Best Asustor NAS 2026

Asustor consistently delivers more hardware per dollar than any other NAS brand. Intel N5105 4-bay units at $200-300 less than equivalent Synology models, with 2.5GbE networking at price points where Synology still ships 1GbE. The trade-off is a smaller app ecosystem (ADM versus DSM), less polished software, and a narrower support infrastructure. This guide covers the full Asustor range. Drivestor, Nimbustor, Lockerstor, and Flashstor. With per-model recommendations by use case, performance expectations, and the honest cases where Asustor is the wrong choice. Australian pricing, retailer availability, and warranty notes are in the AU section below.

Why Asustor?

Asustor is a subsidiary of ASUS and has been building NAS devices since 2011. They have historically been the third option behind Synology and QNAP in Australia, but their 2024-2026 lineup has closed the gap significantly. Their operating system, ADM (Asustor Data Master), is mature and capable. Not as polished as Synology's DSM, but more open than QNAP's QTS when it comes to third-party app support and Docker flexibility.

The biggest practical advantage of Asustor in Australia right now is hardware value. Compare equivalent models: Asustor ships 2.5GbE as standard on its mid-range units where Synology only recently added it to the DS225+ and DS425+ series. Asustor includes HDMI output on most models for direct media playback. Something Synology dropped years ago. And Asustor's Celeron N5105-based units (Nimbustor, Lockerstor Gen2) offer genuine hardware transcoding capability for Plex at a lower price than comparable Synology Plus models.

Asustor's distribution model differs from Synology and QNAP. Stock availability can be inconsistent at times, particularly for top-tier Lockerstor models. Check retailer stock before committing. Warranty and purchasing details are in the AU section below.

Best Asustor NAS Models by Use Case

Best Budget NAS: Asustor Drivestor 2 Lite AS1102TL

The Drivestor 2 Lite is Asustor's entry-level NAS and the cheapest way to get a proper 2-bay NAS from a reputable brand in Australia. At $299 from both Scorptec and PLE, it competes directly with the Synology DS124 ($269-$289). But gives you two bays instead of one, making RAID 1 mirroring possible from day one.

The Realtek RTD1619B CPU and 1GB RAM mean this is strictly a file storage and backup device. Don't buy this expecting to run Plex transcoding, Docker containers, or surveillance cameras. It handles SMB file sharing, Time Machine backups, and basic cloud sync duties well. And that is exactly what most first-time NAS buyers actually need.

Best All-Round NAS: Asustor Drivestor 4 Pro AS3304T V2

The Drivestor 4 Pro Gen2 is the sweet spot in Asustor's 2026 lineup. It steps up from the budget Drivestor models with a faster Realtek RTD1619B processor, 2GB RAM, and critically, 2.5GbE networking. At $439 from Mwave and Scorptec (or $579 from PLE), it delivers 4-bay NAS capability with faster-than-gigabit networking at a price that Synology simply cannot match. The nearest Synology equivalent, the DS423 at $635-$699, uses a similar ARM CPU but only offers 1GbE.

This NAS suits households with multiple devices backing up, a shared media library, or anyone wanting to centralise files across a home network. The 2.5GbE port means you can saturate it with a compatible switch or direct connection at roughly 280MB/s. Nearly three times faster than standard gigabit. If your NBN plan is 100/50 or higher, the faster local network speed also helps with cloud backup uploads, though keep in mind typical NBN upload speeds cap around 20-50Mbps depending on your plan and technology type.

Best for Plex and Media: Asustor Nimbustor 4 AS5404T

If Plex is a primary reason for buying a NAS, the Nimbustor 4 is the Asustor model to look at. The Intel Celeron N5105 processor provides genuine hardware transcoding. Meaning it can convert video on the fly for devices that cannot direct play the original format. This matters if you stream to phones, tablets, older smart TVs, or remote clients over the internet where bandwidth-adaptive transcoding is essential.

At $799-$879 depending on the retailer, the Nimbustor 4 sits below the Synology DS425+ ($819-$999) while offering 4GB of RAM versus Synology's 2GB, dual 2.5GbE ports, and HDMI 2.0b output for direct media playback without a separate streaming device. The gaming-inspired chassis design is polarising. It will not win any living room aesthetics awards. But the internals are strong for the price.

