The 10 Best Home Nas Drive Of 2024, Tested By Our Experts

Dan Simmons By, Dan Simmons
Updated
Best Home Nas Drive
Best Home Nas Drive

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: WD 8TB NAS Drive

The WD 8TB NAS drive is a robust storage solution for businesses and home users. With a high-performance 1.3 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of DDR3 memory, and 8TB of storage, you can store and access your data quickly. Read Review

2. Best For The Price: BUFFALO 8TB Home NAS Drive

The BUFFALO Home NAS drive is a robust and reliable network-attached storage solution that efficiently stores, shares, and protects your digital content. This device features a capacity of 8TB, giving you plenty of storage space. Read Review

3. Best Performance: Asustor AS1102T 2 Bay NAS Drive

The Asustor 2 Bay NAS drive is a reliable and robust network-attached storage solution for personal and home use. It features a Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core 1.4 GHz CPU, 1GB RAM DDR4, and a single 2.5GbE port for fast data transfer speeds. Read Review

4. Best Speed: WD EX4100 16TB NAS Drive

The WD 16TB NAS drive is the perfect solution for businesses and creative professionals who need reliable, high-performance storage. It features an ArmadaARMADA 388 dual-core processor and 2GB memory to ensure fast, responsive performance. Read Review

5. Best Powerful: WD 56TB NAS Drive

The WD 56TB Network Attached Storage (NAS) provides an ideal storage solution for professionals and small businesses. It features an Intel Pentium N3710 Quad-Core 1.6GHz Processor with 4GB DDR3L Memory, providing excellent performance. Read Review

A home NAS drive is a storage device accessible from your home network. These devices are known as network-attached storage or NAS drives. A NAS drive is a computer with another operating system to use it like a regular computer. They have apps and programs that make life simpler. With a home network attached storage drive, you can easily play digital video and audio files through your home entertainment system, listen to music and even access your documents. 

When choosing a home NAS drive, you should consider a few things before making your final decision. A good home NAS drive should offer fast data access from an external hard drive or storage device connected via a USB connection (such as a camera). It should also be easy for anyone in the family to use and maintain. With this in mind, let’s look at some of the primary considerations you need to consider when choosing the perfect home NAS drive.

After 20 hours of product research and analysis, We can identify the best home nas drive is WD 8TB NAS DriveIt features a high-performance 1.3 GHz dual-core Processor for lag-free streaming, 1GB of DDR3 Memory for effortless multitasking, and Centralized network storage with access from anywhere. The performance of this product is of an excellent standard, and it offers a complete set of features that can satisfy your requirements.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 WD 8TB NAS Drive
Our Score:
9.7
Western Digital

This high-performance NAS system allows you to access and organize your whole media collection in a single spot. You can also do so without jeopardizing the security of your media library, no matter where you happen to be. You have access to features such as the automatic synchronization of content across multiple computers, the straightforward sharing of files and folders, and various options for backing up your data. It enables you to design your individualized system easily. In addition to this, you can also create your customized plan easily.

This WD Sync enables you to automatically synchronize your movies and files across all your PCs and the My Cloud device, giving you the peace of mind that comes with knowing that all of your stuff is always up to date and can be accessed using any of your devices. Its lightning-fast transfer speeds make it possible to watch high-definition content without experiencing any delays in the streaming quality, which is a significant benefit for you. The only problem is that the external USB backups can not be encrypted. Other than that, it has impressive performance.

TOP Choice #2 BUFFALO 8TB Home NAS Drive
Our Score:
9.6
BUFFALO

The Buffalo network-attached storage system is a personal cloud solution and data storage system that is dependable, user-friendly, and purpose-built for ease of use and safety. Using this NAS server; you will be able to access and manage the data that is most essential to you in a centralized area while maintaining the flexibility to access it from any location. You may access the home server from anywhere in your home or even remotely if you link it to the wireless router in your network. This makes the home server very easy to operate.

This two-bay network attached storage (NAS) drive provides the reliability and adaptability of RAID data protection. You can configure the hard drives in your NAS with a RAID 0 array, increasing the storage capacity, or a RAID 1 array, keeping your data safe even if one of the NAS drives fails. You can easily back multiple PCs and mobile devices to the exact secure NAS storage location and utilize Buffalo's WebAccess service to establish a free personal cloud. However, the processor is a bit slower than average, but it uses extremely little power.

TOP Choice #3 Asustor AS1102T 2 Bay NAS Drive
Our Score:
9.5
Asustor

The Asustor AS1102T is an adequate network-attached storage (NAS) solution developed for customers in homes and small businesses. It has a powerful Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core 1.4 GHz CPU, a Single 2.5GbE Port, and 1 GB of DDR4 RAM. The network-connected storage platform provided by this NAS is dependable and secure. It can store and distribute various media, including images, music, and movies. In addition, it gives you to your files through a personal private cloud, which can be accessed from any global location.

