Top NAS Picks for 2025: Store Games, Movies, and More

If you're the proud owner of one of the best gaming PCs or laptops, you're likely seeking a robust solution to back up or transfer your precious data. While a top SSD or external hard drives can serve you well, nothing quite matches the versatility and power of a great NAS (Network-Attached Storage) drive. Our top recommendation is the Synology DiskStation DS224+, a stellar choice for managing your digital life.

TL;DR – These are the Best NAS Devices:

Our Top Pick### Synology DiskStation DS224+

0See it at Amazon### UGREEN NASync DXP2800

0See it at Amazon### Synology DiskStation DS223j

0See it at Amazon### Asustor Lockerstor 2 AS6602T

0See it at Amazon### Synology DiskStation DS1821+

0See it at Amazon### QNAP TS-264-8G

0See it at Amazon### Synology DiskStation DS923+

0See it at Amazon### ioSafe Duo Pro

0See it at ioSafeThe best NAS drives are not just storage solutions; they are comprehensive data management hubs. They offer significant storage capacity and seamlessly integrate into your home network, facilitating quick data transfers among your smartphones, tablets, desktops, and laptops. NAS is particularly ideal for managing digital media libraries. However, given their premium nature, it's crucial to select the right one. We've curated a list of eight outstanding options to suit various needs.

1. Synology DiskStation DS224+

Best NAS

Our Top Pick### Synology DiskStation DS224+

0The Synology DiskStation DS224+ is an easy-to-use, high-speed NAS with two drive bays, dual Gigabit LAN ports, a robust Intel Celeron processor, and 2GB of upgradable RAM. It's perfect for those who want a powerful yet user-friendly storage solution. With the ability to support up to 32TB of storage or a RAID 1 configuration for data redundancy, this NAS is versatile and reliable. While it lacks a multi-gig LAN port, its performance and ease of use make it a top choice for any home network.

See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectionEthernet, USB 3.2RAID LevelSHR, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1Storage2 x 3.5"/2.5" baysSize9.02" x 9.13" x 6.5"PROSEasy-to-use interfaceFast quad-core processorCONSNo multi-gig LAN port

2. UGreen NASync DXP2800

Best Budget NAS

### UGREEN NASync DXP2800

0The UGreen NASync DXP2800 offers quality hardware and a stylish design at a budget-friendly price. It features dual drive bays and is powered by an Intel N100 quad-core processor with 8GB of RAM, making it suitable for managing a high-quality video library. While it doesn't come with native Plex support, installation via Docker is straightforward, and performance remains excellent.

See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectionEthernet, USB, HDMIRAID Level JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, BasicStorage2 x 2.5"/3.5" bays, 2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe slotsSizeNot listedPROSComprehensive OS and appsMulti-gig ethernetCONSNo native Plex

3. Synology DiskStation DS223j

Most Affordable NAS

### Synology DiskStation DS223j

0The Synology DiskStation DS223j is an ultra-affordable and user-friendly NAS, ideal for beginners. It supports up to 32TB of storage and comes with Synology's renowned DiskStation Manager (DSM) OS, ensuring a seamless experience across devices. While it lacks a multi-gig ethernet port, its affordability and ease of use make it an excellent entry-level option.

See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectionEthernet, USBRAID LevelBasic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, SHRStorage2 x 3.5" baysSize6.5" x 3.94" x 8.9"PROSReliable hardwareEasy to useCONSLacks multi-gig ethernet port

4. Asustor Lockerstor 2 AS6602T

Best NAS for Power Users and Professionals

### Asustor Lockerstor 2 AS6602T

0The Asustor Lockerstor 2 AS6602T is designed for power users and professionals, featuring an Intel Celeron quad-core processor and 4GB of upgradable RAM. It supports both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA drives, with additional M.2 PCIe NVMe slots for enhanced performance. With dual 2.5Gb ethernet ports and support for 10-bit 4K hardware decoding, this NAS is a powerhouse for advanced users.

