The 10 Best Network Attached Storage, Tested And Researched
The Rundown
1. Best Overall: Asustor AS5304T NAS Network Attached Storage
Asustor Network Attached Storage offers users the flexibility to create their own personal cloud. With the ability to connect up to four external hard drives and two 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, this NAS provides your data with maximum protection and security. Read Review
2. Best For The Price: BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN NAS Network Attached Storage
BUFFALO TeraStation NAS 16TB Network Attached Storage includes 2x8TB HDD NAS Hard Drives. With support for up to 16 users and up to 2.5GB Ethernet / 802.11ac WiFi connections, TeraStation lets you share files and store multiple versions of your workstation desktop. Read Review
3. Best Quality: WD Pro Series PR2100 NAS Network Attached Storage
The WD 20TB Network Attached Storage NAS gives you the power and flexibility to stream, manage and share your content. The new My Cloud Home 2.0 app enhances your storage experience by providing instant access to all your files from anywhere on a compatible device. Read Review
4. Best Speed: Asustor AS6510T NAS Network Attached Storage
The Asustor 10 Bay Network Attached Storage (NAS) is designed to fit any small business or home office. With its high-speed performance, 2.1GHz quad-core processor, and 10GbE ports, the AS6510T is perfect for intensive work with video transcoding and 3D rendering. Read Review
5. Best Connectivity: WD Pro Series PR4100 NAS Network Attached Storage
WD Network Attached Storage is a powerful and intuitive device for home or business looking to keep data safe and secure. The Diskless NAS features built-in video transcoding for HD streaming, storage of large files and the ability to back up your photos. Read Review
If you’re a small business owner or an IT professional who manages computers at work, then your computer probably has limited space for storing files and other data. This is where network-attached storage (NAS) comes in handy. It stores data on a hard drive connected to your computer via a network such as your home Wi-Fi connection. A NAS acts as a hard drive that you can access from multiple computers with ease. It allows you to connect multiple computers (or devices such as a router) via a cable or wireless connection for easy file sharing.
Unlike external storage devices, which are limited by the number of slots they have and their ability to connect to various devices, internal storage devices are easy to set up and offer easy access to data from any computer connected to your home network. They’re also compatible with a wide range of operating systems such as Mac OS X, Windows 10/8/7/Vista, Linux and Chrome OS. If you’re looking for the best network attached storage (NAS), read on for our top picks.
After nearly 15 hours of research, We think the best network attached storage is Asustor AS5304T NAS Network Attached Storage. It offers the perfect storage solution for file and document storage, backup, and disaster recovery. With its Intel Celeron Quad-Core 2.5 GHz processor and its ability to manage up to 4GB of RAM, this NAS is capable of superior performance. Or you can check the BUFFALO TeraStation 3420DN NAS Network Attached Storage as the other great option, even if the first option didn't meet all of your requirements.
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Our Top Picks
Weight: 7.500 lbs
UPC: 887372001237
MADE IN JAPAN - Quality made data storage
RELIABLE STORAGE W/ EFFORTLESS SETUP: RAID 1 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection to save you time and effort.
PROFESSIONAL GRADE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.
PURPOSE-BUILT FOR DATA PROTECTION: Features 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe.
CLOUD INTEGRATION: Sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.
DATA RECOVERY SERVICE – Qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award winning support when registered
PEACE OF MIND INCLUDED: 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7, award-winning US-based support. (Additional warranty options available.)
16 TB CAPACITY – 2 pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included. Ships in RAID 1 for 8 TB usable capacity; can change to RAID 0 for full 16 TB; 2 empty bays for future expansion.
FAST DATA TRANSFERS - Native 2.5GbE port for high speeds with no cable upgrade needed
REMOTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE - Save time and resources by managing multiple NAS from a single console.
Quick, easy setup and a robust Device Manager with My Cloud OS 3
Intel Pentium N3710 Quad-Core 1.6GHz Processor with 4GB DDR3L Memory
Built-in video transcoding for HD streaming through Plex
Centralized storage to organize media and improve your workflow
Comprehensive security through password protection and AES 256 bit volume encryption
2 x M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen2 SSD ports for fast cache. Bringing Double Performance
Dual 10 and 2.5 Gigabit ports. Take advantage of up to 20 gbps of speed with both 10-Gigabit ports or up to 5 gbps on both 2.5-Gigabit ports.
Intel Atom Quad core C3538 2.1 GHz CPU with 8GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 64GB) for power user and business
3 year manufacturer warranty
Compatible with 2.5" or 3.5" SATA SSD/HDD drives up to 180TB (18TB x 10). Expand as much storage as needed with ease
Built-in video transcoding for HD streaming through Plex
Comprehensive security through password protection and AES 256 bit volume encryption
Quick, easy setup and a robust Device Manager with My Cloud OS 3
Centralized storage to organize media and improve your workflow
Intel Pentium N3710 Quad-Core 1.6GHz Processor with 4GB DDR3L Memory
REMOTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE - Save time and resources by managing multiple NAS from a single console.
CLOUD INTEGRATION: Sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.
