Best Network Storage Devices In 2022

The Synology DS120j is the ultimate product for NAS starters. With a maximum storage capacity of 16TB, 512MB memory, and easy-file access, it’s the perfect personal NAS solution. If you’re editing 4K video, the memory probably won’t be fast enough for you. It claims to achieve sequential throughput at over 112 MB/s reading and 106 MB/s writing, so if you’re working with large files, we’d recommend getting something a little faster. However, if you’re just looking for a secure way to manage normal files, this will work fine. It has an easy-to-use one-bay system, which means your data doesn’t have any redundancy but it’s still more secure than a standard hard drive or SSD.  You may also be interested in some of the best encrypted drives from our list, so check them out.

The TerraMaster F2-210 is a two-drive NAS that’s designed for home users that need a little bit more capacity than the Synology DS120j. The ARM v8 quad-core 1.4GHz CPU has 1GB RAM, making it around twice as fast as the DS120j. You get read/write speeds of more than 114MB/s, which makes it suitable for large file transfers. Plus, it has 4K video transcoding, allowing you to play any video file format on any connection in the intended resolution. For video editors and content creators, this is a huge plus. Each bay supports 16TB HDDs, so you have a maximum storage capacity of 32TB. Unfortunately, you have to buy the disks separately, which drives up the price (compatible with 3.5″ and 2.5″ SATA HDD, 2.5″ SATA SSD). 

The Asustor AS5304T provides all the storage you’ll ever need for a home setup. The design is inspired by gaming but it works just as well for any content-rich multimedia files. The four-drive setup offers maximum storage of 64TB, which you can make even bigger with an expansion unit. It’s compatible with 3.5″/2.5″ HDD/SSD, but they don’t come included with the unit. One of the most impressive things about the Asustor AS5304T is the number of apps. With over 200+ free unique apps that cover everything from server and cloud backup to music and video streaming, it’s one of the most versatile NAS units we’ve come across. The downside is that it’s kind of pricey but if you care about your data security, it’s worth the cost.

The ASUSTOR AS6302T is a two-drive NAS designed for personal and small-business use. Like all ASUSTOR products, it has amazing cross-compatibility and comes with a bunch of different apps. It has two 3.5-inch drive bays with a quick-release design that makes it easy to swap your drives out. The fact that it has more than one drive bay gives the data redundancy that you can’t get from an HDD or SSD. It has a maximum storage capacity of 20TB, which should be ample space for personal use. We were also impressed with the 1.6GHz Dual-Core processor. It’s not the fastest NAS on this list but it’s still pretty quick. 

The WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra Network has gained quite a reputation for its customer-friendly blend of a low-price and high-performance. If you’ve already got a couple of 3.5-inch disks, this could be the most affordable way to upgrade your storage to a network solution. We were super impressed by the stats on this unit. It has a 1.3GHz Dual-Core processor that provides impressive file transfer speeds. It comes with 1GB of DDR3 memory, allowing you to multitask with ease. Plus, with personalized backup and multiple RAID options, it’s easy to add extra layers of security to your data. 

This 1.3 GHz dual-core processor offers users both high performance and ultra-fast transfer speeds. The simple management system gives you 16TB of centralised storage for your entire network, so you can enjoy the peace of mind knowing that everything is stored in one safe place. With a My Cloud EX2, you’ll be able to automatically sync content across your devices, share files and folders and utilise multiple backup options so that you can create your very own personalised system with ease. Make sure you also check our guide to the best gaming routers.

Synology DiskStation DS218+ dual-core processor with AES-NI encryption acceleration and transcoding engine provides users with high-speed file transports and real-time 4K transcoding in a click of a button. The high-speed sable storage server featured a powerful dual-core CPU, making it the perfect option for home users or small businesses in search of a compact and reliable shared storage solution that promises protection for critical assets and file sharing across a number of different platforms. Our guide to the best external hard drives offers more great products like this one.

The Synology DS418 is your very own private cloud allowing you to easily maintain complete control over your data. Boosting a massive storage capacity, work productivity tools with enhanced collaboration features and robust backup solutions, this device is a solid option.  The sinology DiskStation allows users to access files over the internet minus any complicated network settings so you can have your files to hand anywhere, any time. If that’s not enough, you can also download a mobile app so you can enjoy your multimedia library even when you’re on the go. It’s a big tick from us! Be sure to also check out our list of the best USB flash drives for more great items like this.

Introducing the Netgear Ready NAS offering breakthrough performance and easy to use technology to make secure storage a breeze. The 1.4 GHz quad-core processor boasts a choice of powerful platform for a range of media servers including iTunes and Plex so you can enjoy HD media streaming to multiple devices at a time. What more, this device offers full 1080p real-time streaming and transcoding to a remote device. If that’s not enough, you get all these key features whilst enjoying a near-zero performance loss when running anti-virus so that you can utilise 5 levels of data protection around the clock. Our handy guide to the best microSD cards features more great products like this.

Buffalo’s TeraStation 1200 offers a compact, budget-friendly network storage solution that is perfectly suited to small businesses and home offices alike. With this device, you get access to the NovaBACKUP business essentials package including 10 free licenses for servers and time machine support. Make the most of real-time synchronous replication of your data from one NAS to another for easy and continuous data protection in virtually no time at all. With simple set up, free cloud access and easy to use features, this is a solid option to consider. Love this product? Check out our review of the best USB hubs for our top picks.

The Buffalo TeraStation TS3010 series is designed to offer small and medium-sized business high-end data protection at affordable prices so that no one has to compromise when it comes to protecting valuable files. This device offers a comprehensive approach to data backup and protection combining a reliable 24/7 operation with easy to use features that can be accessed from anywhere and anytime, allowing users to get serious about data when it really matters. Data protection couldn’t get much easier. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best USB C cables.

The Promise Apollo cloud is personal cloud storage and sharing reinvented. This personal device allows users access to all of their protected content from anywhere in the world in just a few clicks of a button using the handy Apollo Cloud app. Thanks to this simple yet super secure software allow you to take control of your content, share content both privately and publicly and create albums based on facial recognition and location, storage has never been more straightforward! Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best smart plugs.