In the market for a new NAS? While Synology was once the standard choice, it’s not so simple these days. Sometimes Synology is the right choice, and other times you should go with something else entirely, like UniFi.
Synology was the king of the castle for network attached storage
Unfortunately, tenure does not equal best
Once upon a time, the auto-recommendation for “I need a NAS” was Synology. I have told countless people to buy Synology units because they are really good. I yet recommend people to buy Synology NAS systems if they are just starting out.
This automatic recommendation comes from Synology’s long history of creating the industry’s most useful and easy-to-use NAS (network attached storage) servers.
The problem is that Synology has been holding back a bit on its innovation lately. They almost got it too They are comfortable with their crowns of “This is the NAS to buy” and simply decide not to put in the extra effort.
so that I no more default Recommend Synology. Depending on what other network equipment you have, your budget, or your needs, it may be a better choice for you now.
For example, if you already have a UniFi network setup, the best choice for a NAS in your home lab might be UniFi rather than Synology.
UniFi’s latest NAS hardware is really solid
UniFi makes more sense when your network is already UniFi
UniFi has been making NAS hardware for a few years now, but NAS systems haven’t always been great. However, recently NAS hardware has been getting better and better.
UniFi’s NAS lineup ranging from an affordable $199 to a very expensive $3,999. The main difference between price points is how many slots are available, connectivity options and RAM.
Realistically speaking, the power in the series is not all of them It is different with all models using ARM processors from A55 to N2.
This is because NAS systems focus on one thing and one thing only: storage. While many NAS servers today try to do everything like run Plex, Docker, and more, UniFi focuses solely on storage here, and that’s a good thing.
Sometimes a single purpose system is what you need. Plus, the integrations with UniFi’s ecosystem are pretty deep. You can use your existing UniFi credentials to sign in to the platform, manage your network from the same UniFi portal you use to manage it, and more.
Managing UniFi’s NAS systems is actually where things get very simple. If you already have a UniFi network and if you know how things work, then creating new shared drives, adding users, and other NAS management will come naturally to you—all without trying to remember another IP address or how to use another operating system.
Before buying any NAS, always evaluate what else is out there
Just because Synology used to be the best doesn’t mean it still is
If you have a UniFi network, you can definitely run a Synology NAS. I did it. In fact, I’ve run my own Unraid NAS, TrueNAS, Synology, TerraMaster, and Ugreen on my UniFi network.
The point is to really check out what’s out there before making a NAS purchase. While Synology used to be an easy auto-recommendation, now there are so many other options out there it’s not black and white like before.
As a general rule, Ugreen is now my recommendation for anyone looking for a new NAS. If someone already has a UniFi network, I refer them to UniFi. If anyone needs an ultra-simple setup, I recommend Synology.
Choosing the right one depends on what purpose and needs you have for your NAS. So, before you make your next purchase, do some research and understand what you need to get out of it so you don’t make the wrong choice.
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- Brand
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UniFi
- CPU
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Quad-core ARM Cortex-A55 at 1.7 GHz
- Memory
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4 GB
- Driver Bays
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2x 3.5 inches
- Ports
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2.5GbE, USB-C
- Price
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199 dollars
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 by PoE++, meaning there’s no need for a dedicated power cable to the wall.
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- Brand
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UniFi
- CPU
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Quad-core ARM Cortex-A57 at 2.0 GHz
- Memory
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16 GB
- Driver Bays
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8x 3.5 inch, 2x M.2 NVMe
- Ports
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2x 10G SFP+, 1x 10GbE
- Price
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799 dollars
UniFi’s mid-range UNAS Pro 8 NAS is perfect for installations that need more storage and capacity. It has eight 3.5-inch hard drive bays and two M.2 NVMe SSL cache bays. With dual 10Gb/s SFP+ ports, this NAS is ready to move data as fast as your rack needs it.
Sometimes simple really is best
I know that a NAS can sometimes be the hub for an entire home lab – that’s actually how my home lab works. But when it comes to reliable NAS storage you can trust, sometimes simpler is better, and that’s the route UniFi takes.
Really, if you’re running a UniFi system, there’s no reason to no choosing a UniFi NAS unless you have a very specific reason or use case. So if you’re in the market, be sure to give UniFi’s NAS lineup a good look.
