You can easily stream your media library from your home network with the best network-attached storage for Plex. The DiskStation DS 220+ shows this point perfectly, it transcodes content so that any device can play any file without running into issues, and it also doubles up as a reliable solution for backing up photos and videos from your connected devices.

If you want to set up a Plex media server, there are a lot of choices to choose from.

Best overall

Synology DiskStation DS220+

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The DiskStation DS 220+ is the best NAS you can buy for streaming. The NAS is powered by an Intel Celeron J4025 and comes with 2GB of RAM and two drive bays that can hold up to 16 terabytes of storage.

The DS 220+ has two ports at the back that can be used for double data transfers. If you want a robust media server, the DS 220+ is the best NAS for home use.

RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU...

The DS 220+ works well as a media server. It takes just a few minutes to install and setup the service, and it does a great job of streaming your local media library to all of your connected devices. There are three categories for plex streaming.

Direct play is when the Plex client handles the video container and just streams the file without any issues. When the client device you are using does not support the container, Plex will send the file to a different container.

The two options don't need a lot of resources, and cheap NAS enclosures will be able to handle the load. Things get interesting in the last category.

The service will convert the video to a format that will run on the device and then play it if the client device doesn't have H.265, HEVC, or video container.

This is the most powerful option and requires a powerful NAS. It is better to just stream your locally-saved 4K content instead of trying to transcode it because of the inherent limitations.

If you really need to transcode 4K content, the DS 220+ is 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 You can do more than just stream your library with the best software in the industry. You can run your own email, audio, video, and even VPN server from the DS 220+, which automatically backs up data.

If you need more storage, you can get the 6 or 8 terabytes model of the IronWolf drives.

Best for 4K

Synology DiskStation DS920+

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The DiskStation DS920+ has the same foundation as the DS 220+, but with a few key upgrades. Four drive bays can hold up to 64 terabytes of storage, and you get a faster Intel Celeron J4125 chip, 4GB of RAM, and M.2 slots. There are also an eSATA port at the back of the house.

If you want to stream 4K content on your devices, the DiskStation DS920+ is an ideal server. If you use an older TV or a device that doesn't have the latest video codecs and containers, the DS920+ will decode the file and play it on the TV. You should not go this route with the DS920+ transcodes. If you want to build a 4K media library, you should stream it directly on the TV or streaming box.

Most devices that can play 4K content have the necessary video codecs and containers. When it comes to playing 4K files on your home network, the only factors you need to consider are network bandwidth and storage. The DS920+ has two Gigabit Ethernet ports and four drive bays that can hold a total of 64 terabytes of storage.

If you think you need more storage, you can get a DX517 expansion unit that adds five drive bays to your DS920+. If you want to fill up the DS920+ with a hard drive, the 8TB IronWolf NAS is the best option.

Best for connectivity

Asustor AS5202T

(Image credit: Asustor)

If you are looking for a robust Plex media server, the AS5202T is an excellent choice. This two-bay NAS enclosure has more space for data transfers. The best part about the AS5202T is that it comes with an HDMI port, which will allow you to plug the NAS directly into your TV.

You can add up to 32 terabytes of storage to the two drive bays with the help of the Intel Celeron J4005 chip, which has 2 gigabytes of RAM out of the box. You can install Plex without having to worry about it, and you can also run containers on the NAS, back up data on all connected devices, and so much more. You can stream Plex at 4K without any issues, and the hardware here can transcode 4K as well.

The AS5202T is a good option for content creators since it has a set of tools that allow you to stream content directly to the internet. In recent months, the security of the brand has come into question as it was the target of a wide-ranging attack that took down several of its enclosures.

With several models affected, the brand will have to prove that it added necessary safeguards to make sure this isn't an issue again.

Best four-bay connectivity

Asustor AS5304T

(Image credit: Asustor)

If you looked at the AS5202T above and saw that it looked good, but I need more drive bays, then the AS5304T is 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 The AS5304T has the same design and hardware as the AS5202T, but it has four drive bays that can hold 64 terabytes of storage.

