Top 18 NAS (Network Attached Storage) Devices In 2024

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Top 18 NAS (Network Attached Storage) Devices in 2024

Choosing the right Network Attached Storage (NAS) device can feel like navigating a maze, especially with so many options popping up in 2024. But don't worry, guys! This guide breaks down the top 18 NAS devices to help you find the perfect one for your needs, whether you're a home user, a creative professional, or a growing business. We'll dive into what makes each of these NAS boxes special, from their performance and storage capacity to their ease of use and extra features. So, let's get started and find the ideal storage solution for you!

1. Synology DiskStation DS923+

The Synology DiskStation DS923+ is a powerhouse of a NAS, perfect for both home and small business users who need a reliable and scalable storage solution. At its heart, the DS923+ features a robust AMD Ryzen processor, ensuring smooth performance even when handling multiple tasks simultaneously. This NAS comes with four drive bays, allowing you to install a significant amount of storage, and it supports both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, giving you flexibility in your choice of storage media. One of the standout features of the DS923+ is its expandability. You can easily increase its storage capacity by adding a Synology DX517 expansion unit, which gives you an additional five drive bays. This makes it an excellent long-term investment as your storage needs grow. The DS923+ also excels in data protection. It supports various RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, allowing you to choose the level of data redundancy that best suits your needs. With Synology's intuitive DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, managing your data, creating users, and configuring network settings is a breeze. The DSM also offers a wide range of applications, including media servers, backup solutions, and virtualization tools, making the DS923+ a versatile device for all your storage needs. For connectivity, the DS923+ includes two Gigabit Ethernet ports, which can be aggregated to provide faster network speeds. It also has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for connecting external drives or other peripherals. Overall, the Synology DiskStation DS923+ is a top-tier NAS that offers excellent performance, scalability, and ease of use, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable and feature-rich storage solution.

2. QNAP TS-464

The QNAP TS-464 is another fantastic NAS option that stands out for its impressive performance and rich feature set. Powered by an Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 quad-core processor, the TS-464 delivers snappy performance for data transfers, multimedia streaming, and running various applications. Like the Synology DS923+, the TS-464 also has four drive bays, supporting both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, and it supports a wide range of RAID configurations to protect your data. One of the key highlights of the TS-464 is its support for PCIe Gen3 expansion. This allows you to add a variety of expansion cards, such as a 10GbE network adapter for faster network speeds, a QM2 card for adding M.2 SSD slots for caching, or a graphics card for enhanced multimedia capabilities. The TS-464 also comes with two 2.5GbE ports, providing faster network speeds out of the box. For multimedia enthusiasts, the TS-464 offers excellent features, including 4K HDMI output for direct playback of high-resolution videos on a TV or monitor. It also supports hardware transcoding, ensuring smooth streaming of multimedia content to various devices. QNAP's QTS operating system is another strong point of the TS-464. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of applications, including file management, backup, virtualization, and surveillance. The TS-464 also supports snapshots, allowing you to quickly recover files in case of accidental deletion or data corruption. With its robust performance, expandability, and multimedia features, the QNAP TS-464 is an excellent NAS for both home and business users who need a versatile and high-performance storage solution.

3. TerraMaster F4-423

The TerraMaster F4-423 is a high-performance NAS designed for demanding users who need fast and reliable storage. It's powered by an Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 quad-core processor, similar to the QNAP TS-464, ensuring smooth performance for data transfers, multimedia streaming, and running various applications. The F4-423 features four drive bays, supporting both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, and it supports various RAID modes, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, to protect your data. One of the standout features of the F4-423 is its dual 2.5GbE ports, which provide faster network speeds compared to traditional Gigabit Ethernet. This makes it ideal for users who need to transfer large files quickly or stream high-resolution video content. The F4-423 also includes two M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching, which can significantly improve the performance of frequently accessed data. This is especially useful for applications that require fast read and write speeds. TerraMaster's TOS operating system is user-friendly and offers a range of applications, including file management, backup, multimedia, and virtualization. The TOS also supports Docker, allowing you to run various containerized applications on the NAS. For connectivity, the F4-423 includes two USB 3.0 ports for connecting external drives or other peripherals. It also has an HDMI port for direct output of multimedia content to a TV or monitor. With its fast performance, dual 2.5GbE ports, and M.2 NVMe slots for caching, the TerraMaster F4-423 is an excellent NAS for users who need a high-performance storage solution for demanding applications.

