Best Budget 4-Bay NAS for Home Lab (2026): 6 Picks

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Four bays is the sweet spot for a home lab NAS. Two isn’t enough headroom once you outgrow a media library or start running Docker; six or eight is more chassis (and more noise) than most home labs need. The 4-bay tier in 2026 is also where the market got interesting — Ugreen and TerraMaster have shipped serious hardware for less than what Synology’s equivalent costs, and there’s still a $300 ARM option worth looking at for pure file-serving duty.

Below are six budget 4-bay NAS enclosures worth considering right now, ranked by where they fit rather than by absolute score. All are sold diskless, so you’ll pair them with CMR NAS drives. Prices accurate at time of writing and subject to change.

Quick Comparison

Product	Best For	Key Spec	Price Tier	Rating	Buy Link
Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus	10GbE out of the box	Intel Pentium Gold 8505, 8GB DDR5, 10GbE+2.5GbE	$$$	★★★★½	Check Price on Amazon
TerraMaster F4-424	Value 4-bay under $500	Intel N95, 8GB DDR5, 2x 2.5GbE, 2x M.2	$$	★★★★	Check Price on Amazon
TerraMaster F4-425 Plus	Dual 5GbE + 3 M.2 slots	Intel N150, 16GB DDR5, 2x 5GbE, 3x M.2	$$$	★★★★½	Check Price on Amazon
QNAP TS-464	Future 10GbE via PCIe	Celeron N5105/N5095, 4GB DDR4, 2x 2.5GbE, PCIe slot	$$$	★★★★	Check Price on Amazon
Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus	Budget ARM 4-bay	Rockchip RK3588, 8GB LPDDR4X, 2.5GbE, 4-bay	$$	★★★★	Check Price on Amazon
Asustor Drivestor 4 Pro Gen2	Entry-tier under $350	Realtek RTD1619B, 2GB DDR4, 2.5GbE, Btrfs	$	★★★½	Check Price on Amazon

1. Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus — Best for 10GbE Out of the Box

The only 4-bay in this list that gives you a built-in 10GbE port at a sub-$700 price, and it doesn’t skimp on the CPU either.

Why it makes the list

Ugreen’s DXP4800 Plus is the only unit here where you don’t need a PCIe card, add-in module, or software workaround to move data at 10-gigabit speeds. That single 10GbE port plus a second 2.5GbE port means you can plug a workstation into the fast link and keep the rest of the LAN on the slower one — exactly how most home labs are wired. The Intel Pentium Gold 8505 has real cores (5 cores, 6 threads), not just efficiency cores, so Docker stacks and virtual machines actually stretch their legs. UGOS Pro is Debian 12 underneath, which is a friendlier base for tinkering than most vendor operating systems.

Key specs

• Intel Pentium Gold 8505 processor (5 cores, 6 threads)
• 8GB DDR5 RAM, expandable up to 64GB
• 1x 10GbE RJ45 + 1x 2.5GbE RJ45
• 4x SATA (3.5″/2.5″) bays + 2x M.2 NVMe slots
• 4K 60Hz HDMI output
• Full Docker and virtual machine support in UGOS Pro

Watch out for

UGOS Pro is younger than Synology DSM or QNAP QTS, and it shows in the smaller first-party app library and rougher mobile experience. Reviewers also note that M.2 NVMe caching gains with spinning drives are modest because the M.2 slots share PCIe lanes with other subsystems. If you were expecting the M.2 slots to double as a full-throughput fast pool, temper expectations — they’re better as a cache or a modest-speed SSD volume.

For related picks in the same ecosystem, see our guide to the budget NAS hard drives.

2. TerraMaster F4-424 — Best Value 4-Bay Under $500

Same core hardware idea as the DXP4800 Plus, minus the 10GbE, at a real discount.

Why it makes the list

The F4-424 is what most first-time home lab NAS buyers actually need: a real x86 chip, DDR5 RAM, four bays, dual 2.5GbE, and two M.2 slots. TerraMaster’s Intel N95 quad-core hits a 3.4 GHz turbo, has integrated UHD Graphics for hardware transcoding, and supports AES-NI so encryption doesn’t tank throughput. The 8GB DDR5 4800MHz module ships in a single SODIMM slot, which means a straightforward RAM upgrade later. Side-slide chassis access makes swapping M.2 SSDs a five-minute job.

