Primea Reviews is reader-supported. When you buy through our Amazon links we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Rankings are set by our editors and never sold. Learn more

Ranked & Reviewed by Primea Reviews

The 6 Best NAS for Small Businesses of 2026, Ranked & Reviewed

By the Primea Editorial TeamUpdated November 1, 202611 min read6 products ranked

The short answer

The Synology DS925+ is the best NAS for small businesses, with four bays, DSM software, directory sync and Plus-tier support eligibility. The UGREEN DXP4800 Plus offers four bays and a five core Pentium Gold for less. The DS725+ is the expandable two-bay starter, the QNAP TS-264 ships with 8GB of RAM, and the DXP2800 and DS423 are the budget entries.

The Primea Scoreboard

Ranked & Reviewed

01
Best Overall
Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+ (Diskless)
Four bays, mature software and the most room to grow.
Outstanding
Check price
02
Best Value 4-Bay
UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS
Four bays and a five core Pentium Gold for less than Synology.
Excellent
Check price
03
Best Expandable Starter
Synology DS725+ Expandable NAS Storage (2-Bay, Diskless)
Start with two bays and expand without replacing it.
Excellent
Check price
04
Best QNAP Option
QNAP TS-264-8G-US 2-Bay Desktop NAS
A two bay desktop NAS with 8GB RAM already installed.
Very Good
Check price
05
Best Budget Starter
UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2-Bay
An entry-level two bay unit with RAID 1 mirroring.
Very Good
Check price
06
Best Budget 4-Bay
Synology DS423 Family & Business Backup (4-Bay, Diskless)
A value-tier four bay for backup and surveillance.
Very Good
Check price

Small businesses tend to get a NAS wrong at the bay count. Two bays feel generous on day one, but a mirrored pair gives you the capacity of a single drive, and the first time the team outgrows it you are migrating data in the middle of a deadline. Redundancy and growth room cost far less to buy at the start than to retrofit.

We reviewed eight NAS enclosures aimed at small teams and ranked six, scoring them on the Primea framework with bay count, RAID support, software, processor and memory, and business support weighted most. Every unit is diskless, so drive costs sit on top of the price bucket, and none of these replaces an offsite backup. Think about who maintains it, as much as what it costs.

Before you buy

What Actually Matters

Bay count

Each bay holds one drive. A mirrored pair gives you the space of one drive, while four bays allow parity setups with more usable space. Count the bays and decide what RAID level you want, then plan the total capacity you need in two years, not today, since adding bays later usually means replacing the unit. Drive prices fall, but migrations never get cheaper.

RAID level

RAID spreads or copies data across drives so one failure does not lose files. RAID 1 mirrors two drives, and larger arrays use parity. Check the listing for supported RAID types, and remember RAID is not a backup. A deleted file or a fire takes everything, so keep an offsite copy. A second NAS or cloud copy closes the gap.

Software

The software decides how easy it is to set up users, shares and backups. Synology DSM, QNAP QTS and UGREEN's system differ in polish and app support. Read what features the listing names, such as directory sync and cloud backup, and ask which ecosystem your IT contact already knows. Support time is the hidden cost.

CPU and RAM

The processor and memory affect how well the NAS handles several users and apps at once. A listed CPU model and RAM figure are good signs. Look for them in the bullets, as with the DXP4800 Plus's Pentium Gold or the TS-264's 8GB, and be wary when neither is stated. Weak memory shows up the moment two people sync large folders.

Drives sold separately

Diskless means no drives are included, so the real cost is the enclosure plus the drives. Use drives rated for NAS use, which are built for continuous operation. Budget for them on top of the enclosure, and buy a matching set so a failed drive can be replaced with an identical one. Mixed batches complicate recovery.

In-depth reviews

Our Ranked Picks, Reviewed

Best Overall

Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+ (Diskless)

Outstanding

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: Four bays, mature software and the most room to grow.

The DS925+ is a four-bay diskless NAS running Synology DSM, with directory sync support and multi-bay RAID for redundancy. It is a Plus-tier model eligible for business support and can be expanded as storage needs grow, in the $500 and up bucket. Directory sync lets staff log in with existing company credentials, which cuts account chores.

It ranks first because it combines headroom with the most mature software in this group. The UGREEN beats it on raw processor per dollar, but not on ecosystem or support options.

Buy it for a growing team that needs room, support and a stable platform. The caveats are that drives are sold separately and it sits in the highest price bucket, so skip it if budget matters more than ecosystem.

Bays: 4, diskless
Software: Synology DSM
Redundancy: Multi-bay RAID
Support: Plus-tier eligible

What we like

+Four drive bays
+Directory sync support
+Expandable storage
+Business support eligible

Watch out for

−Drives sold separately
−Highest price bucket

Buy it if: Growing teams that need room and support.

