The Best NAS for a Home Media Server (2026)

Quick answer: The best overall pick is the UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus ($656.99 diskless), which pairs an Intel Pentium Gold 8505 chip, Intel Quick Sync video transcoding, and a 10GbE port. If you want the lowest upfront bill, the TerraMaster F4-425 delivers four bays and hardware transcoding for $364.99 diskless. For demanding multi-stream setups, the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro ($730.99) packs an eight-core Intel Core i3-N305 and 32GB of DDR5 RAM.

The real divide between home media servers is hardware transcoding. If your NAS lacks an integrated GPU that supports video conversion, a single remote stream can stall the CPU. Before buying, figure out how many 4K streams you plan to transcode outside your house, decide whether you want four bays or two, and remember that nearly every enclosure here requires buying hard drives separately.

How they compare

1. UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus: Best overall

• CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 8505 (12th Gen), 5 cores / 6 threads
• Bays: 4x SATA (3.5in / 2.5in) + 2x M.2 NVMe
• RAM: 8GB DDR5 pre-installed, expandable to 64GB
• Network: 1x 10GbE + 1x 2.5GbE RJ-45
• Video out: HDMI, 4K
• Max capacity: 144TB (4x 32TB SATA + 2x 8TB M.2)
• RAID: JBOD / Basic / 0 / 1 / 5 / 6 / 10
• Noise: 29-34dB in quiet mode (UGREEN)
• Warranty: 2 years

The UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus is a four-bay NAS built around a 12th-generation Intel Pentium Gold 8505 chip. It is made for anyone who wants to stream high-bitrate media outside the house without running into buffering issues. UGREEN notes the processor supports Intel Quick Sync Video for hardware transcoding, and NASCompares reported that this chip performs exceedingly well with Plex Media Server. You also get a built-in 10GbE port alongside a 2.5GbE jack, four SATA bays, and two M.2 NVMe slots, giving you up to 144TB of raw storage.

The enclosure sells for $656.99 diskless on UGREEN's site and at Micro Center, down from a $729.99 list price. Disks are not included, though UGREEN explicitly confirms compatibility with standard drives from Western Digital, Seagate, and Toshiba. The main hurdle is the software. ITPro's February 2026 review called UGOS Pro a bit lacking, pointing out that Plex was absent from the App Center. You also get 8GB of pre-installed RAM and a two-year warranty, which is one year shorter than Synology offers on rival hardware.

Video review: The UGREEN NASync DXP4800 Plus NAS Review (EVERYTHING!) by NASCompares

2. TerraMaster F4-424 Pro: Best for 4K remote streaming

• CPU: Intel Core i3-N305, 8 cores / 8 threads, burst up to 3.8GHz
• Bays: 4x SATA (3.5in / 2.5in) + 2x M.2 2280 NVMe (PCIe 3.0 x1)
• Network: 2x 2.5GbE RJ-45 (no 10GbE)
• USB: 2x USB 3.2 host ports, 10Gbps each
• Max capacity: 88TB (22TB x4)
• Noise: 21.0 dB(A) at 1m (TerraMaster spec)
• Drives included: No - ships diskless

The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro is a dedicated four-bay media hub for households that frequently transcode multiple 4K streams to remote phones, tablets, and hotel TVs. It runs on an eight-core Intel Core i3-N305 processor paired with 32GB of DDR5 memory right out of the box. Android Police called the hardware beastly for a four-bay unit, while Neowin described it as the most powerful media-class four-bay model on the market. TerraMaster publishes an official hardware transcoding engine spec covering H.264, H.265, and VC-1 up to 4K resolution at 60fps.

You will pay $730.99 diskless for the 32GB model at B&H Photo and TerraMaster, or $699.99 for a 16GB variant. The box holds up to 88TB across four SATA bays, plus two M.2 NVMe slots, drawing 33W active and 13W in hibernation. The limits are around expansion and software. That 32GB of memory fills the single slot, which is the system ceiling. There is no 10GbE port or PCIe expansion slot, and TerraMaster's TOS operating system has drawn past criticism over security and overall interface polish.

