Best NAS for Home Backup 2026

Originally published at woitzik.dev

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A NAS is the single most important piece of hardware in any homelab. I learned this the hard way when a Proxmox host's NVMe died without a verified backup — the incident I wrote about in Backup & Restore: The Test You Never Verified. Since then, I run the 3-2-1 rule religiously: three copies of critical data, on two different media types, with one offsite. A NAS is the backbone of that strategy.

But the NAS market in 2026 is crowded. Synology still dominates mindshare, QNAP competes on features, Terramaster fights on price, and UGREEN is the new player trying to disrupt both. This comparison is based on real deployment experience and hands-on testing — not spec sheet comparisons.

TL;DR — The Picks

If you want the short version: the Synology DS224+ remains the default recommendation for anyone who wants a NAS that works reliably for 5+ years with minimal maintenance. If you need more bays and growth potential, the Synology DS423+ is the investment pick. If budget matters and you are comfortable with less polish, the Terramaster F2-223 punches well above its price.

Selection Criteria — What Matters in a Home Backup NAS

A NAS for home backup has different priorities than a NAS for media streaming or enterprise storage:

Reliability over features — You need a device that stays online 24/7, handles power loss gracefully, and does not corrupt your data during firmware updates. Synology leads here by a wide margin. QNAP's feature set is broader but their update track record is rougher.

Disk compatibility — Not all NAS enclosures work well with all drives. Synology's drive compatibility list is restrictive (they now push their own HAT5300 drives), but this conservatism means fewer surprise failures. QNAP and Terramaster are more permissive.

Backup software — The native backup application matters more than the hardware. Synology Active Backup for Business, Hyper Backup, and Snapshot Replication are best-in-class for consumer NAS. QNAP's Hybrid Backup Sync is powerful but more complex. Terramaster and UGREEN's software ecosystems are younger and less proven.

RAID support — For 2-bay units, RAID 1 (mirroring) is the minimum. For 4-bay, RAID 5 or RAID 6 gives you redundancy with capacity. Synology's SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID) is particularly clever — it lets you mix drive sizes without wasting space, which matters when you upgrade drives incrementally.

Power consumption — The NAS runs 24/7. An idle draw of 10W versus 25W is significant over a year. Disk count matters more than the enclosure itself — two 7200RPM HDDs draw more power than the entire NAS unit.

Expandability — RAM upgrades, NVMe cache drives, 10GbE expansion, and USB connectivity for external backup targets all extend the useful life of a NAS.

Individual Reviews

1. Synology DS224+ — Best Overall

2-Bay · Intel Celeron J4125 · 2GB DDR4 (expandable to 6GB) · ~€300

The DS224+ is the NAS I recommend to everyone who asks, and the one I run myself. It is not the cheapest, not the fastest, and not the most feature-rich — it is the one that works without drama for years.

Synology's DSM 7.2 operating system is the reason to buy this NAS. The interface is polished, the backup applications are mature, and the package ecosystem (Docker support, surveillance, media serving) covers every use case without feeling bloated. Hyper Backup handles encrypted, deduplicated backups to local drives, remote Synology NAS, and cloud targets (S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive) with a single application.

The J4125 CPU is not fast — it is a 4-core embedded chip designed for low power, not performance. For file serving, backup, and even Docker containers running lightweight services, it is perfectly adequate. For Plex transcoding of 4K HEVC content, it will struggle. The 2GB base RAM is tight if you run multiple packages; upgrading to 6GB via the SO-DIMM slot is essential if you use Docker or run more than 2-3 services.

Power consumption is excellent: idle around 10-12W with two drives spun down, 18-22W under active load. This matters for a device running 24/7.

