TrueNAS Community Edition is the best network attached storage software for most home and small business builders who want ZFS protection at $0, while Unraid is the best choice for mixed drives and simple apps. Seven of the eight options in this guide cost $0 for the software itself, and Unraid is the only one with a software license fee, starting at $49 one time for Starter. Unraid Starter covers up to 6 attached storage devices, and that count includes the parity drive, so a 6-bay build with parity needs Unlimited at $109 one time.
NAS software turns a PC, a server, or a vendor enclosure into shared storage that phones, laptops, and other computers can reach over a local network. The right pick depends on your drives, your comfort with setup, and whether you want ZFS, Btrfs, or a simple file system. This guide covers free open source systems, two vendor systems that ship with hardware, and one file sync platform that runs well on a NAS. Prices and plan limits below were checked on official vendor pages on 2026-11-12.
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Best network attached storage software: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TrueNAS Community Edition | ZFS protection on own hardware | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 2 | Unraid | Mixed drives and easy apps | $49 one-time | Free trial (30 days) | Visit |
| 3 | OpenMediaVault | Low cost Debian NAS on old hardware | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 4 | Synology DSM | Synology hardware owners | $0 included with Synology hardware | Yes | Visit |
| 5 | QNAP QTS | QNAP hardware owners | $0 included with QNAP hardware | Yes | Visit |
| 6 | Rockstor | Btrfs snapshots on own hardware | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | XigmaNAS | FreeBSD ZFS on own hardware | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 8 | Nextcloud | Self-hosted file sync and sharing | $0 self-hosted | Yes | Visit |
The 8 best best network attached storage software tools, in detail
TrueNAS Community Edition
Best for: ZFS protection on own hardware
TrueNAS Community Edition is the current name for the Linux based line once known as TrueNAS SCALE. It is built on Debian Linux and uses OpenZFS as its storage layer. The software is free to download and install on ordinary x86 hardware, and iXsystems states that Community Edition will remain a storage solution with no license fees.
- That makes it a strong default for a home lab or a small business that wants checksums, snapshots, and replication without a software bill.
- The current line is 25.10, known as Goldeye, and it replaced the older Kubernetes based apps system with Docker based apps.
- It also supports virtual machines and file sharing over SMB and NFS.
- TrueNAS needs at least 8 GB RAM, and ZFS pools work best with matched drives.
Pros
- Full ZFS features at no license cost
- Docker apps and virtual machines included
- active community and vendor documentation
Cons
- Official hardware guide sets 8 GB RAM as the minimum, which rules out very old low memory machines
- ZFS works best with matched drives, so mixed drive reuse needs more planning
Unraid
Best for: Mixed drives and easy apps
Unraid is the easiest option in this guide for a builder with mismatched drives. Its array lets you add drives of different sizes, with one or two parity drives protecting the set, and Docker apps install from a large community catalog. A 30-day trial is available with no credit card required, so you can check hardware compatibility before you buy a license.
- The tiers are Starter at $49 one-time for up to 6 attached storage devices, Unlimited at $109 one-time for unlimited devices, and Lifetime at $249 one
- Starter and Unlimited include 1 year of updates, and the optional extension after that year costs $36 per year.
- If you do not extend, you keep the license and the version you have.
- Count parity before you buy Starter, because a 6-bay build with one parity drive and five data drives already fills the limit.
Pros
- Accepts drives of different sizes in one array
- large Docker app catalog and virtual machine support
- license is perpetual, so the OS keeps working after the update year ends
Cons
- Starter covers up to 6 attached storage devices including parity, so larger arrays need Unlimited at $109 one-time
- Starter and Unlimited include only 1 year of updates, then an optional $36 per year extension is needed for further updates
OpenMediaVault
Best for: Low cost Debian NAS on old hardware
OpenMediaVault, often called OMV, is a free Debian based NAS operating system with a web interface for storage, users, shares, and services. The current stable line is 8.x, known as Synchrony, built on Debian 13. It supports SMB, NFS, FTP, SFTP, rsync, and Docker through plugins, and it uses standard file systems such as Ext4, Btrfs, and XFS, so data is not locked into a vendor format.
- OMV is the lightest pick here for old hardware.
- Its documented minimum is 1 GiB of RAM and a 4 GiB drive for the operating system, far below the TrueNAS minimum of 8 GB RAM.
- That makes it a good fit for a small home server, a retired office PC, or a Raspberry Pi build.
- The trade-off is that ZFS is not part of the core install, and some extras depend on OMV-Extras, a community repository.
