Buying Guide
The Best NAS Storage Devices for Home Office: Picks and Trade-offs
We looked at 8 NAS storage devices for home office side by side, with the trade-offs that separate them and who each one suits.
By Jamie Cole, Lead Product Researcher
11 min read8 products evaluated
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A NAS for a home office is a small, always-on computer that centralizes file backup, shared storage, and often a media server onto your own local network, but nearly every review online only shows the sticker price of the empty enclosure. Every 2-bay pick below is diskless, meaning the enclosure price you see does not include the NAS-grade hard drives you still need to buy, and that gap can turn a $200 NAS into a $400+ real purchase once two drives are added.
99 Intel-based unit with dedicated NVMe cache slots.
Quick Picks
Our 8 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Value 2-Bay
Synology DS225+
Home office buyers who want real 4K transcoding power without paying for a 4-bay unit
Our take Check price for Synology DS225+ (opens in a new tab)
Best-Rated Brand Simplicity
Synology DS223
Buyers who want a simple, reliable Synology backup hub without paying for transcoding
Our take Check price for Synology DS223 (opens in a new tab)
Best for Content Creators
UGREEN NAS DXP2800
Content creators who want a dedicated 2-bay NAS outside the Synology ecosystem
Our take Check price for UGREEN NAS DXP2800 (opens in a new tab)
Cheapest Entry Point
UGREEN NAS DH2300
First-time NAS buyers who want the lowest possible entry price
Our take Check price for UGREEN NAS DH2300 (opens in a new tab)
Best for Gaming/Streaming NVMe Cache
Asustor AS5402T
Gamers and streamers who want NVMe caching and 2.5GbE headroom
Our take Check price for Asustor AS5402T (opens in a new tab)
Best Budget Multimedia
Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen2 AS3302T v2
Buyers who want a modest, low-cost media server without paying for NVMe cache
Our take Check price for Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen2 AS3302T v2 (opens in a new tab)
Only Drives-Included Option
BUFFALO LinkStation 720 4TB
Buyers who want one all-in price with no separate drive shopping
Our take Check price for BUFFALO LinkStation 720 4TB (opens in a new tab)
Best ARM Budget Pick
QNAP TS-233-US
Budget buyers who only need file storage and backup, not media transcoding
Our take Check price for QNAP TS-233-US (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Value 2-Bay1 of 8
Synology DS225+ on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Synology DS225+ pairs an Intel CPU with hardware transcoding support, meaning it can decode and resize 4K video on the fly for smooth streaming to a phone or smart TV instead of stuttering through it in software.
Best for
- Home office buyers who want real 4K transcoding power without paying for a 4-bay unit
Why we like it
That processor tier matters more than bay count for a lot of home office buyers who plan to run a Plex-style media server alongside file storage. It runs Synology's DSM software ecosystem, which bundles Synology Drive for file sync, Synology Photos for a private photo library, and Surveillance Station for camera feeds. As a diskless 2-bay unit, budget separately for two NAS-grade drives before treating the price as the full cost of ownership. Full DSM software ecosystem included.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay diskless NAS
- Intel CPU with hardware transcoding
- DSM software: Synology Drive, Synology Photos, Surveillance Station
- Drives sold separately
Pros
- Intel CPU handles 4K transcoding smoothly, unlike ARM-based budget units
- Full DSM software ecosystem included
- Compact 2-bay footprint for a home office desk or shelf
- Strong balance of price and real transcoding power
Cons
- Diskless, drives are a separate $80-200+ per bay expense
- First-time DSM setup realistically takes 2-4 hours, not plug-and-play
- 2-bay ceiling limits total capacity versus 4-bay units
Best-Rated Brand Simplicity2 of 8
Synology DS223 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Synology DS223 is positioned as a straightforward home or office backup hub, a place to centralize files and keep an eye on shared storage without the added cost of the transcoding-capable DS225+.
Best for
- Buyers who want a simple, reliable Synology backup hub without paying for transcoding
Why we like it
It is the cheapest entry point into Synology's DSM software ecosystem in this guide, which matters if you value the brand's polished, well-documented interface over raw CPU headroom. As a 2-bay diskless unit, it ships without drives, so plan for two NAS-rated drives on top of the enclosure price. It suits buyers who mainly want reliable file backup and shared access rather than a media server.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay diskless NAS
- DSM software ecosystem
- Positioned as a home/office backup hub
- Drives sold separately
Pros
- Cheapest way into Synology's DSM software in this guide
- Straightforward setup for basic file backup and sharing
- Compact 2-bay design
- Well-documented, beginner-friendly DSM interface
Cons
- Lacks the DS225+'s Intel hardware transcoding
- Diskless, drives add $80-200+ per bay to the real cost
- Not the right pick if you plan to run a heavy media server
Best for Content Creators3 of 8
UGREEN NAS DXP2800 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The UGREEN NAS DXP2800 is a 2-bay diskless unit aimed at content creators and storage enthusiasts, running UGREEN's own NASync operating system rather than DSM.
