Setting up a Plex media server gives you a versatile platform to store, catalog, and stream all kinds of media — music, movies, shows, photos, and more — using the files you already own. Think of it as combining Spotify, Google Photos, Netflix, and OneDrive all into one service that doesn’t cost you a monthly fee on your server. Using Plex itself is free, with an optional upgrade to unlock additional benefits, including hardware transcoding.
It is easy to set up Plex on a network-attached storage (NAS) unit, and we’ve compiled a list of the best NAS for Plex that will happily transcode and stream 4K movies and then some.
Top Plex NAS
QNAP TS-464
Our top pick for running Plex on your NAS
The QNAP TS-464 is a brilliant and powerful NAS, rocking an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM out of the box, and even two M.2 slots and a single PCIe expansion slot. It has everything you need to run a Plex Media Server, including dedicated HDMI output.
- Supports 4K transcoding
- Intel CPU
- PCI and M.2 slots
- Pricey
The QNAP TS-464 gets most of what one would require with a NAS for Plex right. It has an Intel Celeron processor with integrated graphics. It can handle 4K transcoding to client hardware that requires it, and there’s an expansion slot and some M.2 slots thrown in for good measure. It’s a little pricey, especially if this happens to be the first NAS purchase you plan on making, but it’s well worth it should you have a large catalog of media to store and stream.
QNAP TS-464 review: One of the best compact NAS devices for running Plex
QNAP’s TS-464 has just about everything you’d need in a powerful compact NAS
The 4GB of DDR4 RAM included as standard can even be expanded up to a whopping 16GB, which is considerably more than what many desktop computers have. The single PCIe 3.0 slots can be used to install expansion cards for faster networking (10GbE) or additional M.2 storage. There are two 2.5GbE connections natively found on the rear of the NAS, alongside an HDMI port that negates the need to transcode to a connected TV.
QNAP TVS-h674-i3
Unmatched NAS with an Intel Core CPU
The QNAP TVS-h674-i3 is a very powerful NAS. Inside is the same Intel Core i3-12100 processor that you’d find in more affordable desktop PCs, providing the QTS OS with plenty of performance headroom. The HDMI port, expansion slots, and upgradable RAM make it the perfect NAS for heavy Plex usage.
- Intel Core CPU
- 4K transcoding and HDMI
- QTS OS
- Expensive
- Overkill for most people
- Power-hungry
The Intel Core i3-12100 is a quad-core desktop-class processor you’d typically find in a PC, but here it is in the QNAP TVS-h674 NAS. This makes it an incredibly potent machine capable of supplying all your stored media without breaking a sweat and everything else you’d want to do on a NAS. I’m talking virtualization, big data processing, creator collaboration, and more. 16GB of RAM from the factory makes this possible, and you can push the capacity of system memory up to a whopping 64GB. In addition, six drive bays can be populated with the largest drives on the market for a capacity of more than 120TB. Two M.2 slots are also included for SSD caching or expanding the storage pool with rapid drives.
And yes, the TVS-h674 supports the addition of expansion units for even more drive bays. On the rear, you’ll find two 2.5GbE ports, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2s, and an HDMI 1.4b port. Should you require them, two PCI slots are available inside the NAS that can be used for upgrading the network connectivity to 10GbE. This is about as good as you can get for a Plex NAS. Also, an Intel Core i5 version is available for even more performance.
Synology DiskStation DS224+
Save a little and enjoy a glorious NAS experience
The Synology DiskStation DS224+ is the direct successor to the popular DS220+, which was praised for the value it offered to consumers looking to buy their first enclosure. The DS224+ has an Intel Celeron processor, 2GB of DDR4 RAM, and support for Synology’s excellent DSM operating system and catalog of apps.
- Intel Celeron CPU
- Supports 4K transcoding
- DSM OS
- Only two drive bays
- No expansion support
- 1GbE networking
The Synology DiskStation DS224+ replaced the incredibly popular DS220+, which we previously recommended as the best value Plex NAS. This successor is just as good, if not better. The only real change here is the upgraded processor, consisting of the Intel Celeron J4125. It’s a very capable NAS and is the same chip used inside the DS920+, which was also one of the best NAS for running Plex Media Server. The 2GB of DDR4 RAM can be upgraded to 6GB, though we feel you won’t require more than the default capacity.
