Best NAS Enclosures of 2026

"After switching from my old Western Digital EX2, I was really impressed by how simple it was to set up the Synology NAS. The interface feels modern and intuitive, and setting up RAID, volumes, and user permissions was a breeze. I love that the photo backup app works seamlessly over my local network—no cloud required. The speed is a huge improvement, and restoring from my USB backup was incredibly fast and easy. The only hiccup was that it didn't recognize my ancient Hitachi drive, but upgrading to new compatible drives was probably overdue anyway. Overall, this device is doing exactly what I need and more."

"As someone who’s always been nervous about losing data, I finally went for this backup solution after years of manually copying files between drives. The setup was straightforward, and the design is really accessible—it was easy to install my drives and start transferring data. I especially like the USB port for easy file transfer from older drives. There’s a lot in the web interface I don’t use, but the basic functions work great. Setting up scheduled power cycles was a breeze. My only wish is that I could rename USB drives for easier tracking, but it's a minor issue. This system is affordable, reliable, and I’d buy it again."

"I’m new to network storage, but this Synology NAS has been a pleasant surprise. The setup was much easier than I expected, and it offers impressive features compared to my old NAS. The mobile and remote apps are a real plus, and I’m still exploring everything it can do. If you’re adding two drives, just make sure they match to avoid problems. Overall, it exceeded my expectations and feels very modern."

"I chose this NAS to store family memories and offload photos and videos from my phone. Even though I’m not tech-savvy, setting it up was simple and syncing works seamlessly through the app—no need to plug in my phone. I was initially disappointed about the lack of object recognition, but a software update added that feature, making it a great value. While it’s not quite at Google Photos’ level, the recognition works fine and gives me peace of mind knowing my data is safe without recurring cloud costs."

"After my Drobo failed, I needed a reliable replacement and discovered Synology's NAS with SHR for mixed drive sizes. The system makes data sharing across Windows and Mac incredibly easy, and the package center offers impressive flexibility with features like media servers and VPNs. Setup is more involved than Drobo, but once you get the hang of it, the NAS is extremely capable and expandable. If you’re willing to learn, it’s a fantastic investment."

"On the advice of my IT-expert son-in-law, I switched to this NAS and went with a 16TB x2 drive setup for maximum expandability. Installation and setup were straightforward, thanks to the clear quickstart guide and online resources. I’ve centralized decades of family content, and it’s a huge relief to have everything in one place with reliable, purpose-built storage. I just wish I’d made the switch sooner."

"I needed a replacement for my old Time Capsule, and this was the only device I found that worked seamlessly on my network. There's a bit of a learning curve, but the fact that it runs Plex out of the box makes it a worthwhile investment for me."

"I use this mainly for Time Machine backups at home. The setup was a breeze, and now it just works quietly in the background like it's supposed to."

"The product works well for Time Machine backups and basic file archiving. However, the mobile setup is clunky and file transfers aren't as fast as I expected. Still, for reliable backups, it does the job."

"After researching extensively, I went with this enclosure for my Mac Mini server. The physical power switch and support for both 2.5” and 3.5” drives were essential for me. Setup was incredibly simple, and it’s very quiet—my Mac recognized the drives instantly. I appreciate that it uses an external power brick and has great compatibility with both Mac and Windows. Transferring large amounts of data has been flawless, with no disconnects. Definitely recommend it for anyone needing reliable storage!"

"I was searching everywhere for a bare 2-bay RAID enclosure that didn’t come with pre-installed drives. This one hit the mark at a reasonable price, and setup was a breeze. The software is user-friendly, and once configured, it runs smoothly in the background. My only minor complaint is that the plastic drive rails could be sturdier, and it’s not the fastest, but overall it's been a solid choice."

"Needed extra storage for my Proxmox server and this unit was perfect. High-speed USB means good performance, and I love being able to use my own drives of any size. Installing the drives was straightforward—no screws required unless you want them. So far, it’s worked reliably with no compatibility issues. Flexibility and ease of use really stand out."

