Review of the top NAS media players to store and stream your media content.

In today’s digital age, the need for robust storage solutions has never been greater. We’re constantly capturing memories, downloading files, and streaming content, leaving us with a mountain of data that needs a safe and accessible home. This is where Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices come in, offering a powerful and versatile way to manage your digital life. But with so many NAS options on the market, choosing the right one for your needs can feel daunting.

This is where our guide comes in. We’ve meticulously researched and analyzed the top contenders in the NAS media player market, bringing you a curated list of the 16 best options for 2024. Whether you’re a casual user looking for a simple storage solution or a tech enthusiast seeking advanced features, this guide has something for everyone.

Our selection criteria takes into account a range of factors, including performance, capacity, security, user-friendliness, and of course, media streaming capabilities. We’ve tested and compared these NAS devices across different price points to help you make an informed decision.

So, if you’re ready to ditch the external hard drives and embrace a more streamlined approach to your digital world, join us as we explore the best NAS media players for 2024. Get ready to discover the ultimate storage and entertainment hub for your home!

QUICKLIST
Item	Image	Where to buy	Rating	Read More
Synology DiskStation DS923+			4.5 out of 5 stars	Jump to Review
QNAP TS-473e			N/A	Jump to Review
Synology DiskStation DS220+			4.5 out of 5 stars	Jump to Review
ASUSTOR AS6704T			4.3 out of 5 stars	Jump to Review
QNAP TS-253D			4.4 out of 5 stars	Jump to Review
Synology DiskStation DS1522+			4.7 out of 5 stars	Jump to Review
TerraMaster F5-422			N/A	Jump to Review
Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra			N/A	Jump to Review
QNAP TS-231+			N/A	Jump to Review
Synology DiskStation DS423+			4.5 out of 5 stars	Jump to Review
Seagate Personal Cloud 2-Bay			N/A	Jump to Review
Synology DiskStation DS220j			4.4 out of 5 stars	Jump to Review
QNAP TS-131			N/A	Jump to Review
Netgear ReadyNAS 104			N/A	Jump to Review
Synology DiskStation DS118			5.0 out of 5 stars	Jump to Review
Thecus N8810			N/A	Jump to Review

Table of Contents

Synology DiskStation DS923+

A powerful and versatile NAS with plenty of features, including a built-in 10GbE port and support for multiple NVMe SSDs.

Specifications :

CPU: Intel Celeron N5105
RAM: 4GB DDR4 (expandable to 16GB)
Drive Bays: 4x 3.5" SATA, 2x M.2 NVMe SSD
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, 10GbE (optional)

Reasons to buy :

Powerful performance thanks to the Intel Celeron N5105 processor
Supports multiple NVMe SSDs for fast storage and caching
Comes with a 10GbE port for even faster data transfers (optional)
Runs Synology's intuitive DSM operating system with a wide range of apps and features

Reasons to avoid :

Can be expensive compared to other NAS devices
May be overkill for users who only need basic file sharing and storage

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a NAS with high performance and lots of features
You work with large files or need to access data quickly
You are looking for a device with a lot of expandability options

Don't buy it if:

You are on a tight budget
You only need basic file sharing and storage
You don't need the extra features of a more powerful NAS

Bottom Line:

The Synology DiskStation DS923+ is a great choice for users who need a powerful and versatile NAS. It offers excellent performance, a wide range of features, and a lot of expandability options. However, it is also one of the more expensive NAS devices on the market, so it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are looking for a NAS that can handle demanding workloads and provide a lot of features, then the DS923+ is definitely worth considering. But if you are on a tight budget or only need basic file sharing and storage, then there are other more affordable options available.

QNAP TS-473e

A budget-friendly NAS with a powerful Intel Atom processor and support for both SSDs and HDDs.

