Do NAS units come with hard drives included?

Often not. Many are sold as bare enclosures, so you usually buy compatible drives separately. Some kits bundle drives, which can simplify setup for first-time buyers.

Is a NAS better than cloud storage?

A NAS keeps data on-site with no ongoing subscription, but you handle backups and security yourself. Many people use both, with the NAS backing up to the cloud.

What RAID setup should I use?

It depends on your priorities. Mirroring protects against one drive failing, while larger arrays balance capacity and redundancy. RAID is not a substitute for a separate backup.

The 3 best nas🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Methodology v1.0.0 · computed 13 Jun 2026 · how we rank · AI-drafted, pending editor review

A NAS (network-attached storage) device gives your home or office shared file storage, backups and media streaming over the network. The best units balance drive capacity, processing power and software that stays supported and easy to manage. Our top 3 are scored from aggregated UK reviews.

Best Overall

Synology DiskStation DS923+ (4-Bay, Diskless)

Synology

High confidence · 5 sourcesNarrow win — +1.9 pts over #2

85.8

/ 100 · n=344

Sources behind this score

Do you agree with this pick?

Specs & info →Find on Amazon

SY2

Runner-up

Synology DiskStation DS925+ (4-Bay, Diskless)

Synology

High confidence · 4 sources

83.8

/ 100 · n=123

Sources behind this score

Do you agree with this pick?

Specs & info →Find on Amazon

Best Value

Synology DiskStation DS224+ (2-Bay, Diskless)

Synology

High confidence · 5 sources

82.4

/ 100 · n=414

Sources behind this score

Do you agree with this pick?

Specs & info →Find on Amazon

What to look for in nas

•Number of drive bays and supported RAID levels for redundancy
•Processor and memory for media transcoding or running apps
•Software ecosystem, app support and ongoing security updates

Frequently asked questions

Do NAS units come with hard drives included?: Often not. Many are sold as bare enclosures, so you usually buy compatible drives separately. Some kits bundle drives, which can simplify setup for first-time buyers.
Is a NAS better than cloud storage?: A NAS keeps data on-site with no ongoing subscription, but you handle backups and security yourself. Many people use both, with the NAS backing up to the cloud.
What RAID setup should I use?: It depends on your priorities. Mirroring protects against one drive failing, while larger arrays balance capacity and redundancy. RAID is not a substitute for a separate backup.