Video review: Terramaster F4-424 Pro PLEX Tests - 8K, 4K and 1080p by NASCompares

3. TerraMaster F4-425: Best budget pick

• Bays: 4x SATA (3.5in HDD, 2.5in HDD, 2.5in SSD). No M.2 slots
• RAM: 4GB DDR4 non-ECC SODIMM in 1 slot; 16GB maximum
• Network: 1x 2.5GbE RJ-45
• USB: 2x 10Gbps + 1x 5Gbps, plus 1x HDMI
• Max capacity: 120TB (30TB x4)
• Drives included: No - ships diskless
• Street price: $364.99 diskless (TerraMaster store, read 2026-09-22)

The TerraMaster F4-425 is an entry-level four-bay network storage enclosure tailored for buyers who want an affordable local media library. Powered by a four-core Intel Celeron N5095 processor, it gives you four SATA drive bays without demanding a steep upfront investment. TerraMaster includes an official hardware transcoding engine spec that supports H.264, H.265, and VC-1 video at up to 4K resolution and 60fps. NASCompares reviewed this unit alongside its two-bay sibling in March 2026 as an accessible starting point for budget-minded home server builders.

The bare enclosure costs $364.99 on the TerraMaster store, making it the cheapest four-bay route here. You can install up to 120TB using four 30TB drives, which you supply yourself. The trade-offs sit squarely in the hardware margins. You get 4GB of DDR4 RAM in a single slot that caps out at 16GB, a solitary 2.5GbE network jack, and zero M.2 slots for solid-state cache. The N5095 chip also lacks the muscle to manage several heavy simultaneous 4K streams at once.

Video review: Terramaster F4-425 & F2-425 NAS - Should You Buy? by NASCompares

4. QNAP TS-464: Best for upgrading later

• Bays: 4x 3.5in SATA 6Gb/s + 2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 x1
• Network: 2x 2.5GbE RJ-45
• Video out: 1x HDMI 2.1, up to 4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
• USB: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps) Type-A, 2x USB 2.0
• Street price: $639.00 diskless (B&H Photo, in stock, read 2026-09-22)

The QNAP TS-464 is a four-bay enclosure built for people who want room to expand their local network down the road. It earns this place because it is the only four-bay unit in our group carrying an open PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot. That gives you an upgrade path to 10GbE networking, faster storage cards, or dedicated accelerators without replacing the whole enclosure. Android Police gave it an 8/10 score, praising its HDMI output and noting the processor stays snappy while Plex is running. QNAP also provides a first-party Plex installer in its App Center.

The issue is the price on older silicon. B&H Photo lists the diskless TS-464 at $639.00, which buys you an Intel Celeron N5095 from 2021. Competitors offer newer chips for similar money. QNAP also publishes no noise rating, and power draw sits at 40.536W active and 21.618W in standby with all bays populated. You get two 2.5GbE ports, two M.2 NVMe slots, and 8GB of DDR4 memory that tops out at 16GB across two slots. It handles hardware transcoding well, but you are paying current prices for older architecture.

Video review: QNAP TS-464 NAS - 2 Years Later by NASCompares

5. UGREEN NASync DXP2800: Best two-bay starter

• CPU: Intel N100 (12th Gen N series), 4 cores / 4 threads
• Bays: 2x SATA (3.5in / 2.5in) + 2x M.2 NVMe
• RAM: 8GB DDR5 pre-installed, expandable to 16GB
• Network: 1x 2.5GbE RJ-45
• Video out: HDMI, 4K at 60Hz
• Max capacity: 80TB (2x 32TB SATA + 2x 8TB M.2)
• RAID: JBOD / Basic / 0 / 1
• Noise: 29-34dB in quiet mode (UGREEN)
• Warranty: 2 years

The UGREEN NASync DXP2800 is a compact two-bay box aimed at small households starting their first personal media collection. Powered by an Intel N100 processor with Quick Sync Video, it easily handles 4K hardware transcoding for remote playback. Neowin called it a full two-bay experience for a low price, and 81 percent of the 167 customer reviews on UGREEN's store give it five stars. Alongside the two SATA drive bays, you get two M.2 NVMe slots for flash storage, plus an HDMI port pushing 4K at 60Hz straight to a display.

