Best Synology NAS 2026 - All Models Ranked

For most people in 2026, the best Synology home storage device is the DS225+. It holds two hard drives, connects at a speed fast enough to stream video without buffering, and runs Synology's software, widely considered the easiest home storage software available. For four drives, the DS925+ is the clear choice. This guide ranks every current Synology model by use case, from single-drive personal backup to eight-drive setups for home offices, with Australian prices from Scorptec, Mwave, and PLE throughout.

All Synology NAS Models Ranked

Prices are pulled nightly from Mwave, Scorptec, and PLE. The three retailers that consistently stock the widest Synology range in Australia. Prices and stock can vary between retailers, so compare current listings before buying. The real difference is stock depth, pre-sales knowledge, and what happens when something goes wrong. For a broader comparison including QNAP, see our Best NAS Australia guide.

Prices last verified: 18 March 2026. Always check retailer before purchasing.

Best Overall. Synology DS225+

The DS225+ is the Synology to buy in 2026 for most Australian home users and prosumers. At~$638 from Scorptec or~$638 from Mwave, it follows the DS224+ generation with the same Intel Celeron platform. Plex hardware transcoding is not officially supported on the DS225+, 2.5GbE networking (plus a 1GbE port), and two M.2 NVMe cache slots in a quiet two-bay enclosure.

What makes the DS225+ the default recommendation is the full DSM experience. Docker support via Container Manager, Synology Drive for private cloud sync, Hyper Backup for automated offsite backups, Active Backup for Business, and Surveillance Station with two free camera licences. The Intel CPU handles Plex transcoding for a single 1080p stream comfortably. Critical for streaming to devices that don't support direct play. For a deeper look at how Synology compares to QNAP, see our Synology vs QNAP Australia comparison.

Best Four-Bay. Synology DS925+

The DS925+ is the four-bay pick for buyers who need more capacity and data protection than two bays can offer. At $995 from Scorptec or $1,029 from Mwave, the AMD Ryzen V1500B CPU, 4 GB ECC RAM (upgradeable to 32 GB), and dual 2.5GbE ports justify the step up from the DS425+. Four bays in SHR-1 with 8 TB drives (~$785 each for Synology HAT3320-8T at Scorptec) gives roughly 24 TB usable. The ECC RAM protects against memory errors. A genuine concern for 24/7 operation with irreplaceable data. For drive recommendations, see our Best NAS Hard Drive Australia guide.

The DS925+ also supports the DX525 expansion unit (~$1062 Mwave), adding five more bays without data migration. If your storage needs grow, you're not rebuilding from scratch. A key advantage over the DS425+.

Best Budget. Synology DS223

The DS223 suits buyers who want Synology's software without the Plus-series price. At $479 from PLE or $489 from Mwave and Scorptec, it delivers a solid two-bay experience with a Realtek RTD1619B quad-core CPU and 2 GB RAM. No Docker, no transcoding. But for file sharing, Time Machine backup, Synology Drive sync, and Hyper Backup to the cloud, it does the job reliably. DSM runs smoothly on this hardware for core NAS tasks.

If your budget is tighter, the DS223j at $319-$339 drops to 1 GB RAM but is arguably too compromised for 2026 workloads. The extra $140-$170 for the DS223 is well spent. The single-bay DS124 at $269-$289 exists as a dead-simple backup target, but offers no drive redundancy.

Best for Plex. Synology DS425+

The DS425+ is a four-bay Intel model, but Plex hardware transcoding is not officially supported on Synology's x25 DSM platform. At $849 from Scorptec, $848 from Mwave, or $999 from PLE, it uses the same Intel Celeron as the DS225+. Plex transcoding, 2.5GbE plus 1GbE, and two M.2 NVMe slots. The DS425+ can perform some software transcoding, but Plex hardware transcoding is not officially supported and transcoding performance depends heavily on codec, bitrate and resolution.

The trade-off versus the DS925+ is clear: the DS425+ has 2 GB RAM expandable to 6 GB and no external bay-expansion option, while Plex hardware transcoding is not officially supported on the x25 DSM platform. The DS925+ gives you upgradeable ECC RAM, dual 2.5GbE, and DX525 expansion, but no transcoding. Choose based on whether media streaming or storage growth is your priority.

Premium Two-Bay. DS725+ and Business Models. DS1525+, DS1825+

The DS725+ ($869, Mwave and Scorptec) is a niche pick. A two-bay NAS with AMD Ryzen R1600, 4 GB upgradeable ECC RAM, one 2.5GbE port, and one 1GbE port. It suits buyers who want compute performance for Docker containers (Home Assistant, Pi-hole) in a compact form factor. But at $869, the four-bay DS925+ uses a different Ryzen V1500B CPU, starts with the same 4 GB ECC memory, and adds two internal bays plus DX525 expansion support. Don't buy the DS725+ purely for storage. It only makes sense if you specifically need a two-bay form factor with Plus-series power.