Pros:

• DSM 7.2 — best NAS operating system available
• Excellent power efficiency
• Hyper Backup and Active Backup are mature, reliable
• SHR allows mixed-drive-size RAID
• Strong community and documentation

Cons:

• Proprietary drive push (HAT5300 drives are expensive)
• Base RAM is only 2GB — upgrade needed for Docker
• J4125 is aging; no hardware transcoding for 4K HEVC
• Price premium over competitors with similar raw specs

2. QNAP TS-264 — Best Features

2-Bay · Intel Celeron N5095 · 8GB DDR4 · ~€350

The QNAP TS-264 is the feature powerhouse. Where Synology focuses on reliability and polish, QNAP throws everything at the wall: HDMI 2.0 output, dual 2.5GbE ports, two M.2 NVMe slots, USB 3.2 Gen 2, and a built-in speaker for alerts. It is a NAS that tries to be a mini server.

The N5095 CPU is faster than Synology's J4125, and the 8GB base RAM means you can run Docker containers, VMs via Virtualization Station, and QNAP's own apps without immediately needing an upgrade. The dual 2.5GbE ports support link aggregation, which is useful if your network backbone supports it.

QNAP's QTS 5 operating system is powerful but less intuitive than DSM. The interface is busier, the settings are scattered across more menus, and the default security posture is weaker — QNAP has had several high-profile vulnerabilities in recent years (Deadbolt ransomware was particularly painful for the community). You need to harden a QNAP NAS on day one: disable default admin, enable 2FA, and configure the firewall.

The real advantage of the TS-264 is HDMI output. If you want a NAS that doubles as a media player connected directly to a TV, this is the only option on the list that does it natively without a separate NUC or Apple TV.

Pros:

• Most features per euro (HDMI, dual 2.5GbE, dual M.2)
• 8GB RAM base — no immediate upgrade needed
• Virtualization Station for lightweight VMs
• HDMI 2.0 for direct media playback
• PCIe slot for 10GbE expansion

Cons:

• QTS software is less polished than DSM
• Security track record (Deadbolt, Qlocker incidents)
• Higher idle power than Synology (~15-18W without drives)
• Fan noise higher than Synology at comparable load
• Support documentation less comprehensive

3. Terramaster F2-223 — Best Budget

2-Bay · Intel Celeron N4505 · 4GB DDR4 · ~€200

The Terramaster F2-223 is the budget pick that does not feel like a compromise in core functionality. At €200, it undercuts the Synology DS224+ by €100 while offering similar hardware: a dual-core Intel CPU, 4GB RAM (upgradeable), and dual GbE ports.

Terramaster's TOS 5 operating system is the weak point. It has improved significantly from TOS 4, which was genuinely bad, but it still lacks the polish and reliability of DSM or QTS. The Docker integration works, the backup applications exist, and the file sharing protocols (SMB, NFS, WebDAV) are functional — but the overall experience feels like using a first-generation product. The community is smaller, the documentation is thinner, and finding solutions to edge-case problems takes more effort.

Where the F2-223 wins is raw value. The N4505 is a modern dual-core chip that handles file serving and light Docker workloads without issue. The 4GB base RAM is adequate for basic use. The dual GbE ports support link aggregation. And at €200, you can buy two of them for the price of one Synology DS224+ — which, if you need redundancy, is a compelling argument.

Pros:

• Best price-to-hardware ratio
• 4GB RAM base (more than Synology's 2GB)
• Dual GbE with link aggregation
• Compact, quiet design
• Adequate for basic file backup and Docker

Cons:

• TOS 5 is significantly less polished than DSM
• Smaller community and thinner documentation
• No Hyper Backup equivalent — more manual backup setup
• Build quality noticeably cheaper than Synology/QNAP
• Long-term software support uncertain

4. Synology DS423+ — Best for Growth

4-Bay · Intel Celeron J4125 · 2GB DDR4 (expandable to 32GB) · ~€500

The DS423+ is the NAS you buy when you know your storage needs will grow. Four bays with Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) means you can start with two drives, add a third later, and a fourth later — without rebuilding the array from scratch each time.