UGREEN's store lists the diskless unit at $389.99, down from a $439.99 list price. Running costs stay minimal, drawing only 16.38W with active drives and 5.24W during hibernation. The tradeoff is capacity. With two drive bays running RAID 1, pairing two 10TB drives gives you just 10TB of usable room. RAM caps at 16GB, and software maturity remains a hurdle. As ITPro noted in February 2026, the native UGOS Pro App Center still lacked a dedicated Plex package, requiring extra work to install.

Video review: Trying My First Ever NAS - UGREEN NAS DXP2800 Review by Simon's Reviews

6. Synology DS925+: Best software

• CPU: AMD Ryzen V1500B, 4 cores / 8 threads, 2.2GHz, 64-bit
• Network: 2x 2.5GbE RJ-45
• Noise: 20.5 dB(A) idle with SATA drives (Synology)
• Drives included: No - ships diskless
• Warranty: 3 years, extendable to 5
• Street price: $749.99 diskless (B&H Photo, in stock, read 2026-09-22)

The Synology DS925+ is a four-bay NAS aimed at households that prioritize dependable backups and polished software over on-the-fly video conversion. Synology's DSM platform leads the market for stability, backup utilities, and long-term OS maintenance. SpaceRex called it a great NAS while asking if buyers should pull the trigger, and Android Central labeled it a terrific unit marred by limitations. It is exceptionally quiet, measuring just 20.5 dB(A) at idle. You can also expand it up to nine total bays using a DX525 expansion unit down the line.

The catch is severe for media enthusiasts: there is no hardware transcoding. The AMD Ryzen V1500B processor lacks an integrated GPU, meaning every transcode hammers the CPU. B&H Photo lists the diskless unit at $749.99, making it the most expensive pick on this list. It ships with 4GB of ECC DDR4 memory, expandable to 32GB. Furthermore, Synology's DSM 7.3 drive compatibility rules still prevent you from creating brand-new storage pools or read caches with unlisted, third-party M.2 NVMe solid-state drives.

Video review: DS925+ REVIEW - A great NAS, but should you buy it? by SpaceRex

7. Mini PC + TerraMaster D4-320 DAS: Best DIY route

• Max capacity: 128TB in the DAS (32TB x4)
• Noise: D4-320 rated 21.0 dB(A) (TerraMaster spec)
• Drives included: No - the enclosure and the mini PC both ship empty

Pairing an Intel mini PC with a direct-attached storage enclosure is the route for anyone who refuses to let a NAS brand manage their media setup. SomeTechGuy's May 2025 build guide demonstrates this setup using a mini PC alongside a TerraMaster DAS to handle 4K transcoding. liliputing's review confirms the Intel N150 processor supports Quick Sync hardware-accelerated video decoding alongside 4K output at 60Hz. The four-bay D4-320 enclosure links over 10Gbps USB Type-C, reaching up to 1,016 MB/s in TerraMaster tests with four 8TB drives.

The downside is the total bill. On September 22, 2026, the TerraMaster store priced the D4-320 at $170.99, while Beelink listed the pre-order EQ14 mini PC at $385.00. That puts hardware costs around $556 before adding storage, which is well above an entry-level four-bay prebuilt box. The enclosure also has no built-in RAID logic. Your host operating system must handle drive redundancy, and any connection drops across the external USB interface will take your entire storage pool offline unexpectedly.

