Top Storage Servers

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Top Storage Servers

How we researched this guide

We researched storage servers across maker specifications, NAS buying guides and retailer listings, checking bay counts, processors, memory, networking and operating systems for each pick. We compared 6 storage servers in total: 2 Synology models, 2 QNAP models, 1 TerraMaster model and 1 Western Digital model, and we reviewed the drive-compatibility change Synology made in 2025 because it affects what you can put in these boxes.

One thing to say plainly at the start: a “storage server” here means a NAS — network attached storage — a box of hard drives shared over a network. It is not a truck bed storage box, even though the keyword was filed under one. This guide covers the IT product honestly.

The 30-second answer

For most homes and small businesses, the pick is the Synology DiskStation DS923+ (ASIN B0BM7KDN6R): 4 bays, an AMD Ryzen R1600 processor, 4GB of ECC memory expandable to 32GB, two M.2 NVMe slots, and Synology’s DSM software, which is the easiest to run. If you need more bays and built-in 10GbE networking, buy the 9-bay QNAP TS-h973AX instead. If you want virtual machines and containers, buy the QNAP TS-464. Budget for NAS-rated hard drives separately — almost every NAS here is sold diskless, and the drives are usually the bigger cost.

What we could and could not verify

Verified: maker specifications for the Synology DS923+ (4 bays, Ryzen R1600, 4GB ECC DDR4, two M.2 NVMe slots, expansion to 9 drives) and an Amazon listing for the diskless DS923+ (ASIN B0BM7KDN6R). The QNAP, TerraMaster and Western Digital models below are verified to maker and buying-guide specifications, but no Amazon ASIN was verified for them in our research, so only the DS923+ carries a Check Price button.

Not verified: any truck-bed or automotive storage server — none exists, and this guide does not pretend otherwise. Prices are not stated in this guide, because NAS prices change often and most units are sold diskless; check the listing before you buy.

How to choose a storage server

A storage server is a box you buy once and live with for years, so the buying checks are about capacity, software and the network, not about the fastest headline figure.

Bays decide your capacity and your safety net

Each bay holds one hard drive, and the number of bays decides both how much you can store and how much redundancy you can have. Two bays allow a mirror of one drive; four bays allow a RAID 5 array that survives one drive failing; eight or nine bays allow larger arrays and room to grow. Buy more bays than you need today, because adding a bay later means buying a new box.

Diskless is the norm — budget for drives

Almost every NAS in this guide is sold diskless: the price is for the enclosure only, and you buy NAS-rated drives separately. That is usually a bigger line item than the enclosure. The exception in this guide is the WD My Cloud Pro PR2100, which is sold with its drives already installed. Always check whether a listing is diskless before you compare prices.

Software matters more than hardware

Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) is widely regarded as the most polished and beginner-friendly NAS software, with strong first-party apps for photos, file sync and backup. QNAP’s QTS is more powerful and flexible, with more virtualization and container support, but it has a steeper learning curve. Choose Synology if you want an appliance you rarely think about; choose QNAP if you want a platform you can build on.

Networking is the speed limit

Most current NAS boxes have 2.5GbE networking, and that is the sensible floor in 2026: gigabit networking will bottleneck a modern array. Built-in 10GbE costs more and needs a 10GbE switch to use, but it matters for video editing over the network. The DS923+ can add 10GbE with an add-in card; the TS-h973AX has it built in.

A NAS is not a backup

Both brands make this easy to forget: a NAS with RAID protects you against a drive failing, but it does not protect you against fire, theft, ransomware, or deleting the wrong folder. Keep an independent backup — a second copy somewhere else, ideally off site — whatever NAS you buy. Never expose a NAS directly to the internet.

Drive compatibility has changed

In April 2025 Synology announced that its 2025 Plus-series models would require Synology-branded or Synology-certified drives for full functionality. Synology largely reversed course with DSM 7.3 in October 2025, restoring full functionality for third-party 3.5-inch hard drives and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs — but M.2 NVMe slots on 2025 Plus models still require Synology’s own SSDs, and the 2025 Plus models dropped hardware video transcoding. Check the drive rules for the exact model you buy, not for the brand in general.

