The Best Home Network Hard Drive For 2024
The Rundown
1. Best Overall: Synology 2 bay NAS DiskStation DS220j
It's designed to do all the things you need and more, with the ability to access and share data with any Windows macOS and Linux computers or mobile devices. The DS220j features Synology's award-winning DiskStation Manager (DSM) software that allows you to create a file server for your household, back up personal data and stream multimedia content from one device. Read Review
2. Best For The Price: WD 8TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra Network WDBVBZ0080JCH-NESN
Your personal and business files are now available wherever you want them, whenever you need them and securely. With the all-new 8TB WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra Network WDBVBZ0080JCH-NESN you'll have all the storage space to do more and get ahead of your competitors. Read Review
3. Best Easy To Use: Synology 2 bay NAS DiskStation DS220+
This powerful NAS offers a lot of features including hardware encryption engine, an Intel dual-core processor with AES-NI hardware encryption engine, 2 GB DDR4 memory (expandable up to 6 GB), and access, share, and sync your data easily across different operating systems and devices. Read Review
4. Best Storage Capacity: BUFFALO LinkStation Network Attached Storage with HDD Hard Drives
BUFFALO LinkStation Network Attached Storage with HDD Hard Drives are a powerful storage device with an incredible range of features that includes high speed data transfer, backup and file sharing. The BUFFALO LinkStation NAS server device is a feature-rich workstation that's perfect for small businesses, schools or home use. Read Review
5. Best User Interface: TERRAMASTER F5-221 NAS Network
With the F5-221 NAS server, get a powerful network server with high-performance hardware that is built for reliability, security and performance. It features an aluminum-alloy shell, intelligent temperature control to reduce noise, and a fan that can be quiet or loud, depending on your needs. Read Review
Hard drive management is one of the most important aspects of creating a functional home network. The drives that store your videos, photos, music and documents are the only way to get all of your files in one place. Without a home network, these files would be trapped on individual devices and computers, making it harder than ever to access them.
Even if you have a single device, hard drive management is an essential part of having a functional home network. Your hard drives will be used as the storage device for your media files and programs. When you have multiple users coming and going through your home network, it’s important to keep things organized so people don’t have trouble finding what they want. You also want to make sure everyone has enough space left on their drives so that no one accidentally erases something important. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about choosing the best hard drive for your home network.
We think the best home network hard drive available now is Synology 2 bay NAS DiskStation DS220j. It is the greatest choice for its high quality because it's designed to do all the things you need and more, with the ability to access and share data with any Windows macOS and Linux computers or mobile devices. If you were wanting another option, you can check the WD 8TB My Cloud EX2 Ultra Network WDBVBZ0080JCH-NESN as an alternative. You may relax knowing that its quality is also good per what we researched.
RELATED: If you're looking for a best budget nas for your home or office, then you've come to the right place. This article is going to tell you everything you need.
Our Top Picks
Integrated media server to support multimedia content streaming. Freely access private cloud files on-the-go and back up mobile photos with iOS and Android apps
Access and share data with any Windows macOS and Linux computers or mobile devices
Compatible Drive Type* (See all supported drives)-3.5 inch SATA HDD, 2.5 inch SATA HDD (with optional 2.5 inch Disk Holder), 2.5 inch SATA SSD (with optional 2.5 inch Disk Holder). Note- "Compatible drive type" indicates drives that have been tested to be compatible with Synology products. This term does not indicate the maximum connection speed of each drive bay
Award-winning DiskStation Manager (DSM) brings intuitive operation flow and reduces learning curve
24/7 file server for your household to store share and backup personal data
Simplified file and folder sharing
High-performance 1.3 GHz dual-core Processor for lag-free streaming
Automatic file synching across all your computers
Centralized network storage and access from anywhere
1GB of DDR3 Memory to multitask with ease
Intel dual-core processor with AES-NI hardware encryption engine; 2 GB DDR4 memory (expandable up to 6 GB)
Average 15% performance boost to photo indexing and other computing-intensive operations, as well as database response time.
