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- Best overall: Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS
- Best budget: Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS
- Best premium: Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay Diskless NAS
- Best for fast local transfers: TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS
- The Synology DS923+ is a four-bay choice for buyers who prioritize Synology’s software and expandable storage.
- The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro pairs four drive bays with an 8-core processor and dual 2.5GbE networking.
- The TerraMaster F2-424 offers two bays, an 8-core processor and dual 2.5GbE for compact home storage.
- Compare drive bays, networking and software support before choosing a Black Friday 2026 NAS.
The Synology DS923+ and TerraMaster F4-424 Pro are strong four-bay NAS options for Black Friday 2026, but they suit different priorities. Synology stands out for its polished DiskStation Manager software, broad backup tools and straightforward setup. TerraMaster emphasizes capable hardware, faster 2.5GbE ports on several models and flexible storage configurations.
We researched and compared specs, reviews and owner feedback across seven Synology and TerraMaster NAS systems. My pick for most people is the Synology DS923+ for dependable home and small-office storage, while the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro is a compelling hardware-led alternative. The right choice depends on how many drives you need, whether faster network ports matter and how much setup control you want.
How We Picked
- Compared drive-bay counts, memory and processor specifications to match NAS capacity with common home and small-business workloads.
- Checked Ethernet port speeds and expansion options for faster transfers, extra storage and future upgrades.
- Considered the operating system, backup features, remote access and ease of managing shared files.
- Reviewed owner feedback and product documentation to identify recurring advantages and setup considerations.
- Prioritized models with a clear use case, from compact two-bay file storage to expandable multi-drive systems.
Comparison Table
| Product | Best for | Drive bays | Ethernet ports | Memory (GB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS | Expandable Synology storage | 4; expandable to 9 | 2 x 1GbE | 4GB ECC |
| TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS | High-performance four-bay storage | 4 | 2 x 2.5GbE | 32GB |
| TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS | Balanced TerraMaster four-bay option | 4 | 2 x 2.5GbE | 8GB |
| TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS | Compact fast-network storage | 2 | 2 x 2.5GbE | 8GB |
| Synology DS423+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS | Family media and backups | 4 | 2 x 1GbE | 2GB |
| Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS | First NAS and personal backups | 2 | 2 x 1GbE | 2GB |
| Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay Diskless NAS | Small-business storage growth | 5; expandable to 15 | 4 x 1GbE | 8GB ECC |
Best Picks Reviewed
#1 · Top pick
Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS
The Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS is the best overall NAS for home offices and experienced home users, with 4 drive bays and support for up to 9 bays using an expansion unit.
Best for: Synology software, flexible storage and home-office backups
- Drive bays
- 4; expandable to 9
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen R1600, 2 cores
- Memory
- 4GB DDR4 ECC
- Ethernet
- 2 x 1GbE
- DiskStation Manager offers a broad set of backup and file-sharing tools.
- ECC memory and a 4-bay chassis suit important shared storage.
- Optional 10GbE networking and expansion support provide upgrade paths.
- Two 1GbE ports are slower than the 2.5GbE ports on several TerraMaster alternatives.
- The processor has 2 cores and no integrated graphics for video transcoding.
Is the Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS worth buying on Black Friday 2026?
Yes. The Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS is a strong Black Friday 2026 choice for buyers who value Synology software, ECC memory and room to expand. The Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS's 4 drive bays support a practical path from a small file server to larger shared storage.
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#2
TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS
The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS is the best high-performance NAS for demanding home users, with an 8-core Intel processor and dual 2.5GbE ports.
Best for: Fast local transfers and demanding multitasking
- Drive bays
- 4
- Processor
- Intel Core i3-N300, 8 cores
- Memory
- 32GB DDR5
- Ethernet
- 2 x 2.5GbE
- The 8-core processor and 32GB of memory provide substantial headroom.
- Dual 2.5GbE ports support faster network transfers than 1GbE models.
- Four bays allow multi-drive storage configurations.
- TerraMaster’s operating system and app selection differ from Synology’s familiar ecosystem.
- Four drive bays still require separate drives to create storage.
Is the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS worth buying on Black Friday 2026?
Yes. The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS suits buyers who want high memory capacity, an 8-core processor and dual 2.5GbE connections. The model is especially appealing for busy file services and demanding home workloads.
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#3
TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS
The TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS is the best balanced TerraMaster NAS for home storage, with 4 drive bays and dual 2.5GbE networking.
Best for: Four-bay storage and faster-than-gigabit networking
- Drive bays
- 4
- Processor
- Intel Processor N95, 4 cores
- Memory
- 8GB DDR5
- Ethernet
- 2 x 2.5GbE
- Four drive bays give households room to build a larger storage pool.