4 TB CAPACITY – 2 pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included. Ships in RAID 1 for 2 TB usable capacity; can change to RAID 0 for full 4 TB.
PURPOSE-BUILT FOR DATA PROTECTION: Features 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe.
FAST DATA TRANSFERS - Native 2.5GbE port for high speeds with no cable upgrade needed
MADE IN JAPAN - Quality made data storage
PROFESSIONAL GRADE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.
RELIABLE STORAGE W/ EFFORTLESS SETUP: RAID 1 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection to save you time and effort.
DATA RECOVERY SERVICE – Qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award winning support when registered
PEACE OF MIND INCLUDED: 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7, award-winning US-based support. (Additional warranty options available.)
High-performance 1.3 GHz dual-core Processor for lag-free streaming
Centralized network storage and access from anywhere
1GB of DDR3 Memory to multitask with ease
Simplified file and folder sharing
Automatic file synching across all your computers
3 year warranty. Asustor will repair or replace any unit that is hardware damaged during the 3-year period so you can feel worry free when using any Asustor product
Supports Plex media servers, dozens of backup solutions, cross platform multi-user access, remote access and mobile app. Over 200 unique apps via built-in App Central.
Compatible with 2.5" or 3.5" SATA SSD/HDD drives up to 36TB (18TB x 2). Expand as much storage as needed with ease
Realtek RTD 1296 Quad Core 1.4 GHz CPU with 2GB DDR4 RAM. Affordable and high performance NAS for home and SOHO users
1 x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, doubles the performance of Gigabit class devices. Features Transcode 10-bit 4K H.265 media with hardware decoding enables unbelievably smooth video playback.
Advanced Btrfs file system featured in the F5-221 5 bay NAS offers 71,680 system-wide snapshots and 1,024 snapshots per shared folder.
POWERFUL HARDWARE: the F5-221 NAS storage is equipped with Apollo J3355 2.0GHz dual-core CPU, and 2GB of RAM (expandable up to 4GB). Dual 1GbE LAN ports with each reaching at 119MB/s read and 118MB/s write (network failover / Link Aggregation supported).
Features an aluminum-alloy shell and intelligent temperature control ultra-quiet fan, good in heat dissipation. The F5-221 NAS enclosure is compatible with 3.5" and 2.5" SATA HDD, 2.5" SATA SSD. For better and stable performance, please use dedicated NAS hard drives.
The F5-221 NAS server adopts AES hardware encryption engine to encrypt shared folders and network data transmission to keep data from unauthorized access.
An ideal Plex server / media server: real-time hardware transcoding of up to two concurrent 4K video streaming.
Intel Celeron dual core 2.7GHz CPU with 2GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 8GB) for power user and enthusiast
3 year manufacturer warranty
2 x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports. Enable up to 150% faster performance and up to 5 Gbps in Link Aggregation mode
Compatible with 2.5" or 3.5" SATA SSD/HDD drives up to 36TB (18TB x 2). Expand as much storage as needed with ease
Features HDMI 2.0a with 10bit 4K hardware decoding, HEVC decoding and VP9 10bit Profile2 decoding for overwhelming 4K HDR Experience
What to Look For in a best network attached storage?
It may take a long longer to make the best shopping decision. As a result, we are accessible to assist you with your best network attached storage issue at any time of day or night!
There are some highlighted features of best network attached storage you should be aware of before make decision:
Form Factor
Capacity
If your needs are more modest then a two-bay unit is also handy and won't break the bank.
RAID
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.
Apps
Ease Of Use
Transcoding
Ports And Connections
RELATED: Looking to buy correct most reliable nas hard drive? We cover all use cases. Compare quality, prices, and customer reviews to find the best one for you.
FAQs
What is Network Attached Storage (NAS)?
Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a type of dedicated file storage device that provides local-area network (LAN) nodes with file-based shared storage through a standard Ethernet connection. NAS devices typically contain one or more hard drives and are connected to the network either directly or through a router.
What are the benefits of using network attached storage?
The primary benefit of using network attached storage is that it allows multiple users to access the same storage device, making it easier to share, store, and access data. Additionally, NAS allows for faster data transfers, better data security, and more reliable backups.
What types of data can be stored on network attached storage?
Network attached storage can be used to store any type of data, including documents, images, videos, music, and other files.
How do I set up a NAS device?
Setting up a NAS device typically involves connecting the device to your router, configuring the device’s settings via its web-based management interface, and then configuring the device’s users and permissions. Depending on the model, some NAS devices may also require additional setup steps, such as formatting the device’s hard drives.
How secure is network attached storage?
Network attached storage is generally very secure, as it can be configured with encryption and password protection. Additionally, data stored on a NAS is usually backed up regularly, which helps to ensure that your data won’t be lost in the event of a hardware or software failure.
We will keep the list of best network attached storage up-to-date once there are new technology and information available. Please check our website frequently to see the most up-to-date information by our editor.
Do you have any questions or comments regarding best network attached storage that you'd like to share with us? We will try to attain even greater comedy as a result of your efforts.
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