Finest NAS drives for Mac 2025

You’re spoilt for selection with regards to Western Digital’s My Cloud vary, with a number of fashions out there for dwelling customers and small companies, in addition to a variety of Skilled and Professional fashions for bigger organizations.

The My Cloud House is a bit more costly than different fashions within the My Cloud vary, however is quick and offers further options similar to assist for the Plex Media Server software program (though that’s most likely not a must have for Mac customers).

It comes with a spread of storage allocations; 8TB ought to be greater than sufficient for many properties, in addition to small workplaces and self-employed customers. The slimline white-and-silver unit is neatly designed and solely measures 2in huge, so it’ll sit simply in your desk or on a shelf near your router with out taking on an excessive amount of house.

There’s additionally a bigger dual-drive mannequin, referred to as the My Cloud House Duo, which homes two matching drives and presents significantly extra storage. That gives RAID 1 mirroring for additional knowledge safety, however if you need extra subtle RAID options, in addition to the flexibility to put in and take away drives your self, you’ll have to step as much as the My Cloud Skilled or My Cloud Professional fashions.

Western Digital all the time does a very good job with Mac assist, and the My Cloud House isn’t any exception, with apps that deal with a spread of duties rapidly and simply. The iOS app can carry out automated backups of your images and movies, whereas the Mac app enables you to use Time Machine on your backups (and there are Mac and Home windows variations of the apps out there too).

There are some good touches too, similar to the flexibility to right-click a folder in your Mac and robotically sync the contents of that folder on to the My Cloud House. That will probably be helpful for individuals who need an additional backup of their present work information or tasks along with the fundamental Time Machine backup. It’s also possible to right-click any file that’s saved on the My Cloud House and ship a obtain hyperlink as a way to rapidly share that file with associates or colleagues.

And, in the event you additionally use a web based backup service, similar to Dropbox, then you possibly can sync the contents of your Dropbox account on to the My Cloud House too. You may even again up images and albums from Fb on to the drive for safekeeping if you wish to.

There are a few tough edges. You may’t merely double-click the drive’s icon on the Mac desktop as a way to open the drive after which drag-and-drop to repeat folders or information on to the drive. For some purpose you must open the app’s pulldown menu and examine the contents of the drive by the app as an alternative.

You may’t create particular person consumer accounts on the Mac both, so that you’re pressured to make use of the app on an iPhone or iPad if you wish to invite another person to create their very own private folders on the My Cloud House drive. Most Mac customers can have an iPhone or iPad, in fact, however we’d wish to see the Mac app up to date to permit you full freedom to manage the My Cloud House along with your Mac as effectively.

Synology’s DiskStation DS925+, presents expandable storage with future-proofing capabilities.The DS925+ resembles its predecessor, the DS923+, with a black design and 4 drive bays for arduous drives or SSDs. Two M.2 slots on the bottom enable for SSD modules for a high-speed cache.

The DS925+ includes a quad-core AMD Ryzen V1500B processor operating at 2.2GHz, two 2.5Gb Ethernet ports for a high-speed community connection, and a most write velocity of as much as 565MB/s and skim velocity of 522MB/s. These speeds depend upon community configuration and drive sort.

Like many Synology NAS drives, the DS925+ is offered ‘unpopulated’, an empty chassis with out drives. The unpopulated drive prices $640/£575, requiring further arduous drives or SSDs. You should choose 2.5-inch SSD or 3.5-inch arduous drives authorized by Synology. These could be purchased from Synology or on-line sellers. 

The DS925+ has 4 bays that may maintain as much as 20TB of arduous drives, offering a most of 80TB of storage (with RAID choices supported). An growth module referred to as the DX525 could be linked to additional improve storage. It prices $449/£467 and provides 5 drive bays, giving a most of 180TB of storage. USB-A (3.2) ports on the back and front panels enable connecting exterior drives.

Synology’s {hardware} design is environment friendly, however the software program is complicated for brand spanking new customers. The field features a QR code that results in prolonged, difficult Assist information on Synology’s web site, which may simply confuse first-time NAS customers. The DS Finder app, out there for iOS and Android, can detect the DS925+ when linked to the workplace community. Nevertheless, it solely suggests utilizing an internet browser to obtain and set up DiskStation Supervisor (DSM) software program, which doesn’t work both. It then prompts customers to obtain a separate desktop app referred to as Synology Assistant, which initially fails however offers ideas for adjusting encryption settings. 

After putting in DSM, customers can swap again to the DS Finder app on their iPad to finish the setup course of. The app additionally features a QuickConnect possibility for distant entry, permitting customers to entry information as a ‘personal cloud’ when away from the workplace.

Sadly, the DS Finder app requires further apps for file administration, images, and different options. Synology ought to enhance its documentation and simplify its app choice to make it extra user-friendly for small companies and residential employees with out IT assist.