Best for
- Content creators who want a dedicated 2-bay NAS outside the Synology ecosystem
Why we like it
It gives buyers who are comfortable stepping outside the Synology ecosystem a dedicated content-creation angle at roughly the same price as the DS225+.
Because it is diskless, remember to budget for two NAS-grade drives separately, and set aside a real afternoon (2-4 hours is typical) for initial drive install, OS setup, and RAID configuration rather than expecting a plug-and-play experience like a USB external drive.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay diskless NAS
- UGREEN NASync OS
- Positioned for content creators and enthusiasts
- Drives sold separately
Pros
- Purpose-built content-creator angle in UGREEN's own OS
- Competitive 2-bay footprint
- Alternative to the Synology/QNAP software ecosystems
- Reasonable price for its positioning
Cons
- NASync has a smaller app ecosystem than DSM
- Diskless, drives are a separate cost
- Initial setup and RAID configuration take real time, not instant
Cheapest Entry Point4 of 8
UGREEN NAS DH2300 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The UGREEN NAS DH2300 is the cheapest pick in this entire guide, a 2-bay desktop NAS that supports up to 64TB of total capacity once you add drives.
Best for
- First-time NAS buyers who want the lowest possible entry price
Why we like it
It is the best beginner-friendly entry point here for someone who has never set up a NAS before and wants the lowest possible buy-in on the enclosure itself.
Being diskless and entry-level, expect to add NAS-rated drives separately, and plan on a genuine 2-4 hour setup window for drive installation, OS configuration, and RAID setup, this is a real computer to configure, not a device that just works the moment it's plugged in.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay desktop NAS, diskless
- Supports up to 64TB total capacity
- Cheapest enclosure price in this guide
- Drives sold separately
Pros
- Lowest enclosure price in this guide by a wide margin
- Supports up to 64TB total once drives are added
- Good, low-risk starting point for a first NAS
- Compact 2-bay desktop form factor
Cons
- Lower price reflects a lighter CPU tier than the Synology/Asustor picks
- Diskless, real total cost is higher once drives are added
- Best suited to basic file storage rather than heavy transcoding
Best for Gaming/Streaming NVMe Cache5 of 8
Asustor AS5402T on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
0GHz CPU and 4GB of DDR4 RAM.
Best for
- Gamers and streamers who want NVMe caching and 2.5GbE headroom
Why we like it
5GbE network ports, positioning it for gaming cloud storage and live-stream workflows where fast, low-latency access matters. 5GbE switch, otherwise the faster port sits underused. As a diskless unit, budget for NAS-rated drives separately on top of the enclosure price. Intel quad-core CPU handles transcoding and heavier workloads well.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay diskless NAS
- Intel quad-core 2.0GHz CPU, 4GB DDR4 RAM
- 4x M.2 NVMe SSD cache slots
- 2x 2.5GbE ports
- Drives sold separately
Pros
- Only pick in this guide with dedicated NVMe cache slots
- Intel quad-core CPU handles transcoding and heavier workloads well
- Dual 2.5GbE ports for faster local network throughput
- Strong fit for gaming and live-streaming storage
Cons
- Most expensive pick in this guide
- 2.5GbE speed needs a matching switch and NIC to actually benefit
- Diskless, plus NVMe cache drives add further cost if used
Best Budget Multimedia6 of 8
Asustor Drivestor 2 Pro Gen2 AS3302T v2 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
5GbE port, positioned as a small home media server.
Best for
- Buyers who want a modest, low-cost media server without paying for NVMe cache
Why we like it
It sits below the AS5402T in both CPU and RAM tier, which is the right tradeoff if you mainly want reliable file storage and light media playback rather than heavy transcoding or multiple simultaneous apps.
Because RAM is not as generous here as on higher-tier units, running several apps at once (file sync plus a media server plus backup) is more likely to bottleneck. As with every pick in this guide, it ships diskless, so add NAS-rated drives to your budget.
5GbE port for faster local transfers on a matching network.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay diskless NAS
- 1.7GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB DDR4 RAM
- 1x 2.5GbE port
- Positioned as a small home media server
- Drives sold separately
Pros
- Solid budget option for basic media serving
- 2.5GbE port for faster local transfers on a matching network
- Lower price than the flagship Asustor NVMe pick
- Reasonable CPU tier for light multimedia use
Cons
- 2GB RAM limits how many apps can run smoothly at once
- Not built for heavy 4K transcoding workloads
- Diskless, drives are a separate cost
Only Drives-Included Option7 of 8
BUFFALO LinkStation 720 4TB on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The BUFFALO LinkStation 720 is the only pick in this entire guide that ships with hard drives already included, 4TB total, which removes the separate drive purchase and the true-cost surprise that comes with every diskless unit above.