The J4125 CPU is the same as the DS224+, which means the same performance limitations apply. For file serving and backup, it is fine. For media transcoding, it is not. The value of the DS423+ is not in its CPU — it is in the four bays, the expandability, and the Synology ecosystem at a scale that grows with your data.

Max RAM is 32GB (via a single SO-DIMM slot), which is overkill for most home use but enables running Synology's Virtual Machine Manager with multiple lightweight VMs. The two built-in NVMe M.2 slots (for cache, not storage) improve random I/O for database-heavy applications.

Power consumption scales with drives: idle around 15-20W with four drives spun down, 35-45W under load with four active drives. This is the price of four bays — plan your power budget accordingly.

Pros:

• SHR with 4 bays — maximum flexibility for mixed drives
• Expandable to 32GB RAM
• NVMe cache slots for performance-sensitive workloads
• Same reliable DSM 7.2 as the DS224+
• 10GbE expandable via PCIe slot

Cons:

• €500 is a significant investment for a 4-bay consumer NAS
• J4125 CPU is aging — same as the cheaper DS224+
• 2GB base RAM requires immediate upgrade
• Power consumption with 4 active drives is meaningful
• No hardware transcoding

5. UGREEN DXP2800 — Best Newcomer

2-Bay · Intel N100 · 8GB DDR5 · ~€280

UGREEN is the new entrant trying to disrupt the Synology-QNAP duopoly. The DXP2800 is their flagship 2-bay, and on paper, it is impressive: Intel N100 CPU (the same chip powering the best mini PCs), 8GB DDR5 RAM, dual 2.5GbE, two M.2 NVMe slots, and a metal chassis that feels more premium than the price suggests.

UGREEN's UGOS operating system is the wildcard. It is new, still in active development, and lacks the maturity of DSM or QTS. The core features work — file sharing, Docker, basic backup — but the software ecosystem is thin, the app store is limited, and the long-term support commitment is unproven. UGREEN is a hardware company, not a software company, and it shows.

The hardware is genuinely excellent for the price. The N100 is more powerful than Synology's J4125, the 8GB DDR5 RAM eliminates the immediate upgrade need, and the dual 2.5GbE ports are faster than anything Synology offers in this price range. If UGOS matures, the DXP2800 could be the best value NAS on the market. If it does not, you are left with good hardware running mediocre software.

The N100's idle power draw (~8-10W for the enclosure) is competitive with Synology. The DDR5 memory and efficient Intel chip keep thermals low even under sustained file operations.

Pros:

• Best hardware-per-euro in the 2-bay category
• Intel N100 — more powerful than any Synology in this range
• 8GB DDR5 base RAM
• Dual 2.5GbE and dual M.2 NVMe
• Metal chassis, solid build quality

Cons:

• UGOS is immature — limited app ecosystem
• Long-term software support uncertain (new company in NAS space)
• Backup software not comparable to Hyper Backup
• Community is small; troubleshooting requires more self-reliance
• Firmware update history is short — no proven track record

Head-to-Head Comparison

Buyer's Guide

Buy the Synology DS224+ if: You want a NAS that works reliably for 5+ years with minimal maintenance. DSM is the best NAS OS, Hyper Backup handles every backup scenario, and the ecosystem is proven. This is the default recommendation for 90% of home users.

Buy the QNAP TS-264 if: You need maximum features in a 2-bay form factor. HDMI output for direct media playback, dual 2.5GbE for fast network transfers, and 8GB RAM for Docker-heavy use cases. Be prepared to harden the security on day one.

Buy the Terramaster F2-223 if: Budget is the primary constraint and you are comfortable with a less polished software experience. The hardware is solid for the price, and TOS 5 is functional even if it is not inspiring.

Buy the Synology DS423+ if: You know your storage needs will grow beyond two drives, or you want the option to run VMs alongside file serving. The four bays with SHR give you the most flexible RAID configuration available in a consumer NAS.