Access, share, and sync your data easily across different operating systems and devices.
By default, two camera licenses are installed; extra licenses can be purchased (CLP1, CLP4, or CLP8)
Featured dual 1GbE LAN ports to support network failover, and with Link Aggregation enabled, DS220+ provides over 225 MB/s sequential read and 192 MB/s sequential write throughput. Data can be further protected with RAID 1 disk mirroring to prevent sudden drive failure.
PURPOSE-BUILT STORAGE WITH DATA SECURITY FOCUS – Storage designed to keep your data safe, the NAS features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
HASSLE-FREE INSTALLATION – Hard drive included, and no computer needed for setup. Simply connect the NAS to your router for instant shared network storage for all your devices at the same time. Product is compatible with PC, macOS, Android, and iOS.
SUBSCRIPTION-FREE PERSONAL CLOUD – Store and back up videos, music, and photos and access them from anywhere without paying any monthly storage charges.
SECURELY SHARE FILES WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS – Create individual access of folders to ensure your data remains private while securely share storage space or files with others.
24/7 US-based support, with 2-year warranty, including hard drives.
BACK UP MULTIPLE COMPUTERS & DEVICES – PC backup software included, and you can set up automated backups of data on your computers and mobile devices.
Made in Japan – Quality Devices.
ORGANIZE AND SECURE YOUR DATA – Use NAS as an easy-to-access central storage location. No more searching through different external drives or cloud accounts.
4TB capacity – 1 Drive bay, HDD included.
The F5-221 NAS server adopts AES hardware encryption engine to encrypt shared folders and network data transmission to keep data from unauthorized access.
POWERFUL HARDWARE: the F5-221 NAS storage is equipped with Apollo J3355 2.0GHz dual-core CPU, and 2GB of RAM (expandable up to 4GB). Dual 1GbE LAN ports with each reaching at 119MB/s read and 118MB/s write (network failover / Link Aggregation supported).
An ideal Plex server / media server: real-time hardware transcoding of up to two concurrent 4K video streaming.
Features an aluminum-alloy shell and intelligent temperature control ultra-quiet fan, good in heat dissipation. The F5-221 NAS enclosure is compatible with 3.5" and 2.5" SATA HDD, 2.5" SATA SSD. For better and stable performance, please use dedicated NAS hard drives.
Advanced Btrfs file system featured in the F5-221 5 bay NAS offers 71,680 system-wide snapshots and 1,024 snapshots per shared folder.
Quick, easy setup and a robust Device Manager with My Cloud OS 3
Comprehensive security through password protection and AES 256 bit volume encryption
Built-in video transcoding for HD streaming through Plex
Intel Pentium N3710 Quad-Core 1.6GHz Processor with 4GB DDR3L Memory
Centralized storage to organize media and improve your workflow
Realtek RTD 1296 Quad Core 1.4 GHz CPU with 2GB DDR4 RAM. Affordable and high performance NAS for home and SOHO users
Supports Plex media servers, dozens of backup solutions, cross platform multi-user access, remote access and mobile app. Over 200 unique apps via built-in App Central.
1 x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port, doubles the performance of Gigabit class devices. Features Transcode 10-bit 4K H.265 media with hardware decoding enables unbelievably smooth video playback.
3 year warranty. Asustor will repair or replace any unit that is hardware damaged during the 3-year period so you can feel worry free when using any Asustor product
Compatible with 2.5" or 3.5" SATA SSD/HDD drives up to 36TB (18TB x 2). Expand as much storage as needed with ease
Centralized storage to organize media and improve your workflow
Built-in video transcoding for HD streaming through Plex
Comprehensive security through password protection and AES 256 bit volume encryption
Quick, easy setup and a robust Device Manager with My Cloud OS 3
Intel Pentium N3710 Quad-Core 1.6GHz Processor with 4GB DDR3L Memory
24/7 US-BASED SUPPORT - With 3-year warranty, including hard drives.
