The Top NAS Hard Drives for 2023

We have reevaluated our suggestions and have refreshed our selection of the top NAS hard drives available for both budget and overall use.

When it comes to efficiently accessing files on numerous devices, network-attached storage (NAS) is a great choice. Whether you are a business owner or seeking versatility for your home office, these are the best NAS hard drives you can purchase.

UPDATE: 10/17/2023

We've reviewed our recommendations and have updated our picks for the best budget and the best overall NAS hard drives you can buy.

SeagateSeagate IronWolf Pro 8TB NAS

Best NAS Hard Drive Overall $199 at Amazon

Western DigitalWestern Digital Red Plus (8TB)

Best Budget $158 at Amazon

SeagateSeagate IronWolf 18TB NAS

Best High Capacity NAS Hard Drive for Home $457 at Amazon

SeagateSeagate Exos X20 20TB Enterprise HDD

Best High-Capacity NAS Hard Drive for Business $385 at Amazon

Western DigitalWestern Digital Red SA500

Best NAS Solid State Drive $59 at Amazon

Network-attached storage (NAS) is gaining traction among small businesses and individuals in home offices, as hard drives and solid-state drives remain prevalent in the market.

What to Look For in a NAS Hard Drive in 2023

Rather than having files and data stored directly on your personal computer, they are stored in a network-connected hard drive. This allows any authorized user within the network to access the files. It is a convenient solution for individuals who require access to files on multiple devices or for several people in a shared building who want to store data in one central location.

Once you have chosen a NAS station to accommodate your NAS hard drives, you will need to make another important decision – which hard drives are the most suitable for your needs?

To begin, you should ascertain the required capacity, indicating the storage amount on the hard drive. Typically, 1TB or 2TB hard drives are sufficient for most households. However, if you are a power user, it may be beneficial to consider investing in a larger capacity, especially if you frequently handle substantial projects or work in a creative field involving sizable image and video files.

In addition to capacity, workload rate is an important factor to consider. Workload rate refers to the amount of data that can be transferred to and from the hard drive without affecting its reliability. Simply put, certain hard drives can handle high data transfer loads, while others may not be as capable.

The precise definition of workload rate can differ among manufacturers. However, if you and your network users frequently upload and download data from your NAS, it is essential to closely monitor the workload rate.

When considering the top NAS hard drives, Western Digital and Seagate stand out as the leading contenders. These two companies are unquestionably the best in the industry, and we highly recommend sticking with their product offerings.

Best NAS Hard Drive Overall: Seagate IronWolf Pro 8TB NAS

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Seagate

The Seagate IronWolf Pro distinguishes itself from other NAS storage solutions with its affordable price, dependable management system for drive health monitoring, and impressive read/write speeds. Despite its maximum speed of 214MB/s, this drive operates quietly and is tailored for demanding users who require continuous accessibility to their files throughout the year. Additionally, it comes with three years of Rescue Data Recovery Services in case of any unexpected issues.

The main drawback of the IronWolf Pro is its workload rate limited to 300TB/year. Although this rate is average, power users who frequently transfer large amounts of data might find this limit restrictive. However, this is a minor issue in an otherwise excellent product, and the IronWolf Pro is a beneficial addition to most NAS systems. Additionally, it is worth noting that the IronWolf Pro is compatible with up to 24-bay NAS systems, making it an ideal choice for enterprise-level setups and individuals seeking exceptional performance.

Seagate

The Seagate IronWolf Pro 8TB NAS is the best NAS hard drive overall. It offers a great combination of pricing and performance, making it a top choice for most users. You can save $36 on this reliable hard drive, which is perfect for everyday use. However, if you require a high workload rate, you may need to consider other options.

$199 at Amazon

Best Value NAS Hard Drive: Western Digital Red Plus 8TB NAS

Western Digital

If you're in need of an affordable yet reliable NAS hard drive, the Western Digital Red Plus is worth your attention. While it comes in different storage capacities, the 8TB option should suffice for personal use. What's even better is its reasonable price of around $160, truly a great deal.

Despite its low cost, this hard drive offers impressive functionality. It can be used in systems with up to eight bays, features hardware built for continuous operation, and provides a three-year limited warranty for your peace of mind. If you require even more storage, there is also a 14TB version available.

Regrettably, the 8TB model priced at $160 comes with certain restrictions. Firstly, it has a workload rate of only 180TB/year, which may be sufficient for individual setups with a limited number of connected users. However, if you are acquiring a hard drive for your small enterprise or require transferring substantial amounts of data, it is advisable to explore other alternatives.

Setting aside its limitations, there are few NAS choices in this price range that can rival the performance of this hard drive. If you are on a budget or do not necessarily want to invest in the top-tier option, this is a viable and satisfactory alternative.