"Upgrading to this Synology from an older model was straightforward—my existing drives transferred seamlessly and DSM rebuilt without hassle. I appreciate the robust construction and improved file delivery speed. However, the fan noise is much more prominent than on smaller Synology boxes, so I'd recommend planning for some physical isolation if you prefer a quieter workspace."

"I replaced my home theater gaming PC with this NAS, and running Plex directly from the device has been a breeze. Setting up remote network access took a bit of research, but performance on my home network has been flawless. The user interface is intuitive and updates are simple, making this a perfect fit for anyone, even without an IT background."

"As someone upgrading from an 11-year-old DS1511+, I can say this is a worthy and much faster replacement. It works great with third-party hard drives—no hacks needed—and looks sharp in my server rack. The only minor letdown is that running jellyfin isn't smooth, so I've stuck with using my PC for that task, but for everything else, it's excellent."

"I was eager to upgrade my setup with the DX525 and loved how well-built and easy to assemble it was. But I was disappointed to find out it’s not compatible with my DS1019+—the connection just doesn’t fit. After some frustration, I learned to always double-check compatibility before buying. If you’re considering this, make sure it works with your NAS model!"

"Unfortunately, I got the wrong expansion model for my NAS and couldn’t return it. I realized I needed one with an eSATA port and the cable workaround didn’t help. Once I switched to the right unit, everything worked smoothly. On the bright side, this experience helped me plan my next upgrade more carefully."

"After many years with my 1512+, I decided the Synology 1621+ was the perfect upgrade. With 32GB RAM, 10GB Ethernet, and 60TB storage, this thing is a powerhouse—fast, responsive, and stable with the new DSM 7.2 OS. I highly recommend using a UPS for safety. I’m genuinely impressed and pleased with this product!"

"I was a bit skeptical about the quality since I'm used to enterprise-level racks, but this cabinet really impressed me. The build is solid, especially for the price, and assembly was straightforward thanks to the clear diagrams. When my side panel clips arrived damaged, Navpoint's customer service immediately resolved the issue and sent replacements. Swapping out the fans for quieter ones was easy, and overall, I'm very satisfied with both the product and the support."

"The rack arrived quickly and was well packed. Assembly took less than two hours, and everything fit together nicely. I was pleased with the materials and finish, although I did notice a few metal whiskers that I made sure to clean up. There's plenty of space for my current and future gear, and mounting was simple with the right anchors. For the price, the flexibility and access options are fantastic."

"Overall, I'm happy with my 12U Pro Series rack, but I noticed a small safety issue: the AC fan terminal block had exposed screws, which could be a hazard if touched while powered. It was easy to fix with some tape, but it's something to be aware of. Otherwise, the rack is sturdy, versatile, and a great value."

"After trying several brands like Sabrient and Yottamaster, I found they were unreliable and caused data corruption or annoying power issues. The QNAP, however, is rock solid, quiet, and doesn’t force unwanted RAID or power switches. I use it with ZFS on FreeBSD and it’s flawlessly hot-swappable and reliably detects every drive."

"I’ve bought a lot of different DAS enclosures over the years, but this QNAP finally delivers real reliability, even with 8 drives. It passes through individual drive info and SMART stats, supports hot plugging without issues, and automatically powers on after outages. It may sound basic, but every other enclosure failed in some way—this one just works."

"I set up all 8 disks in Unraid using btrfs, and the unit has been stable with quiet, automatic fan control. While I wish it supported USB-C to USB-C cables and had clearer status lights, overall it’s a dependable, straightforward solution for my backup needs."

"I found the setup instructions a bit limited, so I had to do some extra research to get everything working. But once I finished configuring everything, it's been running flawlessly for backups and recoveries."

"This device is excellent for sharing files and storing backups locally. I appreciate that there are no annual fees or cloud security concerns, and setup was straightforward."

"The product works just as expected. It's a bit noisier than my previous WD MyCloud, but overall, it gets the job done well."