Key specs

• Intel N95 quad-core CPU (turbo up to 3.4 GHz) with integrated UHD Graphics
• 8GB DDR5 4800MHz (single SODIMM)
• 2x 2.5GbE RJ45 ports
• 4x SATA bays + 2x M.2 NVMe slots (side-slide access)
• AES-NI hardware encryption + H.264/H.265/MPEG-4/VC-1 transcoding
• TOS operating system

Watch out for

The HDMI port on the 424 series only shows a Linux command line, not a graphical NAS interface — you can’t wire this directly to a TV and expect a Plex-style dashboard. TOS is capable but its mobile apps and photo tooling trail Synology’s DSM in polish, so budget for some setup time if you want an all-in-one experience.

3. TerraMaster F4-425 Plus — Best 2026 Refresh with Dual 5GbE

The most interesting mid-tier 4-bay of 2026 — dual 5GbE ports and three M.2 slots, at just under $600.

Why it makes the list

The F4-425 Plus is TerraMaster’s answer to “what if we split the difference between 2.5GbE and 10GbE?” The answer is two 5GbE ports, each on a dedicated PCIe 3.0 x1 lane, which independent testing confirms will actually saturate individually. Combine that with 16GB of DDR5 (single SODIMM, upgradable to 32GB), three M.2 NVMe slots that can be configured as a RAID 5 SSD pool, and the newer Intel N150 processor, and you get one of the most complete mid-tier packages available. TerraMaster advertises sequential throughput up to 1020 MB/s with SMB Multichannel across both ports.

Key specs

• Intel Processor N150 quad-core (Twin Lake, up to 3.6 GHz)
• 16GB DDR5 (single SODIMM), expandable to 32GB
• 2x 5GbE RJ45 (each on its own PCIe 3.0 x1 lane)
• 4x SATA bays + 3x M.2 NVMe slots (PCIe 3.0 x1 each)
• 3x USB-A 10Gbps + 1x USB-C 10Gbps
• Up to 144TB raw capacity (4x 30TB HDD + 3x 8TB M.2)

Watch out for

Reviewers found that the M.2 slots don’t hit full PCIe 3.0 speeds — each is x1, so expect roughly 800–900 MB/s per slot rather than multi-gigabyte throughput. The HDMI port supports terminal access only, so no dashboard or media playback directly to a TV. The N150 comfortably runs Docker and media serving but pushes hard on VMs and CPU-heavy apps like Immich photo indexing. And there’s only one USB-C port among the four USB ports, which is a nit if you rely on USB-C external SSDs.

4. QNAP TS-464 — Best for Future 10GbE Upgrade via PCIe

Older hardware than the newer entries, but it’s still the only budget 4-bay here with a proper PCIe expansion slot.

Why it makes the list

The TS-464 shipped in 2022 and still earns a spot because of one specific thing: it has a PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot, which lets you drop in a 10GbE or 5GbE NIC, a QNAP QM2 card with additional M.2 slots, or an Edge TPU accelerator for AI image recognition. No other unit at this price point gives you that flexibility. The Celeron N5105/N5095 quad-core CPU is dated but still competent for file serving, Plex, and light containers, and QNAP lets you switch from QTS to QuTS hero for ZFS with WORM support if you want the ZFS integrity story.

Key specs

• Intel Celeron N5105/N5095 quad-core CPU (burst up to 2.9 GHz)
• 4GB DDR4 default (SODIMM dual-channel, up to 16GB supported)
• 2x 2.5GbE RJ45 with Port Trunking (up to 5Gbps combined)
• 4x SATA bays + 2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen 3 x1 slots
• 1x PCIe Gen 3 x2 slot for a 10GbE/5GbE NIC, QNAP QM2 card, or Edge TPU for AI image recognition
• 1x HDMI 2.0 4K output; Intel AES-NI encryption

Watch out for

The base 4GB RAM is genuinely tight if you want to run surveillance, AI image recognition, or virtualization — plan on the 8GB or 16GB SKU, or budget for a memory upgrade. Standard NAS security hygiene applies: keep firmware patched aggressively and never expose the QTS admin interface directly to the WAN. The hardware is also showing its age against the Ugreen and TerraMaster refreshes — you’re paying partly for that PCIe slot and partly for QNAP’s mature app ecosystem.

If you plan to add a 10GbE NIC to the TS-464, our guide to a budget 10GbE switch home lab pairs well with that upgrade.