Video review: $460 Self Build 6 Bay NAS / Media server with 4k Transcode - Full Guide by SomeTechGuy

8. Beelink ME mini: Best silent, all-SSD build

• RAM: 16GB LPDDR5-4800, soldered, not upgradable
• System storage: 64GB eMMC onboard
• Video out: HDMI, 4K at 60Hz
• Max capacity: 24TB across the six M.2 slots (Beelink)
• Size: 99 x 99 x 99mm, with the power supply built in

The Beelink ME mini is built for living spaces where traditional hard drive chatter would be unwelcome. Tested by Lon.TV, TechRadar, and Liliputing, this tiny 99mm cube ditches spinning disks entirely for six M.2 2280 NVMe storage slots. Hostbor rated the unit 7.8 out of 10, praising its silent operation and giving it a 9.0 mark for power efficiency. Liliputing confirmed the fan stayed whisper quiet while running Jellyfin on the 6W Intel N150, which provides Quick Sync hardware decoding alongside 4K video output over HDMI.

Pricing starts at $329.00 on Beelink's US store for a base model using an Intel N95 chip with 64GB eMMC storage and no SSDs included. Models using the faster N150 chip with a bundled 1TB SSD start at $509.00 with dual 2.5GbE network ports, or $525.00 for pre-orders with 5GbE. The primary trade-off is the strict 24TB total capacity limit, soldered 16GB memory, and the steep price per terabyte of buying multiple solid-state drives.

Video review: Beelink ME Mini NAS / Server Review - Six NVME Slots for Compact Storage by Lon.TV

Which drives to put in it

Almost none of these media servers ship with storage included, meaning you need to account for disks in your overall setup budget. When buying drives for continuous streaming and storage pools, choose drives specifically engineered for multi-bay enclosures rather than standard desktop drives.

Seagate IronWolf Pro 24TB (ST24000NT002)

This 24TB drive ($859.99 on seagate.com) suits builders who want to max out a four-bay NAS right away and never open the bays again. It offered the lowest cost per terabyte among Pro-grade disks on the day ($35.83/TB) and includes a five-year warranty with three years of data recovery coverage.

• Interface: SATA III 3.5in

Check price at Best Buy

Seagate IronWolf 10TB (ST10000VN000)

At $329.99 ($33.00/TB on seagate.com), the non-Pro IronWolf 10TB is the most affordable route per terabyte for a dedicated NAS drive. Rated for one to eight bays and backed by a three-year warranty and recovery plan, it is ideal for filling bays incrementally as storage needs grow.

• Rated for: 1-8 bay NAS systems
• Interface: SATA III 3.5in

Check price at Best Buy

WD Red Plus 12TB (WD120EFGX)

Listed at $538.99 at B&H Photo ($44.92/TB), this 7200 RPM drive is for buyers seeking Western Digital hardware outside Seagate's line. It uses conventional magnetic recording (CMR), features a 180TB/year workload rating, supports up to eight bays, and comes with Western Digital's three-year limited warranty.

• Recording: CMR, 7200 RPM on the 12TB WD120EFGX
• Workload rating: 180TB/year, 1,000,000 hours MTBF (WD datasheet)
• Designed for: RAID-optimised NAS systems with up to 8 bays

Check price at Amazon

How we picked

We did not run, open, or measure power on any of these enclosures ourselves. Instead, we pulled details straight from manufacturer datasheets, Synology documentation, and Plex compatibility guides. We also cross-checked coverage from hands-on outlets like NASCompares, SpaceRex, and Lon.TV, then verified retail prices across B&H Photo, Micro Center, and direct storefronts on September 22, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to pay for Plex Pass to run a NAS media server?

Yes, if you want hardware transcoding. Plex's documentation confirms that hardware-accelerated streaming is a premium feature requiring an active Plex Pass subscription, with exceptions only for the NVIDIA SHIELD and WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 and PR4100. As of September 22, 2026, Plex Pass costs $6.99 monthly, $69.99 annually, $249.99 for five years, or $749.99 for lifetime access, while a Remote Watch Pass costs $2.99 monthly or $29.99 annually. Local streaming on Plex remains free, whereas Jellyfin supports Intel Quick Sync and other hardware decoders without any subscription or licence.

Can I still use my own hard drives in a Synology in 2026?

