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+--- Thread: small NAS for $500 (/showthread.php?tid=12660)
small NAS for $500 - Enquiries - 01-21-2026
I am a newbie. And yup, the configurations and choices one can make with building a NAS are overwhelming. I have learned just a bit: I need an 8-10TB home storage. My photos are being pruned, so not a huge amount, no real need for a media server. Just file storage that is accessible worldwide for the years to come that will be a bit cheaper and more local than paying for cloud storage.
I know this much:
- I'll get a new router, open source DD-WRT preferred, perhaps a GL-inet.
- I'll get HDD's, perhaps IronWolf or the like.
My initial plan was to get a used NAS enclosure on Ebay etc, perhaps from 2022-2023. And the HDD's will be new.
A few Q's:
- yup: how many bays, what size drives for a typical RAID setup?
- what is a good used 2022-2023 NAS that will accept some smaller sized HDD's that:
- is relatively cheap
- Easy-ish setup, with some options.
- isn't HUGE
- and has some modern features.
Suggestions?
thank you!
RE: small NAS for $500 - ed - 01-21-2026
For a simple, reliable home NAS under five hundred dollars that gives you eight to ten terabytes of usable space and worldwide file access, you really do not need anything huge or complicated. Since you are not running media servers or heavy apps, the priority is stability, easy setup, and decent long term support rather than raw power.
For your budget and needs a used two bay Synology from 2022 or 2023 is the sweet spot. Models like the DS220 Plus, DS224 Plus, or even the DS218 Plus are small, quiet, easy to set up, and still get DSM updates for years. They accept new IronWolf or WD Red drives without issue and their remote access tools are perfect for someone who just wants simple global file access without cloud fees. Two bays with two 8TB drives in RAID1 gives you 8TB usable and protects you if a drive fails. If you want closer to 10TB usable you can use two 10TB drives in RAID1 instead. You do not need more than two bays unless you plan heavy expansion later.
If you want something newer but still inexpensive, the Synology DS224 (non Plus) also works well for basic storage and remote access, but it cannot run Docker. Since you said no media server or heavy apps, that is fine. Unifi NAS is not the right fit for you because it has no hybrid RAID, fewer apps, and does not simplify remote access the way Synology does.
Size wise all these two bay units are tiny and silent compared to older models. A used DS220 Plus or DS218 Plus enclosure on eBay plus two new IronWolf 8TB drives will land you right on budget and will feel like a proper upgrade from external storage.
If you want to explore more models you can try our NAS Finder tool:
https://nascompares.com/nas-builder/
Here are Amazon search links for mentioned models:
Synology DS220 Plus
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Synology+DS220+Plus&linkCode=ll2&tag=ncmail-20
Synology DS224 Plus
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Synology+DS224+Plus&linkCode=ll2&tag=ncmail-20
Synology DS218 Plus
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Synology+DS218+Plus&linkCode=ll2&tag=ncmail-20
IronWolf 8TB
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=IronWolf+8TB&linkCode=ll2&tag=ncmail-20