The Best NAS Devices in 2026
Wirecutter’s best NAS for home users is the Synology DiskStation DS225+ ($365). It’s one of the speediest home NAS units it has tested, and its 2.5-gigabit Ethernet port keeps it ready for the future. If you want simple photo and file backup with no setup, PCMag likes the Synology BeeStation ($364.99 with a 4TB drive).
Disclosure: PickedTech is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we recommend or how we rank them. How we make money.
How this page was made: this is a research-based guide built from manufacturer spec pages, official prices and published lab measurements from the outlets we name and link. We haven’t tested these products ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.
Quick answer
Wirecutter’s best NAS for home users is the Synology DiskStation DS225+ ($365). It’s one of the speediest home NAS units it has tested, and its 2.5-gigabit Ethernet port keeps it ready for the future. Best for most homes: Synology DiskStation DS225+, $365. Best four-bay: Synology DiskStation DS425+, $579. Best budget: QNAP TS-216G, $269. Simplest: Synology BeeStation, $364.99.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for most homes | Synology DiskStation DS225+ | most homes | $365 |
| Best four-bay | Synology DiskStation DS425+ | professionals and lots of storage | $579 |
| Best budget | QNAP TS-216G | basic backup on a budget | $269 |
| Simplest | Synology BeeStation | easy photo and file backup | $364.99 |
| Cheapest with multi-gig | Asustor Drivestor 2 Gen2 AS1202T | multi-gig on a budget | $199.99 |
| Best for power users | Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2+ AS6702T v2 | power users | $516.99 |
A NAS (network-attached storage) is a small always-on server that backs up your computers and phones and streams media at home. Most NAS units ship without drives, so budget for those too.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| NAS | Price seen | Bays | Networking | Who picks it | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synology DS225+ | $365 | 2 | 2.5GbE | Wirecutter top pick | Most homes |
| Synology DS425+ | $579 | 4 | — | Wirecutter upgrade pick | Professionals and lots of storage |
| QNAP TS-216G | $269 | 2 | — | Wirecutter budget pick | Basic backup on a budget |
| Synology BeeStation | $364.99 | 1 (4TB included) | — | PCMag single-drive pick | Easy photo and file backup |
| QNAP TS-233 | $239 | 2 | No multi-gig | PCMag two-bay for most people | A cheap two-bay |
| Asustor AS1202T | $199.99 | 2 | Multi-gig | PCMag budget pick | Multi-gig on a budget |
| Asustor AS6702T v2 | $516.99 | 2 | Dual 5GbE | PCMag two-bay for power users | Power users |
The picks in detail
1. Synology DiskStation DS225+
Best for: most homesWirecutter’s[1] top pick: one of the speediest home NAS it has tested, with a 2.5-gigabit Ethernet port. Synology certifies only its own drives as compatible, but Wirecutter notes DSM 7.3 supports third-party drives from Seagate and Western Digital, and it tested the DS225+ with WD Red Plus drives. $365.
Price (Oct 2026): $365 Source
Pros
- Very fast
- 2.5GbE
- Supports third-party drives on DSM 7.3
Cons
- Drives not included
2. Synology DiskStation DS425+
Best for: professionals and lots of storageWirecutter’s[1] upgrade pick: the same hardware as the DS225+ with two more drive bays for more storage, redundant backup and a bit more speed. Memory upgrades top out at 6 GB. $579.
Price (Oct 2026): $579 Source
Pros
- Four bays
- Redundant backup
Cons
- Memory tops out at 6 GB
- Pricier
3. QNAP TS-216G
Best for: basic backup on a budgetWirecutter’s[1] budget pick: a midrange NAS that does the basics well, though you might hit its limits. Its 4 GB of memory can’t be upgraded. $269.
Price (Oct 2026): $269 Source
Pros
- Cheaper
- Good for file and media backup
Cons
- Memory fixed at 4 GB
4. Synology BeeStation
Best for: easy photo and file backupPCMag’s[2] best single-drive NAS for most people. It’s easy to use, comes with a pre-installed 4TB drive, needs no subscription, syncs with cloud services and supports face recognition for photos. It has no RAID, isn’t expandable, has no app library and middling transfer speeds. $364.99.