Synology DiskStation DS224+ review: Out with the old, in with the old
An important launch for Synology to retain its NAS crown.
The two drive bays may be a limiting factor for long-term Plex use, especially if your library of content grows at a considerable pace. There’s no support for expansion through the use of external units, which means you’ll need to buy a new NAS once you’ve completely exhausted the installed drives. Installing two 20TB drives would provide 20TB of space with RAID in use, so there’s still a considerable amount of storage available. Where this NAS shines is with the operating system. DiskStation Manager (DSM) is widely considered one of the best OS for NAS.
ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2 (AS6704T)
Everything you need for running Plex
The ASUSTOR Lockerstor 4 Gen2 (AS6704T) is a very capable NAS for running Plex Media Server and then some, thanks to the Intel CPU, upgradable RAM, 2.5GbE networking, expansion support, and a great OS.
- Intel CPU
- Upgradable RAM
- Expansion support
- Pricey
The ASUSTOR Lockerstor Gen2 (AS6704) has it all. ASUSTOR decided to take its four-bay NAS and turn everything up to 11. Let’s start with the CPU — the trusty Intel Celeron N5105. It’s a quad-core processor capable of bursting up to 2.9GHz and supports hardware transcoding with an integrated GPU. 4GB of DDR4 RAM is pre-installed and can be expanded up to 16GB, though the base capacity is more than enough for most users, including running Plex Media Server. Four drive bays are included, storing up to 80TB using the best NAS hard drives. This can be expanded using ASUSTOR’s expansion units, allowing the NAS and ASUSTOR ADM operating system to handle up to 12 bays.
Knowing that it can be expanded when you inevitably run out of space with the default drive bays makes the ASUSTOR Lockerstor Gen2 (AS6704) perfect for starting your first Plex NAS. Four M.2 SSD slots can be used for SSD caching or storage, depending on your needs. Finally, there’s a solid selection of ports, including HDMI out, which can be used to connect the server to the big screen directly. Overall, this is an immensely capable NAS enclosure and one of the best ASUSTOR NAS around.
TerraMaster F2-221
One of the best Plex NAS with two drive bays
The TerraMaster F2-221 is an affordable two-bay NAS with enough power to run Plex Media Server and transcode some media. While 2GB of DDR4 RAM is present out of the factory, you can bump this up to 6GB. The Intel Celeron J3355 is a killer processor with two cores that can bump up to 2.5GHz and an integrated graphics processor that can handle 4K. The two drive bays will be a limiting factor, especially since this NAS doesn’t have M.2 slots or expansion support.
- Intel CPU
- Supports 4K transcoding
- Upgradable RAM
- No expansion support
- Rougher OS experience
- No M.2 slots
TerraMaster is a unique NAS brand as its catalog of products usually undercuts the competition with just a few cut features. The TerraMaster F2-221 is a prime example of this, being a direct competitor to the Synology DiskStation DS220+. It has an Intel Celeron processor, supports up to 6GB of DDR4 RAM (2GB preinstalled), and even has an HDMI port on the rear (though you won’t be able to enjoy media through it).
That makes this NAS a great value option for running Plex Media Server. TerraMaster’s TOS operating system isn’t as refined as Synology DSM, but it’s more than capable of managing everything on the enclosure and then some. Various apps are available for download in the respective store too. These enclosures also rock a design unlike anything else on the market, which may fit better in your environment and make this one of the best TerraMaster NAS you can buy.
Synology DiskStation DS223j
Cheapest and least powerful NAS for running Plex
Synology’s DiskStation DS223j is the replacement for the popular and well-received DS220j, an affordable 2-bay enclosure with access to the company’s excellent DiskStation Manager (DSM) OS. Rocking a new ARM processor and more RAM, it’s a solid choice for those who simply wish to store files and backups.
- Affordable
- DSM OS
- ARM CPU
- 512MB DDR3 RAM
- Limited storage
The Synology DiskStation D223j is the most affordable NAS in our collection. It has the same two drive bays as the Synology DiskStation DS224+, so what’s the difference between the two enclosures? This NAS has a quad-core Realtek ARM processor, which is considerably less powerful than the Intel chip, and it doesn’t support hardware transcoding, so streaming 4K media will be out of the question if the client device is unable to handle it.
