A Network Attached Storage (NAS) server is an effective way to retailer your knowledge in a centralized location. Most servers have highly effective software program options that allow you to stream content material on all of the gadgets on your house community, again up images and movies from linked telephones, and a lot extra.
Think of a NAS as a personal cloud resolution; as a substitute of your knowledge being saved in a distant cloud server someplace — which is the case with public cloud suppliers like Google — you basically have full management of it, and that comes with assured privateness.
NAS servers have developed significantly within the final three years, and also you get loads of choices nowadays that provide strong {hardware} and multi-Gigabit connectivity on a funds. So in the event you’re desirous about establishing a funds dwelling NAS, these are the very best servers at present obtainable.Â
Harish Jonnalagadda
Harish Jonnalagadda is Android Central’s Senior Editor of Asia. In his present function, he oversees the positioning’s protection of Chinese cellphone manufacturers, networking merchandise, and AV gear. He has been testing telephones for over a decade, and has in depth expertise in cell {hardware} and the intricacies of the worldwide semiconductor trade. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.
At a look
1. Synology DiskStation DS223j
Best general
The DiskStation DS223j is the best funds NAS, and also you get all of the elements of an important dwelling server for lots much less. It holds up nicely in each day use, nevertheless it’s the software program the place it really stands out. If you are simply venturing into NAS servers and need to see how they measure up, the DS223j is an efficient place to begin.
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2. Synology DiskStation DS223
The runner-up
The DiskStation DS223 has loads of similarities to the DS223j, nevertheless it comes with a sleeker design and 2GB of RAM, making it that rather more engaging. If you are trying to arrange a house NAS to stream Plex, the DS223 is an efficient alternative.
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Best connectivity
TerraMaster someway managed to bundle two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports within the F2-223. It is powered by the Intel Celeron N4505, has a beneficiant quantity of reminiscence, and also you even get M.2 slots. If you want a strong Plex server with {hardware} transcoding on a funds, there is not a better option.
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4. Synology DiskStation DS224+
Best software program
The DiskStation DS224+ continues to be the very best 2-bay NAS round. It does not have the very best {hardware} in its class, nevertheless it comes with all of the software program options that Synology supplies, and that provides it a definite edge over its rivals. It does not have multi-Gigabit connectivity and misses out on M.2 slots, however in order for you a dependable dwelling NAS with the very best set of software program options, the DS224+ is the way in which to go in 2024.
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5. Synology BeeStation 4TB
Best worth
The BeeStation is not like some other NAS on this record. It is not even a conventional NAS as such; as a substitute, you get a 4TB drive in a housing, and some software program options that allow you to again up images and movies in addition to knowledge from linked machines. It does not have a full-fledged OS, you aren’t getting the flexibility to stream Plex, and there is only a 4TB mannequin. If you do not want the extras and simply need an all-in-one resolution to again up invaluable knowledge, the BeeStation has you lined.
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Upgrade choose
ASUSTOR’s AS5402T stretches the definition of a funds NAS, however I believe it’s worthy of consideration. It has highly effective Intel {hardware} that makes it an important alternative in the event you want Plex transcoding, you get twin 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and there are 4 M.2 slots on the NAS, supplying you with the choice to combine quick NVMe storage with conventional HDDs.
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Best general
Synology makes the very best dwelling NAS servers, and the model is especially nice within the funds section, the place it continues to ship a standout worth. The DiskStation DS223j is the newest product within the model’s value-focused portfolio, and it combines a classy design with just a few upgrades. The NAS comes with 1GB of RAM as commonplace, and that is double greater than its predecessor, the DiskStation DS220j.
When I reviewed the DiskStation DS223j, I discovered the extra reminiscence to be the most important differentiator in each day use; it offers the NAS significantly better headroom to run demanding software program utilities. While costlier NAS fashions allow you to improve the RAM if you wish to add extra down the road, that is not doable right here — the RAM is soldered to the mainboard, and there is not any solution to enhance it past 1GB.
