A NAS makes an excellent always-on home for a Plex media server, storing your movies, shows, and music and streaming them to every screen in the house. The best NAS for Plex depends on whether your devices can direct-play your files or whether you need the CPU power to transcode, especially for 4K.
Below we rank six of the best NAS devices for Plex, led by the capable Synology DS425+. For a wider view, see our best NAS guide and Synology NAS roundup, or a mini PC as a DIY Plex server.
Top 3 Best NAS for Plex at a Glance
Best NAS Devices for Plex in 2027
| Product | Key specs | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synology DS425+ (4-Bay) Best Overall for Plex | 4-bay, Plus-series CPU, Media server | 4.7★ | $578.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Synology DS225+ (2-Bay) Best Value for Plex | 2-bay, Plus-series CPU, Media server | 4.6★ | $364.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Asustor Lockerstor 6 Gen2 (6-Bay) Best for 4K Transcoding | 6-bay, Intel quad-core, 10GbE / M.2 | 4.2★ | $615.04 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Synology DS925+ (4-Bay) Best High-End | 4-bay, Plus-series CPU, Expandable | 4.3★ | $759.00 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Asustor All-Flash NAS (6x M.2) Best All-Flash for Plex | Intel quad-core, 6x M.2 SSD, Dual 2.5G LAN | 4.1★ | $494.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Asustor Intel Atom NAS (Dual 10GbE) Best for Big Libraries | Intel Atom quad-core, Dual 10GbE, High capacity | 4.4★ | $1,341.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
1. Synology DS425+ (4-Bay) – Best Overall for Plex
- ✓ Capable Plus-series media performance
- ✓ Four bays for large libraries
- ✓ Excellent 4.7-star rating
- ✗ Higher price
- ✗ Diskless (drives sold separately)
The Synology DS425+ is the best NAS for Plex overall, pairing a capable Plus-series processor with four bays and media-server features for smooth streaming of large libraries for around $579. Its strong performance and DSM software make it the easy choice for a home media server.
It costs more and ships diskless, but for a powerful, reliable Plex-capable NAS with room for a big library, it is our top pick.
Best for: Home media libraries wanting smooth streaming
May not fit: Those on a tight budget
2. Synology DS225+ (2-Bay) – Best Value for Plex
- ✓ Plus-series power in a compact 2-bay
- ✓ Good for media serving and apps
- ✓ Strong 4.6-star rating
- ✗ Only two bays
- ✗ Diskless (drives sold separately)
The Synology DS225+ is the best value NAS for Plex, bringing Plus-series performance to a compact 2-bay box for media streaming and apps for around $365. It is a smart, affordable starting point for a home media server that can also run other apps.
It has only two bays and ships diskless, but for an affordable Plus-series media server from Synology, it is the value standout.
Best for: Starter media servers on a sensible budget
May not fit: Large libraries needing many bays
3. Asustor Lockerstor 6 Gen2 (6-Bay) – Best for 4K Transcoding
- ✓ Fast Intel CPU for transcoding
- ✓ Six bays and fast networking
- ✓ Great for 4K media streaming
- ✗ Premium price
- ✗ Overkill for small libraries
The Asustor Lockerstor 6 Gen2 is the best NAS for 4K transcoding, pairing a fast Intel quad-core processor with six bays and fast networking for demanding Plex streaming for around $615. Its x86 power handles on-the-fly transcoding that lighter NAS units struggle with.
It is a premium unit and overkill for small libraries, but for serious 4K Plex transcoding and large storage, it is the standout high-performance choice.
Best for: Users streaming 4K that needs transcoding
May not fit: Casual users with small libraries
4. Synology DS925+ (4-Bay) – Best High-End
- ✓ Capable Plus-series performance
- ✓ Four expandable bays
- ✓ Runs media plus apps and VMs
- ✗ Premium price
- ✗ Diskless (drives sold separately)
The Synology DS925+ is the best high-end NAS for a do-it-all media server, combining a capable Plus-series processor with four expandable bays for around $759. It streams media while also running containers, apps, and virtual machines for a full home server.
It is a premium, diskless unit, but for a powerful, expandable media-and-apps server from Synology, it is an excellent high-end pick.
