| Spec | Synology DS225+ | QNAP TS-264 | Synology DS425+ | QNAP TS-464 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 9.0/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.7/10 |
| Price | $299-$329 | $329-$349 | $499-$549 | $449-$499 |
| Bays | 2-bay (diskless) | 2-bay (diskless) | 4-bay (diskless) | 4-bay (diskless) |
| CPU | Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core 2.0GHz | Intel Celeron N5095 quad-core up to 2.9GHz | Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core 2.0GHz | Intel Celeron N5095 quad-core up to 2.9GHz |
| RAM | 2GB DDR4 (expandable to 6GB) | 8GB DDR4 (expandable to 16GB) | 2GB DDR4 (expandable to 6GB) | 8GB DDR4 (expandable to 16GB) |
| Network | 1x 2.5GbE + 1x 1GbE | 2x 2.5GbE (port trunking to 5Gb/s) | 1x 2.5GbE + 1x 1GbE | 2x 2.5GbE (port trunking to 5Gb/s) |
| USB | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 | — | 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 + 1x USB 2.0 | — |
| Max Capacity | 108TB raw | 40TB raw | 216TB raw | 96TB raw (12TB drives) |
| Power (active) | 16.98W | — | — | — |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years | 3 years | 2 years |
| M.2 Slots | — | 2x PCIe NVMe (SSD cache) | — | 2x PCIe NVMe (SSD cache) |
| PCIe | — | 1x PCIe 3.0 expansion | — | 1x PCIe 3.0 expansion |
Affiliate disclosure: SetupRanked earns a commission on qualifying purchases made through links on this page. This does not affect our editorial rankings.
The NAS market shifted meaningfully in late 2025. Synology reversed its controversial HDD restriction policy with the release of DSM 7.3 in October 2025 — a change that allows all Plus, Value, and J series NAS devices to run third-party SATA drives again. That reversal matters for home office buyers who want to use WD Red, Seagate IronWolf, or drives they already own. Combined with QNAP’s continued hardware advantages and the growing push toward AI-powered NAS features, the 2026 choice between these two brands is more nuanced than ever.
This comparison covers four models: Synology’s DS225+ and DS425+ for the current-generation Synology lineup, and QNAP’s TS-264 and TS-464 as the direct counterparts. Both brands target the same home office audience with meaningfully different philosophies.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Bays | CPU | RAM | Network | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Synology DS225+ | 2 | J4125 2.0GHz | 2GB (6GB max) | 2.5GbE + 1GbE | $299-$329 | 9.0 |
| QNAP TS-264 | 2 | N5095 2.9GHz | 8GB (16GB max) | 2x 2.5GbE | $329-$349 | 8.8 |
| Synology DS425+ | 4 | J4125 2.0GHz | 2GB (6GB max) | 2.5GbE + 1GbE | $499-$549 | 8.8 |
| QNAP TS-464 | 4 | N5095 2.9GHz | 8GB (16GB max) | 2x 2.5GbE | $449-$499 | 8.7 |
Brand Philosophy: Different Paths to the Same Goal
Synology builds for the mainstream. DSM (DiskStation Manager) is the best NAS operating system for users who have never run a NAS before. The interface is clean, the built-in apps are genuinely useful, and backup setup — which is the core reason most home office workers buy a NAS — takes minutes rather than hours. Synology charges a software premium: the hardware inside a DS225+ isn’t exceptional for the price, but the platform around it is.
QNAP builds for the technical user. QTS (QNAP’s operating system) exposes significantly more configuration options and hardware capabilities. The TS-264 ships with 8GB of RAM and dual M.2 slots for NVMe caching — hardware that has no equivalent in the Synology DS225+. If you run Docker containers, host VMs, or want to push a NAS toward a home lab role, QNAP gives you more room. The trade-off is complexity.
The choice almost always comes down to this: what will you actually use this NAS for?
Synology DS225+ — The Right NAS for Most Home Office Workers
The DS225+ is the 2025 update to the DS224+, with one meaningful hardware change: a 2.5GbE port replaces the second 1GbE port. That upgrade matters — backups and large file transfers between a NAS and a modern laptop or docking station run noticeably faster at 2.5Gb/s than 1Gb/s.
Everything else is essentially the same as its predecessor. The Intel Celeron J4125 is a 2.0GHz quad-core chip that handles file serving, backup, and light multimedia without complaints. Transcoding 4K HDR content to 1080p for remote playback will push it harder than QNAP’s N5095 at the same task. If Plex is a priority, that gap matters.