5. Ugreen NASync DH4300 Plus — Best ARM Budget 4-Bay

Four bays, 8GB of RAM, and a 2.5GbE port for under $400 — the trade is that you’re on ARM.

Why it makes the list

The DH4300 Plus is the sub-$400 way to get four bays without dropping to a Realtek chip. It runs the same UGOS Pro as Ugreen’s more expensive DXP boxes but on a Rockchip RK3588 8-core ARM SoC — four Cortex-A76 cores plus four Cortex-A55 cores at 2.4 GHz. That’s more than enough silicon for file serving, RAID 5/6 arrays, automated backups, and 4K HDMI direct playback. The RK3588 also has a Mali-G610 MP4 GPU and a 6 TOPS NPU on board, and it’s genuinely power-frugal: independent testing measured roughly 21–22W at idle with four 4TB HDDs, and about 34–35W under heavy load.

Key specs

• Rockchip RK3588 / RK3588C 8-core ARM SoC (4x Cortex-A76 + 4x Cortex-A55) at 2.4 GHz
• 8GB LPDDR4X RAM — fixed, not upgradeable
• 1x 2.5GbE RJ45 port
• 4x SATA bays (3.5″ or 2.5″) — no M.2 NVMe slots
• 1x HDMI 2.1 4K 60Hz output; 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 + 2x USB-A
• RAID 0/1/5/6/10, JBOD, and Basic modes supported

Watch out for

This is where the ARM-versus-x86 tradeoff bites. Docker works, but virtual machines are not supported per Ugreen’s own product page. There’s only one Ethernet port, so no failover or link aggregation. There are no M.2 NVMe slots at all. And because it’s ARM with a bootloader instead of a traditional BIOS, Ugreen’s support explicitly discourages trying to swap UGOS for TrueNAS or Unraid — you’re locked into their OS. There’s also no Intel Quick Sync, so Plex/Jellyfin transcoding leans on the Rockchip’s own decoder; Ugreen’s own docs recommend direct-play workflows rather than aggressive server-side transcoding.

6. Asustor Drivestor 4 Pro Gen2 (AS3304T v2) — Best Entry-Tier 4-Bay Under $350

The cheapest way onto four bays and 2.5GbE, and it’s the first ARM Asustor with Btrfs snapshots.

Why it makes the list

The Drivestor 4 Pro Gen2 is the “just give me four bays and 2.5GbE” pick. It uses a Realtek RTD1619B quad-core running at 1.7 GHz (up from 1.4 GHz on the original Drivestor 4 Pro), and it’s the first ARM-based Asustor NAS to support the Btrfs file system with snapshot rollback via Snapshot Center. Independent RAID 5 testing showed roughly 296 MB/s sequential read and 200 MB/s sequential write — respectable for the chip class, and enough to saturate a 2.5GbE link. Asustor’s ADM operating system is one of the more mature options here, with a well-populated App Central including Plex, and the unit ships with a 3-year warranty.

Key specs

• Realtek RTD1619B quad-core ARM CPU at 1.7 GHz with upgraded iGPU
• 2GB DDR4 RAM — fixed, non-expandable
• 1x 2.5GbE RJ45 with Wake-on-LAN / Wake-on-WAN
• 4x SATA bays; 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 for expansion units
• 10-bit 4K H.265 hardware decoding
• Btrfs with snapshot rollback support
• Up to 104TB raw capacity; 3-year warranty; $339 MSRP

Watch out for

The 2GB fixed RAM is this unit’s biggest limitation. It’s enough for file serving, basic backups, and one active Plex stream, but hands-on reviewers found that transcoding two concurrent Plex streams pushes CPU into the 60% range, and there simply isn’t enough memory to run virtual machines. There are also no M.2 slots for SSD caching and only a single 2.5GbE port. Treat this as a file server and light Docker host — for anything heavier, spend more on one of the x86 units above.

What to Look For in a Budget 4-Bay Home Lab NAS

CPU: ARM vs x86 is the biggest decision. ARM units like the DH4300 Plus and Drivestor 4 Pro sip power and cost less, but you give up VMs, easy OS swaps, and Intel Quick Sync for Plex. If you want to run Proxmox, TrueNAS Scale, or a stack of resource-hungry Docker containers, buy x86.

Network: match the port to your switch. 2.5GbE is the new floor in 2026 — every unit here has at least one 2.5GbE port. The DXP4800 Plus’s 10GbE and the F4-425 Plus’s dual 5GbE only pay off if your switch and workstation NICs match. Otherwise the port sits idle. If you’re still on 2.5GbE gear, our budget 2.5GbE managed switch guide covers pairing options.

