NAS units compared on the official specification table, not the brochure claim.
Official installed memory, onboard Ethernet, CPU core count and drive-bay count. VaultPick reads official Synology, QNAP and ASUSTOR specification tables and ranks compact, 4-bay and multi-bay NAS units with the weights printed on every page. 3 categories, 116 products, 33 head-to-heads.
Shop by topic
Compact 1- to 3-bay NAS, 4-bay NAS, and multi-bay desktop or rackmount NAS, scored from official manufacturer specification tables.
Popular head-to-heads
Buying guides
How it works
1. The official specification table
Every scored figure comes from an official Synology, QNAP or ASUSTOR specification table, linked on the product card. If a figure is not published we show "Not listed" and score it at the category minimum, so an unpublished number never outranks a published one. We do not use retailer listings or brochure speed claims in place of the official table.
2. Different jobs, different weights
Compact and 4-bay NAS units are weighted toward official installed memory, the fastest official onboard Ethernet port, official CPU core count and official port count. Multi-bay NAS units are scored on official bay count, official installed memory, official onboard Ethernet and official CPU core count. Optional PCIe Ethernet is not scored as onboard speed.
3. Match it to the desk, the rack and the network
A higher official bay count is not automatically the right NAS for a quiet desk or a shallow rack. Official form factor, dimensions and Ethernet speed help you match the install path. Use the official PSU, keep vents clear, change the default password, and remember that RAID is not a backup. Then check the price on Amazon. Commissions never change the order.