- Dual 2.5GbE ports help with fast transfers on a compatible network.
- The 8GB of DDR5 memory provides a useful starting point for home services.
- TerraMaster software takes a different approach from Synology’s ecosystem.
- The N95 processor has 4 cores, fewer than the F4-424 Pro’s 8.
Is the TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS worth buying on Black Friday 2026?
Yes. The TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS is a good fit for buyers seeking four bays and dual 2.5GbE without stepping up to the Pro model. The TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS's 8GB of memory and 4-core processor suit common home storage tasks.
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#4
TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS
The TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS is the best compact NAS for a small home office, with an 8-core Intel processor and dual 2.5GbE ports.
Best for: Compact storage with faster network connections
- Drive bays
- 2
- Processor
- Intel Processor N95, 4 cores
- Memory
- 8GB DDR5
- Ethernet
- 2 x 2.5GbE
- Two bays keep the system compact while supporting a mirrored drive setup.
- Dual 2.5GbE connections outpace standard 1GbE networking.
- The N95 processor and 8GB memory provide a capable base for shared files.
- Two bays offer less expansion room than a four-bay NAS.
- The N95 is a 4-core processor, not the 8-core chip in the F4-424 Pro.
Is the TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS worth buying on Black Friday 2026?
Yes. The TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS is worth considering for compact shared storage with dual 2.5GbE networking. Two drive bays suit a simple mirrored setup, while 8GB of memory supports everyday file sharing and home services.
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#5
Synology DS423+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS
The Synology DS423+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS is the best Synology NAS for family media and backups, with 4 drive bays and a 4-core Intel processor.
Best for: Family backups, photo libraries and media storage
- Drive bays
- 4
- Processor
- Intel Celeron J4125, 4 cores
- Memory
- 2GB DDR4
- Ethernet
- 2 x 1GbE
- Four bays provide useful capacity for growing photo and video libraries.
- Synology’s apps make backups and shared folders accessible to households.
- Two M.2 slots support SSD cache.
- The 2GB memory and 1GbE ports are modest beside newer TerraMaster options.
- M.2 slots are intended for cache rather than a separate storage pool.
Is the Synology DS423+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS worth buying on Black Friday 2026?
Yes. The Synology DS423+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS is a solid family NAS for photo libraries, shared folders and scheduled backups. Four bays add storage flexibility, while Synology software keeps common home file-management tasks approachable.
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#6
Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS
The Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS is the best entry-level Synology NAS for personal backups, with a 4-core Intel processor and 2 drive bays.
Best for: First NAS buyers and personal backups
- Drive bays
- 2
- Processor
- Intel Celeron J4125, 4 cores
- Memory
- 2GB DDR4
- Ethernet
- 2 x 1GbE
- DiskStation Manager offers friendly tools for backups and remote file access.
- Two bays allow a mirrored configuration for drive redundancy.
- The 4-core processor handles everyday storage and file-sharing tasks.
- Two bays limit growth compared with four-bay systems.
- The 2GB memory and 1GbE networking are basic for heavier workloads.
Is the Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS worth buying on Black Friday 2026?
Yes. The Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS is a practical first NAS for personal backups, shared folders and a modest media library. Two bays and Synology’s software make it straightforward to start, though large collections suit a four-bay system better.
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#7
Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay Diskless NAS
The Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay Diskless NAS is the best premium Synology NAS for growing teams, with 5 drive bays and 8GB of ECC memory.
Best for: Small businesses and expanding storage pools
- Drive bays
- 5; expandable to 15
- Processor
- AMD Ryzen R1600, 2 cores
- Memory
- 8GB DDR4 ECC
- Ethernet
- 4 x 1GbE
- Five bays offer more drive capacity than standard four-bay models.
- Expansion support gives growing teams room to increase storage.
- Four Ethernet ports and ECC memory suit shared office workloads.
- The 2-core processor is less suited to compute-heavy tasks.
- The system is larger than the two-bay options in this guide.
Is the Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay Diskless NAS worth buying on Black Friday 2026?
Yes. The Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay Diskless NAS is a strong premium choice for teams that need room to scale, with 5 bays, 8GB ECC memory and four Ethernet ports. Expansion support adds a clear path for larger storage needs.
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Which is better, Synology DS923+ or TerraMaster F4-424 Pro?
The Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS is the stronger software-first pick, while the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS has faster built-in networking and a more powerful processor. Both models have 4 drive bays, so the key difference is the balance between operating system and hardware.
Synology’s DiskStation Manager is a strong fit for buyers who want a clear path to backups, file sharing and remote access. The DS923+ starts with 4GB of ECC memory and has two 1GbE ports, with optional 10GbE support. TerraMaster’s F4-424 Pro pairs 32GB of memory and an 8-core processor with dual 2.5GbE ports, making it attractive for heavier local workloads.
