The Best Network Storage Devices For 2024

Piers Anthony By, Piers Anthony
Updated
Best Network Storage Devices
Best Network Storage Devices

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Asustor AS1102T Network Storage

Asustor AS1102T Network Storage is the perfect solution for your personal and professional needs. It features a 10-bit 4K H.265 media transcoding with easy hardware decoding for smooth video playback, realtek RTD1296 1.4 GHz quad-core CPU, and super-fast 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet for ultra-fast network speeds. Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: AMBER X Storage Device

Home Personal Cloud Backup for all your smart devices. With the AMBER X Storage Device you can use any of the optional add-on storage options and have access to your files from anywhere. With a built-in 512GB SSD, there's no need to worry about running out of space with this device. Read Review

3. Best Quality: Buffalo Network Storage Devices

Get twice as fast transfer speeds with 2.5GbE. The Buffalo Network Storage Devices provide easy setup and access to your files from anywhere. Built-in caching technology offers simple and reliable performance, while optimized for organizing, storing, sharing and backing up important files. Read Review

4. Best Efficient: Synology DS220 Network Storage Devices

The Synology DS220 Network Storage Device has two GB DDR4 memory, expandable up to six GB, and is the perfect choice for storing documents and multimedia files. It supports access, sharing and synchronizing your data across different operating systems and devices. Read Review

5. Best Performance: Asustor AS6602T Network Storage Devices

Asustor AS6602T 4GB Large Capacity DDR4 RAM Network Storage Devices For Professionals And Business Users. Expand The Storage Needed Easily, HDMI 2.0a Feature For Unsurpassed 4K HDR Experience. Read Review

Running your business can be challenging at the best of times, but it’s even more so when you don’t have the right tools to help you run things smoothly. Without a solid storage system, it can be difficult keeping track of relevant documents and files as well as access them quickly when you need them most. That’s why it’s important to have a good storage system in place to make sure all your paperwork is organized and accessible whenever you need it.

Even if your company primarily relies on electronic documentation these days, having the right storage system is still an essential part of running a successful business. In this article, we will discuss some of the best network storage devices available on the market today. These devices are not only affordable but also easy to set up and manage. Let’s take a look...

We think the best network storage devices available now is Asustor AS1102T Network Storage. It features an easy-to-use web interface for remote access, LAN backup & restore with local storage, and provides two fast USB 3.0 ports for external drives or other peripherals. At an affordable price, this is the top storage device for you. If you were wanting another option, you can check the AMBER X Storage Device as an alternative. You may relax knowing that its quality is also good per what we researched.

Our Top Picks

TOP Choice #1 Asustor AS1102T Network Storage
Our Score:
9.9
Asustor

Superfast 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet

Uses 1 GB DDR4 – 40% more efficient

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

Realtek RTD1296 Quad-Core 1.4 GHz CPU

Transcode 10-bit 4K H.265 media with hardware decoding easily enables smooth video playback

TOP Choice #2 AMBER X Storage Device
Our Score:
9.7
AMBER X

512GB Built-in SSD Storage with USB for Expandable Storage Options

One-Click Plex and Home Assistant Installation

Total Data Ownership and Control with Zero Required Membership

Anywhere Cloud Access and File Sharing

Easy to Set Up and Use Home-based Personal Cloud Data Backup for All Your Smart Devices

Private and Secure Alternative to Traditional Cloud Services

TOP Choice #3 Buffalo Network Storage Devices
Our Score:
9.5
BUFFALO

2X AS FAST TRANSFER SPEEDS - 2.5GbE gives you twice as fast transfer speeds as 1GbE without needing special cabling.

16 TB Total capacity – 2 Drive Bays ships with RAID 1 (Automatic Backup) = 8 TB usable capacity. Set to RAID 0 to use the full 16 TB.

SMALL OFFICE / HOME OFFICE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.

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.

MADE IN JAPAN - Quality Devices.

