Choosing the best NAS drive (Network-Attached Storage drive) can be really daunting. Especially if you get nervous about technology. It involves all those confusing techie details of RAM, terabytes, and gigaHertz. And yet it’s a really important choice.
We’ve selected nine of the best solutions for your NAS needs. We list some simple plug-and-play devices with built-in storage. These are ideal for the basic home user. And then we list some bigger, multi-slot devices that will meet the needs of small and medium business users.
Our top pick is the WD 4TB My Cloud Home. It is easy to set up, has plenty of storage for home use, and comes at an attractive price.
Our Recommendations for the Best NAS Drives
We will look at all our recommendations in more detail. But first, here is a summary of all our choices.
- 4 TB capacity for storing photos, videos, and files
- Automatic backup of photos and videos from smartphones
- Streams music and videos to TV, tablet, and other devices
- Easily share files and folders with friends and family
- Peace of mind with password protection
- Easily expandable storage
- Quad-core CPU for faster performance
- Optimized for streaming and sharing media
- Easy-to-use interface for managing data
- Suited for home and office use
- Ultra-fast data access
- Compact and energy efficient
- Easy setup and intuitive UI
- Intensive multimedia support
- Ideal home photo storage solution
- Versatile storage and backup solution
- High reliability and fast performance
- Attractive design for living rooms
- Ability to manage, share, and back up photos
- 8 GB RAM and superb encryption security
- Realtek RTD 1296 Quad Core 1.4 GHz CPU
- 2 GB DDR4 Memory
- 2x 2.5Gbe ports
- 2x USB 3.2 ports
- Hot-swappable drive bays
- Up to 40 TB of storage
- User-friendly interface
- Good range of OS apps
- Fast transfer speed
- Plex media compatible
- 10GbE connectivity for fast data transfer
- 5 bay RAID storage for secure photo storage
- Safeguard photos with multiple RAID configurations
- User-friendly app and interface for ease of use
- Innovative storage solution for
- Easy to set up
- Simple cloud synchronization
- High-capacity storage
- Cost-effective solution
- Ideal for photo printing
- Lightning-fast transfer rate
- High-capacity storage
- Secure backups
- Intuitive setup
- Ideal for photo storage
What Is the Best NAS Drive in 2023?
Now let’s take a look at all of those drives in more detail.
1. WD 4TB My Cloud Home Personal Cloud
| Brand |
Brand
WD
|
| Storage Capacity |
Storage Capacity
4 TB
|
| Interface |
Interface
USB
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
USB, Ethernet
|
| Number of Bays |
Number of Bays
N/A
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Built-in 4 TB SSD, backs up all your devices
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a simple home setup for multiple phones and computers
|
The WD 4 TB My Cloud Home NAS is an ideal solution for the home. It comes complete with the drive(s) you need. There’s no need to buy a separate drive. Sizes range from 2 TB up to 8 TB.
It makes sense for anyone who doesn’t have an existing drive they want to use. And it provides a simple solution. In a typical household, it will provide all you need to back up all your devices.
You can access your files from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. That’s ideal for a digital nomad. It makes sense to locate the NAS near your router but out of sight. If a burglary should happen, you don’t want them to find it. That would defeat the point of a home cloud server.
For most people, the WD My Cloud Home is good value and a relatively simple NAS solution.
2. QNAP TS-231K 4 Bay Home NAS
| Brand |
Brand
QNAP
|
| Storage Capacity |
Storage Capacity
N/A
|
| Interface |
Interface
SATA
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
USB, Ethernet
|
| Number of Bays |
Number of Bays
2
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Quad-core 1.7 GHz processor, 1 GB DDR3 RAM
|
| Best For |
Best For
Gamers and videographers wanting to stream from their NAS
|
The QNAP TS231-K provides sophisticated solutions for online file storage. It works easily and well with Mac and Windows as a cloud backup. But it also connects easily to Android TV, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. So you can stream your content from your mobile devices.
More common uses for a NAS are simple and automatic backup of files. The QNAP handles this by syncing easily with major commercial cloud-based services. These include DropBox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive. This failsafe approach means your data are secure and available at almost any time.
You have to choose SSDs to connect to the NAS bays. This shouldn’t be too difficult. And it means it’s easy to connect some pretty serious size storage. For easy additional file transfer, you can hook up an external drive to the USB port on the front.
The QNAP TS231-K is a flexible solution to setting up a NAS for your home or small business.
3. Synology 2 bay NAS DiskStation DS220j
| Brand |
Brand
Synology
|
| Storage Capacity |
Storage Capacity
N/A
|
| Interface |
Interface
SATA
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
Ethernet, USB
|
| Number of Bays |
Number of Bays
2
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Integrated media server, compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a reasonably-priced user-friendly NAS for home use
|
The 1.4 GHz quad-core processor at the heart of the Synology DiskStation DS220j delivers excellent performance. It is also equipped with 512 MB of DDR4 RAM. After all, there’s no joy in having all your data delivered slowly from your home server.