Best for: Users wanting media plus self-hosted apps
May not fit: Those wanting the simplest, cheapest option
5. Asustor All-Flash NAS (6x M.2) – Best All-Flash for Plex
- ✓ Silent all-flash design
- ✓ Fast Intel CPU for transcoding
- ✓ Compact and quiet for a living room
- ✗ SSD-only (higher cost per TB)
- ✗ Less raw capacity than hard-drive NAS
This Asustor all-flash NAS with an Intel quad-core CPU and six M.2 SSD slots is the best silent Plex server, combining transcoding-capable x86 power with quiet, compact flash storage for around $495. It is ideal for a living-room media server where noise matters.
SSD storage costs more per terabyte and offers less raw capacity, but for a silent, fast, compact Plex server that can transcode, it is an excellent modern choice.
Best for: Living-room media servers wanting silence
May not fit: Those needing maximum capacity for the lowest cost
6. Asustor Intel Atom NAS (Dual 10GbE) – Best for Big Libraries
- ✓ Fast dual 10GbE networking
- ✓ Capable Intel Atom CPU
- ✓ Great for large, multi-user libraries
- ✗ High price
- ✗ More than most homes need
This Asustor Intel Atom NAS with dual 10GbE networking is the best pick for big libraries and multi-user streaming, pairing a capable processor with fast networking for demanding Plex setups for around $1,342. It is built for enthusiasts and small businesses with large media collections.
It is expensive and more than most homes need, but for a high-capacity, fast-networked Plex server serving many users, it is the standout choice.
Best for: Large, multi-user media libraries
May not fit: Casual users wanting a simple 2-bay box
How to Choose a NAS for Plex
Transcoding vs direct play
If your playback devices support your media formats, they can direct-play with little NAS CPU needed, and a Plus-series unit like the DS225+ is plenty. If devices need the server to convert files on the fly, especially 4K, you need a more powerful Intel-based NAS like the Asustor Lockerstor for smooth transcoding.
CPU power matters most
For Plex, the processor is the key spec. Intel x86 CPUs, as in the Asustor units, handle heavy transcoding best, while Synology Plus-series models like the DS425+ and DS925+ balance media performance with their excellent software. Match CPU power to how much transcoding you expect.
Storage capacity and bays
Media libraries grow fast, so more bays mean more room. A 2-bay DS225+ suits a starter library, 4-bay models like the DS425+ hold large collections with redundancy, and 6-bay units like the Lockerstor are built for very large libraries. Plan for growth when choosing.
Networking and multiple streams
Streaming to several screens at once benefits from fast networking. Fast 2.5G or 10GbE networking, as on the Asustor picks, keeps multiple high-bitrate streams smooth, especially across a busy home network. For single-stream use, standard gigabit is usually fine.
Noise and placement
A Plex server often lives in a living room, so noise and size matter. All-flash M.2 units like the Asustor flash NAS are silent and compact, while hard-drive NAS units offer more capacity but can be audible. Choose based on where your media server will sit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best NAS for Plex in 2027?
Our overall pick is the Synology DS425+, a capable 4-bay Plus-series NAS that balances media performance, storage, and excellent software for around $579. For heavy 4K transcoding, the Intel-powered Asustor Lockerstor 6 Gen2 is the best choice.
Do I need a powerful NAS for Plex?
It depends on transcoding. If your devices direct-play your files, a modest Plus-series NAS like the DS225+ works well. If the server must convert files on the fly, especially 4K, you need a more powerful Intel-based NAS like the Asustor Lockerstor for smooth playback.
Which NAS can transcode 4K for Plex?
Intel x86-based NAS units handle 4K transcoding best, such as the Asustor Lockerstor 6 Gen2 and the Asustor all-flash model. Lighter NAS CPUs are better suited to direct play, so confirm a model’s transcoding ability before buying if 4K matters to you.
How many drive bays do I need for a Plex NAS?
A 2-bay unit like the DS225+ suits a starter library with redundancy, 4-bay models like the DS425+ hold large collections, and 6-bay units like the Lockerstor are for very large libraries. Media grows fast, so choose more bays if you plan to expand.
How much should I spend on a NAS for Plex?
A capable starter Plex NAS like the DS225+ is around $365, the 4-bay sweet spot is roughly $579 with the DS425+, and Intel-powered transcoding units run $615 and up. Spend based on whether you need transcoding and how large your library will grow.
Final Verdict
For a Plex media server in 2027, the Synology DS425+ is the best all-round NAS thanks to its balance of performance, storage, and software, while the DS225+ is the best value and the Intel-powered Asustor Lockerstor is best for heavy 4K transcoding. For a silent living-room server, the all-flash Asustor is ideal. See our best NAS guide and Synology NAS picks.
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