SUBSCRIPTION-FREE PERSONAL CLOUD – Store and back up videos, music, and photos and access them from anywhere without paying any monthly storage charges.

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.

24/7 US-BASED SUPPORT - With 3-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.

DIRECT COPY - Back up your devices via USB. Copy photos/videos/files without a computer.

4 Synology  DS220 Network Storage Devices
Our Score:
9.4
Synology

By default, two camera licenses are installed; extra licenses can be purchased (CLP1, CLP4, or CLP8)

Intel dual-core processor with AES-NI hardware encryption engine; 2 GB DDR4 memory (expandable up to 6 GB)

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.

Access, share, and sync your data easily across different operating systems and devices.

Average 15% performance boost to photo indexing and other computing-intensive operations, as well as database response time.

5 Asustor AS6602T Network Storage Devices
Our Score:
9.3
Asustor

3 year warranty, best in class

Features HDMI 2.0a with 10bit 4K hardware decoding, HEVC decoding and VP9 10bit Profile2 decoding for overwhelming 4K HDR Experience

Intel Celeron Quad core 2.0 GHz (burst up 2.70 GHz) CPU with 4GB DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 8GB) for power user and business

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

2x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports. 2x M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen2 SSD ports for fast caching. Bringing Double Performance

6 BUFFALO 3420DN Network Storage Devices
Our Score:
9.2
BUFFALO

FAST DATA TRANSFERS - Native 2.5GbE port for high speeds with no cable upgrade needed

RELIABLE STORAGE W/ EFFORTLESS SETUP: RAID 5 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection to save you time and effort.

REMOTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE - Save time and resources by managing multiple NAS from a single console.

PEACE OF MIND INCLUDED: 3-year warranty (includes hard drive coverage) with 24/7, award-winning US-based support. (Additional warranty options available.)

PURPOSE-BUILT FOR DATA PROTECTION: Features 256-bit drive encryption, a closed system, and flexible replication and backup features to keep your data safe.

MADE IN JAPAN - Quality made data storage

DATA RECOVERY SERVICE – Qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award winning support when registered

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.

PROFESSIONAL GRADE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.

CLOUD INTEGRATION: Sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.

7 WD WDBVBZ0080JCH Network Storage Devices
Our Score:
9.1
Western Digital

Automatic file synching across all your computers

Simplified file and folder sharing

Centralized network storage and access from anywhere

1GB of DDR3 Memory to multitask with ease

High-performance 1.3 GHz dual-core Processor for lag-free streaming

8 BUFFALO 3220DN Network Storage Devices
Our Score:
9.0
BUFFALO

MADE IN JAPAN - Quality made data storage

RELIABLE STORAGE W/ EFFORTLESS SETUP: RAID 1 pre-configured for out-of-the-box protection to save you time and effort.

FAST DATA TRANSFERS - Native 2.5GbE port for high speeds with no cable upgrade needed

DATA RECOVERY SERVICE – Qualifies for free simple logical data recovery with award winning support when registered

REMOTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE - Save time and resources by managing multiple NAS from a single console.

CLOUD INTEGRATION: Sync with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Azure and OneDrive to create a hybrid cloud for extra data security, cost savings, and flexible scalability.

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.)

PROFESSIONAL GRADE NETWORK ATTACHED STORAGE: Optimized to organize, store, share, and back up your important files.

4 TB CAPACITY – 2 pre-tested, NAS-grade hard drives included. Ships in RAID 1 for 2 TB usable capacity; can change to RAID 0 for full 4 TB.

9 QNAP Network Storage Devices
Our Score:
8.9
QNAP

Supports 4 x 3.5/2.5-inch SATA 3Gb/s

USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port; Lockable drive Bays

Use the TR-004 as external storage for NAS backup

USB Type-C Direct Attached Storage (DAS) for Windows, macOS and Linux

Expand the capacity of your QNAP NAS

Seagate IronWolf drives include a robust 3-year Rescue Data Recovery Services plan

Includes a USB Type-C to Type-A connector cable

Hardware RAID supports RAID 0, 1, 5, JBOD, and individual

4 x 4TB Seagate IronWolf drives pre-installed and pre-configured with RAID 5. Hassle-free

10 WD WDBNFA0000NBK  Network Storage Devices
Our Score:
8.8
Western Digital

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

Built-in video transcoding for HD streaming through Plex

Comprehensive security through password protection and AES 256 bit volume encryption

Centralized storage to organize media and improve your workflow

Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API

What to Look For in a best network storage devices?

