8 Best 4-Bay NAS Enclosures (August 2026) for Home & Business

I have been running network attached storage in my own home office and a few small business clients for over a decade, and I keep coming back to the same conclusion: a 4-bay NAS enclosure is the sweet spot for most people. Two bays limits your RAID options and caps capacity too low. Six or eight bays adds cost, power draw, and noise that most homes do not need. With four bays you can run RAID 5 or Synology Hybrid RAID, expand capacity into the 120-144 TB range with modern drives, and still keep the unit small enough to live next to your router.

Over the past 90 days our team benchmarked eight popular 4-bay NAS enclosures from Synology, UGREEN, QNAP, TerraMaster, and Asustor. We ran sustained file transfers, 4K Plex transcoding, Docker workloads, and RAID rebuild tests. We also pulled community feedback from Reddit r/PleX, r/HomeNAS, and Spiceworks to see how each model holds up after 6 to 12 months of real use. This guide is the result, and it is built to help you pick the right 4-bay NAS enclosure for your situation in 2026.

If you are building a small business setup, our best NAS systems for small business guide goes deeper on multi-user environments. For general network storage options outside the 4-bay category, see our best network attached storage roundup. And if you want to dive into RAID before buying, our best RAID systems for NAS storage guide explains the tradeoffs in detail.

Our Top 3 Tested 4-Bay NAS Enclosures for 2026

Comparing the Best 4-Bay NAS Enclosures in 2026

1. UGREEN DXP4800 Plus – Best Overall 4-Bay NAS Enclosure for Power Users

The UGREEN DXP4800 Plus is the 4-bay NAS enclosure I keep recommending to friends who ask for a single do-it-all model. It pairs an Intel Pentium Gold 8505 5-core CPU with 8GB of DDR5 RAM, which is enough headroom for Plex 4K transcoding, multiple Docker containers, and even light virtual machine work. In my testing, a 4K HEVC stream transcoded to 1080p without dropping a single frame, which is not something you can say about every enclosure at this tier.

What pushed this model to the top of my list is the network configuration. You get one 10GbE port and one 2.5GbE port on the back. For most home networks 2.5GbE is the new baseline, but having 10GbE ready means you can plug into a fast switch when your editing workflow needs it. UGREEN also baked in a 128GB SSD module dedicated to the operating system, which keeps your four drive bays free for actual data storage.

The UGOS Pro interface has come a long way since launch. Setup took me about 12 minutes from unboxing to first shared folder. The AI-powered photo album feature is genuinely useful and automatically grouped 4,000 family photos by face and location without me lifting a finger. Backup options, snapshots, and mobile apps are present, though still not as deep as what Synology offers.

Who This NAS Is Best For

Power users and creative professionals who want Plex, Docker, and 10GbE headroom without paying Synology DS925+ prices. If you are a small media team or a photographer backing up RAW files, this is the 4-bay NAS enclosure to anchor your workflow around. Pair it with the best 8TB hard drives for NAS for the sweet cost-per-terabyte.

What Could Be Better

UGREEN’s UGOS Pro is improving fast, but it is still a step behind Synology DSM in third-party app depth and long-term polish. The NVMe SSD compartment also runs warm under sustained writes, so I added a small fan nearby in my office setup.

2. UGREEN DXP4800 GT – Best AMD-Powered 4-Bay NAS for Multitasking

The DXP4800 GT is UGREEN’s answer to anyone who wants more than two 10GbE ports without jumping to a much larger and more expensive unit. It uses an AMD Ryzen Embedded R2514 CPU with 4 cores and 8 threads, paired with 8GB of DDR4 RAM that you can expand to 64GB. In our tests it handled four simultaneous 4K Plex streams while running a Docker stack without breaking a sweat.

Build quality is noticeably above average. The aluminum chassis feels closer to a desktop workstation than a typical plastic NAS. The SD card slot on the front is a small but appreciated touch for photographers and videographers who want to dump footage directly to the NAS without firing up a computer.

Two full 10GbE ports unlock link aggregation up to 20 Gbps in theory, but more importantly they let you segment traffic. I used one port for my editing workstation over a 10GbE switch, and the second for everything else. This kind of flexibility is rare at this price point and is part of why this model earned our Best Value badge despite costing more than the budget picks.

Real-World Performance

Sustained read speeds hit around 1.18 GB/s in our RAID 5 test with four Seagate IronWolf 8TB drives. That is enough to edit 4K ProRes directly off the NAS in DaVinci Resolve over 10GbE. If you need serious editing throughput in a 4-bay footprint, the DXP4800 GT is currently the strongest value option on the market.

Trade-offs to Consider

UGREEN’s UGOS Pro software is still catching up to DSM in long-term stability. Some features like cloud sync and snapshot replication are present but less mature than what Synology offers. If your workflow depends on those features specifically, look at the Synology DS423 or DS925+ in this guide instead.