SECURELY SHARE FILES WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS – Create individual access of folders to ensure your data remains private while securely share storage space or files with others.
SUBSCRIPTION-FREE PERSONAL CLOUD – Store and back up videos, music, and photos and access them from anywhere without paying any monthly storage charges.
DIRECT COPY - Back up your devices via USB. Copy photos/videos/files without a computer.
4 TB Total capacity – 2 Drive Bays ships with RAID 1 (Automatic Backup) = 2 TB usable capacity. Set to RAID 0 to use the full 4 TB.
MADE IN JAPAN - Quality Devices.
SECURE YOUR PRECIOUS DATA - Storage designed to keep your data safe, the NAS features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
HASSLE-FREE INSTALLATION – Hard drives included, and no computer needed for setup. Simply connect the NAS to your router for instant shared network storage for all your devices at the same time. Product is compatible with PC, macOS, Android, and iOS.
BACK UP MULTIPLE COMPUTERS & DEVICES – PC backup software included, and you can set up automated backups of data on your computers and mobile devices.
SMALL OFFICE / HOME OFFICE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.
PROFESSIONAL GRADE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.
PURPOSE-BUILT FOR DATA PROTECTION: Features 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe.
PEACE OF MIND INCLUDED: 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7, award-winning US-based support. (Additional warranty options available.)
REMOTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE - Save time and resources by managing multiple NAS from a single console.
RELIABLE STORAGE W/ EFFORTLESS SETUP: RAID 5 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection to save you time and effort.
CLOUD INTEGRATION: Sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.
16 TB CAPACITY – 4 pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included. Ships in RAID 5 for 12 TB usable capacity; can change to RAID 6 for more redundancy, or RAID 0 for full 16 TB.
FAST DATA TRANSFERS - Native 2.5GbE port for high speeds with no cable upgrade needed
MADE IN JAPAN - Quality made data storage
DATA RECOVERY SERVICE – Qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award winning support when registered
What Tips Are Recommended To Recognize Which Of best home network hard drive Will Satisfy You Most?
Some people are apprehensive about purchasing best home network hard drive. Numerous factors must be addressed while making a significant purchase. Our market expertise will help you make the best decision as soon as possible.
The thing has been added to the list of products that have been subjected to technical testing and evaluation. Please keep the following points in mind:
Transcoding
Apps
RAID
Whatever RAID you choose, however, don’t consider your NAS to be the only backup of your data. If the box just dies, or if something catastrophic happens like a fire, you’ll still lose all your data. To mitigate this you'll want another external backup, preferably to the cloud.
Capacity
If your needs are more modest then a two-bay unit is also handy and won't break the bank.
Ports And Connections
Form Factor
Ease Of Use
FAQs
What is a home network hard drive?
A home network hard drive is a type of storage device that allows multiple computers to access and share data over a home network. It is typically connected to a router or other networking device and can provide storage for music, video, photos, and other data for multiple users within the home.
How do I install a home network hard drive?
Installing a home network hard drive is relatively straightforward. First, connect the network hard drive to your router. Next, install the necessary software onto each device that you want to access the drive. Finally, configure the network settings on each device to ensure that each can access the drive.
Is a home network hard drive secure?
Yes, a home network hard drive can be secured through the use of passwords and other authentication methods. It is important to ensure that the drive is properly secured in order to protect your data from unauthorized access.
What are the advantages of using a home network hard drive?
There are several advantages to using a home network hard drive. It allows you to have centralized storage for all your data, eliminating the need to keep multiple hard drives or backups. It also makes it easier to share data between multiple users. Additionally, it provides an easy way to protect your data with built-in backup software. Finally, it can help you reduce energy costs since the hard drive is always on and ready to use.
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