Skip it if: Budget matters more than ecosystem.

Best Value 4-Bay

UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS

Excellent

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: Four bays and a five core Pentium Gold for less than Synology.

The DXP4800 Plus is a four-bay diskless NAS with an Intel Pentium Gold 8505 five core CPU, RAID across all bays and cloud backup integration. UGREEN positions it at a value tier against premium four-bay rivals, in the $500 and up bucket. A five-core processor helps when several users hit shared files and run apps at once.

It ranks second because it matches the DS925+ on bay count while offering a stronger listed processor for less money. What it lacks is the track record: UGREEN's software ecosystem is younger than Synology's.

Buy it if you want strong CPU power on a tighter budget. The caveat is the newer software and no included drives, so skip it if your team relies on Synology tools or wants the established support path.

Bays: 4, diskless
CPU: Pentium Gold 8505, 5 core
RAID: All bays
Backup: Cloud integration

What we like

+Five core CPU
+Four bays
+RAID across bays
+Cloud backup support

Watch out for

−Younger software ecosystem
−Drives not included

Buy it if: Teams wanting strong CPU on a tighter budget.

Skip it if: You rely on Synology tools.

Best Expandable Starter

Synology DS725+ Expandable NAS Storage (2-Bay, Diskless)

Excellent

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: Start with two bays and expand without replacing it.

The DS725+ is a two-bay diskless NAS that can be expanded, with Plus-tier support eligibility, private cloud storage and directory sync through DSM, in the $500 and up bucket. An expansion path means you add capacity later without replacing the unit, which spares you a migration.

It ranks third because two bays limit redundancy to a mirrored pair, while the DS925+ offers more headroom. Against the DXP4800 Plus, it trades processing power for the Synology ecosystem and a proper growth route.

Buy it for a small office planning to expand later. The caveats are only two bays and a premium price for the capacity. Skip it if you already need four bays, because you would pay for a unit you outgrow.

Bays: 2, expandable
Software: Synology DSM
Sync: Directory sync
Support: Plus-tier eligible

What we like

+Expandable design
+Directory sync
+Private cloud storage
+Plus-tier support

Watch out for

−Only two bays
−Premium price bucket

Buy it if: Small offices planning to expand later.

Skip it if: You already need four bays.

Best QNAP Option

QNAP TS-264-8G-US 2-Bay Desktop NAS

Very Good

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: A two bay desktop NAS with 8GB RAM already installed.

The QNAP TS-264 is a two-bay desktop NAS with 8GB of RAM included, running QNAP QTS software with directory sync and cloud backup support, in the $200 to $500 bucket. Memory matters when a NAS runs several apps and serves many users, and 8GB already installed saves an upgrade.

It ranks fourth because it lacks the expandability emphasis of the DS725+, but it includes more memory out of the box and costs a bucket less. It also gives you a choice outside Synology.

Buy it if your team prefers QNAP's ecosystem or you want memory included. The caveats are two bays only and a QTS learning curve. Skip it if you want Synology DSM, since the interface and app library differ.

Bays: 2, desktop
RAM: 8GB included
Software: QNAP QTS
Backup: Cloud and directory sync

What we like

+8GB RAM included
+Cloud backup support
+Directory sync
+Lower price bucket

Watch out for

−Two bays only
−QTS learning curve

Buy it if: Teams who prefer QNAP's ecosystem.

Skip it if: You want Synology DSM.

Best Budget Starter

UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2-Bay

Very Good

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: An entry-level two bay unit with RAID 1 mirroring.

The DXP2800 is a two-bay diskless NAS aimed at creators and small teams, with gigabit networking and RAID 1 mirroring at an entry price, in the $200 to $500 bucket. RAID 1 keeps a full copy on a second drive, so one drive can fail without losing files.

It ranks fifth because gigabit networking is standard rather than fast and it offers fewer growth options. Against the TS-264, it costs about the same but lacks listed memory and a stated software ecosystem advantage.

Buy it for a solo business centralizing files. The caveats are the gigabit limit and limited growth. Skip it if you expect to outgrow two bays, because there is no listed expansion path.

Bays: 2, diskless
Network: Gigabit
RAID: RAID 1 mirroring
Price bucket: $200-500

What we like

+Entry-level price
+RAID 1 mirroring
+Creator friendly
+Compact two bays

Watch out for

−Gigabit networking only
−Limited growth

Buy it if: Solo businesses centralizing files.

Skip it if: You expect to outgrow two bays.

Best Budget 4-Bay

Synology DS423 Family & Business Backup (4-Bay, Diskless)

Very Good

Check price on Amazon

Our verdict: A value-tier four bay for backup and surveillance.

The DS423 is a four-bay diskless value-tier Synology with support for video surveillance storage, a photo vault and secure file sharing, in the $200 to $500 bucket. Four bays at that price is the draw, and Surveillance Station support suits an office with cameras.

