A NAS is judged on its software first, then on hardware, value, and how far it expands. Our pick is the Synology DS225+, with an SR Score of 89, for pairing the best NAS operating system with long-overdue 2.5GbE networking at a fair price. The UGREEN DXP4800 Plus (87) is the runner-up on raw hardware value. For 4K Plex households, the QNAP TS-464 (86) is the pick.
The ranking
| Rank | NAS | Best for | Bays / price (diskless) | SR Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Synology DS225+ | Best overall | 2-bay / ~$300 | 89 |
| 2 | UGREEN DXP4800 Plus | Hardware value | 4-bay / ~$499 | 87 |
| 3 | QNAP TS-464 | 4K Plex | 4-bay / ~$549 | 86 |
| 4 | Synology DS923+ | Prosumer software | 4-bay / ~$599 | 85 |
| 5 | UGREEN DXP6800 Pro | 10GbE power user | 6-bay / ~$899 | 84 |
| 6 | Synology DS425+ | Polished 4-bay | 4-bay / ~$500 | 83 |
| 7 | QNAP TS-233 | Budget entry | 2-bay / ~$190 | 79 |
Methodology
The NAS Score v2026 rubric weights five criteria:
- Software (30) — OS polish, app ecosystem, backup and media tools.
- Hardware & performance (25) — CPU, RAM, transcoding ability.
- Value for money (20) — hardware and features per dollar.
- Expansion & connectivity (15) — bays, network ports, upgrade headroom.
- Reliability (10) — track record and update support.
Software leads because a NAS lives or dies on its OS — the most common regret is buying powerful hardware running clumsy software. Re-weight Hardware up and the UGREEN units climb.
Synology DS225+
The best-overall pick, around $300 diskless. The DS225+ replaces the DS224+ with 2.5GbE plus 1GbE networking while keeping the proven Intel Celeron J4125 (with Quick Sync for Plex), all running Synology’s polished DSM software.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Software | 29/30 |
| Hardware & performance | 21/25 |
| Value for money | 18/20 |
| Expansion & connectivity | 12/15 |
| Reliability | 9/10 |
Trade-off: only two bays, and Synology increasingly nudges you toward its own drives.
UGREEN DXP4800 Plus
The hardware-value pick, around $499 diskless. Intel i5-class hardware with 10GbE included — roughly $200 less than a comparable QNAP — in a well-built four-bay chassis.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Software | 22/30 |
| Hardware & performance | 24/25 |
| Value for money | 19/20 |
| Expansion & connectivity | 14/15 |
| Reliability | 8/10 |
Trade-off: UGREEN’s software is younger and less mature than Synology’s DSM.
QNAP TS-464
The 4K Plex pick, around $549 diskless. An Intel Celeron N5095 whose iGPU handles 4K HEVC hardware transcoding cleanly — the right NAS for a serious Plex household.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Software | 24/30 |
| Hardware & performance | 23/25 |
| Value for money | 17/20 |
| Expansion & connectivity | 14/15 |
| Reliability | 8/10 |
Trade-off: QTS software is capable but busier and less intuitive than DSM.
Synology DS923+
The prosumer-software pick, around $599 diskless. A four-bay AMD Ryzen unit with ECC-capable memory and DSM’s full app suite — the recommended Synology unless you need 4K transcoding.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Software | 29/30 |
| Hardware & performance | 21/25 |
| Value for money | 15/20 |
| Expansion & connectivity | 14/15 |
| Reliability | 9/10 |
Trade-off: no integrated graphics, so it cannot do 4K hardware transcoding.
UGREEN DXP6800 Pro
The 10GbE power-user pick, around $899 diskless. Enterprise-grade hardware at prosumer prices, with dual 10GbE ports that would cost hundreds to add to a Synology.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Software | 22/30 |
| Hardware & performance | 24/25 |
| Value for money | 18/20 |
| Expansion & connectivity | 15/15 |
| Reliability | 7/10 |
Trade-off: again, younger software and a shorter reliability record.
Synology DS425+
The polished four-bay pick, around $500 diskless. A four-bay DSM unit for buyers who want more capacity than the DS225+ with the same dependable software experience.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Software | 28/30 |
| Hardware & performance | 20/25 |
| Value for money | 15/20 |
| Expansion & connectivity | 13/15 |
| Reliability | 9/10 |
Trade-off: modest CPU and pricey next to UGREEN’s four-bay hardware.
QNAP TS-233
The budget-entry pick, around $190 diskless. A low-cost two-bay NAS for basic backup and file sharing on a tight budget.
| Criterion | Score |
|---|---|
| Software | 20/30 |
| Hardware & performance | 15/25 |
| Value for money | 19/20 |
| Expansion & connectivity | 10/15 |
| Reliability | 7/10 |
Trade-off: an Arm chip with limited RAM; not for transcoding or heavy apps.
How to choose
Start with software, not specs. If you value a polished, reliable experience and broad app support, Synology DSM is the safest bet — the DS225+ for most homes, the DS923+ or DS425+ for more bays. If you want the most hardware for your money and are comfortable with newer software, UGREEN’s DXP4800 Plus and DXP6800 Pro deliver 10GbE and strong CPUs for less. For a media library that needs 4K transcoding, the QNAP TS-464’s Intel iGPU is the key feature. Remember all prices are diskless — budget for NAS-rated drives on top. Re-weight toward Hardware and UGREEN wins; weight Software, as we do, and the Synology DS225+ takes the top score.
Verification
- Synology DS225+ — “best overall ~$300,” 2.5GbE+1GbE, J4125 with Quick Sync verified via Technerdo and iFeeltech.
- UGREEN DXP4800 Plus — i5-class, 10GbE, ~$499, ~$200 under QNAP verified via Technerdo and iFeeltech.
- QNAP TS-464 — N5095 iGPU 4K HEVC, ~$549 verified via Technerdo.
- DS923+ / DXP6800 Pro / DS425+ / TS-233 — specs and pricing verified via iFeeltech and RaidSize roundups.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the best NAS in 2026?
- For most people, the Synology DS225+ — the best software with newly added 2.5GbE networking at a reasonable price. For the most hardware per dollar, the UGREEN DXP4800 Plus; for 4K Plex transcoding, the QNAP TS-464.
- Synology, QNAP, or UGREEN?
- Synology wins on polished, reliable software (DSM). QNAP excels at media with Intel iGPU 4K transcoding. UGREEN offers far more hardware for the money but younger software. Choose based on your software comfort, not just specs.
- Do I need a NAS with an Intel iGPU for Plex?
- If you transcode 4K HEVC to other devices, yes — an Intel iGPU (QNAP TS-464, UGREEN models) handles it cleanly. If your clients play files directly without transcoding, almost any NAS works.
- How many bays do I need?
- Two bays suit home backup and media for most people, with one drive of redundancy. Four or more bays give more capacity and stronger redundancy (RAID 5/6) for larger libraries or small businesses.
- Are these prices with or without drives?
- The prices here are diskless (enclosure only). You buy NAS-rated hard drives separately — budget roughly $20-30 per terabyte on top of the unit price.