Best for
- Buyers who want one all-in price with no separate drive shopping
Why we like it
It is positioned for home office private cloud storage, giving buyers a single, known price rather than an enclosure cost plus a drive-shopping trip.
That convenience trades off against flexibility, since you can't choose your own drive brand or capacity tier the way you can with a diskless unit, and 4TB is a fixed starting capacity rather than a range you configure yourself.
Removes the true-cost surprise of diskless NAS units.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay NAS, ships with 4TB of drives included
- Positioned for home office private cloud storage
- Only pick in this guide with drives pre-installed
Pros
- Only pick in this guide with no separate drive purchase needed
- Removes the true-cost surprise of diskless NAS units
- Straightforward known price for a complete working setup
- Good fit for buyers who don't want to shop for drives separately
Cons
- No choice over drive brand or capacity tier
- 4TB total is a fixed ceiling versus configurable diskless options
- Setup still requires real DSM/OS configuration time
Best ARM Budget Pick8 of 8
QNAP TS-233-US on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The QNAP TS-233-US runs an ARM Cortex-A55 quad-core processor with 2GB of DDR4 RAM, positioning it as an affordable desktop NAS for basic file storage.
Best for
- Budget buyers who only need file storage and backup, not media transcoding
Why we like it
ARM-based budget NAS units like this one handle everyday file storage and backup fine, but they will stutter or fail outright at 4K video transcoding tasks like running Plex, so this is a pick for storage first, media server second.
As a diskless 2-bay unit, add NAS-rated drives separately. It's a reasonable budget option if your main use case is centralized backup rather than streaming transcoded video to multiple devices.
Key dimensions & specs
- 2-bay diskless NAS
- ARM Cortex-A55 quad-core processor, 2GB DDR4 RAM
- Positioned as an affordable desktop NAS
- Drives sold separately
Pros
- Lower price than most Intel-based picks in this guide
- Fine for straightforward file storage and backup
- Compact 2-bay desktop design
- Simple setup for basic use cases
Cons
- ARM CPU will stutter or fail at 4K transcoding, unlike the Intel-based picks
- 2GB RAM limits how many apps can run simultaneously
- Diskless, drives are a separate cost
How We Chose These NAS Storage Devices for Home Office
Each pick was assessed across 5 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- CPU tier and transcoding capability
- Weighed ARM versus Intel/AMD processors specifically on whether they can handle hardware 4K video transcoding, since this is the single biggest performance gap between budget and higher-tier picks in this guide.
- Compared soldered, fixed RAM against upgradeable RAM slots, since running multiple apps at once (file sync, media server, backup) simultaneously depends heavily on available memory.
- Real total cost including drives
- Looked past the diskless enclosure price to the real cost of adding NAS-rated drives, since nearly every pick here requires a separate its price-200+ per bay drive purchase.
- Network port speed versus real-world usefulness
- 5GbE ports against the fact that most home routers cap out at 1GbE, so faster ports only help buyers who also upgrade their network hardware.
- Setup complexity for first-time buyers
- Assessed how much genuine configuration time (drive install, OS setup, RAID configuration, remote access) each pick realistically requires, since none of these are plug-and-play like a USB external drive.
What to Look for in an NAS Storage Device for Home Office
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Remember every listed NAS here is diskless, budget drives separately
The price shown for a NAS enclosure covers the hardware chassis, CPU, and RAM only, not the actual storage drives, NAS-grade drives built for 24/7 operation like Seagate IronWolf or WD Red still need to be budgeted on top, often adding $80 to $200 or more per bay depending on capacity and drive type.
This matters because comparing NAS units purely by enclosure price without factoring in drive cost gives a misleading picture of the real total investment, a cheaper enclosure with more bays to fill can end up costing more overall than a pricier enclosure with fewer bays.
Check whether a listing is diskless or ships with drives included, and add realistic per-bay drive costs to the enclosure price before comparing total cost across options.
Weigh CPU class and RAM over bay count for real day-to-day performance
Bay count determines maximum storage capacity, but CPU architecture (Intel, AMD, or ARM) and RAM amount determine how well the NAS actually handles real workloads, running apps, transcoding media on the fly, or serving multiple simultaneous users, and a higher bay count with a weak CPU can bottleneck performance regardless of how much raw storage it holds.
This matters more the more the NAS will do beyond simple file storage, like Plex transcoding or running multiple docker containers, less if it's purely a basic backup target.