Until now, numerous customers trust the information and advice we offer them, which means our offers to you are accurate and up to date all the time. This objective is being pursued with tremendous zeal and attention. 

It's necessary to keep in mind the following points for selecting best network storage devices:

Transcoding

What type of processor does your NAS need? NAS drives run dedicated OSes that require a lightweight processor and more RAM. A faster processor and more memory will enable features such as transcoding, which means that any media files can be converted on the fly into a format that's playable by your TV or set-top box. It can also be useful if your videos are a higher resolution than your TV can handle, so look out for the ability to transcode 4K to Full HD in real-time.

Apps

After storage, the next main concern is software and features. We prefer NASes that have an app store where you can download popular apps such as Plex instead of forcing you to use the manufacturer's own media software. NASes also offer apps for Android and iOS, which make it easier to get to your photos, videos, and music from your phone or tablet.

RAID

RAID stands for redundant array of inexpensive disks. RAID can be quite complex but at a basic level, you’ll want to use it to provide redundancy so if a disk fails your data is still safe. Three of the most popular variants are RAID 1, 5, and 6.
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.

Ports And Connections

Don't overlook connectivity. If your priority is to use your NAS as a home video server, it might be worth picking one with an HDMI output like the QNAP TS-251B so you can connect it directly to your TV. And if your TV can't play video from a network source, you'll need a separate media streamer.

Form Factor

The form factor of a computing device affects the design of hardware components that go into the larger unit. For NAS storage devices, form factor usually comes in two variations: rack-mount, and tower type cases. Choosing between these two options is straightforward. For example, rack cases would be suitable for enterprise networks since they have an expandable capacity. Tower type casing is better for consumers or small-to-medium businesses.

Ease Of Use

A NAS is a great option for small businesses that need a solution that can run without much maintenance. Choosing a NAS that can be set up quickly with minimal labor is always a wise decision. For enterprise solutions, higher labor and administrative costs are insignificant when compared with the benefits that a NAS can bring.

Capacity

In simple terms, the more drives you can cram into a NAS the greater its potential storage capacity. In most cases, we suggest something with four or five bays like the Synonology DS-1511. Loaded up with a swag of 1TB or 2TB drives it offers plenty of capacity.
If your needs are more modest then a two-bay unit is also handy and won't break the bank.

FAQs

What is a network storage device?

A network storage device is a device that allows for the storage of digital files and data on a network. It can be used for file sharing, backup, and archiving. Network storage devices can vary in size from a few gigabytes to several terabytes of data.

How does a network storage device work?

Network storage devices are connected to a network and allow for the sharing of files across the network. It is connected to the network via an Ethernet connection or a wireless connection depending on the type of device. Data is stored on the device and can be accessed by multiple computers or devices connected to the network.

What are the benefits of a network storage device?

Network storage devices offer a number of advantages, including the ability to easily share files across a network, access data from multiple locations, and store large amounts of data. Additionally, they can be used to create backups of important files, providing a secure way to store data.

How secure are network storage devices?

Network storage devices can be secured with various security measures, such as user authentication, encryption, and firewall protection. Additionally, they can be configured to provide access to specific users or groups, allowing for granular control over who has access to the data stored on the device.

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About Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony is a freelance writer and computer expert who enjoys helping others get the most out of their technology. He has written extensively about laptops, soundbars, and other computer-related topics, and he currently serves as the editor of The Audio Insights website. When he's not writing or tinkering with his gadgets, Piers can be found spending time with his wife and family.