We wouldn't want that either, which is why this collection of NAS exists to aid you in making the right decision. No one wants to be spending more than they should on a product they may not get the most out of. Price is essential with any purchase you make. If you want to replace your online cloud storage subscription service, you'll likely need four bays or more. Do you intend to use the NAS for simply storing files? If so, what kind of files will you be storing? If you only plan on backing up several devices, you can get away with enclosures with but a few drive bays. When deciding on a NAS enclosure to purchase, you'll need to bear in mind a few factors. An important fact to remember: Intel processors are generally more capable than ARM (basically non-Intel) CPUs. The Synology DiskStation DS120j and TerraMaster F2-221 are fine examples of savings to be had without sacrificing too much on functionality, so long as you only plan on using these servers for file storage. You don't have to spend much to get a good NAS either. For those who want to set up a Plex Media Server (PMS), the QNAP TVS-672XT is what you'll need. If it's not quite what you're looking for, the ASUSTOR NIMBUSTOR 4 (AS5304T) is an excellent second choice. For most people, however, the Synology DiskStation DS220+ is the best choice overall.

Numerous vendors make NAS enclosures with some of the best models coming from Synology, QNAP, TerraMaster, and ASUSTOR. Generally, you'll want to steer clear on single-bay NAS enclosures because we always recommend at least two drives to be installed for a RAID configuration to better safeguard against data loss - RAID is a redundancy measure that makes sure if one drive fails, you'll not lose any data.

The higher the number of bays, the more drives you can install, and the more capacity you can have for storing all your stuff. The second most important factor in the decision-making for a NAS enclosure is the number of drive bays. These little server units can start at affordable prices, but when you factor in uprated internals, features like M.2 slots, and upgradeable RAM, you can quickly see the price spiral out of control. Find out more about how we test.Ĭhoosing the best NAS for your home is primarily driven by the price of enclosures. Why you can trust Windows Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.

Best nas for home users 2016