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I've never used a NAS but want one for several reasons. First, I use a 5TB external HD to store music, movies, and time machine backups of my Macbook. The 5TB is nearly full, and I believe it's starting to fail, so I want to replace it with a NAS that has more storage and is set up with RAID to protect from future failures. Second, I'd like to access files when not at home and save on paying monthly subscriptions to Google Drive and Apple iCloud. Third, I want the NAS to manage torrents (music, movies, etc). Fourth, I want to play torrented movies on my living room TV and abandon my current inefficient workflow of loading and screencasting movies from my iPad Lastly, I may have other use cases I'm not yet aware of, and I don't want to regret my purchase because it can't do something I discover later, but I'm overwhelmed by all the options and picking a NAS to buy is difficult.
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Thanks for reaching out — and you’re absolutely not alone. Moving from external drives to a NAS can feel overwhelming at first, but based on your needs, it’s absolutely the right move and you’re asking all the right questions.
Given your budget (around $1,000), your usage (backups, media storage, torrenting, remote access, and TV playback), and your desire for future-proofing, I’d recommend something like the Synology DS224+ or QNAP TS-464 as a starting point. Both support RAID (RAID 5 is ideal for 3+ drives), remote file access, Time Machine backups, and media apps like Jellyfin or Plex. They also support Docker, so you’ll have room to explore other apps and services down the line (like torrent managers, note servers, or even self-hosted cloud alternatives).
If you go Synology, the software (DSM) is beginner-friendly and great for Mac users — but note that newer Synology models require branded drives for full compatibility. QNAP, on the other hand, offers more flexibility with drives, ports, and upgrade options, and is great if you’re a bit more hands-on.
For drives, I’d suggest 3×6TB or 4×6TB NAS-rated HDDs (WD Red Plus or Seagate IronWolf), which would give you 12–18TB usable after RAID, depending on setup.
You’ll be able to:
• Run a private torrent client (like qBittorrent or Transmission)
• Stream media to your TV with a Plex or Jellyfin server
• Back up your Mac via Time Machine
• Access your files remotely (with or without a monthly fee)
• Expand later if needed