While it is not sufficient on a cellphone, 1GB of reminiscence is ample to run the model’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) software program. And whereas the DS223j has respectable {hardware} — the Realtek chip is quick, you get a single Gigabit Ethernet port — it is actually the software program that makes the NAS stand out over its rivals.
You get a sophisticated interface, loads of helpful software program options like Synology Photos and DS Audio/DS Video that make it effortlessly simple to again up images and movies out of your telephones to the NAS, after which stream your media assortment and audio library to any machine on your house community. The better part is you can simply hook up with the NAS even once you’re outdoors your house.
The DS223j does not have a lot in the way in which of upgradability, and the {hardware} is on the decrease finish of the size. That mentioned, it’s a unbelievable worth at $189, and it’s the superb starter NAS to check the waters.
The runner-up
The DiskStation DS223 is the following step up inside Synology’s portfolio, and it makes use of a unique design aesthetic that delivers good passive and energetic cooling. This NAS can also be powered by the identical Realtek {hardware} because the DS223j, however you get 2GB of RAM, permitting it to face out simply that bit extra.
In my DiskStation DS223 evaluate, I known as the NAS the very best worth on this section. The elevated reminiscence mixed with the easier-to-use design with slide-out drive bays make the DS223 an important alternative, and whereas you aren’t getting containerization, a lot of the software program options that you just get in DiskStation Manager are intact.
The DS223 does job with Plex as nicely, supplied you do not want {hardware} transcoding. The streaming platform has a local consumer, and setting it up is about as easy because it will get. And identical to the DS223j, you’ll be able to simply retailer your images, movies, and different knowledge on the NAS with relative ease, and there are terrific cell apps that present entry to that knowledge from anyplace on this planet.
Best connectivity
TerraMaster at all times manages to ship nice funds NAS servers, and that is no totally different with the F2-223. The NAS has an aluminum chassis that’s constructed to final, and also you get tool-free set up for the 2 drive bays. But it is on the again the place issues get fascinating; the NAS has two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and you may bridge these collectively through Link Aggregation to double the bandwidth.
There aren’t many funds servers which have multi-Gigabit connectivity, so in the event you’re out there for a NAS that is future-proof, the F2-223 is a terrific alternative. The excellent news continues with the remainder of the {hardware}; the F2-223 is powered by Intel’s Celeron N4505, and it has {hardware} transcoding — nice to be used with Plex.
You additionally get 4GB of RAM out of the field, and there are two slots that allow you to set up as much as a complete of 32GB of RAM. There are two M.2 slots as nicely if you wish to use NVMe drives along with mechanical HDDs, and actually, that is the very best {hardware} package deal on this section by an extended margin.
The draw back? TerraMaster’s software program efforts are distinctly missing, and whereas the model is making inroads on this space with the launch of TOS 5, it does not have the identical stage of polish or in depth feature-set that you just get with DiskStation fashions. That mentioned, TerraMaster does job masking the fundamentals, and coming in at simply $259, the F2-223 has unimaginable {hardware}.
Best software program
I reviewed the DiskStation DS224+ shortly after it launched, and whereas I used to be aggravated on the lack of multi-Gigabit connectivity and M.2 ports, I preferred the NAS fairly a bit. Synology does not at all times present the very best {hardware} — as is the case right here — however the DiskStation DS224+ stands out for its software program prowess, supplying you with the flexibility to make use of all of the options obtainable in DiskStation Manager (DSM).
The alternative of {hardware} is an efficient one as nicely, and the Intel Celeron J4125 has {hardware} transcoding, making the DS224+ a terrific Plex media server. Most DiskStation fashions now use AMD {hardware} and lack transcoding, so it is good to see the DS224+ persevering with to supply this characteristic.
The NAS has 2GB of RAM out of the field, and you may add one other 4GB module down the road if you’ll want to enhance reminiscence. You additionally get twin Gigabit Ethernet ports with Link Aggregation, so whereas there is not multi-Gigabit connectivity, you’ll be able to at the very least double the bandwidth.
