Fast NAS drive
Seagate IronWolf Pro 4TB
NAS drivesCMR7,200 RPM4TB listing we checked
Busier NAS boxes and bigger arrays that want speed and a data recovery plan.
about $290on Amazon
Quiet NAS drive
WD Red Plus
Most home NAS boxes: quiet, cool and CMR.
Our pick: Quiet NAS drive. The WD Red Plus is a CMR NAS hard drive (5,400 RPM (small sizes), 7,200 (large), 2TB to 12TB). It suits most home NAS boxes: quiet, cool and CMR. The catch: some buyers hit compatibility warnings (36 negative mentions), usually Synology flagging non-Synology drives. Check your NAS’s list.
Out of stockAmazon shows today's exact price.
Out of stock on our last check Not buying today? Your Amazon cart keeps it saved and shows you if the price drops.
- Type
- NAS hard drive
- Recording
- CMR
- Speed
- 5,400 RPM (small sizes), 7,200 (large)
- Sizes
- 2TB to 12TB
Specs are from the Amazon listing or the maker. Prices are for the box without drives unless the listing says otherwise.
Why we pick it
- CMR recording, built for 24/7 NAS use in up to 8 bays
- 4.2 stars from 3,760 ratings
The catch
Some buyers hit compatibility warnings (36 negative mentions), usually Synology flagging non-Synology drives. Check your NAS’s list.
NAS drives in one line
NAS drives are built for 24/7 running and RAID: CMR recording, vibration sensors and longer warranties. Desktop SMR drives can stall a RAID rebuild.
Questions about the WD Red Plus
Is the WD Red Plus good for a NAS?
Quiet NAS drive. CMR recording, built for 24/7 NAS use in up to 8 bays. 4.2 stars from 3,760 ratings. The catch: Some buyers hit compatibility warnings (36 negative mentions), usually Synology flagging non-Synology drives. Check your NAS’s list.
Is the WD Red Plus CMR or SMR?
CMR. Avoid SMR drives in a NAS: they can slow RAID rebuilds to a crawl.
How many drives should I buy?
Two for a 2-bay mirror (RAID 1). For four or more bays, RAID 5 or Synology SHR uses one drive’s worth of space for protection. Buy drives of the same size, and keep a separate backup: RAID is not a backup.
What WD says about it
- Available in capacities ranging from 2TB to 12TB
- For RAID-optimized NAS systems with up to 8 bays
- Designed for Continuous Operation
- Backed by World-Class Support and Warranty
- Tuned for NAS with NASware
From the Amazon listing, in the maker's own words.
Also worth a look
See them all
Best value big drive
Toshiba N300
NAS drivesCMR7,200 RPM8TB to 14TB
Filling a NAS with big drives for less per terabyte.
about $550on Amazon
Cheapest Synology
Synology DS124
1 bay1GB RAM1GbE
One person backing up a phone and a laptop on a small budget.
about $160on Amazon