Buy the UGREEN DXP2800 if: You are betting on UGOS maturing and want the best hardware value today. The N100 + 8GB DDR5 + dual 2.5GbE combination is unbeatable at €280. Just be aware you are an early adopter.

For the homelab audience: The Synology DS224+ with two 4TB drives in SHR-1 (mirroring) is the backbone of a 3-2-1 backup strategy. Pair it with a cloud sync target (Backblaze B2 or your own offsite S3-compatible endpoint) and you have a backup architecture that survives fire, theft, and ransomware. I run exactly this — the details are in the disaster recovery runbook.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much storage do I need for home backup?

For most households, 2-4TB covers documents, photos, phone backups, and critical system images. If you are archiving video or running a media server, 8-16TB becomes necessary. Start with two drives in a mirrored RAID (RAID 1 or SHR-1), and expand later — the point of a NAS is that you can replace drives one at a time with larger ones.

What drives should I put in a NAS?

NAS-rated drives (Seagate IronWolf, WD Red Plus) are designed for 24/7 operation and vibration tolerance in multi-bay enclosures. Desktop drives (WD Blue, Seagate Barracuda) are cheaper but not rated for continuous use — they work, but the failure rate in a NAS environment is measurably higher. For the home user who wants set-and-forget reliability, buy NAS-rated drives and sleep soundly.

Is RAID the same as backup?

No. RAID protects against drive failure, not against file deletion, corruption, ransomware, or fire. A NAS in RAID 1 with no offsite backup is one rm -rf / away from losing everything. RAID is availability; backup is recoverability. You need both.

Should I use Synology Hybrid RAID or standard RAID?

SHR if you are on Synology — it is strictly better than standard RAID for home use. SHR allows mixing different drive sizes without wasting capacity, and it degrades more gracefully than traditional RAID when a drive fails. For two drives, SHR-1 is identical to RAID 1. For four drives, SHR-1 gives you single-drive fault tolerance with the flexibility to add larger drives later without rebuilding the entire array.

Can I run Docker on these NAS devices?

Yes, all five support Docker. Synology's Container Manager (formerly Docker package) is the most polished implementation. QNAP's Container Station works well but has a more complex interface. Terramaster and UGREEN's Docker support is functional but less integrated. If Docker is a primary use case, the QNAP TS-264 (8GB RAM, N5095 CPU) or UGREEN DXP2800 (8GB RAM, N100 CPU) give you the best hardware foundation.

How long does a NAS last?

A quality NAS (Synology, QNAP) typically lasts 5-8 years before the hardware becomes obsolete or the software support ends. The drives inside have a rated lifespan of 3-5 years for NAS-rated models. Budget for drive replacement every 3-4 years as a preventive measure — drives do not give reliable warning before failing. The NAS enclosure itself will outlast two or three sets of drives.

Is a NAS worth it versus just using an external hard drive?

For a single computer with non-critical data, an external drive is fine. For any multi-device household, any data you cannot afford to lose, or any homelab running services that need shared storage — a NAS is worth the investment. The difference is automation: a NAS handles RAID, snapshots, cloud sync, and multi-user access automatically. An external drive requires you to remember to plug it in and copy files, which is a backup strategy that fails the moment you forget.

Conclusion

The NAS market in 2026 is defined by one question: do you trust the software or the hardware more? Synology's DS224+ has aging hardware but bulletproof software. The UGREEN DXP2800 has excellent hardware but unproven software. The QNAP TS-264 sits in between, with strong hardware and software that requires active security management.

For a home backup NAS that runs 24/7 for the next five years, trust matters more than specs. The Synology DS224+ is the boring, reliable choice — and that is exactly what you want from the device holding your only copy of family photos and critical documents.

Buy the DS224+. Put two IronWolf drives in it. Configure Hyper Backup to sync to a cloud target. Verify the restore works once. Then forget about it — which is exactly how a backup system should behave.

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