The compact DS925+ is appropriate for small companies or workplaces, with growth choices for future storage. Nevertheless, its software program is unorganised, so it’s finest fitted to skilled networkers organising a NAS drive.notably lethal.

The TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus is an 8-bay/slot NVMe NAS field with an 8-core Intel Core I3 CPU, 32-execution unit GPU (a part of the CPU), 16GB of DRAM, and 10Gbe ethernet connectivity.

Ports embrace 10Gbe ethernet, three 10Gbps USB ports (two Kind-A, one Kind-C), and an HDMI port for diagnostics fairly than direct video output.

It’s 7-inch tall, by 2.25-inch huge, and 5.5-inch. It’s not notably hefty, weighing only one pound, 10 ounces with eight SSDs put in. The eight included warmth sinks add one other 5 ounces in the event you want them (that is determined by how a lot site visitors the fan-cooled field is subjected to).

It opens through a single thumb screw and rests on rubber ft. It’s secure regardless of its vertical orientation, however you would possibly wish to lay it on its facet. After all, SSDs aren’t as delicate as arduous drives that usually inhabit NAS bins, so a tumble doubtless wouldn’t be catastrophic.

NAS/server options embrace safety, file sharing, media streaming, BitTorrent downloads, video surveillance, Docker and VM internet hosting. These all require putting in purposes from TerraMaster. There are quite a few backup options out there, and the File Supervisor enables you to add distant folders from Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, and Amazon S3/S3-compatibles.

The working system, TOS 6.0, isn’t fairly as refined as these provided by QNAP and Synology. I couldn’t run file supervisor or anything whereas putting in an app, for instance.

Additionally, this system didn’t register a deleted storage pool, an added on-line vacation spot, or a brand new quantity instantly. I needed to reboot every time to get adjustments to register.

Regardless of this, I discovered TOS 6 enticing, decently intuitive, straightforward to make use of, and secure. However it may use some fine-tuning (and multi-tasking), even when not one of the points are notably lethal.

The widespread use of cloud storage companies similar to iCloud and Google Drive signifies that NAS drives aren’t as in style as they was, and Synology is without doubt one of the few corporations nonetheless making NAS drives that cater to the SOHO market (small workplace/dwelling workplace) with its DiskStation vary. Synology is increasing its product vary with the introduction of the BeeStation.

The BeeStation seems like a reasonably standard desktop arduous drive, and it offers 4TB of storage so that you’ve obtained loads of room on your work or private information. Like most NAS drives it makes use of an Ethernet port to connect with your property or workplace community, however when you’ve linked it to your Wi-Fi router, you possibly can merely scan a QR code along with your iPhone or iPad to connect with the drive remotely and set it up utilizing an internet browser (though you’ll want to offer an e mail deal with to arrange your Synology account first).

You might be then prompted to obtain two cell apps referred to as BeePhotos and BeeFiles, which, because the names recommend, assist you to back-up images and different information onto the BeeStation. As soon as the drive is about up, you possibly can log in through an internet browser in your Mac, after which obtain the BeeStation desktop app for Macs (operating macOS 12 or later) and Home windows PCs.

These apps present loads of helpful options, together with the flexibility to robotically add images and movies out of your cell gadgets onto the BeeStation. You may share information with associates, household or colleagues, and sync particular folders in your Mac with the BeeStation. Nevertheless, these apps generally is a bit difficult to make use of – they have a tendency to throw numerous settings and data onto the display screen, and the Assist information on Synology’s web site use numerous techno-jargon that could be complicated for much less skilled customers. Mac customers, as an illustration, will discover that directions for utilizing the BeeStation with Time Machine are hidden inside a fairly convoluted Assist file about ‘native entry’ settings.

So it might take a bit of work to get the BeeStation correctly arrange, however its skill to offer each on-line storage for cell gadgets and a NAS drive on your dwelling or workplace community makes it a really versatile back-up machine for dwelling and small enterprise customers.

Western Digital’s My Cloud House drive offers a fast and simple possibility for dwelling customers who aren’t acquainted with NAS drives and networking expertise. The truth is, the corporate doesn’t even name it a ‘NAS drive’, choosing the extra user-friendly ‘private cloud’ label as an alternative. (When you really feel a bit extra comfy with jargon similar to NAS and RAID, you would possibly wish to step as much as WD’s ‘skilled’ vary with the My Cloud EX2 Extremely as an alternative.)

The EX2 Extremely is a no-compromises NAS drive with further options and customisation choices, whereas remaining inexpensive sufficient for dwelling customers or self-employed individuals, similar to photographers or designers, who want a very dependable backup drive for vital work information.

It’s a ‘two-bay’ drive that holds two separate arduous drives, and lets you take away the highest panel so you possibly can take away the drives for repairs or including extra storage sooner or later. You should buy the EX2 Extremely with a pair of drives pre-installed, with a variety of costs relying on the storage you choose.