For remote Plex access over the internet, be aware that some Australian NBN connections use CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT), which blocks incoming connections and prevents remote streaming. Check with your ISP whether you can get a static or public IP. Most ISPs will provide one on request, sometimes for a small monthly fee.

Best for Power Users and Docker: Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen2 AS6804T

The Lockerstor 4 Gen2 is Asustor's mid-range workhorse and the NAS that suits technically-minded users who want to run Docker containers, virtual machines, or heavier workloads alongside file storage. It shares the same Intel Celeron N5105 as the Nimbustor but comes in a more professional chassis with better build quality and thermals.

Pricing varies significantly across Australian retailers: Scorptec lists it at $775, PLE at $849, and Mwave at $1,013. The Scorptec price makes this an exceptional value proposition. You get an x86 NAS with dual 2.5GbE, 4GB expandable RAM, and M.2 slots for under $800. At that price, it directly competes with the Synology DS925+ ($995-$1,029) while offering HDMI output and a lower entry cost.

Best All-Flash SSD NAS: Asustor Flashstor 6 FS6706T

The Flashstor 6 is one of the most unique NAS products on the Australian market. It is an all-flash NAS with six M.2 NVMe SSD slots, dual 2.5GbE networking, and the Intel N5105 CPU. All in a tiny form factor barely larger than a Mac Mini. For video editors, photographers, and anyone working with large files who needs fast local storage, this is a compelling device.

At $575-$757 depending on the retailer (Scorptec has the best price at $575), the Flashstor 6 is remarkably affordable for what it offers. You supply your own M.2 NVMe SSDs. Readily available from $100-$200 per terabyte in Australia. And get a silent, fanless or near-silent NAS with sequential read/write speeds that dwarf any spinning-disk NAS. The catch is capacity: even with six 4TB NVMe drives (which are expensive), you max out at 24TB raw. For bulk storage, a traditional HDD-based NAS is still the practical choice.

Best for Business: Asustor Lockerstor 4 Gen3 AS6804T

The Lockerstor Gen3 range is Asustor's top-tier desktop line, built on the AMD Ryzen V3C14 platform with 16GB ECC RAM and dual 5GbE networking. The 4-bay AS6804T starts at $1,799 from Scorptec (Mwave lists it at $2,175, PLE at $1,999), which puts it in direct competition with the Synology DS925+ and QNAP TS-464. But with substantially more powerful hardware.

The Ryzen V3C14 is a genuine embedded server-class processor, and 16GB of ECC (error-correcting) RAM provides reliability features typically found in enterprise equipment costing significantly more. Dual 5GbE networking is faster than the 2.5GbE standard on competing brands and does not require the expense of 10GbE switches and cabling. For small businesses running file sharing, backup, surveillance, and potentially a few Docker containers or VMs, this is a strong platform.

Stock availability on Gen3 models has been inconsistent. Scorptec shows the 6-bay and 8-bay models as out of stock, and even the 4-bay has limited availability. If you need a Gen3 unit, order sooner rather than later or check with the retailer on expected delivery timelines.

Asustor Lineup Comparison

Prices last verified: 18 March 2026. Always check retailer before purchasing.

🇦🇺 Australian Buyers: Where to Buy, Pricing, and Warranty

Asustor NAS devices are available from several Australian retailers, with pricing varying noticeably between stores. Based on current scraper data, Scorptec and PLE consistently offer the best prices across the range, while Mwave tends to list higher prices on Asustor products specifically. Always check multiple retailers before purchasing. The same model can vary by $200 or more.

Asustor's Australian distribution runs exclusively through Dicker Data, who signed the brand recently and are still ramping up stock levels. Consumer models (Drivestor, Nimbustor) are generally available, but business and rackmount models (Lockerstor 4RD, 12R Pro, 16R Pro) are frequently listed as out of stock. If you need a specific model, contact the retailer directly to check availability and expected delivery timelines. Even when listed as "in stock," business NAS models are often fulfilled via dropship from the distributor, adding 2-3 days to processing.