Pros
- Free under GPL-3.0 with no license tier
- runs on low power hardware and ARM boards such as Raspberry Pi
- plugin system adds Docker, backup, and file services
Cons
- No ZFS by default, so users who want ZFS need extra setup through plugins
- many useful extras come from the third party OMV-Extras repository rather than the core project
Synology DSM
Best for: Synology hardware owners
Synology DSM, short for DiskStation Manager, is the operating system that ships with Synology DiskStation and RackStation hardware. It is included with the hardware at no separate software charge, and owners can download updates for supported models at no extra cost. DSM 7.4 is the current line, with Storage Efficiency that Synology says can store up to 5 times more data on HDDs and SSDs through data reduction, though results vary by workload.
- DSM suits buyers who want a finished product rather than a build project.
- Setup is guided, the app set covers file sync, photo backup, media, surveillance, and office backup, and Synology Drive gives private file sync withou
- The limit is hardware lock-in: you buy a Synology enclosure, and you cannot move DSM to a home built server.
- Data reduction also needs select models from 2022 onwards.
Pros
- Polished web interface with Drive, Photos, and backup apps included
- DSM 7.4 adds storage efficiency with data reduction on select models
- wide app catalog for home and office use
Cons
- Only runs on Synology hardware, so you cannot install it on a home built PC
- data reduction in DSM 7.4 is limited to select models from 2022 onwards, so older models do not get that feature
QNAP QTS
Best for: QNAP hardware owners
QNAP QTS is the operating system that comes as standard with QNAP NAS hardware. It is built on a Linux kernel with the ext4 file system, and it covers file sharing, snapshots, backup, multimedia, virtualization, and surveillance in one web interface. QNAP also offers QuTS hero, a ZFS based variant for supported models, with inline compression, inline deduplication, and copy-on-write self-healing.
- QTS suits buyers who want a vendor enclosure with a broad app set and strong surveillance options.
- QVR Surveillance includes 8 free camera channels on many models, with more channels available under subscription or perpetual terms, so camera count c
- The main limit is hardware lock-in, and the base QTS file system is ext4, not ZFS.
- If you want ZFS on QNAP hardware, choose a model that runs QuTS hero and check that it has at least 16 GB RAM, which QNAP lists as the requirement for
Pros
- Included with QNAP hardware at no separate software charge
- ext4 based system with snapshots, virtualization, and surveillance apps
- QuTS hero variant offers ZFS on supported models
Cons
- Only runs on QNAP hardware, so you cannot install it on a home built PC
- QTS uses ext4 rather than ZFS, so inline compression and deduplication need QuTS hero instead
Rockstor
Best for: Btrfs snapshots on own hardware
Rockstor is a Linux and Btrfs based NAS appliance that installs on commodity hardware or a virtual machine. It uses Btrfs pools for storage, with snapshots, replication, and sharing over NFS, Samba, and SFTP. Docker based apps, called Rock-ons, add media, backup, and private cloud tools without manual container setup.
- The project is built on openSUSE and offers installer profiles for x86_64, ARM64, Raspberry Pi 4, and Raspberry Pi 400.
- Rockstor has a useful billing change that many roundups miss.
- From version 5.5.1 in testing and 5.6.0 stable, activating Stable channel updates no longer requires a subscription, and the project now asks for volu
- The trade-off is Btrfs itself.
Pros
- Free open source NAS built on Btrfs with pools, snapshots, and replication
- Docker based Rock-ons add apps with little setup
- runs on x86_64 and ARM64 hardware including Raspberry Pi 4
Cons
- Btrfs RAID 5 and RAID 6 profiles are not recommended for production use in Rockstor docs, so parity RAID needs another approach
- smaller community than TrueNAS or OpenMediaVault, so help can take longer to find
XigmaNAS
Best for: FreeBSD ZFS on own hardware
XigmaNAS is an open source NAS server based on FreeBSD, with a web interface for storage, users, and services. It was first released as NAS4Free in 2012 and took the XigmaNAS name in July 2018. It supports ZFS, software RAID, disk encryption, and sharing over SMB, NFS, FTP, and other protocols, and it can run as an embedded system from a USB drive, which keeps the install small.
- XigmaNAS suits a technical user who wants ZFS on FreeBSD without the hardware demands of TrueNAS.
- It runs on modest hardware and gives direct control over pools, datasets, and snapshots.
- The trade-off is pace and polish.
- The stable release is 14.3.0.5 from 10 September 2025, and the project has a smaller team, so new features arrive more slowly and the interface looks
Pros
- Free open source NAS under the BSD license with ZFS support
- runs as an embedded system from USB or a small drive
- supports software RAID, disk encryption, and many sharing protocols
Cons
- Smaller project team and slower release pace than TrueNAS, with stable release 14.3.0.5 dated 10 September 2025
- interface feels dated next to Synology DSM and QNAP QTS
Nextcloud
Best for: Self-hosted file sync and sharing
Nextcloud is a self-hosted file sync and collaboration platform that runs well on a NAS or a home server. The Community Edition is free and open source under the AGPL license, with file sync and share, calendar, contacts, Talk video calls, and office collaboration through Nextcloud Office. Desktop and mobile apps are free, and there is no user limit or storage cap in the free server itself, only the limits of your own hardware.