Top storage servers at a glance

Storage server Bays Networking Best for
Synology DS923+ 4 2.5GbE, 10GbE add-in Most homes and small business
Synology DS925+ 4 Dual 2.5GbE Small business, 2025 model
QNAP TS-464 4 Dual 2.5GbE Power users, virtualization
QNAP TS-h973AX 9 10GbE built in High capacity, media, virtualization
TerraMaster F5-422 5 Not stated here Small business, value
WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 2 Not stated here Plex, drives included

Synology DiskStation DS923+

Top pick — best all-round storage server

Why the Synology DS923+ is our pick

The DS923+ is the safe default for most homes and small offices in 2026: four bays, an AMD Ryzen R1600 dual-core processor, 4GB of ECC DDR4 memory expandable to 32GB, and two M.2 2280 NVMe slots for caching or an all-flash storage pool. It runs Synology’s DSM software, which is the easiest NAS software to live with, and it can expand to nine drives with an expansion unit and add 10GbE networking with a card. It is sold diskless, so you buy drives separately, and it carries a limited 3-year warranty.

Synology DS923+ key specs

  • Brand: Synology
  • Model: DiskStation DS923+
  • ASIN: B0BM7KDN6R (diskless listing)
  • Bays: 4, expandable to 9 drives with expansion unit
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen R1600 dual-core, 2.6GHz, up to 3.1GHz
  • Memory: 4GB ECC DDR4, expandable to 32GB
  • M.2 slots: 2 x 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 for caching or storage pools
  • Drives: 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch SATA, sold separately
  • Networking: 10GbE available with add-in card
  • Software: Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)
  • Warranty: limited 3-year
  • In the box: accessory pack, AC adapter, AC power cord, two RJ45 LAN cables

Synology DS923+: fits and best for

The DS923+ fits a home or small business that wants file sharing, photo backup, PC and phone backup, and a personal cloud, without hiring IT to run it. It is the pick for families and small teams, and the one to buy if you only want to buy a NAS once and forget about it.

Synology DS923+ pros and watch-outs

Pros

  • Best software in the category — DSM is easy to run
  • Four bays with expansion to nine drives
  • ECC memory, expandable to 32GB
  • Two M.2 NVMe slots for cache or flash pools
  • 10GbE available with an add-in card

Watch-outs

  • Sold diskless — drives are a separate, large cost
  • No HDMI port, so no direct video output
  • 10GbE needs an extra card, not built in
  • Check drive compatibility for the exact model before buying drives

Synology DS923+: what owners report

No owner-report source specific to this model was found in our research, so we do not paraphrase owner views here. Maker specifications and buying guides are the evidence for this section, and they are linked in Sources.

Synology DS923+: who should not buy

Do not buy the DS923+ if you need built-in 10GbE or nine bays on day one — the QNAP TS-h973AX below has both. Do not buy it if you need hardware video transcoding for Plex; check the current model’s transcoding support first, because the 2025 Plus models dropped it.

Check Price

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Synology DiskStation DS925+

Best 2025 Synology — small business

Why the Synology DS925+ matters

The DS925+ is Synology’s 2025 four-bay model, and it is the default NAS for most small businesses buying new in 2026: four drive bays, dual 2.5GbE networking, and M.2 NVMe slots for cache or storage pools. It runs the same DSM software as the DS923+, so the experience is the same, and it is the model to buy if you want the newest Synology hardware rather than the proven DS923+.

Synology DS925+ key specs

  • Brand: Synology
  • Model: DiskStation DS925+
  • Bays: 4
  • Networking: dual 2.5GbE
  • M.2 slots: NVMe slots for cache or storage pools
  • Software: Synology DSM
  • Sold: diskless — drives bought separately
  • Drive rule: third-party SATA drives restored by DSM 7.3; M.2 NVMe still Synology-only on 2025 Plus models
  • Video transcoding: not included on 2025 Plus models
  • Amazon ASIN: none verified for this model

Synology DS925+: fits and best for

The DS925+ fits a small business buying its first NAS in 2026, or replacing an older Synology. It is the same four-bay shape as the DS923+, with newer hardware and dual 2.5GbE networking as standard.

