive a visible upgrade to snort it as much as par.

TerraMaster extra than makes up for this with the specifications on provide. The processor and RAM compose it a gigantic possibility for running Plex Media Server, storing files, and even recording surveillance photos from security cameras. The HDMI port can’t be earlier, which is a disgrace, but the power to install as much as 32GB of RAM and use M.2 SSDs for caching compose this a essentially capable enclosure.

Picking among the finest NAS for dwelling

Selecting the supreme NAS to your house is basically dictated by how extraordinary you are spirited to exhaust. NAS enclosures can price anywhere from $100 the overall reach as much as $2,000 and past. A two-bay NAS with an Intel Celeron processor is often good ample for even busier households with extra than one household contributors concurrently having access to files kept on the server or apps. We have examined limitless enclosures and stumbled on many released at some level of the earlier few years to be extra than ample for the dwelling. If we needed to pick one to counsel above the relaxation, it’d be the Synology DiskStation DS224+.

Here is a essentially capable enclosure with an Intel Celeron processor, upgradable DDR4 RAM with 2GB from the factory, score correct of entry to to Synology’s very good DSM running gadget, and two 1GbE network connections. Opponents equivalent to TerraMaster would possibly also honest provide NAS with 2.5GbE ports in equally priced enclosures, but two 1GbE hyperlinks are calm good ample for most dwelling networks. We wouldn’t envision this being a arena with most houses, making this our slip-to advice for buying for a two-bay NAS to your loved ones to like.

Offer: Synology

Synology DiskStation DS224+

Most effective NAS for dwelling

The Synology DiskStation DS224+ is the command successor to the popular DS220+, which was praised for the price it equipped to patrons having a peep to aquire their first enclosure. The DS224+ has an Intel Celeron processor, 2GB of DDR4 RAM, and enhance for Synology’s very good DSM running gadget and catalog of apps.