RAM: 2GB is too little for a real home lab. The Asustor’s fixed 2GB is fine for a file server, but everything else on this list starts at 8GB or takes an upgrade. Docker containers eat RAM fast — 16GB is a comfortable floor if you plan to run Home Assistant, Immich, Jellyfin, and a couple of *arr apps at the same time.

M.2 slots: nice, but check the lane budget. Two or three M.2 slots on paper sound great, but as reviews of the F4-425 Plus and DXP4800 Plus point out, each slot is often PCIe 3.0 x1, and the total lane budget is shared with the network and USB controllers. They’re excellent for caching and modest-speed SSD pools; they are not desktop-class NVMe pipes.

Diskless first. Every unit on this list ships without drives. Budget separately for four CMR NAS drives (WD Red Plus, Seagate IronWolf, or Toshiba N300 are the usual recommendations) — SMR drives will perform badly in RAID 5/6 rebuilds. Match capacities across drives to avoid stranded space.

FAQ

Is a 4-bay NAS overkill for a home lab?

Not really. Two bays limit you to RAID 1 mirroring, which means you use half your raw capacity for redundancy. Four bays open up RAID 5 (single-drive fault tolerance with three drives’ worth of usable capacity) or RAID 6 (dual-drive fault tolerance). Once you’re running Plex, Immich, backup targets, and a few Docker services on top of file storage, four bays gives you enough capacity headroom for two or three years without a rebuild.

Do I need 10GbE or is 2.5GbE enough for a home lab NAS?

2.5GbE is enough for almost every home lab workload. It caps at roughly 280 MB/s in practice, which is faster than a single spinning HDD can sustain sequentially and comfortably handles Plex, Time Machine backups, and file serving to multiple clients. 10GbE (like on the DXP4800 Plus) or dual 5GbE (like on the F4-425 Plus) pays off if you regularly move large video files or run an all-SSD pool — but only if your switch, cabling, and clients also support the higher speed.

Can I run Proxmox or TrueNAS on these NAS units instead of the vendor OS?

On the x86 units (DXP4800 Plus, F4-424, F4-425 Plus, TS-464), it’s generally feasible because they use standard Intel platforms — TerraMaster in particular has a reputation for encouraging users to install whatever they want. On the ARM units, no: Ugreen has publicly stated the DH4300 Plus is not designed for OS replacement because its Rockchip bootloader is not compatible with UGOS Pro images intended for x86 hardware, and the same is effectively true of the Asustor Drivestor 4 Pro Gen2.

How much RAM do I need for a 4-bay NAS running Docker containers?

8GB is a workable floor for a few containers (Plex, Pi-hole, Nextcloud). 16GB is comfortable for a full home lab stack (Home Assistant, Immich, Jellyfin, the *arr suite, Vaultwarden, Portainer). Under 4GB — like the QNAP TS-464 base or the Asustor at 2GB — starts hitting swap or refusing to launch heavier images. The DXP4800 Plus is the most future-proof here at 64GB max supported.

Are ARM-based NAS units like the DH4300 Plus fast enough for Plex transcoding?

They can transcode, but not the way Intel Quick Sync-equipped units do. The Rockchip RK3588 in the DH4300 Plus has hardware-accelerated decoding for common codecs and the HDMI port outputs 4K 60Hz for direct playback, but Ugreen itself recommends planning around direct-play (where the client handles decoding) rather than heavy server-side transcoding. For a Plex-first setup with multiple simultaneous transcodes, an x86 unit with Intel iGPU (the DXP4800 Plus, F4-424, F4-425 Plus, or TS-464) is the safer pick.

Bottom Line

Most home lab buyers should land on one of three units. The TerraMaster F4-424 is the sensible-value pick under $500 — solid x86 CPU, DDR5 RAM, dual 2.5GbE, and enough headroom to grow. The Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus is the right call if you already have a 10GbE switch or you want that as your upgrade path — you get one 10GbE port and one 2.5GbE port without a PCIe card. The TerraMaster F4-425 Plus is the mid-tier sweet spot with dual 5GbE and 16GB of DDR5, and it currently has the most future-friendly hardware in this list. Skip the sub-$400 ARM units unless power draw and price are your only priorities — the RAM and expansion ceilings will bite within a year.