The DS1525+ (5-bay, $1,750 Mwave / $1,759 Scorptec) and DS1825+ (8-bay, $1,799 Scorptec) are the business workhorses. Both offer 8 GB ECC RAM upgradeable to 32 GB and DX525 expansion support. The DS1525+ runs the Ryzen V1500B with two 2.5GbE ports; the DS1825+ uses the Ryzen V1500B with dual 2.5GbE. For small businesses running Active Backup across multiple PCs, Synology Drive for team collaboration, and Hyper Backup for offsite replication, these are the right starting points. For more on Synology in the Australian market, see our Synology NAS Australia overview.

Value Models and Rackmount

Synology's value-series models (DS124, DS223j, DS423) use Realtek ARM CPUs and limited RAM. They run DSM competently for basic tasks but lack Docker, transcoding, and M.2 NVMe slots. The DS423 ($635 Scorptec, $699 Mwave) is the standout here. Four bays with SHR redundancy, priced below the DS425+. The DS124 ($229-$299) and DS223j ($309-$389) are too compromised to recommend when the DS223 at$429-$589 offers a far better experience.

For rackmount, the RS422+ ($1,484 Mwave, $1,499 Scorptec) is the entry point. A 1U, four-bay unit. The newer RS826+/RS826RP+ and RS1226+/RS1226RP+ now sit in these compact rackmount tiers, while older RS822+ and RS1221+ stock may still be available. The desktop DS1823xs+ ($3,312 Mwave) delivers eight bays with Ryzen V1780B and 10GbE built in for businesses without rack infrastructure. Business rackmount models are rarely held in retailer stock. Even when listed as available, expect 2-3 days for the distributor dropship process. Always request a formal quote for business purchases. Resellers can access distributor pricing support that never appears on the website.

The Drive Compatibility Question

In April 2025, Synology locked new Plus-series models to Synology-branded drives. The enthusiast community reacted with justified fury, and Synology reversed course with DSM 7.3 in October 2025. Restoring third-party 3.5-inch HDD and 2.5-inch SATA SSD support on desktop Plus-series models. DSM 7.3 allows affected desktop Plus models to install and create storage pools with non-validated third-party HDDs, but drives on Synology's incompatibility list remain unsupported and the model-specific compatibility list should still be checked.

NAS hard drive prices have risen significantly from 2025 levels globally. And Australian NAS-drive pricing can differ from US retail pricing and varies by model, capacity, retailer and current stock conditions. For specific AU pricing and recommendations by capacity, see the Best NAS Hard Drive Australia guide, or the AU pricing section below.

🇦🇺 Australian Buyers: What You Need to Know

If you plan to access your Synology remotely. Synology Drive sync, Photos while travelling, surveillance monitoring. Your NBN upload speed is the bottleneck. NBN upload speed varies by access technology and retail plan. On eligible FTTP/HFC services, Home Fast is now a 500/50 Mbps wholesale tier, while other NBN technologies and products have different upload limits. Fine for documents and photos, but video streaming may need transcoding to lower bitrates. Another reason the Intel-based DS225+ and DS425+ often suit home users better than the AMD-based DS925+ for remote media access.

Watch out for CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT). Some ISPs on fixed wireless, satellite NBN, or budget MVNOs place customers behind CGNAT, blocking direct remote access. Synology's QuickConnect relay works around it but with reduced performance. Confirm you have a public IPv4 address if remote access matters to you.

For non-technical users who want private cloud backup without DSM or RAID, Synology's BeeStation range. The 4 TB ($489 Mwave) and BeeStation Plus 8 TB (~$489). Are sealed appliances with automatic phone and PC backup. No configuration needed. The trade-off: zero flexibility, no expansion, no redundancy. A single drive failure means data loss without an external backup.

Buying Tips and Consumer Rights

Budget for drives separately. Every Synology NAS ships diskless. Recalculate the DS225+ all-in cost using current NAS and drive prices; the figures shown here are internally inconsistent. Recalculate the DS925+ all-in cost using current NAS and drive prices; the figures shown here are internally inconsistent. Don't over-buy on bays. Two is plenty for most home users, four for prosumers, five or eight for business. Ask about warranty before buying: "If this fails, what's your process? Can I get an advanced replacement?" In Australia, your warranty claim goes to the retailer, not Synology. And Synology has no service centre here. Business buyers: request a formal quote. Resellers can access distributor and vendor pricing support that never appears on the website.

Which Synology Should You Actually Buy?