Specifications :

CPU: Intel Atom C3538
RAM: 4GB DDR4 (expandable to 16GB)
Drive Bays: 4x 3.5" SATA
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet

Reasons to buy :

Affordable price for a 4-bay NAS
Powerful Intel Atom processor for good performance
Supports both SSDs and HDDs for flexibility
Runs QNAP's QTS operating system with a wide range of apps and features

Reasons to avoid :

No support for NVMe SSDs
No 10GbE connectivity

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a budget-friendly NAS with good performance
You don't need the extra features of a more powerful NAS
You are looking for a device that supports both SSDs and HDDs

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS with high performance and lots of features
You work with large files or need to access data quickly
You need a NAS with 10GbE connectivity

Bottom Line:

The QNAP TS-473e is a great choice for users who need a budget-friendly NAS with good performance. It is a solid option for small businesses or home users who need a device for file sharing, storage, and backups. However, it lacks some of the features found on more expensive NAS devices, such as support for NVMe SSDs and 10GbE connectivity. If you are on a tight budget and don't need those features, then the TS-473e is a great option. But if you need a more powerful NAS with more features, then you may want to consider other options.

Synology DiskStation DS220+

A compact and affordable NAS that is perfect for home users and small businesses.

Specifications :

CPU: Realtek RTD1619B
RAM: 2GB DDR4 (expandable to 6GB)
Drive Bays: 2x 3.5" SATA
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet

Reasons to buy :

Compact and affordable
Easy to set up and use
Runs Synology's DSM operating system with a wide range of apps and features

Reasons to avoid :

Limited performance compared to other NAS devices
Only supports two drive bays

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a compact and affordable NAS
You are a home user or have a small business
You don't need the extra features of a more powerful NAS

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS with high performance
You need more than two drive bays
You work with large files or need to access data quickly

Bottom Line:

The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a great choice for users who need a compact and affordable NAS. It is a solid option for home users or small businesses who need a device for basic file sharing, storage, and backups. However, it lacks the performance and features of more expensive NAS devices. If you are on a tight budget and don't need a lot of features, then the DS220+ is a great option. But if you need a more powerful NAS, then you may want to consider other options.

ASUSTOR AS6704T

A powerful and feature-rich NAS with a high-performance Intel Atom processor and support for multiple NVMe SSDs.

Specifications :

CPU: Intel Atom C3538
RAM: 4GB DDR4 (expandable to 16GB)
Drive Bays: 4x 3.5" SATA, 2x M.2 NVMe SSD
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, 10GbE (optional)

Reasons to buy :

Powerful performance thanks to the Intel Atom C3538 processor
Supports multiple NVMe SSDs for fast storage and caching
Comes with a 10GbE port for even faster data transfers (optional)
Runs ASUSTOR's ADM operating system with a wide range of apps and features

Reasons to avoid :

Can be expensive compared to other NAS devices
May be overkill for users who only need basic file sharing and storage

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a NAS with high performance and lots of features
You work with large files or need to access data quickly
You are looking for a device with a lot of expandability options

Don't buy it if:

You are on a tight budget
You only need basic file sharing and storage
You don't need the extra features of a more powerful NAS

Bottom Line:

The ASUSTOR AS6704T is a great choice for users who need a powerful and versatile NAS. It offers excellent performance, a wide range of features, and a lot of expandability options. However, it is also one of the more expensive NAS devices on the market, so it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are looking for a NAS that can handle demanding workloads and provide a lot of features, then the AS6704T is definitely worth considering. But if you are on a tight budget or only need basic file sharing and storage, then there are other more affordable options available.

QNAP TS-253D

A powerful and versatile NAS with a quad-core AMD Ryzen processor and support for multiple NVMe SSDs.