WD contains its high-performance Crimson Drives and 1GB of reminiscence to assist the EX2 Extremely multi-task when completely different persons are utilizing the drive on the community on the identical time. There’s a Gigabit Ethernet port for connecting to your community, and the EX2 Extremely additionally has two USB ports that assist you to join an exterior USB drive for extra storage.

Alternatively, you have got the choice of shopping for the EX2 Extremely ‘unpopulated’ – with no drives in any respect – after which offering your individual drives to fit your explicit wants. That is the most suitable choice in the event you suppose you would possibly wish to add additional storage sooner or later, and set up is very easy: the highest panel merely pops open on the press of a button to disclose the interior drive bays.

Utilizing two separate arduous drives additionally means the EX2 Extremely can work as a ‘RAID’ drive, with both RAID 0 – which improves efficiency by splitting information throughout each drives (referred to as ‘striping’) – or RAID 1 ‘mirroring’, which makes separate copies of your information on every drive for additional reliability. If you’d like much more safeguards on your vital information, there’s additionally an choice to again up knowledge from the EX2 Extremely on to an exterior arduous drive linked to one among its USB ports.

Regardless of all these additional options, organising the EX2 Extremely remains to be very simple, because the drive helps Time Machine for robotically backing up information out of your Mac. There’s additionally a My Cloud app for iOS/iPadOS and Android that lets you again up and share information utilizing non-Apple gadgets as effectively.

The app offers distant entry to the drive over the web, and there’s an internet browser interface additionally out there for Macs and PCs, which permits extra superior customers to configure RAID settings and options such because the FTP server – and even to make use of it as an ‘iTunes Server’ for streaming music throughout your community.

It’s price testing the adjustments made by the
My Cloud OS 5 software program replace, nevertheless; this provides a number of new options, however reduces compatibility with some net companies.

Buffalo’s LinkStation 220D is a flexible and inexpensive NAS drive that’s appropriate for each dwelling and enterprise customers. However, as we’ve seen with Buffalo up to now, its merchandise generally lack the easy ease of use that Mac and iOS customers take with no consideration.

The LinkStation 220D is a dual-bay NAS drive that homes two separate arduous drives. You should buy it ‘unpopulated’ – with no drives in any respect – after which present the drives that you simply wish to use for your self. Alternatively, you should buy it with 2TB, 4TB or 8TB.

There’s additionally a dearer mannequin referred to as the 220DR that’s designed to be used with Western Digital’s high-speed Crimson drives, however the usual 220D mannequin that we evaluate right here ought to be completely satisfactory for many properties and small companies.

The twin-bay setup additionally means you need to use the LinkStation as a RAID drive, supporting both RAID 0 for max efficiency, or RAID 1 for max knowledge safety (storing separate copies of your knowledge on each drives). Future upgrades are easy as effectively, as you possibly can rapidly take away the entrance panel of the LinkStation and pull out the drives by their handles, with no screws or instruments required. There’s additionally a USB port on the again of the LinkStation that can be utilized to make further backups to an exterior USB drive for additional security.

Getting began is sort of simple, because the 4TB LinkStation that we examined robotically confirmed up on our workplace community as soon as we linked it to our router with an Ethernet cable. That allowed us to easily drag-and-drop information onto the LinkStation for fast backups, however issues get a bit extra difficult while you begin to transfer past the fundamentals. The LinkStation does work with Time Machine so as to again up your Macs over the community, however organising Time Machine and a ‘shared folder’ on your backups proved fairly difficult.

Buffalo’s NAS Navigator app for Macs lets you view the LinkStation in your community and shows primary data, similar to its IP deal with. Nevertheless, utilizing some other options requires you to open up an internet browser as a way to view the LinkStation’s net interface.

This does embrace quite a lot of helpful options, together with Time Machine assist, distant ‘net entry’ for while you’re away from dwelling or the workplace, BitTorrent downloads, and the flexibility to make use of the LinkStation as an iTunes server for streaming your music throughout the community. However this browser interface may be very difficult and gained’t be straightforward for non-technical customers to grasp – and Buffalo’s 125-page jargon-heavy PDF guide doesn’t actually make life any simpler.

And neither do Buffalo’s cell apps. Buffalo offers two separate apps for iOS gadgets: Smartphone Navigator for primary setup, and WebAccess to offer entry to your information through Wi-Fi while you’re out and about.

These apps are getting on a bit, and a few customers have complained that they’re unreliable. The truth is, the apps appeared to run on our workplace iPhone and iPad with none issues, however they’re nonetheless fairly difficult and unhelpful for individuals who aren’t acquainted with NAS drives and networking expertise.

So whereas the LinkStation is an effective possibility for extra skilled dwelling or enterprise customers who already know a bit about NAS drives, it’s most likely not the most suitable choice for first-time customers who’re nonetheless studying the ropes.