Best NAS of 2021

We choose the best NAS appliances of 2021 for SMBs, mid-range companies and enterprises

NAS (network attached storage) appliances are hugely popular for businesses of all sizes for good reason as they offer many compelling advantages over cloud storage. A NAS appliance may represent a higher initial spend, but once purchased and populated, ongoing costs over a number of years will be negligible when compared to the monthly subscription fees charged by cloud providers.

Hard disk sizes have grown hugely in recent years allowing NAS appliances to offer enormous storage capacities and they can be easily upgraded to keep in step with demand. They’re the perfect choice for businesses requiring fast access to data as they reside on your LAN and come as standard with Gigabit, multi-Gigabit and even 10-Gigabit (10GbE) ports.

The latest NAS appliances are more than just high-capacity storage vaults as their operating systems are designed to provide a vast range of free applications including data backup, private clouds, virtualization, surveillance, multimedia and much more. And, of course, they will always be there for you even in the event of a cloud provider or internet outage.

The biggest issue facing businesses is which one to choose as there is an enormous range of desktop and rackmount models on the market today with wildly differing capacities, hardware specifications and features. Simply.Reviews can help you choose the right one as we regularly put a huge range of NAS appliances through their paces in the lab. We’ll sort the wheat from the chaff for you and bring you our pick of the best NAS appliances for 2020 and beyond.

Entry-Level

Mid-Range

High-end

Entry-level NAS Appliances

Qnap TS-453D

A compact and powerful desktop appliance with a sharp focus on multimedia and room for 10GbE upgrades

Price: Diskless/4GB, $499

9.1Expert Score

Excellent value

Qnap’s TS-453D may be deceptively small but this little 4-bay desktop NAS appliance is packed with business-class features. In keeping with Qnap’s multi-Gigabit promotion, it sports dual 2.5GbE ports and even has a spare PCI-Express slot so you could upgrade it to 5GbE or 10GbE speeds. Powered by a 2GHz quad-core Celeron J4125 CPU, it supports up to 8GB of fast DDR4 memory and is multimedia-ready as its embedded Intel HD Graphics 600 GPU pipes 60Hz 4K video through to its HDMI 2.0 port. It’s a very affordable choice for SMBs, performance over 2.5GbE and 10GbE connections is surprisingly good and Qnap’s QTS software delivers a wealth of business-class features and multimedia apps.

Pros

Dual 2.5GbE network ports
PCI-E expansion slot
Good multi-Gigabit performance
Feature-rich QTS software

Cons

Expansion slot restricted to Qnap adapters

Synology DiskStation DS1520+

Five bays of storage goodness partnered by quad Gigabit ports and dual NVMe SSD slots

Price: Diskless/8GB, $699.55

8.5Expert Score

Good performance

The DiskStation DS1520+ is a timely upgrade to the older DS1019+ and sports a much faster 2GHz quad-core Celeron J4125 CPU which incorporates an Intel UHD 600 Graphics chip for smooth 4K video streaming. Memory gets a boost to 8GB of fast DDR4 and it introduces a pair of M.2 NVMe SSD slots that can be used as a high-performance cache. It doesn’t have an expansion slot but is blessed with quad Gigabit ports and we found it capable of delivering good NAS and IP SAN performance with the NVMe SSDs making significant improvements to random write operations. For a 5-bay appliance it’s good value, and Synology’s DSM software offers an impressive range of features including sophisticated data protection, collaboration and surveillance apps.

Pros

Good NAS and IP SAN speeds
Feature packed DSM software
High storage expansion potential
Quad Gigabit ports
Very quiet

Cons

No multi-Gigabit ports or expansion slot
NVMe SSDs only support caching

Asus LockerStor 8 AS6508T

A huge storage capacity for the price that includes dual 2.5GbE and 10GbE ports

Price: Diskless/8GB, $999

7.9Expert Score

Good value

Asustor has always had a keen eye on value and its LockerStor 8 AS6508T is no exception as it delivers a mighty storage package at an affordable price. It was one of the first vendors to promote multi-Gigabit connections but goes even further as this big 8-bay desktop appliance partners its dual 2.5GbE ports with two embedded 10GBase-T copper ports. Asustor’s ADM software isn’t as well-featured as Qnap’s QTS or Synology’s DSM but it does offer plenty of valuable data protection apps along with fully automated snapshot and cloud storage provider sync services. Performance over 10GbE is under-par but it’ll be enough for SMBs with moderate workloads and can always be improved as the AS6508T even has a pair of internal M.2 slots that support SATA and NVMe SSDs.

Pros

Good value
Dual 10GbE and 2.5GbE ports
Two M.2 SATA/NVMe SSD slots
Very quiet
Good data backup and snapshot services

Cons

Low 10GbE write speeds

Qnap TS-451DeU

An ultra-compact and surprisingly well-endowed rack NAS that’s ideal for space-poor SMBs

Price: Diskless/2GB, $599

8.5Expert Score

Good value

Measuring only 11.6 inches deep, Qnap’s TS-451DeU may be one of the shortest rack NAS appliances on the market but still manages to cram in an impressive hardware package. With an Intel dual-core 2GHz Celeron J4025 CPU in the driving seat and a pair of 2.5GbE ports at the back, it delivers good NAS and IP SAN performance that can be accelerated further with two internal M.2 SATA SSDs. It lacks an expansion slot and heavy hitters will want to upgrade the basic 2GB of memory but this slim-line NAS scores well for value and Qnap’s QTS software is crammed with great features. Add in its solid build quality plus very low noise levels and you have the perfect storage partner for space-constrained offices.