Synology DS925+ pros and watch-outs

Pros

  • Newest Synology four-bay hardware
  • Dual 2.5GbE networking as standard
  • Same polished DSM software
  • Four bays with room to grow

Watch-outs

  • M.2 NVMe slots still require Synology SSDs
  • No hardware video transcoding
  • Sold diskless — drives are extra
  • No verified Amazon ASIN — check the listing before you buy

Synology DS925+: who should not buy

Do not buy the DS925+ if you already own a DS923+ — the upgrade is small. Do not buy it for Plex transcoding; check the transcoding support first.

QNAP TS-464

Best for power users — virtualization

Why the QNAP TS-464 matters

The TS-464 is QNAP’s four-bay answer for technical teams: dual 2.5GbE networking, M.2 slots, PCIe expansion and an HDMI output, running QNAP’s QTS software. QTS lets you run virtual machines, containers and a wider range of applications directly on the NAS, which DSM does less readily. It is the pick for a home lab, a Plex server with heavy transcoding, or a small office that wants one box to do several jobs.

QNAP TS-464 key specs

  • Brand: QNAP
  • Model: TS-464
  • Bays: 4
  • Networking: dual 2.5GbE
  • Expansion: M.2 slots, PCIe slot, HDMI output
  • Software: QNAP QTS
  • Uses: file storage, virtual machines, containers, Plex
  • Drive compatibility: generally open to third-party drives
  • Sold: diskless — drives bought separately
  • Amazon ASIN: none verified for this model

QNAP TS-464: fits and best for

The TS-464 fits a power user, a home lab, or a technical team that wants to run containers and virtual machines on the NAS itself. It is also the pick for Plex with heavy transcoding, thanks to its Intel Quick Sync support.

QNAP TS-464 pros and watch-outs

Pros

  • More hardware for the money — PCIe, M.2, HDMI
  • Virtual machines and containers on the box
  • Strong Plex transcoding
  • Open to third-party drives

Watch-outs

  • QTS has a steeper learning curve than DSM
  • Internet-exposed QNAP devices have been targeted by ransomware — never expose a NAS directly to the internet
  • Sold diskless — drives are extra
  • No verified Amazon ASIN — check the listing before you buy

QNAP TS-464: who should not buy

Do not buy the TS-464 if you want the simplest possible NAS — the DS923+ is easier to run. Do not expose any NAS directly to the internet, whatever brand you buy.

QNAP TS-h973AX

Best high capacity — 9 bays, built-in 10GbE

Why the QNAP TS-h973AX matters

The TS-h973AX is the capacity pick: nine bays, built-in 10GbE networking, and QNAP’s QuTS hero operating system, which is ZFS-based and offers snapshot technology to protect data. It is designed for multimedia work, virtualization and creative professionals who need both capacity and speed. It costs more than the four-bay models, but it is the only pick here with nine bays and 10GbE built in rather than added on.

QNAP TS-h973AX key specs

  • Brand: QNAP
  • Model: TS-h973AX
  • Bays: 9
  • Networking: 10GbE built in
  • Software: QuTS hero (ZFS-based), with snapshots
  • Memory: ample RAM for virtualization under load
  • Best for: multimedia, virtualization, creative professionals
  • Sold: diskless — drives bought separately
  • Amazon ASIN: none verified for this model

QNAP TS-h973AX: fits and best for

The TS-h973AX fits a creative team, a media workflow, or a small business that needs nine bays and 10GbE today rather than as an upgrade. It is overkill for a family photo backup — buy the DS923+ for that.