Price (Oct 2026): $364.99 Source
Pros
- Drive included
- Easy to use
- No subscription
Cons
- No RAID
- Not expandable
5. QNAP TS-233
Best for: a cheap two-bayPCMag’s[2] best two-bay NAS for most people: reasonably priced, easy to install and manage, with solid performance and a good selection of apps. Drives aren’t included, and there are no multi-gig LAN ports. $239.
Price (Oct 2026): $239 Source
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Easy to manage
- Good apps
Cons
- No multi-gig LAN
6. Asustor Drivestor 2 Gen2 AS1202T
Best for: multi-gig on a budgetPCMag’s[2] best budget NAS (Editors’ Choice): reasonably priced for its features, with on-point performance, a generous app catalog and a multi-gig LAN port. It has no HDMI port. $199.99. Pair it with a 2.5GbE switch.
Price (Oct 2026): $199.99 Source
Pros
- Multi-gig LAN
- Generous app catalog
- Cheap
Cons
- No HDMI
7. Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2+ AS6702T v2
Best for: power usersPCMag’s[2] best two-bay NAS for power users: speedy, with SSD caching, dual 5GbE ports with link aggregation, four M.2 slots and a massive app catalog. The drive sleds need tools. $516.99.
Price (Oct 2026): $516.99 Source
Pros
- Dual 5GbE
- Four M.2 slots
- Massive app catalog
Cons
- Drive sleds need tools
Also considered
Synology DS1525+: PCMag’s[2] best five-bay NAS for power users ($1,309.99).
Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen 3 (AS6804T): PCMag’s best four-bay for power users ($1,517.99).
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus: PCMag’s best multi-SSD NAS ($764.99).
Budget for drives
Except for the BeeStation, these NAS units ship empty. Use two identical drives in a mirrored setup so one drive can fail without losing data. For simple one-off backups, an external hard drive is cheaper.
Faster networking
A 2.5GbE or 5GbE NAS only goes faster than gigabit if your switch and computer support it too. See our 2.5GbE switches and 10GbE gear for home labs, and a good Wi-Fi router.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best NAS for home use?
What is the best budget NAS?
Can Synology NAS units use WD or Seagate drives?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
Related
The Best UPS Battery Backups in 2026
Wirecutter’s top pick, the CyberPower LE1000DG, kept a modem and Wi-Fi router running for three hours in its tests. Popular Mechanics picks the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD3 as best overall. On a tight budget, Wirecutter suggests the Amazon Basics Standby UPS 800VA.
best ofBest 10GbE Gear for Home Labs
10GbE is now affordable for a home lab. The main decision is SFP+ (fiber or DAC) versus RJ45 copper.
best ofBest 2.5GbE Switches
If your router, mesh nodes or NAS have 2.5G ports, an unmanaged 2.5G switch is the cheapest way to share that speed.
best ofThe Best External Hard Drives in 2026
For cheap, roomy backups, Wirecutter picks the WD My Passport Ultra 5TB portable drive and the WD Elements Desktop 8TB. PCMag’s best portable drive is the 6TB WD My Passport ($167.50). If you need speed more than capacity, buy a portable SSD instead.
best ofThe Best Wi-Fi Routers in 2026
Wirecutter’s best router for most people is the TP-Link Archer BE230, also sold as the Archer BE3600: Wi-Fi 7 and two 2.5GbE ports for about $80. If you pay for gigabit or multi-gig internet, step up to the ASUS RT-BE92U ($250).
best ofThe Best Internal SSDs in 2026
Tom’s Hardware’s best overall SSD is the Samsung 990 Pro. It’s the fastest PCIe 4.0 drive the site has tested and has a five-year warranty. For a PCIe 5.0 desktop, look at the Corsair MP700 Pro XT or the WD Black SN8100, PCMag’s best PCIe 5.0 drive. For laptops, Tom’s Hardware picks the WD Black SN7100.