Australian NAS pricing is currently running 10-20% above US levels, driven by lower stock allocations, higher freight costs, and smaller market volumes. Most Australian retailers operate on 3-5% NAS margins, so prices are fairly uniform across the major stores. The real difference between retailers is pre-sales knowledge and post-sales support. For a product that stores your data, the retailer relationship matters when something goes wrong. Specialist retailers like Scorptec and PLE can provide genuine guidance that Amazon and marketplace sellers cannot.

How ADM Compares to DSM and QTS

Asustor's operating system, ADM (Asustor Data Master), is functional and mature but lacks the polish of Synology's DSM. Where DSM feels like a commercial product with dedicated UX design, ADM feels more utilitarian. It gets the job done without being particularly elegant about it. That said, ADM 4.3 (the current version) has improved significantly from earlier releases, with a cleaner interface and better mobile app support.

Where ADM genuinely excels is openness. Asustor makes it easy to install Docker via Portainer, run third-party apps, and access the underlying Linux system. If you want to tinker, customise, or run non-standard workloads, ADM gets out of your way in a manner that Synology's more locked-down approach does not. QNAP's QTS sits somewhere in between. More flexible than DSM, but ADM still edges it for pure Docker and Linux friendliness.

The trade-off is in first-party apps. Synology's ecosystem. Synology Photos, Drive, Surveillance Station. Is significantly more polished than Asustor's equivalents. If you rely heavily on first-party mobile apps for photo backup or cloud sync, Synology is still the better choice. If you are comfortable with self-hosted alternatives (Immich for photos, Nextcloud for sync, Tailscale for remote access), Asustor's hardware value makes more sense.

What About the Gen2+ Models?

Asustor recently released "Gen2+" versions of the Lockerstor 2 and 4, designated AS6702T-V2 ($899 at Scorptec) and AS6804T-V2 ($1,199 at Scorptec). These sit between the existing Gen2 (Celeron N5105) and Gen3 (Ryzen V3C14) ranges. At the time of writing, pricing and stock data is limited, and it is not yet clear whether these represent a meaningful upgrade over the Gen2 models or simply a price increase.

If you are considering a Lockerstor 2 or 4, compare the Gen2 and Gen2+ pricing carefully before purchasing. The Gen2 at $679-$775 may represent better value unless the Gen2+ brings a processor or feature upgrade that justifies the premium. Check Asustor's product pages for confirmed specifications before committing.

Drives and Storage Planning

All Asustor NAS units are sold diskless. You need to supply your own hard drives or SSDs. For 3.5" HDD bays, stick with NAS-rated drives: Seagate IronWolf or WD Red Plus are the standard choices in Australia. NAS-grade drive prices have risen significantly from early 2025 levels. Expect to pay $200+ for a 4TB NAS drive in 2026. Factor drive costs into your total budget when comparing NAS models.

For the Flashstor M.2 NVMe models, most standard 2280 NVMe SSDs will work. Western Digital SN770, Samsung 980 Pro, or Crucial P3 Plus are all compatible. Keep in mind that the Flashstor 6 uses PCIe Gen 3x1 per slot, so an expensive Gen 4 drive will not perform any faster than a budget Gen 3 drive in this NAS. Buy accordingly and save the premium SSD money for other components.

Who Should Not Buy Asustor

Don't buy Asustor if you prioritise first-party software polish above all else. Synology's DSM and its mobile apps (Photos, Drive, Surveillance Station) are genuinely better than Asustor's equivalents. If you want a NAS that works like an appliance with minimal tinkering, Synology is the safer choice. You pay more for the hardware, but the software experience is consistently smoother.

Don't buy Asustor if you need guaranteed stock availability for business deployments. Dicker Data's Asustor stock levels are still building, and enterprise/rackmount models are frequently out of stock. For time-sensitive business purchases, Synology (distributed through BlueChip and MMT, with the deepest NAS stock in Australia) or QNAP (distributed through BlueChip) offer more reliable supply chains. If stock is there when you need a warranty replacement, the extra cost is worth it.

Don't buy Asustor if you need enterprise-grade support infrastructure. Asustor's Australian presence is minimal compared to Synology and QNAP, and the support chain through Dicker Data is newer and less tested. For deployments where downtime directly costs money, the established support networks of the bigger brands reduce risk.

Related reading: our NAS buyer's guide, our Synology vs QNAP comparison, and our AU retailer guide.