Pros

Short depth chassis
Intel CPU
Dual 2.5GbE ports
Good performance
Very quiet
Two internal M.2 SATA SSD slots

Cons

No expansion slot
Basic 2GB of memory included

Mid-range NAS appliances

QSAN XCubeNAS XN7008R

A powerful high capacity mid-range NAS appliance with a secret stash of SSD bays

Price: Diskless/8GB, $2,599

8.3Expert Score

Good value

Qsan’s XCubeNAS XN7008R is a mid-range NAS appliance with a secret. A glance at the front shows 8 hot-swap SATA drive bays but peer round the back and you’ll find six more SFF bays with two supporting NVMe U.2 SSDs. Its ZFS-based QSM software is a standard setter as it has always offered enterprise-class data protection features including unlimited snapshots, deduplication, intelligent real-time data tiering and three different WORM (write once read many) policies for protecting NAS shares. Big on capacity and 10GbE performance, the XCubeNAS XN7008R is a good choice for SMBs that want top-notch data integrity features at an affordable price.

Pros

Good value
Fine 10GbE performance
Extensive ZFS data protection features
Versatile mix of LFF and SFF drive bays
WORM support
Dual hot-plug PSUs

Cons

Minimal app choices

Synology DiskStation DS1621xs+

A powerful and expandable desktop NAS with great features and amazing performance

Price: Diskless/8GB, $1,645

9Expert Score

Superb performance

Everything about the DS1621xs+ exudes quality and it’s faster than the Atom-powered DS1618+ it’s replacing - a lot faster. Costing over $1,600, it is quite expensive for a 6-bay appliance, but this gets you a 2.2GHz quad-core Intel Xeon D-1527 CPU, support for up to 32GB of DDR4, a 10GBase-T port and dual M.2 NVMe SSD cache slots. Synology’s DSM software is packed with classy features including the best data backup apps making it a great choice for a wide range of businesses. Performance over 10GbE is impeccable, its spare PCI-E slot provides good expansion potential and the icing on the cake is the inclusive 5-year hardware warranty.

Pros

Superb performance
Embedded 10GbE port
Expansion slot
NVMe SSD support
Feature-rich DSM software
5-year warranty

Cons

Expensive for a 6-bay NAS
SSDs can only be used for caching

QNAP TVS-872XT

A versatile and powerful desktop NAS appliance with a port for every occasion

Price: Diskless/16GB, $1,899

8.9Expert Score

Excellent performance

The ideal choice for businesses that want a NAS with every possible connection option. Qnap’s TVS-872XT 8-bay desktop appliance presents dual Gigabit plus an embedded 10GBase-T port that supports all five NBase-T speeds and seals the deal with two 40Gbits/sec Thunderbolt 3 ports for those that want super-fast access for media editing. Powered by a 6-core 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-8400T CPU and up to 32GB of DDR4 memory, the TVS-872XT delivered excellent performance in our 5GbE, 10GbE and 16Gbps Fibre Channel lab tests. The appliance even has two internal M.2 NVMe SSD slots for caching duties and don’t forget the CPU provides an embedded Intel Graphics 630 GPU which delivers 60Hz 4K video to the appliance’s high-bandwidth HDMI 2.0 port.

Pros

Good value
Multi-Gigabit 10Gbase-T port
Dual Thunderbolt 3 ports
FC adapter support
Excellent performance
Feature-heavy QTS software

Cons

Maximum memory only 32GB

QNAP TS-1886XU-RP

A clever 18-bay hybrid HDD/SSD storage solution ideally suited to heavy workloads

Price: Diskless/8GB, $2,685

9.1Expert Score

Great performer

Mid-sized businesses with demanding workloads will approve of the TS-1886XU-RP and its hybrid storage design. This 2U rack NAS augments its 12 front bays with six rear SFF bays for SATA SSDs allowing it to provide integral caching services or function as a performance tier for Qnap’s Qtier 2 data migration feature. The price includes a dual-port 10GbE SFP+ card and our lab tests showed SSD caching can significantly improve sequential read and write operations. Upgrade potential is very good as even with the 10GbE card in residence, there are three free expansion slots and Qnap also includes a generous 5-year warranty.