Where the DS225+ dominates is software. Synology Photos is the best self-hosted photo library app available — it handles facial recognition, album organization, and mobile sync without a subscription fee. Synology Drive works like a self-hosted Google Drive with desktop sync on Windows and macOS. Active Backup for Business covers unlimited PCs and VMs with no per-device licensing. None of these apps require configuration expertise.
The DSM 7.3 update resolved the most significant criticism of Synology’s 2025 lineup. Third-party SATA drives — WD Red Plus, Seagate IronWolf, Toshiba N300 — are now fully supported without warnings or degraded performance. Buy the NAS diskless, add whatever compatible drives you already own or find on sale.
Best for: Home office workers who want private cloud backup, shared file access, and a photo library without hiring a sysadmin.
QNAP TS-264 — More Hardware, More Complexity
The TS-264 ships with the hardware Synology charges extra to enable: 8GB of DDR4 RAM, two M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching, one PCIe 3.0 expansion slot, and dual 2.5GbE ports with port trunking. That hardware profile is genuinely different from the DS225+.
The N5095 processor runs up to 2.9GHz across four cores — faster than the J4125. 4K hardware transcoding via Plex performs meaningfully better. Docker containers run in QNAP’s Container Station with 8GB of available RAM rather than the 2GB ceiling of the DS225+. If you want to host a VPN server, a home automation stack, and a Plex library simultaneously, the TS-264 handles it where the DS225+ gets congested.
The PCIe slot enables 10GbE networking via an add-in card — a significant upgrade path for users who move large files frequently. No Synology consumer NAS in this price range offers that expansion.
QTS is the trade-off. QNAP’s interface is functional but not elegant. Setup is longer, terminology is more technical, and finding the right app for a given task requires more searching. QNAP has improved QTS meaningfully over the past few years, and the newer QTS 5.x releases are better than their predecessors — but Synology DSM remains the standard for ease of use.
Best for: Technical users who want Docker, heavy transcoding, or networking expansion headroom from a 2-bay NAS.
Synology DS425+ — Four Bays, Same Platform
The DS425+ puts four bays into the Synology DSM platform. The processor (J4125) and RAM (2GB) are identical to the DS225+. The value of the step up is storage strategy, not raw performance.
Four bays enable RAID 5 or RAID 6, which changes the backup math. RAID 5 with four drives gives you 75% usable capacity with single-drive fault tolerance — practical for mixed 4TB and 8TB drive configurations. RAID 6 tolerates two simultaneous drive failures. For home office workers with irreplaceable data, that redundancy matters.
Synology’s Hybrid RAID (SHR) simplifies mixed-size drive configurations that standard RAID handles poorly. If you have two 4TB drives and two 8TB drives, SHR creates a clean redundant volume without the capacity waste that RAID 5 would produce in a mixed-drive setup.
The 3-year warranty is the standout spec. QNAP’s TS-464 covers 2 years as standard. For a device storing critical business data, that extra year costs nothing extra.
Best for: Home office workers who want RAID redundancy and more than 20TB of usable storage on the Synology platform.
QNAP TS-464 — The Better Hardware Argument at 4 Bays
The TS-464 makes a strong case based on hardware per dollar. The N5095 processor, 8GB RAM, dual M.2 slots, PCIe expansion, and dual 2.5GbE — all present at $449-$499, which undercuts the Synology DS425+ by $50-$100.
For users who run a Plex server with 4K transcoding, host Docker containers for a home automation system, and serve files to multiple users simultaneously, the TS-464 handles the workload that pushes the DS425+ to its limits. SSD caching via the M.2 slots accelerates sequential reads dramatically — a genuine performance difference when multiple users access the same files.
QNAP’s Container Station supports both Docker and Kubernetes, which opens the door to self-hosted services that home office power users increasingly run: Nextcloud, Home Assistant, Bitwarden, and similar apps. The DS425+ can run containers, but the hardware ceiling is lower.
The firmware quality criticism of QNAP is worth noting. Historically, QNAP has been slower on security patches than Synology. QNAP improved their response cadence significantly after a high-profile ransomware incident targeting QNAP devices in 2021-2022. Their current patch frequency is competitive, but Synology still holds a slight edge in security update reputation.
Best for: Technical home office users who want 4-bay storage plus the hardware overhead for a demanding home lab workload.
