A budget NAS is an affordable way to add always-on network storage, automatic backups, and a personal cloud to your home without spending a lot. The best budget NAS for you depends on whether you want one bay or two, whether you need drives included, and how much you value polished software.
Below we rank six of the best budget NAS devices under about $300, led by the value Synology DS223j. For more options and higher tiers, see our best NAS guide and Synology NAS roundup, or a mini PC for a DIY server.
Top 3 Best Budget NAS Devices at a Glance
- 1-bay
- Drive included
- Simple setup
Best Budget NAS Devices in 2027
| Product | Key specs | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synology DS223j (2-Bay) Best Overall Budget | 2-bay, DSM software, Entry-level | 4.5★ | $209.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Synology DS124 (1-Bay) Best Cheapest | 1-bay, DSM software, Compact | 4.3★ | $159.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Buffalo LinkStation 210 (1-Bay) Best Plug-and-Play | 1-bay, Drive included, Simple setup | 3.9★ | $192.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Synology DS223 (2-Bay) Best Upper-Budget | 2-bay, DSM software, Backup & file hub | 4.6★ | $285.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Buffalo LinkStation 220 (2-Bay) Best with Drives Included | 2-bay, Drives included, RAID support | 4.1★ | $285.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
| Asustor 2-Bay NAS (4K Media) Best Budget for Media | 2-bay, 4K media playback, Remote access | 4.3★ | $282.99 | Check Price on Amazon |
1. Synology DS223j (2-Bay) – Best Overall Budget
- ✓ Excellent DSM software for the price
- ✓ Two bays for mirrored backups
- ✓ Most reviews in this roundup
- ✗ Entry-level CPU
- ✗ Diskless (drives sold separately)
The Synology DS223j is the best budget NAS overall, bringing Synology’s acclaimed DSM software to an affordable 2-bay box for around $210. With the most reviews here, it is the proven, low-cost way to get reliable backups, file sharing, and a basic personal cloud.
Its entry-level CPU limits demanding tasks and it ships diskless, but for the best mix of price, software, and two-bay redundancy, it is our top budget pick.
Best for: Most budget buyers wanting Synology DSM and redundancy
May not fit: Those needing media transcoding or heavy apps
2. Synology DS124 (1-Bay) – Best Cheapest
- ✓ Lowest price with Synology DSM
- ✓ Compact single-bay design
- ✓ Great for backups and files
- ✗ Single bay (no redundancy)
- ✗ Diskless (drive sold separately)
The Synology DS124 is the cheapest way into Synology DSM, offering a compact single-bay NAS for around $160. It is a tidy, affordable choice for a single user who wants automated backups and a personal cloud without spending much.
It has one bay so there is no drive redundancy and it ships diskless, but for the lowest-cost Synology experience, it is an excellent budget pick.
Best for: Single users wanting the cheapest Synology DSM
May not fit: Those needing mirrored backups or more bays
3. Buffalo LinkStation 210 (1-Bay) – Best Plug-and-Play
- ✓ Comes with a hard drive included
- ✓ Simple plug-and-play setup
- ✓ Very large review base
- ✗ Single bay (no redundancy)
- ✗ Modest performance and rating
The Buffalo LinkStation 210 is the best plug-and-play budget NAS, arriving with a hard drive already installed so you can start backing up straight out of the box for around $193. It is the simplest low-cost way to add network storage with no drive to buy or fit.
It is a single-bay unit with no redundancy and only a modest rating, but for a ready-to-use budget NAS with a drive included, it fills a clear niche.
Best for: Beginners wanting a ready-to-use NAS with a drive
May not fit: Those needing redundancy or strong performance
4. Synology DS223 (2-Bay) – Best Upper-Budget
- ✓ More capable than the DS223j
- ✓ Reliable 2-bay backup and storage
- ✓ Strong 4.6-star rating
- ✗ Near the top of a budget range
- ✗ Diskless (drives sold separately)
The Synology DS223 is the best upper-budget NAS, offering more capability than the DS223j while staying affordable at around $286. It is a reliable 2-bay choice for homes that want a little more performance for backups, files, and a personal cloud.
It sits near the top of a budget range and ships diskless, but for a more capable 2-bay Synology that still represents good value, it is an excellent pick.
