Summary
We compared 24 home nas for plex using only credibility-weighted sources (real hands-on and expert reviews, discounting marketing and affiliate listicles). The strongest evidence backs the 4-bay 10GbE NAS. Every claim below links to the source it came from — nothing here is invented.
We may earn an affiliate commission on qualifying purchases made through links on this page. Rankings remain independent and objective.
Frank's pick
4-bay 10GbE NAS
★★★★☆ 4.5/5$430
Why 4.5/5: Strong, consistent praise across our credible sources. No recurring complaint surfaced in our sources.
Backed by 7 credible sources. What reviewers liked: With Prime Day starting very soon, now is the best time to think about getting a new NAS. No specific criticism surfaced in the sources we read — not proof none exists, so check recent reviews before buying.
Prices checked July 2026
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Prices were last checked 2026-07-25 and can change — confirm the current price at the retailer before buying.
Best for most buyers in this category
Why 4.5/5: Strong, consistent praise across our credible sources. No recurring complaint surfaced in our sources.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 4.4
- ●Sources
- 7
Backed by 7 credible sources. What reviewers liked: With Prime Day starting very soon, now is the best time to think about getting a new NAS. No specific criticism surfaced in the sources we read — not proof none exists, so check recent reviews before buying.
Pros
- With Prime Day starting very soon, now is the best time to think about getting a new NAS.
- I'm not exaggerating when I say that this is the best 4-bay Plex server you can buy today.
- There isn't any other 4-bay model that's as good at Plex hardware transcoding.
Specifications
- tb
- 500 TB
- gb
- 8 GB
- mm
- 232.2 mm
- inches
- 7.0 inches
- w
- 150 W
- mb/s
- 300 MB/s
- watts
- 72 watts
- lbs
- 3.45 lbs
- kg
- 1.56 kg
- "
- 7 "
- hz
- 60 Hz
- inch
- 2.5 inch
#2
Synology DS223 Home
Synology
Best for buyers prioritizing specific tradeoffs
Why 4.5/5: Strong, consistent praise across our credible sources. Main caveat reviewers raised: the Realtek hardware doesn't have transcoding.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 1.2
- ●Sources
- 2
Backed by 2 credible sources. What reviewers liked: The DSM software is easily the best in this category, and The main drawback they noted: the Realtek hardware doesn't have transcoding
Pros
- The DSM software is easily the best in this category, and
- That said, if you just need an affordable NAS to store your media collection and back up photos and videos, the DS223j is a good choice.
- it still manages to do a great job when it comes to Plex.
Cons
- the Realtek hardware doesn't have transcoding
- the DS223j doesn't have any upgradability; the RAM modules are soldered, and you can't add multi-Gigabit connectivity
- you don't get the more advanced features
Specifications
- tb
- 500 TB
- gb
- 8 GB
- mm
- 232.2 mm
#3
Synology 2-Bay DiskStation DS223j
Synology
Best for plex
Why 4/5: Well-reviewed overall, with only minor trade-offs. Main caveat reviewers raised: Honestly, there isn't anything missing.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 3.9
- ●Sources
- 6
Backed by 6 credible sources. What reviewers liked: ASUSTOR's AS5402T has one of the best hardware in its category, and the 2-bay NAS has everything you need in a Plex server. The main drawback they noted: Honestly, there isn't anything missing.
Pros
- ASUSTOR's AS5402T has one of the best hardware in its category, and the 2-bay NAS has everything you need in a Plex server.
- Best high-end NAS for Plex (Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central) 4.
- This 2-bay NAS has it all: powerful Intel hardware with transcoding in Plex, 8GB of RAM and a built-in SSD that houses the software, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, and M.2 slots.
Cons
- Honestly, there isn't anything missing.
- While the software isn't quite as extensive as what you get with other brands, that's a minor criticism
Specifications
- tb
- 500 TB
- gb
- 8 GB
- mm
- 232.2 mm
- mb/s
- 300 MB/s
- watts
- 17 watts
- w
- 17 W
- kg
- 1.3 kg
- hours
- 6 hours
- hz
- 60 Hz
Best for plex
Why 4/5: Well-reviewed overall, with only minor trade-offs. Main caveat reviewers raised: you're paying extra for software complexity tha.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 1.7
- ●Sources
- 2
Backed by 2 credible sources. What reviewers liked: Best NAS Devices 2026 4 NAS Storage Systems Worth Buying. [1 month ago NAS Storage Systems for Plex, 4️⃣ QNAP TS-233 US. The main drawback they noted: you're paying extra for software complexity tha
Pros
- Best NAS Devices 2026 4 NAS Storage Systems Worth Buying. [1 month ago NAS Storage Systems for Plex, 4️⃣ QNAP TS-233 US.