Head-to-Head: Key Categories
Ease of Use
Synology wins clearly. DSM 7.3 is the best NAS operating system for non-technical users. Initial setup takes under 20 minutes. Backup configuration for connected PCs is guided and direct. QNAP’s QTS is functional, but every task takes more steps and more decision-making.
Hardware Value
QNAP wins. The TS-264 ships with 8GB RAM and dual M.2 NVMe slots at a price comparable to the DS225+. The TS-464 undercuts the DS425+ by $50-$100 while offering the same processor and storage advantage. On raw specs per dollar, QNAP is ahead.
Software Ecosystem
Synology wins. Synology Photos, Drive, and Active Backup are genuinely polished, well-maintained apps. The DSM Package Center has a curated selection of high-quality apps. QNAP’s App Center is larger in raw count but more variable in quality and maintenance frequency.
Docker and Container Performance
QNAP wins. 8GB RAM vs 2GB makes a practical difference for running containers. QNAP’s Container Station is designed for Docker from the ground up. Synology’s Docker support (via the Container Manager package) works, but the hardware constraints of entry-level Synology models limit what you can run alongside it.
Backup Reliability
Draw. Both platforms handle PC backup, Time Machine for macOS, and cloud sync to providers like Backblaze B2. Synology Active Backup for Business has no per-device license fees, which is a meaningful cost advantage for multi-PC homes. QNAP’s Hybrid Backup Sync covers similar ground and supports more cloud providers.
Security and Firmware
Synology wins slightly. Synology has a stronger track record on proactive security patches and a cleaner security advisory history. Both platforms now require strong passwords and 2FA on first setup — a significant improvement for QNAP after earlier ransomware incidents.
Warranty
Synology wins. 3-year standard warranty on DS225+ and DS425+ vs QNAP’s 2-year coverage on TS-264 and TS-464.
Buying Guide
Buy Synology (DS225+ or DS425+) if:
- You have never set up a NAS before and want a system that works without IT expertise
- Private photo backup via Synology Photos is a priority
- Multiple PCs and Macs need centralized backup — Active Backup covers them without per-device fees
- You want the longest warranty in the category (3 years)
- Power consumption matters — the DS225+ uses under 17W during active use
Buy QNAP (TS-264 or TS-464) if:
- You want to run Docker containers, VMs, or a self-hosted app stack
- 4K Plex transcoding is a core use case — the N5095 handles it more reliably
- You want M.2 NVMe SSD caching for better sequential performance
- Networking expansion to 10GbE is a future plan — the PCIe slot enables it
- You understand networking and storage well enough to navigate a more complex interface
2-bay vs 4-bay:
- 2-bay (DS225+, TS-264): Start here if you have one or two drives to install and want to expand over time. RAID 1 (mirroring) provides redundancy with two drives.
- 4-bay (DS425+, TS-464): The right choice if you need RAID 5/6 for genuine fault tolerance, or if you’re planning to store more than 20TB of data.
FAQ
Does Synology still lock you into Synology-branded drives in 2026?
No. Synology reversed that policy with DSM 7.3, released October 7, 2025. All Plus, Value, and J series NAS devices now support third-party SATA hard drives without warnings, degraded performance modes, or restricted functionality. You can use WD Red Plus, Seagate IronWolf, Toshiba N300, and other NAS-rated drives normally. Synology-certified drives remain an option and show no warnings, but they are no longer required.
Which NAS is easier to set up for someone who has never used one?
Synology. The DS225+‘s initial setup wizard walks you through network configuration, RAID selection, and user accounts in clear language. DSM’s interface maps closely to how non-technical users think about file organization. QNAP’s QTS assumes more baseline networking and storage knowledge. If you just want your files backed up and accessible from anywhere, start with Synology.
Can I run Plex on either of these NAS systems?
Yes, both support Plex Media Server. The key difference is transcoding performance. The QNAP TS-264 and TS-464 (N5095 processor) handle 4K-to-1080p software transcoding more reliably than the Synology DS225+ and DS425+ (J4125 processor). If you have Plex clients that support direct play — Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield — transcoding is less critical. If your clients require transcoding, QNAP is the better choice.
Is QNAP safe after the ransomware incidents?
QNAP substantially improved security practices after the Deadbolt ransomware attacks of 2021-2022. Current QTS versions require strong passwords and 2FA at setup, default ports are changed from common attack vectors, and QNAP’s security advisory response has improved. That said, Synology’s security track record remains cleaner. For either brand, keep the NAS off the public internet, enable the built-in firewall, and keep firmware updated — those steps eliminate the vast majority of risk for home office deployments.
