1. Quick list
2. How to choose
3. FAQs
4. Top picks in depth
▶ Best overall
▶ Best on a budget
▶ Best enterprise
Finding the best NAS hard drive is essential for anyone looking to securely and efficiently manage a substantial volume of data across multiple users.
The Seagate Ironwolf Pro, for example, is our top pick overall because it matches high capacity, good speeds, and an accessible price point that few can match. The Western Digital Red hard drive, meanwhile, isn't as fast as many others, but it gets you the most capacity at the best possible price. Enterprise users will find the Seagate EXOS is more than enough to meet the needs of high-capacity and speedy data access across multiple users, though it does come at somewhat of a premium.
Our years of testing hard drives inform all three of our top picks, and these are the drives that we ourselves have used in the best NAS devices we've reviewed over the years for that very reason.
The best NAS hard drive: quick list
The best NAS drive overall
This high-capacity HDD is perfect for NAS servers thanks to its accessible price and endurance for the long haul, though it has a lower yearly workload limit than some enterprise options.
The best budget NAS hard drive
While the performance on this drive might not match the best NAS drives out there, this drive is all about maximizing storage capacity at a low price, and here it succeeds brilliantly.
The best NAS hard drive for enterprise
Enterprise clients need more than most hard drive users, including high capacities and speeds, and the Seagate EXOS had drive is as fast as a hard drive can get while offering up to 20TB.
How to choose the best NAS hard drive for you
When selecting a NAS hard drive, it is important to consider the capacity, speed, and connectivity options that best meet your needs. Larger capacity hard drives can store more data, while faster hard drives can improve data transfer speeds. It is also important to consider the connectivity options, such as whether the hard drive supports Ethernet or WiFi, as well as the type of data interface (e.g. USB, SATA).
Best NAS hard drives: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a NAS drive?
A network attached storage (NAS) drive is a physical storage unit that lets multiple users and devices access data around the clock. Sitting at the center of a data storage spider web, NAS drives are a good option for businesses and enterprises who need to reliably and securely serve up lots of data to lots of users all at once.
What are the benefits of using a NAS hard drive?
There are several benefits to using a NAS hard drive, including the ability to access and share stored data from any device on the same network, automatic data backup, and improved data security. NAS hard drives also offer the convenience of being able to access stored data remotely, as long as you have an internet connection.
Can I use a NAS hard drive as a primary storage device?
While NAS hard drives can be used as a primary storage device, they are typically used as an additional storage option or for file sharing. They may not be suitable for use as a primary storage device for larger files or for high-performance applications, as they may not have the same level of speed and performance as a local hard drive. If you'd like to know more about the different options for primary storage, check out our 'What is an SSD' and 'Is an SSD a hard drive?' explainers for a deeper breakdown.
Can I use my NAS hard drive for backup purposes?
Yes, many NAS hard drives offer automatic backup capabilities, allowing you to easily and securely store important data as a backup. Some NAS hard drives also offer cloud backup options, allowing you to store data. It's a good idea to supplement any existing with the best cloud storage or the best cloud backup. We also recommend additional backups via any of the best SSD options for faster performance, or the best external hard drives.
The best NAS hard drive: top picks in depth
The best NAS hard drive in 2024
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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best NAS hard drive picks in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best NAS hard drive overall
Amazingly, cramming ten 2TB platters and 20 heads into a 3.5-inch drive package is possible. But Seagate achieved this using CMR technology and replacing the atmosphere inside the drive with Helium.
On the plus side of this equation, the new IronWolf Pro 20TB is 2TB bigger than the 18TB model, about 25MB/s faster at reading and writing, and it's more power-efficient. All these advantages come at a price that is only marginally more than the 18TB option. So it's a no-brainer for commercial and enterprise NAS to support the needs of creative professionals and large businesses, indeed?
The blot on this landscape is the yearly workload limit of 300TB, which could quickly be eaten by regular integrity testing, not to mention actual use. With data center drives offering 550TB workload limits at a very similar price and nearly identical performance, the IronWolf Pro might not be the best drive for the job, depending on your NAS profile.
Read our full Seagate IronWolf Pro 20TB review
The best budget NAS hard drive
It was only a few years ago that Western Digital’s 6TB NAS was the pack leader, offering more storage space than you could get from competing models. While that’s no longer the case, it’s still a unit with capacious storage space. Designed for businesses and consumers, it offers fast performance, especially in multi-drive environments with strong large-block sequential read and write speeds.
Find the best deals on Western Digital products with our Western Digital promo codes.
The best NAS hard drive for enterprise
Another Seagate drive with ten 2TB platters in the classic 3.5-inch form factor to sit alongside the new IronWolf Pro 20TB. The only significant difference on the outside is that the EXOS comes in a SAS flavor in addition to a conventional SATA variety model.
The EXOS drive beats the IronWolf Pro with a workload limit of 550TB, a significant improvement over the 300TB of its brother mechanism. These are the same workload limits as the Western Digital UltraStar DC HC560 20TB and WD Gold 20TB.
Tuned for data center use, the EXOS 20TB is designed for high-capacity servers, enterprise NAS systems, and bulk storage. While the cost is higher than the 18TB models, it is slightly faster and offers enhanced rack space efficiency. Until the rumored microwave-assisted switching (MAS-MAMR) drives come along, the EXOS 20TB is as big a hard drive as you can buy.
Read our full Seagate EXOS 20TB review
Today's best NAS drive deals