See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectionEthernet, USB 3.0, HDMIRAID LevelJBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1Storage2 x 3.5"/2.5" bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe slotsSize9.06" x 4.25" x 6.44"PROSDual M.2 PCIe NVMe slots for additional storageSupports 10-bit 4K hardware decodingCONSDrive installation is more involved

5. Synology DiskStation DS1821+

Best Multi-Bay NAS

### Synology DiskStation DS1821+

0The Synology DiskStation DS1821+ is perfect for those needing vast storage capacity, offering eight drive bays for up to 128TB. Its hot-swappable drives and M.2 NVMe slots for caching ensure high performance. Powered by a quad-core AMD Ryzen CPU and 4GB of upgradable DDR4 ECC memory, this NAS is a future-proof solution for extensive data storage needs.

See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectionEthernet, USB 3.2RAID LevelJBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR)Storage8 x 3.5"/2.5" bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe NVMe slotsSize18.2" x 14.4" x 12.5"PROSWild 128TB capacityHot-swappable drivesCONSCan get noisy

6. QNAP TS-264-8G

Best NAS for Media Streaming

### QNAP TS-264-8G

0Designed for media streaming, the QNAP TS-264-8G offers dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports and a 4K HDMI output. It supports two drive bays and multiple USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, ensuring high-speed performance. With an Intel Celeron processor and 8GB of DDR4 memory, it's optimized for smooth 4K video streaming and hardware transcoding.

See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectionEthernet, USB 3.2, HDMIRAID LevelRAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, JBODStorage2 x 3.5"/2.5" bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe slotsSize8.1" x 6.6" x 4.1"PROSCompact designImpressive hardwareCONSSoftware is harder to master

7. Synology DiskStation DS923+

Best Network Attached Storage for RAID Configurations

### SynologyDiskStation DS923+

0The Synology DiskStation DS923+ excels in data backup security with four drive bays and multiple RAID configuration options. It supports various RAID levels, ensuring your data is protected with redundancy. With M.2 NVMe SSD slots for caching and a high-performing dual-core AMD Ryzen processor, this NAS is a reliable choice for data-intensive environments.

See it at AmazonProduct SpecificationsConnectionEthernet, USB 3.2, eSATARAID LevelRAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10, Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), Basic, JBODStorage4 x 3.5"/2.5" bay, 2 x M.2 PCIe slotsSize6.5" x 7.8" x 8.7" PROSOffers various RAID levelsExpandable storage and RAMCONSNo multi-gig LAN port

8. ioSafe Duo Pro

Best Rugged NAS

### ioSafe Duo Pro

0While not a traditional NAS, the ioSafe Duo Pro is a rugged direct-attach storage solution that's fireproof and water-resistant. It offers RAID configurations for added data protection and comes with robust, long-lasting drive bays. For those concerned about physical damage, the ioSafe Duo Pro provides peace of mind, though it requires an additional setup for network sharing.

See it at ioSafeProduct SpecificationsConnectionUSB 3.2RAID LevelRAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD, SPANStorage2 x 3.5"/2.5" baysSize11.50" x 5.91" x 9.06"PROSFireproof and water-resistantOffers two robust, long-lasting drive baysCONSNot designed to be a NAS

What to Look for in NAS

NAS devices are essential for those looking to streamline their home network and data management. If you and your family share the same network, a NAS allows for easy file sharing across all connected devices. It's also an efficient solution for backing up multiple computers centrally.

What are you using it for?

If you need to access shared files or tools across multiple devices or manage a large media library accessible from various devices, a NAS device is invaluable. You can even set up your NAS as a Plex server, providing everyone in your home with seamless access to your media collection.

Go diskless? How many bays?

Most NAS devices are sold without disk drives, requiring you to purchase them separately. This can be advantageous if you already own compatible drives, but it's essential to check the manufacturer's recommendations for optimal performance. The number of bays in a NAS determines its potential storage capacity; more bays mean more space, which is particularly important for multimedia systems.