Pros

Great performer
Smart hybrid storage design
Dual 10GbE SFP+ ports
Fibre Channel adapter support
Extensive data protection apps

Cons

Cooling fans a little noisy
Memory upgrade required for maximum cache size

High-end Storage Arrays

Western Digital UltraStar Data60

When big data comes calling, Western Digital’s supermassive JBOD is up to the storage challenge

Price: With 24 x 10TB SAS3 HDDs, $15,272

9Expert Score

Top value

The UltraStar Data60 JBOD (just a bunch of disks) array has what it takes to satisfy the voracious demands of enterprise big data applications. This mighty 60-bay 4U rack array supports SAS3 or SATA hard disks and its hybrid design allows you to deploy up to 24 SSDs to create a data acceleration tier. It employs WD’s innovative IsoVibe and ArcticFlow technologies to increase reliability and longevity with the SAS version including dual active/active I/O modules for high availability services. With the 240TB SAS3 model costing a shade over $15,000, the Data60 is exceptional value and WD’s 5-year warranty extends to the drives as well as the chassis.

Pros

Top value
Great performance
Huge storage capacity
Hybrid storage design
IsoVibe protection
Smart cooling features
5-year warranty on array and HDDs

Cons

Zone configuration could be simplified

Synology UC3200

A high-reliability IP SAN array with dual active/active controllers for seamless failover

Price: Diskless/dual controllers, $6,139

8.9Expert Score

Superb value

When failure is not an option, Synology’s UC3200 pure IP SAN array comes to the rescue. Much more affordable than blue chip solutions, this 2U 12-bay rack appliance is endowed with dual active/active controllers and our lab tests show it delivers totally transparent failover. We found random write speeds could be better but the UC3200 won’t be faulted for its excellent failover services and data protection services. Overall, the UC3200 is a fine choice for budget-conscious businesses that can’t afford any storage service downtime.

Pros

Superb value
Active/active architecture
Transparent failover
SAS3 HDD and SSD support
Good data protection features
5-year warranty

Cons

High cooling fan noise levels
Random write speeds could be better

QNAP TS-h1288X QuTS hero

A dream machine for content creators and video editors with a high capacity, a Xeon W CPU and Thunderbolt 3 upgrade options

Price: Diskless/16GB, $2,499

9.1Expert Score

Dream machine

This massive desktop appliance is as versatile as it gets with a big storage capacity, a mix of LFF and SFF drive bays, quad 2.5GbE plus dual 10GbE ports and a beefy 3.3GHz Xeon W-1250 power plant with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics P630 GPU. A pity its HDMI port is only the 1.4b variety, but the TS-h1288X offers a big expansion potential and sports a pair of internal M.2 NVMe SSD slots. There’s room to fit two of Qnap’s dual-port 40Gbits/sec Thunderbolt 3 adapters to keep video editors happy and the QuTS hero OS brings a lot of valuable data protection features into play. It supports nearly every app Qnap has to offer and our 25GbE tests show it’s a mean performer as well.

Pros

High storage capacity
Dual 10GbE and quad 2.5GbE ports
Xeon W CPU
Big memory capacity
Great performance
QuTS hero OS

Cons

Card length limits on outer expansion slots
HDMI 1.4b port

Synology SA3600

Synology’s flagship SA-series appliance is an ideal virtualization platform that delivers excellent 10GbE performance

Price: Diskless/$7,687

8.9Expert Score

Ideal Virtualization Platform

A powerful and very versatile NAS appliance that’ll keep demanding enterprises happy. It supports fast SAS3 HDD and SSD storage out of the box and has a monumental capacity expansion potential. Synology’s DSM software is rich in features and the appliance’s speedy 12-core 2.1GHz Xeon D-1567 CPU and support for up to 128GB of DDR4 memory makes it perfectly poised for virtualisation duties. You do pay a premium for all these features but we think the extra outlay is worthwhile as it offers clear speed advantages over the cheaper SA3400.

Pros

Great 10GbE performance
Faster than the SA3400
SAS3/SATA support
High memory capacity
Five-year warranty

Cons

Noisy fans
Two SAS expansion ports would be preferable

Qnap TS-h2490FU QuTS hero

A provocatively named all-Flash array that delivers top performance at a price that beats the blue chips soundly

Price: Diskless/128GB, $7,999

9.1Expert Score

Top value

QNAP’s first foray into all-Flash storage territory is a resounding success as its TS-h2490FU delivers a high-performance NVMe SSD solution at a price the blue chips simply won’t be able to compete with. This 2U rack array delivers a hardware specification that’s out of this world too, as it’s powered by a 16-core 3.0GHz AMD EPYC 7302P Gen2 CPU partnered by a generous 128GB of DDR4 memory which can be expanded enormously to 4TB. The price even includes quad 25GbE network ports and we found TS-h2490FU capable of delivering an impressive IP SAN performance. Furthermore, with QNAP’s latest QuTS hero OS at the helm, you have a rich set of enterprise-class data integrity and storage saving features.

Pros

Top value
24 U.2 NVMe SSD bays
AMD EPYC Gen2 CPU
Huge memory capacity
Quad 25GbE ports
Great IP SAN performance
Feature-rich QuTS hero OS

Cons

PSU fans can get noisy with heavy workloads

Best NAS of 2021

We choose the best NAS appliances of 2021 for SMBs, mid-range companies and enterprises

Entry-Level

Mid-Range

High-end

Entry-level NAS Appliances

Qnap TS-453D

Mid-range NAS appliances

High-end Storage Arrays

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