Essentially, the DiskStation DS224+ stands out solely because of the software program, and also you get the whole lot that DSM has to supply right here. That alone makes the NAS a standout funds alternative, and coming in at $299, you get worth.
Best worth
The BeeStation is not a NAS within the technical sense of the phrase, nevertheless it affords a dependable solution to again up knowledge, and is simpler to arrange and use than a conventional NAS. It homes a 4TB onerous drive inside a plastic shell, and also you get a Gigabit Ethernet port on the again.
It does not have DiskStation Manager; as a substitute, you get barebones software program that’s designed to again up recordsdata and images and movies — that is it. There is not any solution to retailer media on the NAS and stream it utilizing Plex, so if that is what you are after, it’s best to contemplate one of many different options on this record.
But if you don’t need a full-fledged NAS and are as a substitute trying to simply get an all-in-one resolution to retailer images and movies that you just take in your cellphone and again up knowledge out of your Windows or macOS machine, it’s best to contemplate the BeeStation. The product is just like Western Digital’s My Cloud sequence, and is geared toward customers simply searching for an reasonably priced solution to again up knowledge with out investing in a conventional NAS.
The greatest draw with the BeeStation is the ease-of-use and worth; it prices simply $219, and that features a 4TB drive designed for twenty-four/7 use. Head to my BeeStation evaluate in the event you’re desirous about seeing extra concerning the software program earlier than you make up your thoughts.Â
Upgrade choose
ASUSTOR’s AS5402T retails for $369, so it is not precisely reasonably priced, nevertheless it has top-of-the-line general packages on this section. The NAS has two drive bays, however what’s nice is that you just get 4 M.2 slots, so in the event you’re trying to increase conventional HDD storage with quick NVMe drives, that is one of the simplest ways to take action.
As I famous in my AS5402T evaluate, the NAS is powered by Intel’s Celeron J5105 platform, and it does a terrific job as a Plex server — higher than all the opposite fashions listed right here. You additionally get 4GB of RAM as commonplace, two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, and there is an HDMI port on the again that allows you to join the NAS to a TV.
ASUSTOR ticked all of the containers in relation to the {hardware}, and there’s a lot to love with the software program as nicely. While the UI is not as polished or glossy as DSM, you get an in depth set of options, and ASUSTOR tightened up the safety of its servers.
If you need a funds NAS with the very best {hardware} potential and the flexibility to make use of M.2 drives down the road, there is not a better option than the AS5402T. It is nearer to mid-range territory than a lot of the fashions on this record, however you might be getting loads of worth regardless.
How to decide on
If you are unsure about which mannequin to choose, there are some things to notice. Ideally, a 2-bay NAS goes to be greater than ample if you have not used a house server previously; you’ll be able to load it up with  two 4TB or 8TB drives and have loads of storage for your entire media, images, movies, paperwork, and some other knowledge.Â
My present go-to alternative on this class is the DiskStation DS223j; this 2-bay NAS has respectable {hardware}, and there are not any points in each day use. The greatest benefit is that you just get to make use of all of the software program options obtainable in DSM, and most of the time, the DS223j is the gateway to costlier fashions, such because the DiskStation DS923+ and DS1522+.Â
If you need higher connectivity choices, TerraMaster’s F2-223 is the best alternative. Multi-gig connectivity on this class is a big deal, and whereas the NAS does not have polished software program, you get loads of the fundamentals, and that is what issues.Â
And if it is {hardware} you are searching for, it’s best to simply get the AS5402T. ASUSTOR did an exquisite job with the 2-bay server, and it delivers the whole lot you want in a starter NAS, after which some: simply the truth that you get 4 M.2 slots is an achievement. If you assume it’s possible you’ll want greater than two HDD drive bays, ASUSTOR additionally sells a 4-bay model of the AS5402T, dubbed the AS5404T.Â
Ultimately, in the event you’re simply getting began out, you’ll be able to’t go fallacious with any of the merchandise listed on this information.Â