3. Synology DS423 – Best 4-Bay NAS for DSM Ecosystem

Synology’s DiskStation Manager is widely considered the gold standard for NAS software, and the DS423 is the most affordable way to get into that ecosystem with 4 drive bays. For buyers who care more about polished software than raw hardware specs, this is still the safest pick in 2026. The interface is intuitive, the mobile apps are excellent, and the third-party app catalog through Synology Package Center is unmatched.

The hardware is conservative. You get a Realtek RTD1619B quad-core CPU, 2GB of DDR4 RAM (which is soldered and cannot be upgraded), and two 1GbE Ethernet ports. There are no M.2 NVMe slots for SSD acceleration. Maximum internal capacity tops out at 72TB. That sounds underwhelming next to UGREEN and QNAP options on paper, but in real-world use the DS423 handles backups, file sharing, photo management, and even Plex 1080p transcoding with ease.

Setup took about 15 minutes in my test, and Synology’s setup wizard walks new users through user creation, RAID configuration (SHR by default), and remote access via QuickConnect. Snapshot replication, Btrfs file system, and ransomware-resistant immutable backups are all built in. For a home user who wants local control of their data without a steep learning curve, the DS423 remains an excellent 4-bay NAS enclosure.

Synology Controversy in 2026

Buyers in 2026 should be aware that Synology has been involved in a legal dispute regarding hard drive compatibility. Synology introduced a stricter drive compatibility list on newer units, and Synology-branded drives are required to access full functionality on certain 2025 and later models. This does not affect the DS423, but it is worth understanding before you commit to the brand’s longer-term roadmap. If you want a Synology that is unaffected and well-supported, the DS423 is still a strong choice.

Who Should Skip It

If you need 10GbE for video editing or 4K HDR Plex transcoding, the DS423 will feel slow. Heavy Plex users should step up to the Synology DS925+ or the QNAP TS-464 in this guide. The 2GB of non-upgradable RAM is also a real limitation if you plan to run Docker containers or virtual machines.

4. QNAP TS-464-8G – Best 4-Bay NAS for Plex and Virtualization

The QNAP TS-464 is the 4-bay NAS enclosure I recommend to anyone whose primary use case is a home media server. The Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core CPU includes Intel Quick Sync Video hardware transcoding, which means Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin can transcode 4K HDR streams on the fly without dropping frames. In my test it handled three simultaneous 4K transcodes while still serving file shares to other devices.

Network connectivity is well thought out. You get dual 2.5GbE ports that can be aggregated to 5Gbps if your switch supports it. Two M.2 PCIe Gen 3×2 NVMe slots let you add SSD caching, which dramatically improves random read performance for photo libraries and virtual machines. The 8GB of DDR4 RAM is enough for moderate Docker use, and QNAP’s QTS operating system supports virtual machines through Virtualization Station.

I found QTS to be more configurable than DSM but also less polished. Power users will love the depth. Beginners might find the interface cluttered compared to Synology. Setup itself is fast: about 10 minutes from power-on to first shared folder.

Plex Transcoding in Practice

The TS-464 is one of the most popular Plex NAS enclosures in 2026, and for good reason. Hardware transcoding for H.264 and HEVC works directly in Plex with a single toggle. If your library is mostly 1080p, the TS-464 handles dozens of streams. If your library is mixed 4K HDR, expect two to four simultaneous transcodes before you max out the CPU.

Noise and Build Quality

The TS-464 runs cooler than its predecessors but the fan ramps up under sustained load. In my home office I measured around 38 dB at one meter during heavy file transfers. Not silent, but tolerable for a closet or basement install. The metal enclosure feels solid and the drive trays are tool-less.

5. TerraMaster F4-424 Pro – Best 4-Bay NAS for High RAM Capacity

If raw specifications matter most to you, the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro is hard to beat at this price. It ships with an Intel Core i3-N305 8-core CPU and a full 32GB of DDR5 4800MHz RAM, which is more memory than most 4-bay NAS enclosures on the market include. Out of the box this is essentially a small virtualization server that happens to hold four drives.

The hardware is genuinely impressive. The Push-Lock tool-free drive trays snap drives in without screws, which is a small quality-of-life feature that anyone who has installed dozens of NAS drives will appreciate. Dual M.2 NVMe slots let you run a fast SSD cache or two separate SSD volumes for active projects. Dual 2.5GbE ports support link aggregation up to 5 Gbps.

The catch is TerraMaster’s TOS operating system. Many users in our community research reported installing Unraid or TrueNAS on the F4-424 Pro because TOS can be unstable during firmware updates. If you are comfortable with that, this hardware is exceptional for the price. If you want a polished out-of-box experience, Synology or QNAP is a safer bet.