- Nextcloud is not a NAS operating system on its own.
- It is the sharing layer that sits on top of storage, and many users run it in Docker on TrueNAS, Unraid, or OpenMediaVault.
- Nextcloud sells Enterprise support from 100 users, with Standard at 71.29 euros per user per year, Premium at 104.99 euros, and Ultimate at 204.75 eur
- At 200 users those rates fall to 53.17, 81.99, and 183.75 euros per user per year.
Pros
- Free self-hosted Community Edition with file sync, sharing, calendar, contacts, and Talk
- desktop and mobile apps are free
- same AGPL code base as Enterprise, so no feature gate on the free server
Cons
- Enterprise support starts at 100 users, so a 10 person team cannot buy a direct Enterprise subscription and must use a hosting provider instead
- self-hosting means you handle updates, backups, and security yourself
How we chose
We chose systems that are real, maintained NAS software or a file sync platform that runs on a NAS, with an official homepage and a clear price or a clear included-with-hardware price. We did not test any tool hands-on. Prices and plan limits come from official vendor pricing pages and docs opened on 2026-11-12, including Unraid at $49, $109, and $249 one-time, Nextcloud Enterprise at 71.29 euros per user per year from 100 users, and TrueNAS Community Edition at $0. Hardware costs are separate.
Pick by budget and hardware
| Situation | Pick | Cost to start |
|---|---|---|
| Own hardware, ZFS, $0 software | TrueNAS Community Edition | $0 |
| Mixed old drives, simple apps | Unraid Starter | $49 one-time |
| Old PC or Raspberry Pi, $0 software | OpenMediaVault | $0 |
| Synology enclosure already owned | Synology DSM | $0 included with hardware |
| QNAP enclosure already owned | QNAP QTS | $0 included with hardware |
| Btrfs snapshots, $0 software | Rockstor | $0 |
| FreeBSD ZFS, $0 software | XigmaNAS | $0 |
| File sync on top of a NAS | Nextcloud Community Edition | $0 self-hosted |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best network attached storage software for most people?
TrueNAS Community Edition is the best pick for most builders who want ZFS protection at $0, because it includes snapshots, replication, Docker apps, and virtual machines with no license fee. Unraid is the better pick if you have mixed drives of different sizes and want simple app installs, starting at $49 one-time for Starter.
How much does NAS software cost?
Most options in this guide cost $0 for the software, including TrueNAS Community Edition, OpenMediaVault, Rockstor, XigmaNAS, and Nextcloud Community Edition. Unraid is the exception, with Starter at $49 one-time, Unlimited at $109 one-time, and Lifetime at $249 one-time. Synology DSM and QNAP QTS cost $0 as software because they are included with the vendor hardware.
Which is best for mixed drives?
Unraid is best for mixed drives, because its array accepts drives of different sizes with parity protection, while TrueNAS ZFS works best with matched drives. OpenMediaVault also handles mixed drives well with standard file systems, but it does not offer the same parity array model as Unraid.
Can I run NAS software on an old PC?
Yes, if the machine meets the minimum for your pick. OpenMediaVault lists 1 GiB RAM as its minimum, so it runs on many old PCs and ARM boards. TrueNAS needs 8 GB RAM, so check memory, drive connections, and network speed before you install it on an old machine.
Is Nextcloud a NAS operating system?
No, Nextcloud is a self-hosted file sync and collaboration platform, not a NAS operating system. It runs on top of storage, often in Docker on TrueNAS, Unraid, or OpenMediaVault. The Community Edition is free to self-host, while Enterprise support starts at 100 users.
Do I need to buy hardware to use Synology DSM or QNAP QTS?
Yes, DSM only runs on Synology hardware and QTS only runs on QNAP hardware, so you need a vendor enclosure to use them. The software itself is included with the hardware at no separate charge. If you want to reuse a home built PC, choose TrueNAS, Unraid, OpenMediaVault, Rockstor, or XigmaNAS instead.
Sources
- https://www.truenas.com/
- https://www.truenas.com/blog/building-a-bridge-between-community-enterprise/
- https://unraid.net/
- https://unraid.net/blog/new-pricing?ref=selfh.st
- https://www.openmediavault.org/
- https://www.openmediavault.org/download.html
- https://www.synology.com/
- https://www.synology.com/en-us/DSM74
- https://www.qnap.com/
- https://qnap.com/en-us/operating-system/qts
- https://rockstor.com/
- http://rockstor.com/docs/faq.html
- https://www.xigmanas.org/
- https://nextcloud.com/
- https://nextcloud.com/pricing/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.