Synology vs QNAP: Which NAS Is Right for Your Office?

If you are buying a NAS (network attached storage) for your office, you will quickly narrow it down to two brands: Synology and QNAP. Both make reliable devices, both are widely used by small and mid-sized businesses, and both can do far more than store files. So which one should you choose?

The honest answer: it depends on how your office works. This guide explains the real differences so you can decide with confidence.

What a NAS does for an office

A NAS is a small server dedicated to storage. In an office it typically replaces scattered external drives and shared PC folders with one central, backed-up place for files. Common uses:

• Shared folders with user permissions for each team
• Automatic backup of PCs, laptops and servers
• Backup of Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace data, on supported models and apps
• Secure remote access to files from home or on the move
• Storage for CCTV recordings or virtual machines

Software: where most of the difference is

Synology runs DSM (DiskStation Manager). It is known for a clean, consistent interface and a strong set of first-party apps, such as Active Backup for Business for backing up PCs and servers, Hyper Backup for off-site copies, Snapshot Replication, and Synology Drive for file sync. For offices without a dedicated IT person, this ease of use is a big advantage.

QNAP runs QTS (and QuTS hero on some models). It offers a very wide feature set, including Hybrid Backup Sync (HBS 3) for backup, snapshots, virtualisation and multimedia apps. It gives experienced users a lot of flexibility, but there are more settings to understand and secure.

Hardware: range and connectivity

Both brands offer desktop models (2 to 8+ bays) and rack-mount models for server rooms. QNAP is often noted for offering many hardware options at each price point, such as faster network ports, PCIe slots and M.2 SSD slots on more models. Synology offers a tighter, more curated range, and some models are designed to work best with Synology's own compatible drives, so check drive compatibility before buying.

Security: the part people skip

Any NAS connected to the internet is a target for attackers and ransomware. Whichever brand you choose:

• Keep the NAS operating system and apps updated
• Do not expose the admin page directly to the internet; use a VPN or the vendor's secure remote-access method
• Turn on two-factor authentication for admin accounts
• Enable snapshots and keep at least one backup copy off the NAS

Read our guide to NAS backup best practices for a simple plan.

Quick way to decide

• Choose Synology if you want the simplest day-to-day management and strong built-in backup apps.
• Choose QNAP if you want more hardware options and flexibility, or have someone comfortable managing more advanced settings.
• Either works well for shared folders and PC backup in a small office. Setup and backup design matter more than the brand.

How many bays and how much storage?

Work out how much data you have today, then plan for at least two to three times that over the next few years. A 2-bay NAS suits a very small office; 4-bay models give room to grow and allow RAID options that survive a drive failure while keeping more usable space. Larger teams, heavy backups or virtual machines may need more bays or a rack model.

Remember: RAID is not a backup. It protects against a failed drive, not deletion, ransomware or a damaged device.