You can add another 4GB to the 4GB of RAM out of the box with the newer Intel Celeron J4105 chip. You also get an HDMI 2.0 out that lets you connect the NAS to a TV, threeusb 3.2 ports, and dual 2.5 gigabit ethernet ports at the back.

The AS5304T has the same set of software features as the AS5202T, and the increased memory and more powerful chipset make it great for a Plex media server. You will be able to stream 4K content to several devices at once, and you can rely on hardware transcodes and even 4K. The IronWolf NAS drive is the best choice for the AS5304T.

Best entry-level Plex NAS

DiskStation DS220j review

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

If you don't care about the quality of the files you stream from the NAS, what should you do? The DiskStation DS 220j is the best option for you. There are two drive bays, 512MB of RAM, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and two USB 3.0 ports on the NAS.

It runs fine and streams content to your devices without any issues. For direct streaming, this is a great option. The DS 220j is a great choice because it offers the same robust software features as the more expensive models, and the value on offer makes it a great choice.

The DS220j is a budget media server that is hard to beat. You can have a robust media server that can stream to all connected devices in your home if you pair the NAS with a few IronWolf hard drives.

Best value

TerraMaster F2-221 review

(Image credit: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The TerraMaster F2-221 is a good choice if you want a value-focused NAS enclosure. You can fit a total of 32 terabytes of storage in the two drive bays of the NAS, which is powered by the Intel Celeron J3355 chip and has 2 gigabytes of RAM out of the box.

The F2-221 has a number of ports. The F2-221 can stream 4K files without any hassle, and it can also be used to transcode high definition content. There is no 4K transcode here, but that is not really a major omission.

The F2-221 is a great overall choice if you don't need some of the more productivity focused features. Pick up a few IronWolf hard drives and you will be able to set up a great Plex server.

Best four-bay value

QNAP TS-451+

(Image credit: QNAP)

QNAP's workhorse is a reliable workhorse that does well at the basics. You can get 2GB of RAM out of the box, an HDMI port for connecting it to your TV, and a remote control for the NAS, which is powered by an Intel Celeron J1900 chip.

You get hardware1080p transcoding as well as the 4K streaming that the NAS handles. There are four ports at the back and two at the front that can hold up to 64 terabytes of storage, so you won't have to worry about running out of storage.

You can get a decent set of software options on the NAS, including backing up media and running virtual machines. You are getting excellent value for what you are paying. The software interface is not as modern as what you get with Synology. All you need is a few IronWolf drives and a powerful Plex media server to get started.

Best for enthusiasts

Synology DiskStation DS1520+ review

(Image credit: Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

If you are looking for a larger enclosure for Plex, the DiskStation DS1520+ is an excellent option. The 5-bay NAS is powered by the Intel Celeron J4125 and comes with 8GB of RAM out of the box, and you can add up to 80TB of storage.

You can add up to ten additional drives through the two eSATA ports. The DS1520+ is an exciting choice because of its excellent performance. There are four Gigabit ports at the back, and you can transcode 4K content on the fly.

If you want a high-end enclosure for Plex streaming, the NAS as a whole is a great choice.

Which Plex NAS should you buy?

DiskStation DS220+

(Image credit: Apoorva Bhardwaj / Android Central)

The DiskStation DS 220+ is the best option if you want to stream Plex. The upgraded internal hardware makes it an attractive model in this category, and it has all the basics covered.

You can install the Plex client on almost any platform, and the media server is available on the DS220+. It's simple to stream your local media collection on your connected devices from smart TVs to Windows, macOS, and Linux. Content that is streamed locally within your home network does not count towards your internet bandwidth costs.

The DS220+ does a great job with streaming Plex files in 4K, and it also has hardware-assisted1080p transcodes that work reliably enough. If you want to stream 4K files to various devices, the DS220+ is the ideal enclosure for you.