Synology DiskStation DS223j review: Another great budget-friendly NAS for storage
Taking Synology’s new super-affordable two-bay NAS for a spin
There’s also only 1GB of DDR4 RAM and it cannot be expanded. The two drive bays can support up to 20TB each and when RAID is factored in that’ll be a maximum capacity of 20TB. Ports-wise, you’ve got a single 1GbE port and a few USB connections for good measure. The best part about this NAS, like the other Synology enclosure, is the DSM OS. It’s perfect as your first NAS for running Plex on the side.
What is Plex?
Plex is an online media streaming service, much like Netflix and Spotify. It specializes in providing TV shows, podcasts, DVR, music, and movies, but is capable of so much more. The Plex Media Server is a server package that can be run on a PC or NAS and is essentially a DIY media streaming service. So, if you’ve purchased movies, shows, or music in the past and need somewhere to catalog, store, and stream it all, Plex Media Server is made precisely for that.
It’s capable of pulling art for albums, shows, and movies, as well as necessary metadata, descriptions, and genres. There’s an optional account upgrade that unlocks hardware transcoding, which is vastly more efficient and powerful than software transcoding. The upgrade also has the ability to skip show credits and intros and so much more. If you’re serious about creating your own media library, you’ll want to consider using this service.
What is transcoding?
Transcoding is the process of taking a media file and converting it to a format that can be used on the receiving device. For example, you may have a 4K movie with all the HD bells and whistles, yet your TV doesn’t support the format. Plex will then transcode the file while streaming it to the device in real-time. This takes a fair share of computing power, which can be alleviated through hardware transcoding.
Most Intel (and AMD, such as the one inside the Synology DiskStation DS1522+) processors in NAS enclosures can use hardware transcoding with accelerators. In contrast, more affordable servers with ARM CPUs will struggle to achieve similar results, especially with FHD (1080p) or UHD (2160p) files. Some NASs may have an HDMI port, which can connect the server to the recipient device and negate the need to transcode anything.
How to choose the best NAS for Plex
Some things to bear in mind when shopping for a Plex NAS:
- Brand: The brand isn’t terribly important when it comes to choosing a NAS; all brands recommended here are among the best in the industry. There are differences in support, OS, and first-party app support, but your Plex experience will be similar for the most part.
- CPU: An Intel Celeron or higher CPU will be able to transcode up to a 4K file. Go with an ARM processor if you won’t be transcoding much and want to stream music and photos more than anything else. An Intel Core processor would be overkill unless you transcode frequently or have other heavy apps running on the NAS.
- RAM: 1GB or higher is recommended for most NAS servers with more than one person accessing data or services at any given time. Before buying, make sure the NAS is capable of expanding available RAM if you plan to increase usage down the line. Some NAS will go beyond officially supported capacities.
- Drive bays: These are used to add storage capacity to the NAS. Each bay usually supports either a 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drive — the more bays, the higher the maximum storage capacity. To unlock additional bays, some NAS will allow adding expansion units that can be connected via USB.
- Ports: USB isn’t too important regarding NAS, either. Your LAN will largely determine Ethernet speeds, and you’ll find 1GbE or 2.5GbE ports unless you’re prepared to spend the big bucks. HDMI ports are great for negating the need for the processor to transcode anything since you can connect the NAS directly to the big screen.
Our favorite NAS for Plex
Not all NAS servers are created equally — while many of the top NAS enclosures are designed for business use, budget-oriented NAS models are suitable for home users and can even double up as Plex servers. Picking the best NAS for Plex depends on what you plan to use the server for as Plex can be a demanding process to run on a NAS, largely due to transcoding which can really tax the processor.
Our top recommendation is the QNAP TS-464. It has an excellent Intel processor with integrated graphics, four drive bays, and M.2 slots for one powerful little server.
QNAP TS-464
Our top pick for running Plex on your NAS
The QNAP TS-464 is a brilliant and powerful NAS, rocking an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM out of the box, and even two M.2 slots and a single PCIe expansion slot. It has everything you need to run a Plex Media Server, including dedicated HDMI output.