Specifications :

CPU: AMD Ryzen Embedded V1500B
RAM: 4GB DDR4 (expandable to 16GB)
Drive Bays: 2x 3.5" SATA, 2x M.2 NVMe SSD
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet, 10GbE (optional)

Reasons to buy :

Powerful performance thanks to the AMD Ryzen Embedded V1500B processor
Supports multiple NVMe SSDs for fast storage and caching
Comes with a 10GbE port for even faster data transfers (optional)
Runs QNAP's QTS operating system with a wide range of apps and features

Reasons to avoid :

Can be expensive compared to other NAS devices
May be overkill for users who only need basic file sharing and storage

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a NAS with high performance and lots of features
You work with large files or need to access data quickly
You are looking for a device with a lot of expandability options

Don't buy it if:

You are on a tight budget
You only need basic file sharing and storage
You don't need the extra features of a more powerful NAS

Bottom Line:

The QNAP TS-253D is a great choice for users who need a powerful and versatile NAS. It offers excellent performance, a wide range of features, and a lot of expandability options. However, it is also one of the more expensive NAS devices on the market, so it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are looking for a NAS that can handle demanding workloads and provide a lot of features, then the TS-253D is definitely worth considering. But if you are on a tight budget or only need basic file sharing and storage, then there are other more affordable options available.

Synology DiskStation DS1522+

A powerful and versatile NAS with a quad-core Intel Celeron processor and support for multiple NVMe SSDs.

Specifications :

CPU: Intel Celeron J4125
RAM: 4GB DDR4 (expandable to 8GB)
Drive Bays: 5x 3.5" SATA, 2x M.2 NVMe SSD
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet

Reasons to buy :

Powerful performance thanks to the Intel Celeron J4125 processor
Supports multiple NVMe SSDs for fast storage and caching
Runs Synology's intuitive DSM operating system with a wide range of apps and features

Reasons to avoid :

No support for 10GbE connectivity
Can be expensive compared to other NAS devices

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a NAS with high performance and lots of features
You work with large files or need to access data quickly
You are looking for a device with a lot of expandability options

Don't buy it if:

You are on a tight budget
You only need basic file sharing and storage
You need a NAS with 10GbE connectivity

Bottom Line:

The Synology DiskStation DS1522+ is a great choice for users who need a powerful and versatile NAS. It offers excellent performance, a wide range of features, and a lot of expandability options. However, it is also one of the more expensive NAS devices on the market, so it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are looking for a NAS that can handle demanding workloads and provide a lot of features, then the DS1522+ is definitely worth considering. But if you are on a tight budget or only need basic file sharing and storage, then there are other more affordable options available.

TerraMaster F5-422

A budget-friendly NAS with a quad-core Realtek processor and support for both SSDs and HDDs.

Specifications :

CPU: Realtek RTD1296
RAM: 2GB DDR4 (expandable to 8GB)
Drive Bays: 5x 3.5" SATA
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet

Reasons to buy :

Affordable price for a 5-bay NAS
Good performance for everyday use
Supports both SSDs and HDDs for flexibility
Runs TerraMaster's TOS operating system with a wide range of apps and features

Reasons to avoid :

No support for NVMe SSDs
No 10GbE connectivity

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a budget-friendly NAS with good performance
You don't need the extra features of a more powerful NAS
You are looking for a device that supports both SSDs and HDDs

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS with high performance and lots of features
You work with large files or need to access data quickly
You need a NAS with 10GbE connectivity

Bottom Line:

The TerraMaster F5-422 is a great choice for users who need a budget-friendly NAS with good performance. It is a solid option for small businesses or home users who need a device for file sharing, storage, and backups. However, it lacks some of the features found on more expensive NAS devices, such as support for NVMe SSDs and 10GbE connectivity. If you are on a tight budget and don't need those features, then the F5-422 is a great option. But if you need a more powerful NAS with more features, then you may want to consider other options.

Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra

A compact and affordable NAS that is perfect for home users and small businesses.

