The best NAS devices of 2025: Expert tested

ZDNET ranks the Synology DiskStation DS1522+ as the very best NAS gadget at the moment available on the market. This mannequin stands out as a robust and sturdy alternative, supported by a superb suite of functions. If the DS1522+ does not meet your particular wants, listed below are the highest options to search for in different fashions:

Choosing the proper NAS gadget is an easy course of, starting with an evaluation of your funds and storage necessities. Distributors usually supply fashions ranging from two bays — permitting for 2 drives — and upwards.

For these requiring substantial storage, choosing a mannequin with extra bays is advisable. Nevertheless, when you’re venturing into NAS units for the primary time, you may wish to begin with an entry-level or moveable possibility. This lets you develop into acquainted with NAS know-how with out committing to extra superior and costlier tools instantly.

Beneath is a straightforward chart to help you additional in making your determination: 

When out there for a brand new NAS gadget, it is essential to contemplate a number of key elements to make sure you select the choice that most closely fits your wants:

• Use Instances: Establish the first operate of your NAS gadget. Whether or not it is for video modifying, establishing a house workplace, or leisure functions, understanding its meant use is important given the funding. This readability will information your decision-making course of.

• Funds: Decide your funds early on. NAS methods are important investments, usually carrying a hefty price ticket. Moreover, when you go for a diskless mannequin, keep in mind to account for the price of buying storage individually.

• Bays: The variety of bays you want is straight tied to your storage necessities. For these dealing with intensive multimedia recordsdata or planning long-term storage, choosing a tool with extra bays is advisable.

• Connectivity: NAS units range of their connectivity choices, from Ethernet and HDMI ports to moveable fashions that may generate Wi-Fi hotspots. Make sure the gadget you select has the connectivity options that align together with your wants.

Right here at ZDNET, our experience in NAS units spans a long time. Our alternatives are knowledgeable by a mixture of in-depth testing, verified buyer suggestions, and real-world person interactions, with explicit emphasis on user-friendly interfaces, efficiency, a radical evaluation of every mannequin’s strengths and weaknesses, and, importantly, worth level.

• Person-friendly Interface: We prioritize NAS fashions which can be simple to arrange and handle, that includes software program that simplifies utilization and enhances sharing and collaboration capabilities.

• Quick Efficiency: A NAS gadget accelerates saving and retrieving the info, making it notably environment friendly for duties like video modifying — outpacing many cloud storage providers.

• Strengths and Weaknesses: Understanding that no mannequin is flawless, we spotlight the benefits and disadvantages of every, offering readability on how they could match your safety wants, setup preferences, and workflow necessities, together with portability.

• Worth: Recognizing funds constraints, we fastidiously think about every product’s worth. Though preliminary prices may be excessive, they might supply financial savings over time in comparison with ongoing cloud service subscriptions.

RAID, which stands for Redundant Array of Unbiased Disks, is an information storage know-how that mixes a number of bodily disk drives right into a single logical unit for improved efficiency, redundancy, or each. The first function of RAID is to reinforce information safety and enhance storage effectivity by distributing information throughout a number of disks in varied configurations often known as RAID ranges. 

Here is a breakdown of three of the most typical RAID ranges:

RAID 0 (Striping)

RAID 0 splits, or stripes, information evenly throughout two or extra disks. This configuration provides improved efficiency as a result of a number of disks may be learn or written concurrently. Nevertheless, remember that this gives no redundancy. If one disk fails, all information within the array is misplaced.

RAID 1 (Mirroring)

RAID 1 duplicates, or mirrors, information throughout two or extra disks. This setup provides excessive information redundancy as a result of every disk within the array comprises a precise copy of the info. If one disk fails, the info may be recovered from the opposite disk(s). Nevertheless, notice that RAID 1 doesn’t enhance efficiency and successfully reduces usable storage capability by half.

RAID 5 (Striping with Parity)

RAID 5 combines striping with parity, distributing information and parity info throughout three or extra disks. Parity gives fault tolerance, permitting the array to face up to the failure of a single disk with out information loss. RAID 5 provides stability of efficiency, redundancy, and storage effectivity.

The first distinction between Community Connected Storage (NAS) and Direct Connected Storage (DAS) lies in how they’re related to and accessed by units in a community.

NAS units connect with a community, usually by Ethernet, offering storage that may be accessed by a number of units on that community. This setup permits a number of customers and units to entry and share information concurrently over the community, making NAS very best for collaborative environments. NAS models usually include their very own working methods and might help a wide range of functions, together with file sharing, media streaming, and even server capabilities like hosting. These units are managed by way of a web-based interface, permitting for distant administration and configuration. Moreover, NAS options are usually extra scalable, permitting for straightforward growth by including extra drives or connecting further NAS models to the community.

In distinction, DAS units join on to a pc by way of USB, Thunderbolt, or one other direct interface, making them accessible solely to that particular pc. DAS methods are usually single-user units, that means solely the related pc can entry the saved information. For different units to entry this information, it should be shared by the pc to which the DAS is related. DAS models are easier and often don’t include their very own working methods or help for extra functions past fundamental storage. These units are managed straight by the working system of the related pc, with out the necessity for web-based interfaces. As a result of they join on to a pc, DAS units can supply quicker information switch charges in comparison with NAS, which depends on community speeds.

The selection between NAS and DAS relies on particular necessities for accessibility, scalability, and efficiency. NAS is finest fitted to environments the place a number of units must entry and share information, comparable to in houses with a number of customers, small companies, or skilled settings requiring collaborative entry to massive recordsdata. However, DAS is right for single-user eventualities the place quick information switch charges are essential, comparable to video modifying, graphic design, or private information storage wants.

Distributors usually estimate the lifespan of a NAS gadget to be between three to 5 years. Nevertheless, it is attainable for a NAS to exceed this vary, doubtlessly lasting as much as a decade. Regardless of this, the chance of failure escalates over time.

Be looking out for indicators of {hardware} deterioration, like sluggish efficiency and connectivity issues, which can point out impending failure.

You may doubtlessly enhance a NAS gadget’s lifespan by permitting it to hibernate whereas not in use. For instance, if you’re away from house for a number of months, it’s possible you’ll wish to think about giving it a relaxation. Nevertheless, NAS units may be left on completely, as many NAS units have been particularly constructed to permit this.