The perfect residence community hooked up storage (NAS) server provides you the pliability to retailer all of your valuable knowledge in a single location, and it has highly effective instruments that allow you to take advantage of your media assortment. NAS servers are significantly helpful you probably have a big music or media library; you possibly can 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 beneath make it effortlessly simple to again up pictures and movies from all your telephones, again up paperwork and some other knowledge out of your Home windows or macOS machines, and a lot extra.
So in the event you’ve already dabbled on this phase or need to get your fingers in your first NAS, you will discover loads of nice selections beneath. I highlighted servers which might be ideally suited to residence customers, whether or not that is media streaming by way of Plex, backing up knowledge, or getting began with a finances NAS that has the necessities.
At a look
1. Synology DiskStation DS224+
Finest general
The DiskStation DS224+ continues to be the only option in the event you want a house NAS in 2024. It has terrific {hardware}, the perfect software program on this phase, and loads of helpful additions. If you happen to want a dependable 2-bay NAS with an in depth feature-set, you can’t go incorrect with the DS224+.
2. Synology DiskStation DS223j
Finest finances NAS
The DiskStation DS223j is a terrific alternative in the event 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 essentially the most highly effective, it’s sufficient for many residence utilization situations.
3. Synology BeeStation 4TB
Finest newbie NAS
The BeeStation is an all-in-one unit comes with a 4TB onerous drive, and it effortlessly backs up pictures and movies, in addition to some other knowledge. It does not have media streaming or any of the software program options that you just get with most different NAS servers, however in the event you simply want native storage, it’s splendid.
Finest {hardware}
If you happen to want a house NAS with the perfect {hardware}, ASUSTOR’s AS5402T needs to be on the prime of your listing. 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 suited 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 phase.
Finest SSD NAS
UGREEN is making its debut within the NAS phase 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 residence NAS round, and that is not prone to change anytime quickly. It is not a single factor that offers 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 phase because it does not have any 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports or M.2 SSD slots, however these are minor limitations that finally have a bearing in every day use.
That stated, the remainder of the {hardware} is terrific; the DS224+ is powered by the Intel Celeron J4125, and it’s the default alternative for the greatest Plex NAS servers. It even has the power to transcode Plex content material, making it that rather more attractive. So you probably have a big media library and wish to arrange a NAS, you must 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 sophisticated design and loads of options, and better of all, it is simple to make use of. You may arrange Synology Pictures and have a Google Pictures various that shops knowledge in your individual home, and the utility by itself makes the DS224+ worthy. In an analogous vein, you possibly can again up knowledge from nearly any system robotically, entry your media library while you’re away from your house, and a complete lot extra.
Finally, the DS224+ has the requisite {hardware} and software program to actually stand out, and it’s a straightforward alternative in the event you want a strong residence NAS server.
Finest finances NAS
Do not want all of the extras that the DS224+ has to supply? Then you definately’ll need to try the DiskStation DS223j. That is additionally a 2-bay NAS, nevertheless it does 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 below $200, and that makes it extremely attractive. You continue to get a lot of the software program options which might be current within the DS224+, and when you miss out on containerization and digital machines, these aren’t options that make a distinction to residence customers anyway.
Whereas there are many finances 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 can help you stream your media from wherever on the planet. And the perfect half is that it has a local Plex shopper, so you possibly can arrange a media server with none points.
If you happen to simply want a NAS to retailer knowledge in a single location and stream media on a finances, the DS223j is the only option obtainable at the moment.
Finest newbie NAS
You want a dependable method to retailer pictures and precious knowledge, 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 onerous drive (a HAT3300 Plus), so you will get began immediately. The objective with the BeeStation is to focus on shoppers that do not but have a NAS and need to get inexpensive native storage that is related to the community.
Due to this fact, you do not get numerous software program options; there’s the power to again up pictures and movies, and information from any of your related machines. That is it. You do not get the standard DiskStation Supervisor software program, and the interface is as barebones as it might get. That stated, the BeePhotos cell shopper makes it simple 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 system, however you possibly can’t do a lot with it. The BeeStation is as a substitute designed as a personal 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 system.
To that impact, the BeeStation integrates with Google Drive and different storage suppliers, and you may switch the info from these companies to the BeeStation simply. So in the event you want a straightforward 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 residence 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 complete, two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports.
There’s additionally an HDMI port on the again that permits you to join the AS5402T to a TV, and the Intel {hardware} makes the NAS a standout alternative in the event 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 enables it to face out; with two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, the AS5402T is future-proof, and also you needn’t change to a different NAS while you improve your house community. ASUSTOR’s software program nonetheless is not as polished or simple to make use of, nevertheless it has gotten higher during the last 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 a couple of 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 means that you can add SSD storage.
In brief, the DS423+ is the go-to alternative in the event you want a strong Plex media server. I want 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 incredible job enjoying again excessive bitrate 4K content material by way of Plex or some other media streaming resolution, and the 4 drive bays provide you with 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 superb alternative nonetheless.
Finest SSD NAS
The DXP480T Plus is a singular NAS in that it does not have conventional onerous drive bays — you as a substitute get 4 M.2 2280 slots to deal with SSDs. The all-flash NAS is aimed toward fans, and in the event you do not wish to use mechanical drives and are as a substitute seeking to go all in on SSD storage, that is the only 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 nicely. The {hardware} is overkill for many residence utilization situations, however you probably have numerous precious knowledge 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 Might, and that’s when the DXP480T Plus shall be obtainable on the whole sale. Till then, you will 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
If you happen to’re in search of the perfect NAS for residence use, the DiskStation DS224+ is the perfect general alternative proper now. The upgraded {hardware} makes it a super choice for nearly any use case, and with DSM 7.2, you get essentially the most polished software program interface of any model on this phase.
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 incredible alternative. The two-bay NAS has highly effective {hardware} and offers you nice worth in your cash.
What’s the greatest NAS drive for residence use?
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As a NAS server is designed to run 24/7, you possibly can’t use a normal onerous drive. Fortunately, there are drives designed only for NAS use, and I’ve rounded up the greatest onerous drives for NAS in a standalone article.
At a high-level overview, you will want to purchase both Seagate’s IronWolf or IronWolf Professional sequence or Western Digital’s Pink Plus or Pink Professional onerous drives. I’ve used all of those drives for practically a decade now, they usually’ve confirmed to be dependable.
If I needed to recommend a drive for residence use, it might be the Seagate IronWolf. I’ve over 50TB of IronWolf drives in numerous servers, and it’s hands-down essentially the most dependable NAS drive that I’ve used. It begins off at 2TB and goes as much as 18TB, and for residence use, something over 4TB needs to be a super alternative.