The drive’s operating system, DiskStation Manager (DSM), also delivers smooth performance. This makes it easy to set up and operate the NAS. There are many downloadable apps to make life easier. These include Synology’s own app or third-party options. They cover everything from antivirus to backup apps.
The physical setup is also relatively simple. You just need a screwdriver to remove the rear panel and attach your chosen SSDs. These can be up to 16 TB in size. So, a maximum of 32 TB should be plenty for most families. Even those with photographers who love shooting RAW files.
Given its features and capability, the DiskStation DS220j is a very good value option for a NAS drive.
4. QNAP HS-264-8G-US
| Brand |
Brand
QNAP
|
| Storage Capacity |
Storage Capacity
N/A
|
| Interface |
Interface
SATA
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
USB, HDMI, Ethernet
|
| Number of Bays |
Number of Bays
2
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Two HDMI outputs for direct 4K streaming, side-by-side fanless design
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a powerful direct-streaming device
|
The first thing you notice about the QNAP HS-264-8G-US is that it looks different. Looking more like a DVD player or cable box, it sits its two disks horizontally. Now, given that one of its other features is a direct-to-tv HDMI connection, this design makes sense.
But this isn’t just a glorified cable box. It will stream to multiple devices, including Chromecast and mobiles. And this is made possible by no less than 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. But it is also a more than capable NAS.
With the processing power of a basic desktop PC, it handles tasks quickly. You can easily connect an external hard drive to one of the USB ports. This can then be used for streaming. Or more likely, for backing up your portable hard drive. This is a great dual safety measure.
The QNAP HS-264 is not cheap. But it works as a NAS drive that delivers smooth file serving and works as a media streaming device. If this is what you need, it’s a sound investment.
5. Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T
| Brand |
Brand
Asustor
|
| Storage Capacity |
Storage Capacity
N/A
|
| Interface |
Interface
SATA
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
Ethernet, USB
|
| Number of Bays |
Number of Bays
2
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Accommodates up to two 18 TB drives, Plex media compatible
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a capable file server at a reasonable price
|
The Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro AS3302T is a capable, if unexciting, choice of NAS drive. It has an impressive maximum storage capacity. And it can be connected to other units. This allows up to 252 TB of storage. This makes it a viable choice for small businesses as well as home users.
The Asustor OS offers easy control and configuration of the various functions. There are more than 100 apps to choose from. These will help you stream, backup files, and run surveillance cameras. There are also protections to help shield you from ransomware attacks.
You don’t need tools to set up the Drivestor 2 Pro. This is a good value NAS that offers a range of useful features for its price point.
6. TerraMaster F2-210
| Brand |
Brand
TERRAMASTER
|
| Storage Capacity |
Storage Capacity
N/A
|
| Interface |
Interface
SATA
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
USB, Ethernet
|
| Number of Bays |
Number of Bays
2
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Up to 40 TB of storage, Plex media compatible
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a large-capacity, low-cost NAS
|
The TerraMaster F2-210 delivers strong file-serving ability at a very reasonable price. You can install two drives of up to 20 TB each. So its capacity is ideal for home use even if you shoot a lot of RAW files.
Where it might not suit a home user is as a media streamer. Although it is Plex-compatible, it can’t process 4K files quickly enough to stream. So if that’s a big factor for you, another NAS is probably a better choice.
But for storing, backing up, and accessing your files from across all your devices, this is an ideal choice. The Linux-based S provides the user with an easy experience. There are about 30 apps to help you do the things you need.
So the TerraMaster F2-210 is a solid, good-value choice for basic file serving and device backup.
7. TerraMaster F5-422
| Brand |
Brand
TERRAMASTER
|
| Storage Capacity |
Storage Capacity
N/A
|
| Interface |
Interface
SATA
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
USB, Ethernet
|
| Number of Bays |
Number of Bays
5
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Gigabit ethernet, up to two 4K simultaneous streams
|
| Best For |
Best For
Larger networks with high storage needs
|
The TerraMaster F5-422 can accommodate up to 100 TB of storage in its five bays. Its gigabit ethernet connection allows super-fast communication with connected devices. There’s a quad-core 1.5 GHz CPU and 4 GB (upgradeable to 8 GB) RAM.
You can back up your data through Apple’s Time Machine, other external storage devices, or the cloud. “Snapshot” helps to protect against ransomware attacks. The F5-422 is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, so this protection makes sense.