Check the specific CPU model and RAM amount (and whether RAM is upgradeable) rather than choosing primarily by bay count.
Understand RAID as a rebuild-time safety net, not a substitute for real backup
RAID configurations protect against a single drive failure by letting the array rebuild from redundant data, but RAID is not a backup, it does nothing to protect against accidental deletion, ransomware, theft, fire, or a controller failure that affects the whole array at once.
This distinction matters because treating RAID redundancy as sufficient backup protection is a common and risky misunderstanding, a real backup strategy needs a copy of critical data stored somewhere physically separate from the NAS itself.
Check what RAID level a given NAS supports, and separately plan an actual backup strategy, ideally following a 3-2-1 approach, rather than relying on RAID redundancy alone.
Match drive type (HDD vs SSD/NVMe) to your actual access pattern
Traditional hard drives offer the lowest cost per terabyte for bulk storage like media libraries or backups, while SSD or NVMe-based NAS storage costs significantly more per terabyte but delivers much faster random access speeds, useful for frequently-accessed files, active project work, or serving as a fast cache tier.
This matters directly based on how you'll actually use the storage, a media library accessed sequentially benefits little from SSD speed, while an active working file share benefits considerably.
Check whether the NAS supports the drive type you need, and weigh the real cost-per-terabyte difference against how much you'll actually benefit from faster random access.
Consider noise level if the NAS will run continuously in a shared living or office space
A NAS that runs 24/7 generates continuous fan and drive noise, and that noise profile varies meaningfully between models, some use larger, slower-spinning fans that stay quiet, while others rely on smaller, faster fans that produce a persistent whine noticeable in a quiet room.
This matters a great deal if the NAS will sit in a bedroom, living room, or shared home office rather than a dedicated closet or basement out of earshot.
Check reviews specifically for real-world noise level mentions during continuous operation, not just idle noise, since drive activity and fan speed both increase under load.
How to Choose an NAS Storage Device for Home Office
- The lower-priced option in this comparison, worth checking its CPU and RAM against your actual workload.
- The higher-priced option, worth it if it offers real bay count or performance headroom above the cheaper pick.
Default to UGREEN NAS DH2300 unless your storage needs call for the pricier pick.
| SSD/NVMe for fast random access | |
|---|---|
| HDD for bulk storage is enough |
For Media Streaming or Plex Specifically
- A CPU capable of hardware transcoding and enough RAM to handle multiple simultaneous streams, not just total bay count.
- You need real multi-user performance, media transcoding, or business-critical reliability, where Asustor AS5402T's CPU and RAM give real headroom over the cheaper picks.
- You just need simple backup storage for one or two users, where UGREEN NAS DH2300 covers the same job at a lower price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to buy hard drives separately for these NAS units?
Yes, for every pick in this guide except the BUFFALO LinkStation 720, which ships with 4TB of drives already installed. The other 7 picks are diskless, and NAS-grade drives like Seagate IronWolf or WD Red typically add $80-200 per bay, so plan for that cost on top of the enclosure price.
How long does it actually take to set up a home NAS?
Realistically 2-4 hours minimum for a first-time setup, covering drive installation, DSM or OS configuration, RAID setup, and remote access configuration. This is a real computer you're configuring, not a plug-and-play USB external drive, so budget a real block of time rather than expecting it to work the moment it's connected.
Is RAID the same as a backup?
RAID only protects against a single drive failing, it does nothing against accidental deletion, ransomware, or the NAS itself being lost, stolen, or damaged. The 3-2-1 backup rule, 3 copies of your data on 2 different media types with 1 copy offsite, is the actual safety net, and your NAS should be one piece of that plan.
Which of these NAS units can handle 4K video transcoding for Plex?
The Intel-based picks, the Synology DS225+, UGREEN NAS DXP2800, and Asustor AS5402T, handle hardware 4K transcoding smoothly. The ARM-based QNAP TS-233-US and other budget-tier units handle basic file storage fine but will stutter or fail at 4K transcoding, so pick your CPU tier based on whether streaming is a priority.
5GbE NAS actually give me faster speeds at home?
Only if your network supports it. Without that upgrade, the faster port goes unused.
Is a NAS worth it for a small home office?
It depends on your data volume and number of users. If you only need backup for under 2TB of data, a cheap monthly cloud subscription is usually more cost-effective than a $300-700 NAS. A NAS starts to make more sense once you have multiple users, more than about 5TB of data, or want local-network speed and privacy rather than relying entirely on a cloud provider.
Bottom Line
Best overall: Synology DS225+ — best value 2-bay pick in this roundup. See the full verdicts above for every pick, with pros, cons and who each one suits.
Browse all nas storage devices for home office on Amazon — Prime-eligible options with current pricing.