Best for: Buyers wanting more capability near a budget limit
May not fit: Those wanting the absolute lowest price
5. Buffalo LinkStation 220 (2-Bay) – Best with Drives Included
- ✓ Two bays with drives included
- ✓ Supports RAID for redundancy
- ✓ Large review base
- ✗ Modest performance
- ✗ Basic software vs Synology
The Buffalo LinkStation 220 is the best budget NAS with drives included, arriving ready to use with two bays and RAID support for mirrored backups for around $286. It is a simple, low-cost option for homes that want redundancy without choosing or fitting drives.
Its performance is modest and its software is more basic than Synology’s, but for a ready-to-use 2-bay NAS with drives and redundancy on a budget, it is a practical choice.
Best for: Homes wanting ready-to-use mirrored backups
May not fit: Those wanting the best software or performance
6. Asustor 2-Bay NAS (4K Media) – Best Budget for Media
- ✓ Media-friendly with 4K playback
- ✓ Two bays for redundancy
- ✓ Good value under $290
- ✗ Fewer reviews so far
- ✗ Diskless (drives sold separately)
This Asustor 2-bay NAS is the best budget pick for media, pairing two bays with media-friendly 4K playback and remote access for around $283. It is a good low-cost choice for a starter media server and personal cloud with photo and file backup.
It has fewer reviews so far and ships diskless, but for an affordable 2-bay NAS with media features and redundancy, it is a strong budget pick.
Best for: Budget buyers wanting a media-capable NAS
May not fit: Those wanting a long review history or heavy transcoding
How to Choose a Budget NAS
One bay or two
Single-bay units like the Synology DS124 and Buffalo LinkStation 210 are the cheapest, but they offer no drive redundancy, so a failed drive means lost data unless you back up elsewhere. Two-bay units like the DS223j let you mirror drives so your data survives a disk failure, which is worth the small extra cost for most people.
Diskless vs drives included
Synology budget models ship diskless, so you buy and fit your own drives, which keeps the unit inexpensive and lets you choose capacity. Buffalo LinkStation units include drives for a true plug-and-play setup. Factor drive cost into diskless models when comparing budget prices.
Software on a budget
Even budget Synology units run the full DSM software, with excellent apps for backup, photos, and a personal cloud, which is a big advantage over simpler plug-and-play NAS units. If software features matter to you, a budget Synology offers the most for the money.
What a budget NAS can and cannot do
Budget NAS units are ideal for backups, file sharing, and a basic personal cloud, but their entry-level CPUs are not built for heavy 4K media transcoding or demanding apps. If you need those, step up to a Plus-series or Intel-based NAS from our wider guides.
Planning for growth
Buy a little more than you need today so you do not outgrow your NAS quickly. A 2-bay unit gives room to add a second drive later, and choosing larger drives up front saves a costly upgrade down the line. Even on a budget, a bit of headroom pays off.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best budget NAS in 2027?
Our overall pick is the Synology DS223j, a 2-bay NAS with excellent DSM software for around $210. For the lowest price, the single-bay DS124 is about $160, and the Buffalo LinkStation units include drives for a plug-and-play setup.
How much does a good budget NAS cost?
A capable budget NAS costs roughly $160 to $290. Single-bay units like the DS124 start around $160, 2-bay units like the DS223j are about $210, and drive-included or more capable 2-bay models reach around $286. Remember to add drive cost for diskless units.
Is a 1-bay or 2-bay NAS better on a budget?
A 2-bay NAS like the DS223j is usually the better budget choice because it lets you mirror drives for redundancy, so your data survives a drive failure. A 1-bay unit like the DS124 is cheaper but has no redundancy, so pair it with another backup if you choose one.
Do budget NAS devices come with hard drives?
Some do and some do not. Synology budget models ship diskless, so you add your own drives, while Buffalo LinkStation units include drives for a ready-to-use setup. Factor drive cost into diskless models when comparing budget prices.
Can a budget NAS run Plex?
A budget NAS can serve media and may direct-play files, but its entry-level CPU is not built for heavy 4K transcoding. For a dedicated Plex server, a Plus-series or Intel-based NAS is a better fit — see our best NAS for Plex guide for those picks.
Final Verdict
For a budget NAS in 2027, the Synology DS223j is the best all-round pick thanks to its DSM software and two-bay redundancy, while the DS124 is the cheapest and the Buffalo LinkStation units include drives for plug-and-play use. For more power or media, see our best NAS guide and best NAS for Plex.
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