The Western Digital Red Plus (8TB) from

Western Digital

is a great choice for personal NAS setups. Although it may be slightly slower compared to other options, it still offers reliable performance. With a workload rate of 180TB/year, it provides sufficient storage capacity for everyday needs.

$158 at Amazon

Best High-Capacity NAS Hard Drive for Home: Seagate IronWolf 18TB NAS

Seagate

The Seagate IronWolf 18TB is a top-notch option when it comes to high-capacity NAS hard drives. It offers exceptional value for its size and boasts numerous features found in the prestigious IronWolf Pro series mentioned previously.

Crafted to endure extended usage without generating bothersome vibrations or rattling noises, the IronWolf is an ideal complement to any NAS system. Moreover, it includes the standard IronWolf Health Management System, providing a convenient method to monitor the drive's performance and guarantee the safety of your data.

The transfer speeds of 180MB/s may not be the fastest in the industry, but considering the package's overall price, they are still impressive. Seagate also highlights a mean time between failures (MTBF) of one million hours, indicating that you can anticipate this high-capacity drive to last a significantly long time before encountering any problems.

The IronWolf series is designed to be compatible with a maximum of eight bays, although it is rare for personal systems to exceed this capacity.

Seagate

Introducing the Seagate IronWolf 18TB NAS, the ultimate solution for high-capacity storage at home. With an impressive 18TB capacity, this NAS hard drive offers ample space for all your data storage needs. What sets it apart is not just the storage capacity, but also the peace of mind that comes with a three-year warranty. In addition, the powerful IronWolf Health Management System ensures the drive's optimal performance and reliability. Experience seamless data transfers with its impressive 180MB/s transfer speed. Trust Seagate to provide you with the best high-capacity NAS hard drive for your home.

$457 at Amazon

Best High-Capacity NAS Hard Drive for Business: Seagate Exos X20 20TB Enterprise

Seagate

The Seagate Exos X20 is the epitome of high-end performance. Boasting a remarkable 2.5 million-hour MTBF rating, a whopping 20TB capacity, and an impressive workload rate of 550TB/year, this drive is a must-have for any business. What truly sets it apart is its exceptional 550TB/year workload rate, surpassing even our top pick, the IronWolf Pro, for the best NAS hard drive. If you need to transfer massive amounts of data effortlessly, the Seagate Exos X20 is the ideal choice.

The Exos X20 is a stellar option, thanks to its impressive 285MB/s transfer rate, allowing for surprisingly speedy data movement. Although it can be a bit noisy at full capacity, it shouldn't pose a problem for most businesses as they would typically place the NAS system in a dedicated room. As long as the price doesn't deter you, the Exos X20 is definitely worth considering.

Seagate

Meet the Seagate Exos X20, the ultimate solution for businesses in need of a high-capacity NAS hard drive. Boasting an impressive transfer rate and a workload rate of up to 550TB/year, this drive outperforms many others in its class.

$385 at Amazon

Best NAS Solid State Drive: Western Digital Red SA500

Western Digital

For optimal transfer speeds, it is advisable to incorporate a solid state drive (SSD) into your NAS configuration. The Western Digital Red SA500 stands out as a top-notch option, delivering the renowned reliability and impressive speed of up to 560MB/s.

In detail, this SSD offers a remarkable read performance of up to 560MB/s and a write performance of up to 530MB/s. These speeds far surpass those provided by a typical NAS hard drive and are particularly suitable for efficiently managing large file formats like 4K or 8K videos.

Unfortunately, the storage capacity of this particular model is limited to 2TB. However, if you require high-speed file transfers and a durable drive (the Red SA500 is backed by a five-year limited warranty), this is one of the top choices available today.

Western Digital

Western Digital Red SA500

Best NAS Solid State Drive$59 $80 Save $21 With a read performance of up to 560MB/s, the Western Digital Red SA4500 is the drive to get if you regularly deal with massive files.

$59 at Amazon

FAQ

What does NAS stand for?

NAS stands for network-attached storage. It allows multiple users to access the files through a LAN (local area network).

Should I use a NAS at home?

If you’d like multiple computers to have quick access to files and want to ability to quickly create backups, then opting for a NAS setup is a good idea.

What's the difference between a NAS hard drive and a normal hard drive?

A NAS hard drive is designed to remain online constantly, enabling multiple users to access it simultaneously. In contrast, a regular hard drive can only be accessed when its device is powered on. Consequently, NAS drives are specifically engineered to accommodate longer operating durations.

Can I use a NAS hard drive as a regular hard drive?

Yes, as long as all the other specifications fit your setup, a NAS hard drive can be used as a regular hard drive.

Should I use an SSD for NAS?

If you don’t mind the added cost, using an SSD for NAS will provide you with better read and write speeds than a hard drive.