The OS offers plenty of control and apps for making tasks easy. Access permissions and security are easy to set and maintain. And you can even control how externally-connected drives behave from the OS.
It’s not cheap, but the TerraMaster F5-422 is a good choice of NAS drive if you want plenty of storage. Especially if you need fast transfer speeds and 4K encoding on the fly.
8. Synology DiskStation NAS DS420j
| Brand |
Brand
Synology
|
| Storage Capacity |
Storage Capacity
N/A
|
| Interface |
Interface
SATA
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
USB, Ethernet
|
| Number of Bays |
Number of Bays
4
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Plug-and-play surveillance camera operation, up to 64 TB storage
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for Synology performance at a reasonable price
|
The Synology DiskStation NAS DS420j provides an attractive blend of Synology performance, storage capacity, and price. Synology isn’t known for being cheap. But the DS420j offers up to 64 TB at a decent price.
Part of Synology’s appeal is its DSM OS. It’s easy to use and has a wide variety of apps. This means that the essential tasks of setting up and managing your file server needs are easy to do. Businesses might appreciate the simple solution to security camera operation. Simply connect your IP cameras, and the Synology app helps you to monitor and run them.
The DiskStation DS420j is a sound choice if you want a reliable NAS drive that’s easy to use. And while it isn’t the cheapest, it is certainly reasonably priced.
9. BUFFALO LinkStation 220
| Brand |
Brand
Buffalo
|
| Storage Capacity |
Storage Capacity
4 TB
|
| Interface |
Interface
N/A
|
| Connectivity |
Connectivity
USB, Ethernet
|
| Number of Bays |
Number of Bays
2
|
| Key Features |
Key Features
Plug-and-play solution to home cloud storage
|
| Best For |
Best For
Anyone looking for a quick and easy solution to home-based cloud storage
|
The attraction of the BUFFALO LinkStation 220 is its simplicity. You connect it to your home network and it’s ready to go. There are no additional drives to connect. And the configuration takes place through the NAS OS.
This is a great solution for the less tech-savvy. It provides the reassurance of a home-based backup. And it makes it easy to stream video to multiple devices. The two 2 TB drives supplied can be configured to be recorded to separately. This means you have two backups of everything.
If your focus is on raw size, then it can record to both drives, treating them as one. That will give you twice the capacity, but half the fail-safe.
The LinkStation 220 is a great choice if you want decent storage capacity, ease of use, and a good price.
What to Look for When Choosing the Best NAS Drive
Let’s be honest, most people don’t use a NAS. In fact, most people probably don’t know what one is. Even researching the subject might leave you thinking that it’s not for you. Most of the boxes in this review with their flashing lights and fans might remind you of high-tech server farms.
But the truth is, if you have more than one computer at home, you should probably have a NAS drive. And if you run a business from home, or have a small business, you definitely need a NAS drive. This is especially true if photography is your business. Your digital assets are your livelihood.
So what should you look for?
Disk or Diskless: Which Is Best?
Most of the products in this review come without drives. The WD and Buffalo are the exceptions. If you’re looking for plug-and-play simplicity, these are the way to go. That’s why the WD is our top pick. You can plug it in, set it up, and it will handle your backup needs.
All the others need you to add drives to them. These will most likely be Solid State Drives (SSDs) these days. But most will also take mechanical Hard Drives (HD). For some, you don’t need any tools to insert the disks. For others, you’ll simply need to use a screwdriver.
Either way, you have the advantage of adding extra storage. The downside is that it adds cost and some extra decision-making. To help you decide, we have a guide to the best SSDs available.
Processor Power
It can help to think of the NAS as a computer. It has no screen or keyboard and uses a different operating system. But basically, it sits quietly and backs up and serves your files to you.
And as with any computer, its efficiency will be determined by how fast the processor is and how much RAM is available. As you make your shortlist, these will be factors for your consideration. And it will be determined by your needs. If you want to stream 4K videos all day, you’ll need a fast processor with plenty of RAM.
Cloud Solution Integration
It’s great having your data securely on your own NAS drive. If you make money from your photography, then knowing how to store your files is especially important. But if disaster strikes—let’s say your NAS is stolen or damaged in a fire or flood—then what? Relying on your own NAS rather than a cloud service suddenly becomes a problem.
Because of this, it’s often useful to think of your NAS drive as an additional safeguard. It’s quick because it’s right there on your network. But if it’s set to back up to another service like Google Drive or DropBox, you have an extra safety net.
Conclusion: The Best NAS Drive in 2023
Having your own NAS drive can bring great peace of mind. Automatically backing up your files can save lots of headaches. Being able to share them with everyone in the household is an added bonus. For simple, reliable, and affordable storage, we think the WD 4 TB My Cloud Home is a perfect choice.
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