Are you in the market for a new NAS? While at one point in time, Synology was a default choice, these days it's not so simple.Sometimes Synology is the right pick, and other times you should go with something else entirely—like UniFi.Synology used to be the king of the castle for network attached storage Sadly, tenure doesn't equate to best At one point in time, the automatic recommendation for "I need a NAS" was Synology.
I have told countless people to buy Synology units because they're genuinely good.I recommend people buy Synology NAS systems if they're just starting out.This automatic recommendation comes from Synology's multi-decade history of making some of the industry's most useful and easy-to-use NAS (network attached storage) servers.
The problem is, Synology has somewhat pulled back on its innovation as of late.It's almost like they got comfortable with their crown as "This is the NAS to buy" and just decided to not really put a ton of effort in anymore.So, I no longer to recommending Synology.
Depending on what other networking hardware you have, what your budget is, or what your needs are, there might be a better option out there for you now.For instance, if you already have a UniFi networking setup, the best option for a NAS in your homelab might not be Synology, but, instead, UniFi.UniFi's latest NAS hardware is actually really solid UniFi makes more sense when your network is already UniFi UniFi has made NAS hardware for a few years now, but the NAS systems haven't always been all that good.
Lately, however, the NAS hardware has been becoming better and better.UniFi's NAS lineup goes from an affordable $199 to a pretty pricey $3,999.The main difference between the price points is how many bays are available, connectivity options, and RAM.
Realistically speaking, the power across the lineup isn't that different, with all models using ARM processors ranging from the A55 up to the N2.This comes from the NAS systems being focused on one thing and one thing only: storage.While many NAS servers today are focused on trying to do everything, like run Plex, Docker, and more, UniFi is focusing just on storage here—and that's a good thing.
Sometimes a single-purpose system is exactly what you need.Plus, the integrations with UniFi's ecosystem run quite deep.You can sign into the platform using existing UniFi credentials, manage it from the same UniFi portal you use to control your network, and more.
The management of UniFi's NAS systems is actually where things become super simple.If you already have a UniFi network and are familiar with how things work, then creating new shared drives, adding users, and other NAS management will come naturally to you—all without having to try to remember another IP address or how to use yet another operating system.Before buying any NAS, always evaluate what else is out there Just because Synology used to be best doesn't mean they still are If you have a UniFi network, you absolutely can run a Synology NAS.
I've done it.In fact, I've run my own Unraid NAS, TrueNAS, Synology, TerraMaster, and Ugreen—all on my UniFi network.The point really is to just check what's out there before making a NAS purchase.
While Synology used to be an easy automatic recommendation, there are now so many other options out there that it's not as black and white as it used to be.As a general rule, Ugreen is now my go-to recommendation for anyone searching for a new NAS.If someone already has a UniFi network, I steer them toward UniFi.
If someone needs an ultra-simple setup, I recommend Synology.It's all about what purpose and needs you have for a NAS when it comes to choosing the right one.So, before you make your next purchase, do some research and figure out what you need to get out of it so you don't make the wrong choice.
UniFi UNAS 2 Brand UniFi CPU Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A55 at 1.7 GHz Memory 4GB Drive Bays 2x 3.5-inch Ports 2.5GbE, USB-C Price $199 UniFi's UNAS 2 is the perfect entry-level NAS for your UniFi setup.It has built-in 2.5GbE connectivity and can even be powered with PoE++, meaning it doesn't need a dedicated power cable going to the wall. $199 at Unifi Expand Collapse UniFi UNAS Pro 8 Brand UniFi CPU Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A57 at 2.0 GHz Memory 16GB Drive Bays 8x 3.5-inch, 2x M.2 NVMe Ports 2x 10G SFP+, 1x 10GbE Price $799 UniFi's mid-range UNAS Pro 8 is perfect for setups that need more storage and capability with their NAS.It features eight 3.5-inch hard drive bays as well as two M.2 NVMe SSL cache slots.
With dual 10Gb/s SFP+ ports, this NAS is ready to move data as fast as you need it in your rack.$799 at Unifi Expand Collapse Sometimes simple truly is best I know that a NAS can sometimes be the hub for an entire homelab—that's how my homelab runs, actually.But, when it comes to reliable NAS storage that you can count on, sometimes simpler is better, and that's the route that UniFi takes.
Really, if you're running a UniFi system, there's no reason to choose a UniFi NAS unless you have a very specific reason or use case.So, if you're in the market, make sure to give UniFi's NAS lineup a good look.
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