The decision simplified:

• "Cheapest Synology for backup.". DS223 ($479).
• "Proper NAS with Docker, transcoding, fast networking.". DS225+ (~$638).
• "Four bays and I use Plex.". DS425+ ($848-$1,029).
• "Four bays with upgrade headroom.". DS925+ ($995).
• "Small business, multiple users, need to scale.". DS1525+ ($1,750) or DS1825+ ($1,899).
• "Just works, never see a settings screen.". BeeStation Plus 8 TB (~$489).

Pick based on how many bays you need and whether transcoding matters. DSM is the same across the entire Plus range. The experience is consistent regardless of model. Gone are the days of waiting for Black Friday to buy tech in Australia. Retailers run rolling sale events throughout the year, and in 2026 with storage supply chain constraints tightening, the stock might not be there when you finally decide to pull the trigger.

Related reading: our AU retailer guide.

Use our free NAS Sizing Wizard to get a personalised NAS recommendation.

See also: our complete Synology ecosystem guide.

See also: our complete Synology NAS Australia guide.

See also: our complete Synology ecosystem guide.

Is the Synology DS225+ worth the extra money over the DS223?

Yes, for most buyers. The DS225+ adds 2.5GbE networking, expandable memory and x86 Container Manager support, but it has no M.2 NVMe slots and Plex hardware transcoding is not officially supported on the x25 DSM platform. The price gap is $60-$110 depending on the retailer. Unless your NAS will only do basic file sharing with no transcoding or containers, the DS225+ is the better investment.

Can I use Seagate IronWolf or WD Red drives in a new Synology NAS?

Yes. Since DSM 7.3 (October 2025), Synology restored full third-party 3.5-inch HDD support on desktop Plus-series models. DSM 7.3 permits non-validated third-party HDDs on affected desktop Plus models, but check the model-specific compatibility list because drives classified as incompatible remain unsupported. The only remaining restriction is M.2 NVMe SSDs, which require Synology-certified models. Enterprise and rackmount models maintain stricter compatibility requirements.

What is the total cost of a Synology NAS setup in Australia?

A typical home setup costs $1,000-$1,200 all-in. DS225+ ($549) plus two 4 TB drives ($299 each at Scorptec) totals $1,147. A DS223 ($479) with two 4 TB drives comes to $1,077. A four-bay DS925+ ($995) with four 8 TB drives ($499 each) totals $2,991. NAS-drive prices change over time and vary substantially by model and capacity, so use current Australian retailer pricing when budgeting. Budget accordingly.

Should I buy a Synology NAS from Amazon Australia?

Amazon AU works if you're technically confident and don't need support. Their returns process is excellent. But if your NAS fails and you need a replacement, Amazon may not have stock. They'll push to give you a credit rather than sourcing a like-for-like unit. Specialist retailers like Scorptec or PLE can access distributor and vendor stock to find replacements. For first-time buyers or business-critical deployments, buy from a specialist.

How does Synology warranty work in Australia?

Synology has no service centre in Australia. Warranty handling and escalation paths vary by seller and fault assessment; ask the retailer for its current process and expected turnaround. Warranty length varies by model: Value and J-series models such as DS223, DS223j and DS423 carry two-year hardware warranties, while current Plus models such as DS225+ carry three years, with extension options on eligible models and regions. Under the ACL, the retailer has direct obligations to resolve applicable consumer-guarantee problems; for some guarantees, consumers may also seek certain remedies from the manufacturer. Advanced replacements are generally unavailable. Some resellers will let you buy a replacement at full price and refund you when the faulty unit returns.

DS425+ or DS925+. Which four-bay Synology should I buy?

Neither model should be chosen on the assumption of supported Plex hardware transcoding: the DS425+ contains an Intel J4125 but Synology does not officially expose its Quick Sync hardware on the x25 DSM platform, while the DS925+ uses an AMD Ryzen V1500B without Intel Quick Sync. DS925+ ($995) for everything else. Upgradeable ECC RAM, dual 2.5GbE link aggregation, DX525 expansion support, and stronger multi-threaded performance. The DS925+ is more future-proof; the DS425+ is the better media server.

Can I access my Synology NAS remotely over NBN?

Yes, via QuickConnect or direct DDNS. Upload speed is the bottleneck. NBN upload speed depends on your access technology and retail plan; eligible FTTP/HFC Home Fast services now use a 500/50 Mbps wholesale tier, while other NBN products have different upload limits. Fine for documents and photos, but video streaming may need transcoding. If your ISP uses CGNAT (common on fixed wireless and budget MVNOs), direct DDNS won't work. You'll need QuickConnect's relay. Check with your ISP for a public IPv4 address.

Is a two-bay or four-bay NAS better for home use?

Two bays is sufficient for most home users. Two drives in SHR give single-drive redundancy. If one fails, your data is protected while you replace it. Two 8 TB drives in SHR give roughly 8 TB usable, plenty for years of photos, documents, and backups. Four bays suit users who need more than 16 TB, want dual-drive redundancy (SHR-2), or run a home office with multiple users.