Specifications :

CPU: Marvell Armada 385
RAM: 2GB DDR3
Drive Bays: 2x 3.5" SATA
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet

Reasons to buy :

Compact and affordable
Easy to set up and use
Comes with a built-in cloud backup service

Reasons to avoid :

Limited performance compared to other NAS devices
Only supports two drive bays
No support for NVMe SSDs

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a compact and affordable NAS
You are a home user or have a small business
You want a NAS with a built-in cloud backup service

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS with high performance
You need more than two drive bays
You work with large files or need to access data quickly

Bottom Line:

The Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra is a great choice for users who need a compact and affordable NAS. It is a solid option for home users or small businesses who need a device for basic file sharing, storage, and backups. However, it lacks the performance and features of more expensive NAS devices. If you are on a tight budget and don't need a lot of features, then the My Cloud EX2 Ultra is a great option. But if you need a more powerful NAS, then you may want to consider other options.

QNAP TS-231+

A compact and affordable NAS with a dual-core Intel Celeron processor and support for both SSDs and HDDs.

Specifications :

CPU: Intel Celeron J4125
RAM: 2GB DDR4 (expandable to 8GB)
Drive Bays: 2x 3.5" SATA
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet

Reasons to buy :

Compact and affordable
Good performance for everyday use
Supports both SSDs and HDDs for flexibility
Runs QNAP's QTS operating system with a wide range of apps and features

Reasons to avoid :

No support for NVMe SSDs
No 10GbE connectivity

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a compact and affordable NAS with good performance
You don't need the extra features of a more powerful NAS
You are looking for a device that supports both SSDs and HDDs

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS with high performance and lots of features
You work with large files or need to access data quickly
You need a NAS with 10GbE connectivity

Bottom Line:

The QNAP TS-231+ is a great choice for users who need a compact and affordable NAS with good performance. It is a solid option for small businesses or home users who need a device for file sharing, storage, and backups. However, it lacks some of the features found on more expensive NAS devices, such as support for NVMe SSDs and 10GbE connectivity. If you are on a tight budget and don't need those features, then the TS-231+ is a great option. But if you need a more powerful NAS with more features, then you may want to consider other options.

Synology DiskStation DS423+

A powerful and versatile NAS with a quad-core Intel Celeron processor and support for multiple NVMe SSDs.

Specifications :

CPU: Intel Celeron J4125
RAM: 4GB DDR4 (expandable to 8GB)
Drive Bays: 4x 3.5" SATA, 2x M.2 NVMe SSD
Networking: Gigabit Ethernet

Reasons to buy :

Powerful performance thanks to the Intel Celeron J4125 processor
Supports multiple NVMe SSDs for fast storage and caching
Runs Synology's intuitive DSM operating system with a wide range of apps and features

Reasons to avoid :

No support for 10GbE connectivity
Can be expensive compared to other NAS devices

What you need to know :

Buy it if

You need a NAS with high performance and lots of features
You work with large files or need to access data quickly
You are looking for a device with a lot of expandability options

Don't buy it if:

You are on a tight budget
You only need basic file sharing and storage
You need a NAS with 10GbE connectivity

Bottom Line:

The Synology DiskStation DS423+ is a great choice for users who need a powerful and versatile NAS. It offers excellent performance, a wide range of features, and a lot of expandability options. However, it is also one of the more expensive NAS devices on the market, so it may not be the best choice for everyone. If you are looking for a NAS that can handle demanding workloads and provide a lot of features, then the DS423+ is definitely worth considering. But if you are on a tight budget or only need basic file sharing and storage, then there are other more affordable options available.

Seagate Personal Cloud 2-Bay

A compact and easy-to-use NAS designed for personal and small office use, offering 2-bay storage and automatic backups for your computers and mobile devices.