What hard drives should I buy for a home office NAS?
NAS-rated drives handle the 24/7 vibration and RAID rebuild workloads that consumer desktop drives are not designed for. Seagate IronWolf (available in 4TB, 6TB, 8TB, 12TB, 16TB, 20TB) and WD Red Plus (same capacity range) are the standard choices. Both are available on Amazon and work on Synology and QNAP NAS devices. For most 2-bay home office setups, two 4TB or 6TB IronWolf drives in RAID 1 provide a practical starting point at a reasonable cost.
Conclusion: Which Brand Wins in 2026?
For most home office remote workers, Synology is the better choice — specifically the DS225+ for 2-bay storage. DSM is easier to set up and maintain, the built-in apps for backup and file sync are polished and reliable, and the DSM 7.3 reversal on third-party drives removes the one legitimate reason to avoid the platform in 2025.
QNAP earns the win for technical users. If you want to run Docker containers, 4K Plex, VMs, or are planning to expand to 10GbE networking, the TS-264 and TS-464 provide hardware that the Synology equivalents simply cannot match — more RAM, faster processors, M.2 NVMe caching, and PCIe expandability.
The 4-bay comparison is the closest call. The QNAP TS-464 undercuts the Synology DS425+ by $50-$100 with better hardware. If you’re comfortable with QTS and want hardware overhead, the TS-464 is the better deal. If you want Synology’s platform, the DS425+‘s 3-year warranty and DSM ecosystem justify the price premium.
Top picks: Synology DS225+ for ease of use, QNAP TS-264 for power users.
Detailed Reviews
Synology DS225+
Pros
- DSM is the easiest NAS operating system for beginners — clean UI, logical app layout
- DSM 7.3 reversed the controversial HDD restrictions — third-party drives now fully supported
- Synology Photos and Drive apps are genuinely excellent and work out of the box
- Active Backup for Business covers PCs, Macs, and VMs without per-device licensing fees
- Extremely efficient — under 17W during active use, under 7W in drive hibernation
Cons
- Less processing power than QNAP at the same price — slower for heavy transcoding
- Only 2GB RAM out of the box (6GB max) — limits concurrent app performance
- Weaker hardware upgrade path compared to QNAP's M.2 + PCIe expansion
QNAP TS-264
Pros
- 8GB RAM standard vs Synology's 2GB — handles Docker containers and VMs without choking
- Two M.2 NVMe slots enable SSD caching for dramatically faster sequential reads
- PCIe expansion adds 10GbE networking or additional storage controllers
- Faster N5095 processor handles 4K transcoding and concurrent heavy workloads better
- Dual 2.5GbE with port trunking gives up to 5Gb/s aggregate throughput
Cons
- QTS (QNAP's OS) is feature-rich but noticeably more complex for NAS newcomers
- 2-year warranty vs Synology's 3-year standard coverage
- QNAP's app ecosystem is less polished than Synology's DSM apps
Synology DS425+
Pros
- Four bays support RAID 5/6 for true redundancy with usable capacity — 3 or 4 drives protected
- Same DSM software as DS225+ — familiar interface scales smoothly to more storage
- 3-year warranty is the longest in this comparison
- Supports Synology-branded expansion units (DX517) to grow beyond 4 bays
- Active Backup for Business handles more PCs and VMs as your team grows
Cons
- Same J4125 processor as DS225+ — not faster, just more bays
- Only 2GB RAM limits performance when running multiple apps and high-traffic shares
- 1x 2.5GbE + 1x 1GbE is less network bandwidth than QNAP's dual 2.5GbE
QNAP TS-464
Pros
- 8GB RAM + N5095 processor handles 4K Plex transcoding, VMs, and Docker simultaneously
- Dual 2.5GbE with port trunking benefits multi-user environments and large file transfers
- SSD caching via M.2 NVMe dramatically accelerates random read performance
- Priced lower than Synology DS425+ despite superior hardware specs
- QNAP's Container Station runs Docker and Kubernetes for advanced home lab setups
Cons
- QTS complexity is a real barrier for users who just want a plug-and-play file server
- Only 2-year warranty — Synology covers an extra year as standard
- QNAP's historical firmware quality has lagged Synology's on security patch cadence