Best NAS for Home Media (2024 Selected)🏅

In this modern age, digital media has dominated our lives. The need for efficient storage and seamless access to our media files has increased. Managing your content requires a robust and reliable solution such as Network Attached Storage. The article lists the best NAS for home media needs. These NAS devices offer large storage, excellent media streaming, and user-friendly interfaces to enhance your digital experience. Whether you've your business or personal media, you can find tools to enhance how you enjoy your home media.

Some Standards While Choosing a NAS for Home

With the advancement of technology, the need for extensive media libraries, critical data backups, and remote access is increasing. As NAS will determine the safety, security, and accessibility of your media, choose a NAS device wisely. Here are some criteria for choosing a NAS: 

• 🥛Storage Capacity: Choose a NAS with sufficient capacity to accommodate your current and future storage needs.
• 💾Number of Drive Bays: Consider whether you need a single-bay, two-bay, or more extensive multi-bay NAS to support your storage requirements.
• 🔗Drive Compatibility: Check if the NAS supports the types and sizes of hard drives you intend to use. 
• 🔢Data Redundancy: Ensure the NAS supports RAID configurations for data redundancy and protection against drive failures.  
• 🔒Security Features: Check the security features, such as encryption, user access controls, and support for VPNs, to protect your data from unauthorized access and stay away from data loss.

5 Best NAS Devices to Save Home Media Data

With a rising need for secure and accessible home media storage, Network Attached Storage devices have become essential. Here are the five best NAS options for safeguarding your home media data.

1. 1️⃣Asustor AS5202T
2. 2️⃣Synology DS220+
3. 3️⃣QNAP TS-251D
4. 4️⃣Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra
5. 5️⃣Buffalo LinkStation 220

1️⃣Asustor AS5202T

The Asustor AS5202T is a feature-rich NAS solution. Asustor is known for its innovative hardware and user-friendly software, and the AS5202T exemplifies these qualities. With a starting price of $299 for the diskless model, the AS5202T provides excellent value for money. Equipped with two drive bays, it supports a maximum storage capacity of up to 32TB using 16TB drives. It is powered by a 2.0GHz dual-core Intel Celeron J4005 processor and 2GB of DDR4 RAM. Features include a built-in media server, cloud storage support, RAID protection, Plex support, and Surveillance Station.​​​​

2️⃣Synology DS220+

The Synology DS220+ is a standout Network Attached Storage device designed to enhance your home media storage experience. Its extensive features and user-friendly interface have earned a leading reputation in NAS devices. Synology DS220+ price starts from $319 for the diskless model; it offers excellent value for its feature set. With two drive bays, it can accommodate up to 32TB of storage space using 16TB drives. Powered by an Intel Celeron dual-core CPU and equipped with 2GB RAM, it can handle multitasking. Its features are excellent and seamless data sharing, photo indexing, video streaming, well-rounded recovery options, and data protection.

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3️⃣QNAP TS-251D

The QNAP TS-251D is a versatile and cost-effective NAS solution designed for home users and small businesses. QNAP is a well-established brand known for its reliable hardware and innovative software features, and the TS-251D enhances these qualities. The price of the TS-251D diskless model starts from $559. It has two drive bays and can support a maximum storage capacity of up to 32TB when using 16TB drives. QNAP TS-251D is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Intel Celeron J4005 processor and 4GB of DDR4 RAM. Its features include Plex support, a built-in media server, cloud storage support, RAID protection, and a Surveillance Station.​​

4️⃣Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra

The Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra is a budget-friendly, secure NAS solution for homes and small businesses. Western Digital, a trusted name in the storage industry, brings its reputation for reliability to the EX2 Ultra. Starting at the price of $181 for the diskless model, it offers affordability without compromising on features. With two drive bays, it supports a maximum storage capacity of up to 16TB using 8TB drives. This NAS is powered by a Marvell ARMADA dual-core CPU with 512MB of RAM. Its features include a built-in media server, cloud storage support, and RAID protection.