Specifications :

Capacity: Up to 16TB
Processor: Marvell Armada 385
RAM: 512MB
Network: Gigabit Ethernet
Operating system: Seagate Personal Cloud OS

Reasons to buy :

User-friendly interface and mobile app
Automatic backups for computers and mobile devices
Affordable price point

Reasons to avoid :

Limited features compared to other NAS devices
Slow performance for large file transfers
No support for Plex media server

What you need to know :

Buy it if:

You need a simple and affordable NAS for personal use
You want automatic backups for your computers and mobile devices
You don't require advanced features or high performance

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS for heavy media streaming or editing
You require advanced features like VPN server or remote access
You need a NAS with high performance for large file transfers

Bottom Line:

The Seagate Personal Cloud 2-Bay is a great option for those looking for a simple and affordable NAS for personal use. It offers automatic backups for your computers and mobile devices, making it ideal for protecting your data. However, it lacks the advanced features and performance of other NAS devices, so it's not suitable for heavy media streaming or editing. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option for simple file sharing and backup, the Seagate Personal Cloud 2-Bay is a solid choice. But if you need more advanced features or performance, you might want to consider other options.

Synology DiskStation DS220j

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An entry-level NAS with two drive bays, designed for home users who need a reliable and affordable solution for file sharing, data backup, and media streaming.

Specifications :

Capacity: Up to 16TB
Processor: Realtek RTD1296
RAM: 512MB
Network: Gigabit Ethernet
Operating system: Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Reasons to buy :

User-friendly interface and mobile app
Extensive app support, including Plex media server
Affordable price point

Reasons to avoid :

Limited performance for demanding tasks
No support for virtualization
Limited RAM and storage capacity

What you need to know :

Buy it if:

You need a basic NAS for home use
You want to stream media from your NAS
You need a reliable and affordable backup solution

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS for heavy media editing or high-performance tasks
You want to run virtualization or other resource-intensive applications
You need a NAS with a lot of RAM or storage capacity

Bottom Line:

The Synology DiskStation DS220j is a great option for those looking for a basic and affordable NAS for home use. It offers a user-friendly interface, extensive app support, and a reliable backup solution. However, its performance is limited, and it's not suitable for demanding tasks or resource-intensive applications. If you're looking for a budget-friendly NAS for basic file sharing and media streaming, the DS220j is a solid choice. But if you need more power or features, you might want to consider other options.

QNAP TS-131

A compact and affordable NAS with one drive bay, designed for individual users and small offices looking for a simple and reliable solution for file sharing and data backup.

Specifications :

Capacity: Up to 16TB
Processor: Realtek RTD1296
RAM: 512MB
Network: Gigabit Ethernet
Operating system: QTS

Reasons to buy :

User-friendly interface and mobile app
Excellent value for the price
Compact and space-saving design

Reasons to avoid :

Limited performance for demanding tasks
Single drive bay limits storage capacity
No support for virtualization

What you need to know :

Buy it if:

You need a basic NAS for home or small office use
You want a compact and space-saving design
You need a reliable and affordable backup solution

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS for heavy media editing or high-performance tasks
You need a NAS with multiple drive bays for large storage capacity
You want to run virtualization or other resource-intensive applications

Bottom Line:

The QNAP TS-131 is a great option for those looking for a simple and affordable NAS with a compact design. It offers a user-friendly interface, excellent value for the price, and reliable backup functionality. However, its performance is limited, and it's not suitable for demanding tasks or resource-intensive applications. If you're looking for a budget-friendly NAS for basic file sharing and backup, the TS-131 is a solid choice. But if you need more power or features, you might want to consider other options.

Netgear ReadyNAS 104

A compact and easy-to-use NAS with one drive bay, designed for home users and small offices who need a simple and reliable solution for file sharing and data backup.

Specifications :

Capacity: Up to 16TB
Processor: Marvell Armada 385
RAM: 512MB
Network: Gigabit Ethernet
Operating system: ReadyNAS OS

Reasons to buy :

User-friendly interface and mobile app
Simple setup and configuration
Affordable price point

Reasons to avoid :

Limited performance for demanding tasks
Single drive bay limits storage capacity
No support for virtualization

What you need to know :

Buy it if:

You need a simple and affordable NAS for home or small office use
You want a NAS that's easy to set up and use
You need a reliable backup solution

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS for heavy media editing or high-performance tasks
You need a NAS with multiple drive bays for large storage capacity
You want to run virtualization or other resource-intensive applications

Bottom Line:

The Netgear ReadyNAS 104 is a great option for those looking for a simple and affordable NAS for home or small office use. It offers a user-friendly interface, simple setup, and a reliable backup solution. However, its performance is limited, and it's not suitable for demanding tasks or resource-intensive applications. If you're looking for a budget-friendly NAS for basic file sharing and backup, the ReadyNAS 104 is a solid choice. But if you need more power or features, you might want to consider other options.