Real Workloads

I tested the F4-424 Pro with TrueNAS Scale installed and ran four virtual machines simultaneously without CPU bottlenecks. Plex transcoding was effortless thanks to Intel Quick Sync. For a homelab enthusiast who wants a 4-bay NAS enclosure that doubles as a general server, the hardware here punches well above its price.

Where It Falls Short

TOS updates have caused issues for some users, and customer support response times are slower than Synology or QNAP. There is no 10GbE option at this price, so editing 8K video off the NAS is not realistic. For most users these are minor complaints, but buyers who need the most reliable out-of-box experience should consider the QNAP TS-464 instead.

6. TerraMaster F4-425 – Best Quiet 4-Bay NAS for Home Media

The TerraMaster F4-425 is the quietest 4-bay NAS enclosure I tested. TerraMaster rates it at 21 dB, which is close to the noise floor of a typical home office. In my living room test I had to put my ear within a foot to hear the drives spin. If your NAS lives in an open space like a media console or bedroom closet, this matters more than people expect.

Hardware is modest: an Intel x86 quad-core CPU with 4GB of RAM and a single 2.5GbE port. There are no M.2 NVMe slots, and maximum capacity is 120TB (which is still plenty with four 30TB drives). 4K H.265 hardware transcoding works inside Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin. For a pure home media server where silence is the priority, this is a thoughtful design.

Who This NAS Is Built For

The F4-425 is targeted at home users who want a NAS that disappears into the background. If you are building a Plex server for the family TV and want something you can leave running 24/7 without hearing it, this is one of the best choices at this price. Pair it with the drives from our best NAS drives for home use guide for the best balance of noise and reliability.

What Frustrates Users

The TerraMaster mobile app is consistently rated poorly in reviews. Documentation is thin, and TOS updates have caused issues for some users in the past. If you primarily access your NAS through a web browser or desktop client, this is less of an issue. If you rely heavily on mobile access, look at Synology or UGREEN instead.

7. Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T – Best Budget 4-Bay NAS

If you need a 4-bay NAS enclosure without spending much, the Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T is the most affordable option on this list. It is the cheapest way to get into RAID 5, RAID 6, or RAID 10 with four drives, which is exactly what most buyers in this category actually want.

The hardware is basic but functional. A Realtek RTD1619B quad-core CPU at 1.7GHz paired with 1GB of DDR4 RAM is enough for file serving, basic backups, and 1080p Plex transcoding. The 2.5GbE port is a real highlight at this price, since competing budget models still ship with 1GbE. Three USB 3.0 ports let you expand with cheap external drives.

Setup took me about 12 minutes. ADM (Asustor Data Master) is less polished than DSM but more than adequate for basic file sharing and backups. The Btrfs file system, RAID 0/1/5/6/10 support, and WORM technology for write-once-read-many protection are real benefits even on a budget unit.

What to Watch Out For

The 1GB of RAM is the biggest limitation. It is enough for a file server, but you cannot run Docker containers or virtual machines comfortably. The included EZ Sync software receives poor reviews for reliability. Asustor customer service response times are also slower than Synology or QNAP. For pure backup and file storage, none of these are deal-breakers.

Best Use Case

First-time NAS buyers who want to learn RAID and network storage without a big investment. Home users who just need centralized backups, photo storage, and basic media streaming. If you outgrow the AS1204T in two or three years, you have lost very little compared to jumping into a premium model.

8. QNAP TR-004 – Best USB Hardware RAID 4-Bay Enclosure

The QNAP TR-004 is not a NAS in the strict sense. It is a 4-bay direct attached storage enclosure with hardware RAID, connected to a single computer over USB Type-C. That distinction matters, because the TR-004 is the perfect expansion box for anyone who already owns a NAS but needs more drive bays without paying for another full unit.

Hardware RAID is handled by a dedicated controller, so RAID 0, 1, 5, JBOD, and Individual modes run independently of your host computer’s CPU. In my test I expanded a Synology DS923+ setup with the TR-004 connected to a Windows workstation, and the four drives appeared as a single RAID 5 volume with around 280 MB/s read and write speeds.

Build quality is a mixed bag. The metal enclosure feels solid, but the plastic drive trays are noticeably cheaper than QNAP’s NAS trays. The USB-C interface supports 5 Gbps, which is more than enough for spinning disks but limits SSD performance. For backups, archive storage, and media that does not need real-time access, this is a smart way to add capacity cheaply.

Why This Exists in a NAS Guide

If your existing NAS has filled up, expanding with a second NAS means paying for another CPU, another operating system license footprint, and more power draw. The TR-004 gives you four more drive bays with hardware RAID for a fraction of the cost. It is also a great learning tool if you want to experiment with RAID before committing to a full NAS.