5️⃣Buffalo LinkStation 220

The Buffalo LinkStation 220 is an affordable yet reliable NAS solution for users looking for seamless storage and accessibility. With a $229 price for the diskless model, it offers an excellent NAS service. With two drive bays, it can support a maximum storage capacity of up to 16TB when equipped with 8TB drives. This NAS is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core Marvell Armada 385 CPU and 2GB of DDR4 RAM. Its user-friendly NAS operating system and DLNA certification ensure seamless media streaming for the whole family. Its features are RAID protection, compatibility (Windows RT, Android, Mac & iOS), built-in media server, and cloud support.​​​​

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How to Save Digital Data to NAS Easily and Effectively

When it comes to safeguarding your digital data, EaseUS Todo Backup serves as the best solution. EaseUS Todo Backup is a robust, user-friendly backup software that protects your data. Its intuitive interface, flexible backup options, and strong encryption make it a reliable choice for data protection. It can also be one of the best ways to back up NAS.

Whether you need to secure important documents, personal photos, or the entire operating system, EaseUS Todo Backup offers comprehensive solutions. EaseUS Todo Backup simplifies the backup and recovery process, ensuring your data is safe and accessible. With multiple features to enhance data protection, you can rest assured that your data is secure for unlimited time.

💾Multiple Types of Backup	EaseUS Todo Backup can perform various backup types, like backing up files and disks. Of course, it can back up your data to NAS.
⚒️Compatible with Various Brands of NAS Devices	Compatible with a variety of NAS device brands like what we have mentioned above: Asustor AS5202T, Synology DS220+, QNAP TS-251D, Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra, and Buffalo LinkStation 220.
☁️Flexible Scheduling	You can configure backup times and frequencies. It will automatically backup your data and files to an external hard drive and NAS.
🗳️Incremental and Differential Backup	Only capturing changes made since the previous backup saves space and time. Furthermore, it saves modifications made since the last full backup, allowing for rapid data restoration.

Pro Tips: Better Utilize NAS for Home Media

NAS devices manage and safeguard your home media. Here are some practical tips to help you get the most out of your NAS:

• Leave My NAS On All the Time: Keeping your NAS running 24/7 is generally safe, especially if you rely on it for remote access or backups. NAS devices are designed for continuous operation and often consume minimal idle power. Just ensure proper ventilation to prevent overheating.
• Regularly Backup Your NAS: Even NAS devices can experience hardware failures or data corruption. Set up a backup system for your NAS, whether it's an external drive or another NAS. Regularly back up critical data to avoid unexpected loss.
• Implement User Access Controls: Configure user access controls if multiple family members use the NAS. Restrict access to sensitive data and set up individual accounts to keep your files secure.
• Use RAID for Data Redundancy: Consider setting up a RAID configuration if your NAS supports it. RAID 1, for instance, mirrors data across drives, providing redundancy against drive failures. 
• Use Encryption for Sensitive Data: If you store sensitive files on your NAS, enable encryption to protect them from unauthorized access. Many NAS devices support data encryption features.

Conclusion

NAS devices serve as an ultimate source of protection for your home media. Choosing the right NAS device can help you manage, access, and enjoy your home media. The article listed the five best NAS for home that offers a seamless and enriched digital entertainment experience. Whether you want to stream 4K movies, access your music library remotely, or secure your memories, you can find a NAS device.

To further enhance your peace of mind, we recommend using EaseUS Todo Backup as a valuable addition to your NAS setup. With its efficient backup solutions and robust features, EaseUS Todo Backup ensures your home media remains safe and readily accessible.

FAQs on Best NAS for Home Media

If you're searching for a NAS device for the first time, you might have some common questions in mind. Here are answers to a few frequently asked questions:

1. What is the best NAS for a beginner?

The ideal NAS for beginners often includes user-friendly options like the QNAP TS-251D or Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra. These NAS devices are known for their simple setup and management interfaces, making them excellent choices for new users of NAS technology.

2. Is there a better NAS than Synology?

Synology is highly regarded for its NAS solutions, but other brands like QNAP and Asustor offer competitive options. The choice of a NAS depends on your specific requirements and preferences. Consider factors such as storage needs, desired features, and budget when choosing.

3. Should I leave my Synology NAS on all the time?

It's generally safe and convenient to keep your Synology NAS running 24/7. These devices are designed for continuous operation and consume low power when idle. Leaving your NAS on ensures that it's always available for remote access, backups, and other tasks.