It ranks last because it is a value model with fewer team features than the Plus-tier DS925+. It undercuts the DS925+ by a bucket but lacks the business support eligibility and the expansion headroom.

Buy it for an office combining backup and cameras. The caveat is the value-tier tooling, so skip it if you want Plus-tier business support, and plan to budget for the drives on top.

Bays: 4, diskless
Tier: Value-tier Synology
Surveillance: Video storage support
Sharing: Secure file sharing

What we like

+Four bays
+Surveillance support
+Photo vault
+Lower price bucket

Watch out for

−Value-tier tooling
−Not plus-tier

Buy it if: Offices combining backup and cameras.

Skip it if: You want plus-tier business support.

Methodology

How We Ranked These

Bay count

More bays allow better redundancy and capacity, so four bay models scored higher.

Software

We compared Synology DSM, QNAP QTS and UGREEN's system on listed features.

Hardware

CPU and RAM were compared where the listing named them.

Expandability

Units with a stated upgrade path scored higher.

Price bucket value

Features were weighed against each bucket.

Every Primea Score uses the same weights: Performance 30% · Build & Materials 20% · Everyday Usability 20% · Value 20% · Owner Satisfaction 10%. Full scoring rules

Buyer's guide

How to Pick the Right One for You

By Team Size

Headcount and growth set how many bays you need.

Team	Our pick
Solo or two people	UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2-Bay
Small office growing	Synology DS725+ Expandable NAS Storage
Team with heavy shared files	Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+
QNAP shops	QNAP TS-264-8G-US 2-Bay Desktop NAS

By Budget

Spend	Our pick
$200-500 (two bay)	UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2-Bay
$200-500 (four bay)	Synology DS423 Family & Business Backup
$200-500 (QNAP)	QNAP TS-264-8G-US 2-Bay Desktop NAS
$500 and up	Synology 4-Bay DiskStation DS925+

Synology vs UGREEN

Synology

Mature DSM software and business support. The DS925+, DS725+ and DS423 are Synology.

UGREEN

More hardware for the money, with a newer software platform. The DXP4800 Plus and DXP2800 are UGREEN.

Most small businesses should default to Synology unless CPU power per dollar is the top priority.

By Use Case

Use	Our pick
Security camera storage	Synology DS423 Family & Business Backup
Directory sync with staff	Synology DS725+ Expandable NAS Storage
Cloud backup	UGREEN NAS DXP4800 Plus 4-Bay NAS
Creative file sharing	UGREEN NAS DXP2800 2-Bay

For First-Time NAS Buyers Specifically

Look for

Simple setup software, RAID support and a clear path to add drives later.

In this ranking

The Synology DS725+ pairs DSM with an expansion path, and the DXP2800 lowers the entry cost.

When to Spend More

Spend more if

Your team will grow, where the DS925+ gives four bays and business support.

Save if

Only a few people share files, where the DXP2800 or TS-264 is enough.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these NAS units include hard drives?+

No. The Synology, QNAP and UGREEN models listed here are diskless, so you buy drives separately and should budget for them on top of the price bucket, because drives often cost as much as the enclosure.

Is RAID the same as a backup?+

No. RAID protects against a drive failure but not deletion, ransomware or fire. Keep a separate backup copy, even on a four-bay unit like the DS925+. A second location is the real safety net.

Which drives should I use?+

Use NAS-rated drives built for continuous operation. Check the maker's compatibility list for the model you choose, since Synology and UGREEN publish their own lists. Mixed brands in one array make recovery harder.

Is a 2-bay NAS enough?+

For a small team, yes. A mirrored pair gives one drive of usable space, so plan capacity accordingly. The DS725+ lets you expand later, while the DXP2800 does not list an expansion path. Mirrored capacity runs out sooner than people expect.

How do I connect staff to the NAS?+

Join it to your network, create user accounts and set shared folders. Directory sync, which the DS925+ and TS-264 list, helps if you use a central login for staff, since it removes duplicate passwords.

Can I move drives to a new NAS later?+

Often within the same brand, but check compatibility. Back up first, and read the maker's migration guide before moving drives between a DS423 and a DS925+, because layouts and firmware must match.

Final take

Pick the DS925+ for a team that expects to grow and wants mature software and support. The DXP4800 Plus is the choice when processor power per dollar matters most, and the DS725+ or TS-264 suits smaller offices. The DXP2800 and DS423 keep costs low. Budget for drives separately, and keep a second copy of important files somewhere else.

More Ranked & Reviewed Guides

The 7 Best Printers for Small Businesses of 2026, Ranked & Reviewed The 7 Best Cordless Phones for Small Businesses, Ranked & Reviewed The 5 Best Document Scanners for Small Businesses of 2026, Ranked & Reviewed