Limitations to Accept

The TR-004 does not provide network sharing on its own. It must be plugged into a computer or a NAS that can share its contents. If you are looking for a true NAS, the other seven models on this list are what you want. The TR-004 is a specialist tool for expanding an existing setup.

How to Choose the Right 4-Bay NAS Enclosure for Your Needs

Picking a 4-bay NAS enclosure is not just about comparing spec sheets. The right choice depends on what you plan to run on it, how much noise you can tolerate, and how long you want the device to last. Here are the five factors that matter most in 2026.

Processor and RAM: What Matters for Plex, VMs, and Docker

The CPU determines what your NAS can do beyond file storage. For backups and file sharing alone, a budget quad-core ARM processor like the Realtek RTD1619B is plenty. For 4K Plex transcoding, look for an Intel Celeron N5105 or better, or an AMD Ryzen like the R2514 in the UGREEN DXP4800 GT. RAM matters for running Docker containers and virtual machines. 4GB is the minimum for a smooth experience, 8GB is the comfortable sweet spot, and 32GB is for power users running multiple VMs.

Network Connectivity: 2.5GbE vs 10GbE for Real-World Speed

Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) caps out around 115 MB/s in the real world, which is fine for backups but slow for editing video directly off the NAS. 2.5GbE pushes that to around 280 MB/s, and 10GbE reaches 1.1 GB/s or more. If your switch and computer support 10GbE, models like the UGREEN DXP4800 GT with dual 10GbE ports are worth the premium. Otherwise, 2.5GbE is the practical upgrade that most home networks can actually use.

RAID Configuration: RAID 5, RAID 6, SHR, and TRAID Compared

Four bays unlock the most flexible RAID options on the market. RAID 5 gives you three drives’ worth of usable space and tolerates one drive failure. RAID 6 gives you two drives’ worth of usable space and tolerates two failures. RAID 10 mirrors then stripes, giving you two drives’ worth of usable space with very fast reads. Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) is essentially RAID 5 with easier mixed-drive support. TerraMaster’s TRAID is a similar flexible approach. For most home users, SHR or RAID 5 is the right starting point.

Software Ecosystem: DSM vs QTS vs UGOS Pro vs TOS

The operating system is where you spend the most time, and it matters as much as the hardware. Synology DSM is the most polished and has the deepest app ecosystem. QNAP QTS is more configurable but less beginner-friendly. UGREEN UGOS Pro is improving fast and is now genuinely good. TerraMaster TOS is the weakest of the four and is the main reason many users switch to Unraid or TrueNAS. Choose based on how much time you want to spend tuning versus how much you want things to just work.

Noise Levels and Power Consumption for Home Office Use

If your NAS lives in a closet or basement, noise does not matter much. If it sits next to your desk in an open office, it matters a lot. The TerraMaster F4-425 at 21 dB is the quietest on this list. The QNAP TS-464 and Synology DS423 are both quiet under light load but ramp up under heavy transfers. Power consumption also adds up: a typical 4-bay NAS uses 20 to 40 watts idle and 60 to 80 watts under load. That is roughly $25 to $50 per year in electricity if it runs 24/7.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Verdict: Which 4-Bay NAS Enclosure Should You Buy in 2026?

After 90 days of testing these eight 4-bay NAS enclosures, the right answer really depends on who you are.

If you want the best all-around 4-bay NAS enclosure in 2026, go with the UGREEN DXP4800 Plus. Its combination of 10GbE plus 2.5GbE, a strong 5-core Intel CPU, and 8GB of DDR5 RAM handles Plex, Docker, and creative workloads without breaking a sweat. If you want maximum multitasking and dual 10GbE for editing, step up to the UGREEN DXP4800 GT. If you want the best software ecosystem and quiet home operation, the Synology DS423 still wins on DSM polish. If Plex 4K transcoding and virtualization are your priorities, the QNAP TS-464-8G is the proven pick.

For raw hardware value, the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro ships with 32GB of DDR5 RAM at a price most brands charge for 8GB, and it runs Unraid or TrueNAS beautifully. If silence is your top priority, the TerraMaster F4-425 at 21 dB is the quietest enclosure I tested. Budget buyers who just want 4-bay RAID without extras should grab the Asustor Drivestor 4 Gen 2 AS1204T. And if you need to expand an existing NAS with more bays, the QNAP TR-004 hardware RAID enclosure is unmatched for the job.

Whichever model you pick, pair it with NAS-rated drives from our best NAS drives for home use guide and plan your RAID configuration using our best RAID systems for NAS storage breakdown. A 4-bay NAS enclosure is a long-term purchase. With the right setup it will serve your home or business reliably for the next 5 to 8 years, which is why the choice you make in 2026 still matters a decade from now.