Choose the DS923+ for Synology’s software and expansion options. Choose the F4-424 Pro for faster built-in Ethernet and stronger specifications out of the box.
Which NAS should you choose for Black Friday 2026?
The Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS is the best all-round choice for buyers who want 4 bays, reliable backup tools and a system that grows with a home office. The TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS is a practical alternative when two 2.5GbE ports matter more than Synology’s software environment.
For an entry-level setup, the Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS keeps the drive count and management simple. The TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS offers dual 2.5GbE in a compact enclosure. Buyers with larger libraries or multiple users can step up to the Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay Diskless NAS.
Skip it if the network, drive count or apps do not match your setup: a NAS is most useful when it solves a specific storage or backup need. Check drive compatibility and the manufacturer’s current support information before adding disks.
How many NAS drive bays do you need?
A 2-bay NAS such as the Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS is a straightforward fit for a personal backup library, while a 4-bay model gives a household or small office more room to grow. Bay count describes the number of internal drives the enclosure accepts, not how much storage comes included.
Mirroring two drives helps protect against a single drive failure, but it does not replace an independent backup. Four bays allow more flexibility when balancing capacity and redundancy, and larger models such as the Synology DS1522+ 5-Bay Diskless NAS provide another step up.
Plan around usable capacity rather than adding every drive’s label capacity together. Storage layouts use some capacity for redundancy, and actual available space varies by drive size and configuration.
Does 2.5GbE matter on a home NAS?
Dual 2.5GbE ports on the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS and TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS offer more network bandwidth than a standard 1GbE port when the rest of the network supports those speeds. A faster NAS port alone does not make every transfer faster.
A computer, switch or router, cabling and the storage drives all contribute to real file-transfer performance. Buyers with a standard 1GbE home network still get useful storage from a 2.5GbE NAS, but they need compatible networking gear to use the higher connection speed.
For ordinary document backups and occasional streaming, software and storage capacity are often more important than the fastest Ethernet specification. For large video files or several users transferring files at once, faster ports are more relevant.
Are Synology and TerraMaster NAS systems diskless?
All seven models in this guide are diskless NAS systems, so the Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS and TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS require separately purchased drives. Diskless models give buyers control over drive brand, capacity and configuration.
Use NAS-rated drives listed as compatible with the model, and check each manufacturer’s current drive compatibility guidance. Mixing capacity or drive types affects the storage layout, so decide on redundancy and usable space before filling the enclosure.
A NAS is also not a complete backup by itself. Keep a second copy of important files on another device or service, and make sure a restore process is part of the plan.
Buying Guide
1. Match the bay count to your storage plan
The Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS suits a smaller start, while the Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS gives a home office more room. Count present files and planned growth, then account for capacity used by redundancy.
2. Compare network speed with your other gear
The TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS and TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS include dual 2.5GbE ports. A compatible router, switch and computer are required to use that faster connection.
3. Choose software for the jobs you need
Synology DiskStation Manager is a key reason to choose the Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS. Compare backup, file-sharing and media applications before choosing between Synology and TerraMaster systems.
4. Check the hardware headroom
The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS combines an 8-core processor and 32GB memory. Lighter file sharing does not need the same hardware as a busy multi-user server, so match specifications to your workload.
5. Budget for drives and an independent backup
Each diskless NAS requires separate drives, and RAID or mirroring does not replace a second copy. Include compatible drives and a separate backup destination in the full storage plan.
FAQ
Synology DS923+ vs TerraMaster F4-424 Pro: which is better?
The Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS is better for buyers who prioritize Synology’s software and expansion options. The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS is the hardware-led choice, with an 8-core processor, 32GB memory and dual 2.5GbE.
Is a 2-bay NAS enough for home use?
The Synology DS224+ 2-Bay Diskless NAS or TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS is enough for many personal backup and shared-file setups. Two bays support a mirrored arrangement, but users with rapidly growing libraries benefit from a four-bay model.
Which TerraMaster NAS has 2.5GbE?
The TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS, TerraMaster F4-424 4-Bay Diskless NAS and TerraMaster F2-424 2-Bay Diskless NAS each include two 2.5GbE ports. Faster transfers also require compatible network equipment and client devices.
Can a Synology DS923+ expand beyond 4 drives?
Yes. The Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS starts with 4 internal bays and supports expansion to 9 bays with a compatible expansion unit. Check Synology’s product documentation for supported expansion hardware and drive configurations.
Do these NAS systems include hard drives?
No. The Synology DS923+ 4-Bay Diskless NAS, TerraMaster F4-424 Pro 4-Bay Diskless NAS and other listed systems are diskless. Buyers need to select and install compatible drives, then configure storage before using the NAS.