Network Attached Storage (NAS) has evolved from a niche IT tool into an essential piece of home and office infrastructure. In 2026, choosing the right NAS means navigating a market packed with powerful, affordable options — from simple plug-and-play devices for first-time buyers to high-performance units capable of running virtual machines, media servers, and enterprise-grade backups. We have thoroughly tested and compared the top five NAS devices available this year, evaluating real-world performance, ease of setup, software ecosystems, value for money, and long-term reliability. Whether you are setting up your first home media server, replacing an ageing unit, or equipping a growing small business, this guide gives you everything you need to make a confident purchase decision in 2026.
| Position | Model | Bays | CPU | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1 | Synology DS923+ | 4-bay | AMD Ryzen R1600 (Dual-core 2.6 GHz) | ~£520 |
| 🥈 2 | QNAP TS-464 | 4-bay | Intel Celeron N5105 (Quad-core 2.0 GHz) | ~£410 |
| 🥉 3 | Synology DS223 | 2-bay | Realtek RTD1619B (Quad-core 1.7 GHz) | ~£260 |
| 4 | Synology DS224+ | 2-bay | Intel Celeron J4125 (Quad-core 2.0 GHz) | ~£255 |
| 5 | TerraMaster F4-424 | 4-bay | Intel N95 (Quad-core 3.4 GHz) | ~£355 |
The Synology DS923+ is the most well-rounded 4-bay NAS on the market for small and medium businesses. Powered by the AMD Ryzen R1600 dual-core processor running at 2.6 GHz and equipped with 4 GB of ECC DDR4 RAM expandable to 32 GB, it delivers outstanding performance for virtualisation, database hosting, and collaborative workloads. It supports expansion to up to 9 bays with the optional DX517 expansion unit. Optional 10 GbE connectivity via PCIe slot and NVMe SSD cache support via PCIe adapter make it a highly future-proof investment. Synology's DiskStation Manager (DSM) remains the gold standard NAS operating system — polished, intuitive, and supported by over 200 native applications covering everything from VPN server to IP surveillance, email server, and file sync.
The QNAP TS-464 stands out as one of the most versatile NAS units available in 2026, thanks largely to its two built-in M.2 2280 NVMe slots that can be used for read/write cache or as an independent storage pool — a feature many rivals reserve for higher-end models. It packs an Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core processor, 8 GB of SODIMM RAM expandable to 16 GB, two 2.5 GbE network ports, and four USB 3.2 ports. The QNAP QTS operating system supports Docker containers, Linux Station virtual machines, and a broad range of applications. It is the preferred choice for technically minded users who want maximum hardware flexibility and are comfortable with a steeper learning curve compared to Synology's DSM.
If you are looking for a quiet, compact, and easy-to-use NAS for the home, the Synology DS223 is the clear winner. Its Realtek RTD1619B quad-core processor running at 1.7 GHz and 2 GB of RAM are more than adequate for centralising family photos with Synology Photos, streaming media over DLNA or Plex, syncing files across all your devices with Synology Drive, and automatically backing up PCs and Macs with Hyper Backup. The compact design runs near-silently, making it living room-friendly. QuickConnect allows remote access without any router port forwarding configuration, making it particularly accessible for users without technical networking knowledge. At this price point, no other 2-bay NAS matches the quality of its software.
The Synology DS224+ is the most complete 2-bay NAS for home office users and small businesses who do not need more than two drives. Powered by an Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core processor at 2.0 GHz with 2 GB of DDR4 RAM expandable to 6 GB, it offers performance well above the entry-level DS223. Running DSM — the best NAS operating system on the market — it supports Plex with hardware transcoding, Surveillance Station, advanced backups with Hyper Backup, and Docker container support. Synology guarantees software updates for at least 10 years, making it a very solid long-term investment. At around £255, drives are sold separately, but the quality of hardware and software fully justifies the cost compared to cheaper, more limited alternatives.
The TerraMaster F4-424 is the standout value pick of 2026. Its Intel N95 quad-core processor with a boost clock of 3.4 GHz delivers performance that genuinely rivals the Synology DS923+ in many benchmark tests — at a substantially lower price. Two built-in M.2 NVMe slots, 8 GB of expandable DDR4 RAM, dual 2.5 GbE network ports, and an HDMI 2.0 output for direct TV connection make this a feature-packed unit. TOS (TerraMaster Operating System) has improved considerably over the past two years and now offers a growing catalogue of applications. It also supports Docker containers for self-hosted services. The main trade-off is a smaller community, less mature software, and fewer third-party app integrations compared to Synology or QNAP. For budget-conscious power users, it is an outstanding choice.
Both NAS and cloud storage have their place, and many power users combine the two. Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud) is great for small amounts of frequently accessed files, easy sharing, and access from any device anywhere. But it has recurring monthly costs that add up fast, slower upload speeds for large files, and privacy concerns since your data lives on someone else's servers. A NAS gives you a one-time hardware investment with unlimited storage capacity (just add more drives), full data privacy and control, much faster local network speeds (often 1–10 Gbps vs 50–200 Mbps cloud), and no monthly subscription fees. A NAS can also replicate to the cloud (S3, Backblaze B2, Glacier) as a backup tier, giving you the best of both worlds. For anyone storing more than 2 TB of data or with serious privacy requirements, a NAS almost always wins on total cost of ownership within two to three years.
The minimum practical setup is 2 drives in RAID 1 (mirroring), which gives you automatic data redundancy — if one drive fails, your data survives on the other. This is the recommended starting point for any home or business NAS. 4-bay units offer more flexibility: RAID 5 gives you the capacity of three drives with single-drive fault tolerance, while RAID 6 adds double-drive protection at the cost of two drives' worth of capacity. For a Plex media server with a large library, or a CCTV recording NAS, 4 bays with RAID 5 is a popular sweet spot. Remember: RAID is not a backup. It protects against hardware failure but not against ransomware, accidental deletion, or fire or flood. Always maintain off-site backups separately — cloud sync, external drive rotated offsite, or a second NAS at a different location.
The best NAS for Plex depends heavily on whether you need hardware transcoding. If all your clients (TV, phone, PC) can play your media files natively (direct play), almost any NAS will work fine — even the Synology DS223. Hardware transcoding — converting a 4K file to 1080p on-the-fly for a device that cannot handle 4K — requires a processor with Intel Quick Sync Video support. The QNAP TS-464 (Intel Celeron N5105) and the TerraMaster F4-424 (Intel N95) both support hardware transcoding and have the processing power for multiple simultaneous streams. The Synology DS923+ uses AMD Ryzen which lacks Quick Sync, making software transcoding slower. If Plex is your primary use case and you have multiple simultaneous users or 4K content, the TerraMaster F4-424 offers the best value for media server performance in 2026.
The 2026 NAS market offers compelling options across every price point and use case. For small business users who need the best performance, most complete software ecosystem, and long-term reliability, the Synology DS923+ remains our top overall recommendation — its AMD Ryzen processor, ECC RAM, PCIe expandability, and DSM software set the benchmark for the category. Users who prioritise hardware flexibility and have the technical confidence to explore it should look seriously at the QNAP TS-464, which packs impressive specifications at a lower price. For home users, the Synology DS223 delivers the best plug-and-play experience in a compact, whisper-quiet form factor. For home office users or small businesses needing a 2-bay solution with top-tier software, the Synology DS224+ is the smartest choice with a 10-year software support guarantee. And for anyone seeking maximum performance per pound without brand loyalty, the TerraMaster F4-424 is the value standout of the year — a genuine surprise that punches well above its price tag in real-world use.