Best 4-Bay NAS in 2026: 5 Current Picks

Four bays provide useful RAID layout choices without moving to a large chassis. The right appliance depends on whether the NAS is primarily storage, an application server, a media server, or a high-speed network endpoint.

Quick recommendations

• QNAP TS-464: best overall balance.
• Synology DS925+: best software and backup administration.
• UGREEN DXP4800 Plus: best built-in networking.
• TerraMaster F4-424 Pro: best compute and installed memory.
• ASUSTOR AS5404T: best M.2 expansion.

QNAP TS-464: best overall balance

The QNAP TS-464 combines an Intel N5095, dual 2.5GbE, two M.2 slots, HDMI, and a PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot. That slot preserves an upgrade path that most current four-bay appliances have removed.

QNAP’s current TS-464-8G specification is also clear about memory: 8GB is installed in a removable SODIMM, there are two SODIMM slots, and the official maximum is 16GB. Earlier claims that the 8GB model is soldered are incorrect.

QTS is capable, but the owner should patch promptly, avoid direct internet exposure, and use a VPN or authenticated reverse-proxy design for remote access.

Synology DS925+: best managed storage

The DS925+ offers dual 2.5GbE, ECC memory, two M.2 slots, and DSM. Its advantage is operational: accounts, snapshots, notifications, Active Backup, Hyper Backup, and recovery documentation form a mature system.

It has no general PCIe slot and therefore no supported 10GbE upgrade path. The discontinued DS923+ did have that path; do not carry the older specification into the current model.

UGREEN DXP4800 Plus: best networking

The DXP4800 Plus includes 10GbE and 2.5GbE, an Intel CPU with integrated graphics, expandable DDR5, and two M.2 slots. It is the strongest option here for a workstation-to-NAS link or Docker workloads that move large datasets.

UGOS Pro has less history than DSM or QTS. Treat configuration export, independent backup, update timing, and restore testing as owner responsibilities.

TerraMaster F4-424 Pro: best compute

The F4-424 Pro has the strongest CPU and ships with 32GB of DDR5. It is the best fit for a substantial container stack or other CPU-heavy local applications.

Its tradeoffs are software maturity, no ECC, and no 10GbE expansion path. Choose it because the compute and memory are required, not merely because the specification sheet is larger.

ASUSTOR AS5404T: best M.2 expansion

The AS5404T combines an Intel N5105, dual 2.5GbE, and four M.2 slots. It can separate latency-sensitive applications from bulk SATA storage without moving to a dedicated all-flash NAS.

ADM covers core NAS functions, but the community and package ecosystem are smaller than Synology’s and QNAP’s.

How to decide

For Plex

Intel-based products offer an integrated media engine. Hardware capability does not guarantee that every codec, HDR conversion, subtitle path, or application license is supported. Match the actual media library and client devices.

For Docker

Start with memory, CPU, and backup design. TerraMaster offers the most installed capacity, while UGREEN combines useful compute with 10GbE. Synology provides the smoother management experience for a moderate service set.

For 10GbE

Choose the UGREEN for built-in 10GbE or the QNAP for a PCIe upgrade path. The DS925+ cannot add a 10GbE card.

For important backups

Choose the system whose restore workflow you can operate under stress. DSM has the strongest integrated story, but every NAS still needs an independent, versioned, preferably off-site copy.

Bottom line

The QNAP TS-464 is the most versatile current four-bay recommendation. The DS925+ is the better storage appliance, the UGREEN is the better fast-network endpoint, the TerraMaster is the better compact application server, and the ASUSTOR is the better mixed SATA/NVMe platform.

Do not buy a discontinued DS923+ at an inflated remaining-stock price. Consider it only when its specific PCIe feature is worth the used or clearance tradeoff.