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Network-attached storage (NAS) devices are a great way to store and access your data from any device in your home network. Whether you want to back up your photos, videos, documents, or music, stream your media to your smart TV or speakers, or run your own cloud server, a NAS device can do it all. But how do you choose the best NAS device for your needs and budget? Here are some of the top NAS devices for home use in 2023, along with their pros and cons.
Synology DiskStation DS220+
Price: $299.99
Pros:
- Fast, secure, and upgradable
- Easy to use with Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) software
- Supports 4K video transcoding and streaming
- Supports Btrfs file system for data protection and snapshots
- Supports various RAID configurations and Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR)
- Supports up to 32TB of storage with two 16TB drives
- Supports various apps and services, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more
Cons:
- Only has one Gigabit Ethernet port
- RAM is not user-upgradable
- Does not support M.2 SSD cache
The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a popular choice for most home users, as it offers a balance of performance, features, and price. It is powered by a dual-core Intel Celeron J4025 processor and 2GB of DDR4 RAM, which can handle multiple tasks and users without lag. It also supports 4K video transcoding and streaming, making it ideal for media enthusiasts. The DS220+ comes with Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) software, which is one of the best NAS operating systems in the market. DSM is easy to use and offers a variety of apps and services that you can install on your NAS, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more. You can also use DSM to manage your backups, security, file sharing, and cloud access. The DS220+ supports the Btrfs file system, which offers data protection, snapshots, and self-healing features. You can also configure your drives in various RAID modes or use Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), which optimizes the storage space and redundancy based on the number and size of your drives. The DS220+ can support up to 32TB of storage with two 16TB drives, which should be enough for most home users. However, if you need more storage or performance, you can also connect an external drive via the USB 3.0 port or use the eSATA port to expand your NAS with a compatible expansion unit. The main drawback of the DS220+ is that it only has one Gigabit Ethernet port, which limits its network speed and reliability. It also does not support M.2 SSD cache, which can boost the performance of frequently accessed files. Moreover, the RAM is not user-upgradable, so you are stuck with 2GB unless you buy a more expensive model.
QNAP TS-230
Price: $199.00
Pros:
- Affordable and compact
- Supports 4K video playback and streaming
- Supports snapshot backup and restore
- Supports various apps and services, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more
Cons:
- Slow performance with a quad-core ARM processor and 2GB of DDR4 RAM
- Does not support Btrfs file system or RAID configurations
- Does not support M.2 SSD cache or expansion units
The QNAP TS-230 is a budget-friendly NAS device that is suitable for home media storage and basic file sharing. It has a compact and stylish design that blends in with your home decor. It is powered by a quad-core ARM processor and 2GB of DDR4 RAM, which can handle 4K video playback and streaming via the HDMI port or DLNA. It also supports snapshot backup and restore, which allows you to protect your data from accidental deletion or corruption. The TS-230 comes with QNAP’s QTS software, which is similar to Synology’s DSM in terms of features and usability. You can install various apps and services on your NAS, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more. You can also use QTS to manage your backups, security, file sharing, and cloud access. The TS-230 can support up to 32TB of storage with two 16TB drives, which should be enough for most home users. However, if you need more storage or performance, you might want to look elsewhere. The TS-230 does not support the Btrfs file system or RAID configurations,
which means you cannot benefit from data protection or redundancy features. It also does not support M.2 SSD cache or expansion units, which means you cannot improve the performance or capacity of your NAS. Moreover, the TS-230 has a slow performance compared to other NAS devices, which might affect your user experience and multitasking.