- If you're already invested in QNAP's ecosystem, value QTS's flexibility, and will actually use the NPU for photo management, it's solid.
- For everyone else, it's a nice-to-have that doesn't justify the premium over alternatives.
Cons
- you're paying extra for software complexity tha
Specifications
- tb
- 4 TB
- gb
- 512 GB
- hours
- 6 hours
- mb/s
- 228 MB/s
- w
- 12 W
- mm
- 70 mm
- hrs
- 6 hrs
#5
QNAP TS-464 4-bay Celeron
QNAP
Best for plex and jellyfin
Why 4/5: Well-reviewed overall, with only minor trade-offs. Main caveat reviewers raised: The interface is a bit basic, and the software is a little rough around the edges, with some slight translation errors.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 1.3
- ●Sources
- 2
Backed by 2 credible sources. What reviewers liked: Best for Plex and Jellyfin: QNAP TS-464 If the NAS exists mainly to serve media, the TS-464 is the focused pick. The main drawback they noted: The interface is a bit basic, and the software is a little rough around the edges, with some slight translation errors.
Pros
- Best for Plex and Jellyfin: QNAP TS-464 If the NAS exists mainly to serve media, the TS-464 is the focused pick.
- the performance is excellent, with top-notch hardware inside, generous ports (two 2.5 Gbps, four USB, HDMI, and a PCIe slot), and full upgradability.
Cons
- The interface is a bit basic, and the software is a little rough around the edges, with some slight translation errors.
- QNAP’s QTS is the most feature-dense NAS OS of the group, with the trade-off that it is also the most complex.
Specifications
- mb/s
- 300 MB/s
- gb
- 2 GB
- tb
- 40 TB
- hz
- 60 Hz
#6
Synology DiskStation DS925+ 4-bay
Synology
Best for buyers prioritizing specific tradeoffs
Why 4/5: Well-reviewed overall, with only minor trade-offs. Main caveat reviewers raised: provided you don't need hardware transcoding.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 0.8
- ●Sources
- 1
Backed by 1 credible source. What reviewers liked: Also great (Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central) 3. The main drawback they noted: provided you don't need hardware transcoding.
Pros
- Also great (Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central) 3.
- ✅You need great software.
- The DS925+ is a proven quantity in this category, and it is a standout choice as a media server, provided you don't need hardware transcoding.
Cons
- provided you don't need hardware transcoding.
- Don't buy if: ❌You need transcoding.
- it doesn't have the requisite hardware to handle Plex transcoding
Specifications
- tb
- 500 TB
- gb
- 8 GB
- mm
- 232.2 mm
- hz
- 60 Hz
#7
Synology DiskStation DS925
Synology
Best for buyers prioritizing specific tradeoffs
Why 4/5: Well-reviewed overall, with only minor trade-offs. Main caveat reviewers raised: provided you don't need hardware transcoding.
- ●Evidence Weight
- 0.8
- ●Sources
- 1
Backed by 1 credible source. What reviewers liked: Look, I'm adding the DiskStation DS925+ to this list as it continues to deliver the best software features out of the box. The main drawback they noted: provided you don't need hardware transcoding.
Pros
- Look, I'm adding the DiskStation DS925+ to this list as it continues to deliver the best software features out of the box.
- The DS925+ has all the extras that you need on the software side of things, and with decent built-in memory and plenty of storage, it has a solid foundation.
- the DS925+ does a good job in its own right, it doesn't have the requisite hardware to handle Plex transcoding, so if this is something you absolutely need, you'll need to buy an Intel-powered alternative.
Cons
- provided you don't need hardware transcoding.
- ❌You need transcoding.
- it doesn't have the requisite hardware to handle Plex transcoding
Specifications
- tb
- 500 TB
- gb
- 8 GB
- mm
- 232.2 mm
- hz
- 60 Hz