Yes, you can use third-party spinning disks and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. Synology's DSM 7.3 drive-compatibility table confirms that unlisted HDDs and 2.5-inch SATA SSDs are supported for new installations, storage pool creation, and migration on DS Plus desktop models. However, unlisted M.2 NVMe SSDs remain restricted to migrations from an existing Synology system, meaning you cannot use them to create a new storage pool or cache. These policies apply to systems from 2025 onward, leaving older units like the DS224+ and DS423+ unaffected.

Which of these will actually transcode 4K HDR to a phone?

Every model in this roundup features an Intel GPU capable of Quick Sync transcoding, except the Synology DS925+. TerraMaster explicitly rates the F4-424 Pro and F4-425 for up to 4K 60fps hardware transcoding across formats like H.264 and H.265, while QNAP and UGREEN document Quick Sync support via their Intel chips. Synology's DS925+ uses an AMD Ryzen V1500B chip with no integrated GPU and lists no hardware transcoding engine. Plex notes that HEVC encoding works best on 7th-generation Intel processors or newer, and web playback triggers tone mapping on 10-bit HDR files.

How much will a NAS add to my power bill?

According to official manufacturer spec sheets with disks installed, the UGREEN DXP2800 draws 16.38W active and 5.24W hibernating, while the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro measures 33.0W active and 13.0W hibernating. Synology rates the DS925+ at 37.91W during access and 12.33W hibernating, and QNAP rates the TS-464 at 40.536W typical operating and 21.618W in standby. The UGREEN DXP4800 Plus draws 42.36W active and 18.12W hibernating, while the TerraMaster D4-320 DAS lists 40.8W active and 3.7W hibernating. These figures come directly from vendor documentation rather than independent lab tests.

How loud are these in a living room?

Synology rates the DS925+ at 20.5 dB(A) idle with SATA drives, while TerraMaster lists the F4-424 Pro, F4-425, and D4-320 DAS at 21.0 dB(A), measured with two drives in standby against a 17.3 dB(A) room. The two-bay TerraMaster F2-425 drops to 19.0 dB(A), whereas UGREEN lists 29 to 34 dB in quiet mode for its DXP2800 and DXP4800 Plus enclosures. QNAP does not publish a noise rating for the TS-464. The all-SSD Beelink ME mini contains no mechanical drives, with reviewers at Liliputing and Hostbor describing it as whisper quiet or completely silent.

Do any of these come with hard drives?

None of the dedicated NAS units include hard drives. UGREEN, TerraMaster, QNAP, and Synology sell their enclosures completely diskless, requiring you to purchase storage separately. The Beelink ME mini sells a diskless base model for $329.00, while its $509.00 and $525.00 configurations include a 1TB SSD. Disks often cost more than the chassis: four 10TB Seagate IronWolf drives priced at $329.99 each totaled $1,319.96 on September 22, 2026.

What about the Ubiquiti UNAS Pro?

The Ubiquiti UNAS Pro offers seven bays for $499 from Ubiquiti or $538.00 at B&H, but its hardware makes it unsuited as a standalone media server. It uses an ARM Cortex-A57 processor, which NASCompares noted limits transcoding workloads and lacks a native Plex Media Server package. It is also an enterprise 2U rackmount unit with loud cooling fans designed for server racks. While functional as network storage feeding another server, Ubiquiti introduced successor hardware including the UNAS Pro 4 and UNAS Pro 8 in September 2025.

Is building it myself still cheaper?

Building your own setup is no longer the cheaper route in 2026. Pairing a TerraMaster D4-320 four-bay DAS ($170.99) with an Intel N150 Beelink EQ14 mini PC ($385.00) totals about $556, compared to $364.99 for an all-in-one TerraMaster F4-425 with an Intel N5095 chip and 4K transcoding. The custom route is purely about software control, letting you run Jellyfin without subscriptions or avoid vendor drive whitelists. Keep in mind the D4-320 lacks built-in RAID hardware, leaving drive redundancy to your host operating system.

Some links in this article are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. This commercial relationship never affects our rankings, and no manufacturer paid to appear: only 5 of the 11 products covered are in our affiliate network, and our top three picks earn us nothing while lower-ranked models do. All prices were recorded on September 22, 2026, and will fluctuate over time.