Choosing the Right NAS for Home and Small Office Use in 2026

[drewbinsky]

Hi everyone,
I’m planning to upgrade my home and small office storage setup, and I’m looking for advice on selecting the right NAS. I want a solution that balances performance, reliability, and cost, and supports features like remote access, automated backups, and media streaming.
I’ve narrowed my choices down to a few brands, including Synology, QNAP, and ASUSTOR, but I’m not sure which models are currently recommended for 2026. My usage would include:

• Daily file storage and organization
  
• Backups for multiple PCs and mobile devices
  
• Media streaming (video and music) to smart TVs
  
• Occasional light virtualization (VMs)
  

I’d love to hear your recommendations on:

1. Which NAS models offer the best value in 2026 for home/SMB use?
   
2. Important features I should prioritize agario (beyond storage capacity and speed).
   
3. Any tips for setting up automated backups and media streaming efficiently.
   

Thanks in advance for your advice!