4. Synology DiskStation DS1522+

Moving on, the Synology DiskStation DS1522+ is a versatile 5-bay NAS designed for small to medium-sized businesses and power users. It's powered by an AMD Ryzen R1600 dual-core processor, providing a balance of performance and energy efficiency. The DS1522+ can hold up to five drives, supporting both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, and it supports a wide range of RAID configurations, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and 10, to protect your data. One of the key features of the DS1522+ is its expandability. It has two Gigabit Ethernet ports, which can be aggregated for faster network speeds, and it also supports an optional 10GbE network adapter for even faster connectivity. The DS1522+ also includes two M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching, which can significantly improve the performance of frequently accessed data. Synology's DSM operating system is a major advantage of the DS1522+. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of applications, including file management, backup, virtualization, and multimedia. The DSM also supports Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), which allows you to maximize storage capacity and simplify RAID management. For connectivity, the DS1522+ includes two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for connecting external drives or other peripherals. It also has an eSATA port for connecting an external expansion unit. With its versatile design, expandability, and user-friendly operating system, the Synology DiskStation DS1522+ is an excellent NAS for small to medium-sized businesses and power users who need a reliable and feature-rich storage solution.

5. QNAP TVS-672X

The QNAP TVS-672X is a high-performance 6-bay NAS designed for demanding users who need fast and reliable storage. It's powered by an 8th Gen Intel Core i3-8100T quad-core processor, providing excellent performance for data transfers, multimedia streaming, and running various applications. The TVS-672X can hold up to six drives, supporting both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, and it supports a wide range of RAID configurations to protect your data. One of the standout features of the TVS-672X is its expandability. It has two Gigabit Ethernet ports, which can be aggregated for faster network speeds, and it also supports an optional 10GbE network adapter for even faster connectivity. The TVS-672X also includes two M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching, which can significantly improve the performance of frequently accessed data. QNAP's QTS operating system is a major advantage of the TVS-672X. It offers a user-friendly interface and a wide range of applications, including file management, backup, virtualization, and multimedia. The QTS also supports snapshots, allowing you to quickly recover files in case of accidental deletion or data corruption. For multimedia enthusiasts, the TVS-672X offers excellent features, including 4K HDMI output for direct playback of high-resolution videos on a TV or monitor. It also supports hardware transcoding, ensuring smooth streaming of multimedia content to various devices. With its high performance, expandability, and multimedia features, the QNAP TVS-672X is an excellent NAS for demanding users who need a versatile and high-performance storage solution.

6. ASUSTOR AS6704T

The ASUSTOR AS6704T is a powerful 4-bay NAS designed for both home and business users. It's powered by an Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core processor, providing excellent performance for data transfers, multimedia streaming, and running various applications. The AS6704T can hold up to four drives, supporting both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, and it supports a wide range of RAID configurations to protect your data. One of the standout features of the AS6704T is its dual 2.5GbE ports, which provide faster network speeds compared to traditional Gigabit Ethernet. This makes it ideal for users who need to transfer large files quickly or stream high-resolution video content. The AS6704T also includes two M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching, which can significantly improve the performance of frequently accessed data. ASUSTOR's ADM operating system is user-friendly and offers a range of applications, including file management, backup, multimedia, and virtualization. The ADM also supports Docker, allowing you to run various containerized applications on the NAS. For connectivity, the AS6704T includes three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports for connecting external drives or other peripherals. It also has an HDMI 2.0a port for direct output of multimedia content to a TV or monitor. With its fast performance, dual 2.5GbE ports, and M.2 NVMe slots for caching, the ASUSTOR AS6704T is an excellent NAS for users who need a high-performance storage solution for demanding applications.

7. Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra

The Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra is a user-friendly 2-bay NAS designed for home users and small businesses. It's powered by a Marvell ARMADA 385 1.3 GHz dual-core processor, providing decent performance for basic file storage and sharing. The EX2 Ultra can hold up to two drives, supporting both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, and it supports RAID 0, 1, and JBOD configurations to protect your data. One of the key features of the EX2 Ultra is its ease of use. It comes with a simple web-based interface that makes it easy to set up and manage. The EX2 Ultra also supports automatic backup of your computers and mobile devices, ensuring that your important data is always protected. Western Digital's My Cloud mobile app allows you to access your files from anywhere in the world. You can also use the app to share files with friends and family. For connectivity, the EX2 Ultra includes one Gigabit Ethernet port and two USB 3.0 ports for connecting external drives or other peripherals. With its ease of use and automatic backup features, the Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra is an excellent NAS for home users and small businesses who need a simple and reliable storage solution.

8. Buffalo LinkStation 220

The Buffalo LinkStation 220 is an affordable 2-bay NAS designed for home users who need a basic storage solution. It's powered by a dual-core processor, providing adequate performance for file storage and sharing. The LinkStation 220 can hold up to two drives, supporting both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, and it supports RAID 0, 1, and JBOD configurations to protect your data. One of the key features of the LinkStation 220 is its ease of use. It comes with a simple web-based interface that makes it easy to set up and manage. The LinkStation 220 also supports DLNA media streaming, allowing you to stream multimedia content to your TV or other DLNA-enabled devices. Buffalo's WebAccess service allows you to access your files from anywhere in the world. You can also use the service to share files with friends and family. For connectivity, the LinkStation 220 includes one Gigabit Ethernet port and one USB 2.0 port for connecting external drives or other peripherals. With its affordable price and ease of use, the Buffalo LinkStation 220 is a good option for home users who need a basic storage solution.

9. NETGEAR ReadyNAS 212

The NETGEAR ReadyNAS 212 is a 2-bay NAS designed for home users and small businesses. It's powered by a dual-core processor, providing decent performance for file storage and sharing. The ReadyNAS 212 can hold up to two drives, supporting both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives, and it supports RAID 0, 1, and JBOD configurations to protect your data. One of the key features of the ReadyNAS 212 is its ReadyCLOUD portal, which allows you to access your files from anywhere in the world. You can also use the portal to share files with friends and family. The ReadyNAS 212 also supports automatic backup of your computers and mobile devices, ensuring that your important data is always protected. NETGEAR's ReadyNAS OS is user-friendly and offers a range of applications, including file management, backup, and multimedia. For connectivity, the ReadyNAS 212 includes one Gigabit Ethernet port and two USB 3.0 ports for connecting external drives or other peripherals. With its ReadyCLOUD portal and automatic backup features, the NETGEAR ReadyNAS 212 is a good option for home users and small businesses who need a reliable storage solution.

10-18. Other Notable NAS Devices

  • Synology DiskStation DS220+: A great 2-bay NAS for home users.
  • QNAP TS-251D: A versatile 2-bay NAS with multimedia features.
  • TerraMaster F2-221: An affordable 2-bay NAS for basic storage needs.
  • Drobo 5N2: A 5-bay NAS with BeyondRAID technology.
  • Innodisk NAS 9602: A reliable NAS.
  • QNAP TS-h973AX: High performance for enterprise.
  • Synology DS1621+: Great option for scalable storage.
  • WD My Cloud Pro Series PR4100: Easy-to-use for creative professionals.
  • Seagate IronWolf 6-Bay NAS: Preconfigured with IronWolf drives.

Choosing the perfect NAS depends heavily on your specific requirements. Whether you prioritize performance, capacity, ease of use, or a combination of these, this list offers a solid starting point for your search. Happy storing, folks!