QNAP TS-h973AX pros and watch-outs

Pros

  • Nine bays — room for large archives
  • 10GbE built in, no add-in card needed
  • ZFS snapshots protect data
  • Strong virtualization support

Watch-outs

  • Costs more than the four-bay models
  • Overkill for simple file and photo backup
  • Sold diskless — nine drives are a large extra cost
  • No verified Amazon ASIN — check the listing before you buy

QNAP TS-h973AX: who should not buy

Do not buy the TS-h973AX for a first NAS or a family backup — the DS923+ is cheaper and easier. Buy it when you know you need nine bays and 10GbE.

TerraMaster F5-422 and WD My Cloud Pro PR2100

Value and Plex options

Why these two matter

The TerraMaster F5-422 is the value pick for small business: a five-bay NAS designed for users who want a powerful yet affordable solution, with more bays than the four-bay models for a similar outlay. The WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 is the opposite shape: a two-bay NAS sold with its drives already installed, in a 28 TB configuration, and the pick if Plex is the whole point — it works as a Plex box out of the crate, with no drive shopping needed.

Key specs

  • TerraMaster F5-422: 5 bays, small-business use, affordable, sold diskless
  • WD My Cloud Pro PR2100: 2 bays, drives included (28 TB configuration), Plex-ready
  • Amazon ASIN: none verified for either model

Who should not buy

Do not buy the PR2100 if you need more than two bays — it cannot grow. Do not buy the F5-422 if you want Synology’s software polish; TerraMaster’s software is serviceable but not the reason to buy it.

Setting up a storage server

Set the NAS up on a wired network, not Wi-Fi, and give it a home with airflow and, ideally, a small UPS, since a NAS that loses power mid-write is a NAS you do not want to gamble on. Install NAS-rated drives, not desktop drives, and set up a RAID level that matches your bay count — a mirror on two bays, RAID 5 on four. Then set up the backup: automated PC backups with Synology Active Backup or QNAP’s HBS3, and an off-site copy for the files that matter. Finally, update the software and turn off any internet exposure you do not need.

Final verdict

Buy the Synology DS923+ for most homes and small businesses, the QNAP TS-464 for virtualization and home labs, the QNAP TS-h973AX for nine bays and built-in 10GbE, and the WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 if Plex is the whole point. Whatever you buy, budget for NAS-rated drives separately, and keep an independent backup — a NAS is not a backup.

FAQ

What is a storage server?

A storage server is a NAS — network attached storage — a box of hard drives shared over a network for file storage, backup, media streaming and more. It is an IT product, not a truck bed storage box.

What is the best storage server for home use?

For most homes, the Synology DiskStation DS923+: 4 bays, an AMD Ryzen R1600 processor, 4GB of ECC memory, two M.2 NVMe slots, and DSM software that is easy to run.

Are NAS drives included?

Almost never. Most NAS boxes are sold diskless, so you buy NAS-rated drives separately. The WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 is the exception here — it is sold with drives installed.

How many bays do I need?

Two bays allow a mirror; four bays allow RAID 5 and room to grow; eight or nine bays suit large archives. Buy more bays than you need today, because adding a bay later means buying a new box.

Synology or QNAP?

Synology wins for simple setup, backup software and low admin overhead. QNAP wins for hardware expandability, networking and raw performance per dollar. Beginners and families should default to Synology; lab builders and virtualizers should default to QNAP.

What is the Synology drive compatibility issue?

In April 2025 Synology said 2025 Plus models would need Synology drives for full functionality. DSM 7.3 in October 2025 restored third-party SATA drive support, but M.2 NVMe slots on 2025 Plus models still need Synology SSDs.

Is a NAS a backup?

No. RAID protects against a drive failing, but not against fire, theft, ransomware or deleting the wrong folder. Keep an independent backup, ideally off site.

Can I use a NAS for Plex?

Yes. The WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 is sold as a Plex box with drives included, and the QNAP TS-464 is a strong Plex choice with heavy transcoding support. Check transcoding support for the exact model before you buy.

Sources

First published November 5, 2026.

By Leo, Founder, WinchInsider

Leo researches vehicle gear and accessories from maker manuals, specifications and owner reports, and writes guides that say plainly when a product cannot be verified.

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