QNAP TS-451D2-4G
Price: $449.00
Pros:
- Fast and versatile
- Supports 4K video transcoding and streaming
- Supports Btrfs file system and various RAID configurations
- Supports M.2 SSD cache and expansion units
- Supports various apps and services, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more
Cons:
- Expensive and bulky
- Only has one Gigabit Ethernet port
- Does not support Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR)
The QNAP TS-451D2-4G is a powerful and feature-rich NAS device that is suitable for all-round performance and storage. It has a large and sturdy design that can accommodate four drives and two M.2 SSD slots. It is powered by a quad-core Intel Celeron J4025 processor and 4GB of DDR4 RAM, which can handle multiple tasks and users without lag. It also supports 4K video transcoding and streaming via the HDMI port or DLNA. The TS-451D2-4G comes with QNAP’s QTS software, which is similar to Synology’s DSM in terms of features and usability. You can install various apps and services on your NAS, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more. You can also use QTS to manage your backups, security, file sharing, and cloud access. The TS-451D2-4G supports the Btrfs file system, which offers data protection, snapshots, and self-healing features. You can also configure your drives in various RAID modes, such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, or 10. The TS-451D2-4G can support up to 64TB of storage with four 16TB drives, which should be enough for most home users. However, if you need more storage or performance, you can also connect an external drive via the USB 3.0 port or use the PCIe slot to expand your NAS with a compatible expansion unit or network card. The main drawback of the TS-451D2-4G is that it is expensive and bulky compared to other NAS devices, which might not fit your budget or space. It also only has one Gigabit Ethernet port, which limits its network speed and reliability. It also does not support Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), which optimizes the storage space and redundancy based on the number and size of your drives.
ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 (AS5304T)
Price: $479.00
Pros:
- Fast and reliable
- Supports 4K video transcoding and streaming
- Supports Btrfs file system and various RAID configurations
- Supports M.2 SSD cache and expansion units
- Supports dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation
Cons:
- Expensive and noisy
- Does not support Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR)
- Does not support snapshot backup and restore
The ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 (AS5304T) is a high-performance NAS device that is suitable for home users who need fast network speed and large storage capacity. It has a sleek and modern design that can accommodate four drives and two M.2 SSD slots. It is powered by a quad-core Intel Celeron J4105 processor and 4GB of DDR4 RAM, which can handle multiple tasks and users without lag. It also supports 4K video transcoding and streaming via the HDMI port or DLNA. The AS5304T comes with ASUSTOR’s ADM software, which is easy to use and offers a variety of apps and services that you can install on your NAS, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more. You can also use ADM to manage your backups, security, file sharing, and cloud access. The AS5304T supports the Btrfs file system,
which offers data protection and self-healing features. You can also configure your drives in various RAID modes, such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, or 10. The AS5304T can support up to 64TB of storage with four 16TB drives, which should be enough for most home users. However, if you need more storage or performance, you can also connect an external drive via the USB 3.0 port or use the PCIe slot to expand your NAS with a compatible expansion unit or network card. The main advantage of the AS5304T is that it supports dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation, which can boost the network speed and reliability up to 2 Gbps. This makes it ideal for users who need fast data transfer or streaming across multiple devices.
TerraMaster F2-221
Price: $249.99
Pros:
- Affordable and upgradable
- Supports 4K video transcoding and streaming
- Supports Btrfs file system and various RAID configurations
- Supports various apps and services, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more
Cons:
- Slow performance with a dual-core Intel Celeron J3355 processor and 2GB of DDR4 RAM
- Does not support M.2 SSD cache or expansion units
- Does not support Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR)
The TerraMaster F2-221 is a cheap NAS device that is suitable for home office and basic file sharing. It has a simple and sturdy design that can accommodate two drives. It is powered by a dual-core Intel Celeron J3355 processor and 2GB of DDR4 RAM, which can handle 4K video transcoding and streaming via the HDMI port or DLNA. It also supports the Btrfs file system, which offers data protection, snapshots, and self-healing features. You can also configure your drives in various RAID modes, such as RAID 0, 1, 5, or 10. The F2-221 comes with TerraMaster’s TOS software, which is easy to use and offers a variety of apps and services that you can install on your NAS, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more. You can also use TOS to manage your backups, security, file sharing, and cloud access. The F2-221 can support up to 32TB of storage with two 16TB drives, which should be enough for most home users. However, if you need more storage or performance, you might want to look elsewhere. The F2-221 does not support M.2 SSD cache or expansion units, which means you cannot improve the performance or capacity of your NAS. Moreover, the F2-221 has a slow performance compared to other NAS devices, which might affect your user experience and multitasking.