Use our free NAS Sizing Wizard to get a personalised NAS recommendation.

See also: our NAS buying guide hub.

Is Asustor as reliable as Synology or QNAP?

Asustor NAS hardware is manufactured by an ASUS subsidiary and uses the same class of components (Intel, AMD, Realtek processors, standard SATA and NVMe interfaces) as Synology and QNAP. Hardware reliability is comparable across all three brands. The difference is in software maturity and support infrastructure. Synology's DSM has had more years of refinement, and their Australian distribution through BlueChip is more established. Asustor hardware is solid. It is the after-sales support chain that is less proven in Australia.

Can I run Plex on an Asustor NAS?

Yes, but only on models with Intel x86 processors. The Nimbustor (AS5402T/AS5404T), Lockerstor Gen2 (AS6702T/AS6804T/AS6706T), Flashstor, and Lockerstor Gen3 ranges. These use Intel Celeron N5105 or AMD Ryzen processors that support hardware transcoding through Plex's Intel Quick Sync or AMD VCN. You will need a Plex Pass subscription to enable hardware transcoding. The budget Drivestor models use ARM processors and cannot hardware transcode. Plex will only work in direct play mode on those units.

What warranty do Asustor NAS devices have in Australia?

Asustor provides a 3-year warranty on consumer and prosumer NAS models. Enterprise and rackmount models may carry longer warranty periods. In Australia, warranty claims are handled by the place of purchase, not Asustor directly. They do not have a service centre in Australia. The claim goes from retailer to Dicker Data (the Australian distributor) to Asustor in Taiwan, then back down the chain. Expect 2-3 weeks minimum for resolution. Replacements are the standard outcome rather than repairs. Australian Consumer Law protections apply on top of the manufacturer warranty when purchasing from an Australian retailer.

Should I buy an Asustor NAS from Amazon AU?

Amazon AU sometimes lists Asustor models at competitive prices, and their returns policy is excellent if you want your money back. However, if your NAS fails and you need a direct replacement, Amazon may not have stock. Especially for older or less common models. They will typically push a credit or refund rather than sourcing a replacement. When you buy from a specialist retailer like Scorptec or PLE, they can access distributor stock through Dicker Data and are more likely to secure a direct replacement. For a device that stores your data, the support relationship matters more than saving a few dollars.

Can I access my Asustor NAS remotely over the internet?

Yes. Asustor provides EZ-Connect, a free relay service that enables remote access without manual port forwarding. Alternatively, you can set up direct remote access via DDNS and port forwarding, or use a VPN solution like Tailscale or WireGuard for a more secure approach. Be aware that some Australian NBN connections use CGNAT (Carrier-Grade NAT), which blocks incoming connections and prevents direct remote access. If you are on CGNAT, contact your ISP to request a public IP address. Most providers will assign one on request. Typical NBN upload speeds of 20-50Mbps will limit remote access performance, so don't expect local-network speeds when accessing files remotely.

How does Asustor NAS pricing in Australia compare to the US?

Australian Asustor pricing runs approximately 10-20% above US pricing, consistent with the broader NAS market in Australia. This is driven by lower stock allocations, higher freight costs to Australia, and smaller market volumes. The gap varies by model and retailer. Always compare prices across Scorptec, PLE, and Mwave, as pricing can differ by $200+ for the same model. For business purchases, request a formal quote from your preferred retailer. Resellers can request pricing support from Dicker Data, and discounts that never appear on the website are routinely available for quoted deals.

What is the difference between Drivestor, Nimbustor, Lockerstor, and Flashstor?

Drivestor is Asustor's budget line. ARM processors, basic RAM, 1GbE or 2.5GbE networking. Best for file storage and backups only. Nimbustor is the multimedia-focused range with Intel x86 CPUs, expandable RAM, dual 2.5GbE, and HDMI output. Aimed at Plex users and gamers. Lockerstor is the performance and business line, available in Gen2 (Intel N5105), Gen2+ (updated Intel), and Gen3 (AMD Ryzen V3C14 with ECC RAM and 5GbE). Flashstor is the all-flash M.2 NVMe range for users who need fast SSD storage in a compact, silent form factor. Each line targets a different use case and budget.