This product is the ideal alternative for individuals who are seeking a NAS solution that is dependable and safe. Its powerful processor and enormous storage capacity make it the perfect choice. You can give your NAS the ability to stream multimedia content to your desktops, TVs, and mobile devices by installing extra multimedia server Apps through ASUSTOR's App Central. ASUSTOR Data Master (ADM) 4.0 operating system enhances performance, compatibility, and security. Unfortunately, it couldn't encrypt long file names.

4 WD EX4100 16TB NAS Drive
Our Score:
9.4
Western Digital

The WD EX4100 16TB NAS is an effective and dependable storage option for businesses and prosumers. Its built-in Marvell Armada 388 dual-core processor runs at 1.6 GHz and 2 GB of DDR3 memory, delivering exceptional performance and scalability for your data requirements. Its vast 16 terabytes of storage space allow you to store, distribute, and safeguard the most critical data. You can protect your stuff with numerous backup choices and configure your NAS with a full suite of applications.

This drive has several different RAID configurations, allowing you to create a system that caters to your precise data storage requirements. You can also access data quickly and securely thanks to its built-in backup and remote access capabilities, which are included in the product as standard. You can save your valuable images, videos, music, and files on this high-performance NAS solution that is ready to go, giving you safe access to them whenever you want, from wherever you are. However, it may produce a bit of sound.

5 WD 56TB NAS Drive
Our Score:
9.2
Western Digital

The WD 56TB is a Network Attached Storage solution that is robust and dependable, making it ideal for businesses and creative professionals. The PR4100 can provide reliable storage solutions and quick performance due to its Intel Pentium N3710 Quad-Core 1.6GHz processor and 4GB of DDR3L memory. It comes with a storage capacity of 56 terabytes (TB), capable of storing significant amounts of data and allowing you to store and access it whenever you want. You can have peace of mind knowing that your data is protected and secure when you use this product.

The drive provides your creative team with the network storage necessary to edit, save, and share production files from any location with an internet connection. You can streamline your creative process by storing all your data in one place while keeping it protected and well-organized. This software is compatible with both Macs and PCs.With its advanced capabilities, you can enjoy your favorite entertainment at home or on the go, such as built-in video transcoding for HD streaming with Plex. The only downside is that device logins are not recorded. But it's not a big seal.

6 Synology 24TB NAS Drive
Our Score:
9.0
Synology

The Synology 24TB NAS drive is an effective and robust storage solution for your home or company. This 6-bay NAS Server has a storage capacity of 24 terabytes, an AMD Ryzen Quad-core 2.2 GHz processor, 4 gigabytes of RAM, and 6 Seagate IronWolf hard drives, each of which has a capacity of 4 terabytes. You can quickly manage your data and access it from any location as long as you have a web browser due to its user-friendly interface that is based on the web.

This network-attached storage (NAS) drive is an excellent option for storing, transferring, and backing up your vital files because of its high performance and feature set. It also supports RAID 5, 6, and 10, hot-swappable drives, and disk encryption, among other advanced capabilities. This product provides the highest level of both file management and sharing. Unfortunately, it may not be suitable for huge files.

7 BUFFALO 12TB NAS Drive
Our Score:
8.8
BUFFALO

The Buffalo is a reliable two-drive network-attached storage that is excellent for small and home offices and professional customers who require a dependable RAID-based NAS storage solution. It also includes software for backing up your personal computer, and you can schedule regular backups of the data stored on your desktops and mobile devices. It creates individual access to folders so that your data remains private even when you safely share storage space or files with others. It supports media backup from an SD card or Compact Flash card and provides stability to USB card readers.

This product is a straightforward network-attached storage (NAS) server that offers stable performance and reasonable data security for safe and flexible everyday storage and backup. It can store videos, music, and images and back them up, and you can access them from any location without paying monthly storage fees. This product is compatible with desktop computers running macOS, Android, and iOS mobile operating systems. However, sometimes it may not work well with the Mac operating system. Overall, it performs well.

8 BUFFALO 32TB NAS Drive
Our Score:
8.7
BUFFALO
  • HIGH QUALITY HARDWARE: Made in Japan with pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included. 
  • PURPOSE-BUILT FOR DATA PROTECTION: Features 256-bit drive encryption, RAID options, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe.
  • EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR SERVER: VMware Certified to expand storage capacity and extend your current servers using iSCSI and existing networking equipment.
  • RELIABLE STORAGE W/ EFFORTLESS SETUP: RAID 5 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection to save you time and effort.
  • CLOUD INTEGRATION: Sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.
  • 10X AS FAST TRANSFER SPEEDS: 10GbE gives you 10x as data fast transfer speeds as 1GbE with CAT 6A or higher-rated cabling.
  • REMOTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE INCLUDED: Save time and resources by managing multiple NAS from a single console.
9 QNAP 8 Bay NAS Drive
Our Score:
8.2
QNAP

Intel Core i5-12400 6C/12T up to 4.4 GHz processor with 32GB DDR4 RAM (up to 64GB)

PCIe Gen 4 expandability for 10/25GbE connectivity

Dual M.2 PCIe Gen4x4 NVMe SSD slots enable cache acceleration or SSD storage pools for improved performance

10 BUFFALO WS5420DN 8TB Drive
Our Score:
8.0
BUFFALO

RELIABLE STORAGE W/ EFFORTLESS SETUP: NAS-grade hard drives included with RAID 1 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection. No CALs required to save you additional integration costs.