Synology DiskStation DS1019+
Price: $649.99
Pros:
- Fast and powerful
- Supports 4K video transcoding and streaming
- Supports Btrfs file system and various RAID configurations
- Supports M.2 SSD cache and expansion units
- Supports Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR)
Cons:
- Expensive and heavy
- Only has one Gigabit Ethernet port
- RAM is not user-upgradable
The Synology DiskStation DS1019+ is a premium NAS device that is suitable for home users who need high performance and large storage capacity. It has a large and heavy design that can accommodate five drives and two M.2 SSD slots. It is powered by a quad-core Intel Celeron J3455 processor and 8GB of DDR3L RAM, which can handle multiple tasks and users without lag. It also supports 4K video transcoding and streaming via the HDMI port or DLNA. The DS1019+ comes with Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) software, which is one of the best NAS operating systems in the market. DSM is easy to use and offers a variety of apps and services that you can install on your NAS, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more. You can also use DSM to manage your backups, security, file sharing, and cloud access. The DS1019+ supports the Btrfs file system,
which offers data protection, snapshots, and self-healing features. You can also configure your drives in various RAID modes or use Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), which optimizes the storage space and redundancy based on the number and size of your drives. The DS1019+ can support up to 80TB of storage with five 16TB drives, which should be enough for most home users. However, if you need more storage or performance, you can also connect an external drive via the USB 3.0 port or use the eSATA port to expand your NAS with a compatible expansion unit. The main drawback of the DS1019+ is that it is expensive and heavy compared to other NAS devices, which might not fit your budget or space. It also only has one Gigabit Ethernet port,
which limits its network speed and reliability. Moreover, the RAM is not user-upgradable, so you are stuck with 8GB unless you buy a more expensive model.
BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN
Price: $699.99
Pros:
- Fast and reliable
- Supports 4K video playback and streaming
- Supports various RAID configurations
- Supports dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation
Cons:
- Expensive and noisy
- Does not support Btrfs file system or snapshots
- Does not support M.2 SSD cache or expansion units
The BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN is a high-end NAS device that is suitable for home users who need fast data transfer and large storage capacity. It has a large and noisy design that can accommodate four drives. It is powered by a quad-core Annapurna Labs Alpine AL-214 processor and 4GB of DDR3 RAM, which can handle multiple tasks and users without lag. It also supports 4K video playback and streaming via the HDMI port or DLNA. The TeraStation 3420DN comes with BUFFALO’s TeraStation OS software, which is easy to use and offers a variety of apps and services that you can install on your NAS, such as Plex, WordPress, Dropbox, and more. You can also use TeraStation OS to manage your backups, security, file sharing, and cloud access. The TeraStation 3420DN supports various RAID modes, such as RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, or 10. The TeraStation 3420DN can support up to 64TB of storage with four 16TB drives, which should be enough for most home users. However, if you need more storage or performance, you might want to look elsewhere. The TeraStation 3420DN does not support the Btrfs file system or snapshots, which means you cannot benefit from data protection or self-healing features. It also does not support M.2 SSD cache or expansion units, which means you cannot improve the performance or capacity of your NAS. The main advantage of the TeraStation 3420DN is that it supports dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation, which can boost the network speed and reliability up to 2 Gbps. This makes it ideal for users who need fast data transfer or streaming across multiple devices.
Conclusion and Recommendation
As you can see, there are many NAS devices for home use in 2023, each with its own pros and cons. The best NAS device for you depends on your needs and preferences, such as the number of bays, the amount of RAM, the type of CPU, the network speed, and the software features. However, based on our research and testing, we recommend the Synology DiskStation DS220+ as the best NAS device for most home users. It offers a balance of performance, features, and price, and it is easy to use with Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) software. It also supports 4K video transcoding and streaming, Btrfs file system, various RAID configurations, and Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR). It can support up to 32TB of storage with two 16TB drives, and it can be expanded with an external drive or an expansion unit. The only downside is that it only has one Gigabit Ethernet port, and it does not support M.2 SSD cache or user-upgradable RAM. If you need more network speed or performance, you might want to consider the ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 (AS5304T) or the QNAP TS-451D2-4G, which have dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation and M.2 SSD slots. If you need more storage capacity or power, you might want to consider the Synology DiskStation DS1019+ or the BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN, which have five and four bays respectively and can support up to 80TB and 64TB of storage. If you are on a tight budget or have limited space, you might want to consider the QNAP TS-230 or the TerraMaster F2-221, which are affordable and compact NAS devices that can support up to 32TB of storage with two 16TB drives. However, they have slower performance and fewer features than the other NAS devices on this list. We hope this article has helped you find the best NAS device for your home use in 2023. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a comment below.