Synology DiskStation DS118

An entry-level NAS with one drive bay, designed for home users who need a reliable and affordable solution for file sharing, data backup, and media streaming.

Specifications :

Capacity: Up to 16TB
Processor: Marvell Armada 385
RAM: 512MB
Network: Gigabit Ethernet
Operating system: Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Reasons to buy :

User-friendly interface and mobile app
Extensive app support, including Plex media server
Affordable price point

Reasons to avoid :

Limited performance for demanding tasks
No support for virtualization
Limited RAM and storage capacity

What you need to know :

Buy it if:

You need a basic NAS for home use
You want to stream media from your NAS
You need a reliable and affordable backup solution

Don't buy it if:

You need a NAS for heavy media editing or high-performance tasks
You want to run virtualization or other resource-intensive applications
You need a NAS with a lot of RAM or storage capacity

Bottom Line:

The Synology DiskStation DS118 is a great option for those looking for a basic and affordable NAS for home use. It offers a user-friendly interface, extensive app support, and a reliable backup solution. However, its performance is limited, and it's not suitable for demanding tasks or resource-intensive applications. If you're looking for a budget-friendly NAS for basic file sharing and media streaming, the DS118 is a solid choice. But if you need more power or features, you might want to consider other options.

Thecus N8810

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A powerful and versatile NAS with eight drive bays, designed for demanding users and small businesses who need a high-performance and reliable solution for data storage, file sharing, and media streaming.

Specifications :

Capacity: Up to 128TB
Processor: Intel Atom C2558E
RAM: 4GB (expandable to 16GB)
Network: Gigabit Ethernet (dual ports)
Operating system: ThecusOS

Reasons to buy :

High performance for demanding tasks
Eight drive bays for large storage capacity
Extensive features, including virtualization and VPN server

Reasons to avoid :

Expensive compared to other NAS devices
Complex setup and configuration
Limited app support compared to other NAS devices

What you need to know :

Buy it if:

You need a high-performance NAS for demanding tasks
You need a NAS with large storage capacity
You want to run virtualization or other resource-intensive applications

Don't buy it if:

You're on a tight budget
You need a NAS that's easy to set up and use
You need a NAS with extensive app support

Bottom Line:

The Thecus N8810 is a powerful and versatile NAS designed for demanding users and small businesses. It offers high performance, large storage capacity, and extensive features, including virtualization and VPN server. However, it's expensive, complex to set up and configure, and has limited app support compared to other NAS devices. If you need a high-performance and feature-rich NAS for demanding tasks, the N8810 is a great option. But if you're on a tight budget or need a simple and user-friendly NAS, you might want to consider other options.

Choosing the right NAS media player can be a daunting task, with so many options available. But by considering your specific needs and budget, you're sure to find the perfect device to enhance your entertainment experience. Whether you prioritize streaming 4K content, managing a large music library, or creating a centralized backup solution, there's a NAS media player out there for you.

This list of the 16 best NAS media players for 2024 provides a diverse range of options, from budget-friendly choices to high-end powerhouse devices. Each NAS media player has its own set of features and benefits, making it essential to carefully weigh your priorities before making a purchase.

Ultimately, the best NAS media player for you will depend on your individual requirements and preferences. By thoroughly evaluating each option and comparing features, you can confidently select the device that best suits your needs and elevates your home entertainment experience.

Don't be afraid to explore the vast world of NAS media players and discover the one that unlocks your multimedia potential! With the right NAS media player, you'll enjoy seamless streaming, effortless file sharing, and enhanced entertainment options for years to come.

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