PEACE OF MIND INCLUDED: 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7, award-winning US-based support. (Extended warranty options available.)

8 TB CAPACITY: 4 pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included. Ships in RAID 5 for 6 TB usable capacity; can later change to RAID 6 for more redundancy, or RAID 0 for full 8 TB capacity.

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What to Look For in a best home nas drive?

When selecting a suitable best home nas drive, a variety of factors have been found. Information sources are available in a wide range of forms.  As a basis, we are doing it to support, inform, and solve your demands.

Please keep these things in mind before selecting the best home nas drive:

Capacity

In simple terms, the more drives you can cram into a NAS the greater its potential storage capacity. In most cases, we suggest something with four or five bays like the Synonology DS-1511. Loaded up with a swag of 1TB or 2TB drives it offers plenty of capacity.
If your needs are more modest then a two-bay unit is also handy and won't break the bank.

Ease Of Use

A NAS is a great option for small businesses that need a solution that can run without much maintenance. Choosing a NAS that can be set up quickly with minimal labor is always a wise decision. For enterprise solutions, higher labor and administrative costs are insignificant when compared with the benefits that a NAS can bring.

Ports And Connections

Don't overlook connectivity. If your priority is to use your NAS as a home video server, it might be worth picking one with an HDMI output like the QNAP TS-251B so you can connect it directly to your TV. And if your TV can't play video from a network source, you'll need a separate media streamer.

Apps

After storage, the next main concern is software and features. We prefer NASes that have an app store where you can download popular apps such as Plex instead of forcing you to use the manufacturer's own media software. NASes also offer apps for Android and iOS, which make it easier to get to your photos, videos, and music from your phone or tablet.

Form Factor

The form factor of a computing device affects the design of hardware components that go into the larger unit. For NAS storage devices, form factor usually comes in two variations: rack-mount, and tower type cases. Choosing between these two options is straightforward. For example, rack cases would be suitable for enterprise networks since they have an expandable capacity. Tower type casing is better for consumers or small-to-medium businesses.

Transcoding

What type of processor does your NAS need? NAS drives run dedicated OSes that require a lightweight processor and more RAM. A faster processor and more memory will enable features such as transcoding, which means that any media files can be converted on the fly into a format that's playable by your TV or set-top box. It can also be useful if your videos are a higher resolution than your TV can handle, so look out for the ability to transcode 4K to Full HD in real-time.

RAID

RAID stands for redundant array of inexpensive disks. RAID can be quite complex but at a basic level, you’ll want to use it to provide redundancy so if a disk fails your data is still safe. Three of the most popular variants are RAID 1, 5, and 6.
Whatever RAID you choose, however, don’t consider your NAS to be the only backup of your data. If the box just dies, or if something catastrophic happens like a fire, you’ll still lose all your data. To mitigate this you'll want another external backup, preferably to the cloud.

FAQs

What is a home NAS drive?

A home NAS drive is a network attached storage device that provides storage for home users and small businesses. It is a self-contained storage device that connects to a home network and allows users to store, share, and back up data. It can also be used to stream media, access files remotely, and create a private cloud.

What are the benefits of using a home NAS drive?

The main benefit of using a home NAS drive is the ability to store and share files easily. It provides a convenient way to store large amounts of data without having to purchase a separate server. Additionally, a home NAS drive can provide security and redundancy, as data can be backed up to another device or stored in a cloud service.

What are the different types of home NAS drives?

There are several different types of home NAS drives, including single-bay, two-bay, four-bay, and six-bay models. Single-bay models are typically very affordable and are best for basic storage needs, while two-bay models offer more storage capacity and redundancy. Four-bay and six-bay models are better suited for more advanced users who need more storage capacity and/or redundancy.

How do I set up a home NAS drive?

Setting up a home NAS drive is relatively easy. First, you need to connect the device to your home network using an Ethernet cable. Next, you will need to download the software that comes with your NAS and install it on your computer. Once this is done, you can configure the settings and begin using your NAS.

With new information arriving, our editor will usually update the best home nas drive frequently. Please constantly check our site for the most up-to-date material.

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About Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons is a writer who loves home theater and HiFi audio. As the editor of TheAudioInsights, he has helped countless people enjoy the best possible sound quality in their homes. He is an audiophile who takes great pleasure in helping others find the perfect audio equipment for their needs. When he's not writing or editing, Dan enjoys listening to music and spending time with his family.