QNAP NAS Lineup 2026: Every Current Model, Specs and Price

QNAP makes more than 30 currently active NAS models spanning 1-bay to 16-bay configurations, from a $259 ARM-based desktop unit to rack-mount ZFS appliances used in broadcast and enterprise environments. This guide covers every vendor-confirmed current model with specs, real AU pricing pulled from major retailers in March 2026, and a plain-English breakdown of which tier fits which workload. Need to Know IT publishes pricing scraped nightly from PLE, Scorptec, Mwave, Computer Alliance, and Umart. These are not list prices. By the end you will know exactly which QNAP to buy and why.

QTS: The Software Behind Every QNAP NAS

Every QNAP NAS runs QTS, a Linux-based operating system with a browser-accessible desktop interface. QTS handles file sharing (SMB, NFS, AFP, FTP), user and permission management, scheduled backups, DLNA/Plex media serving, and an app ecosystem of over 400 packages via the App Center. QNAP's key software differentiator is Container Station. A first-class Docker and Docker Compose environment built directly into the OS. For homelab users who want to run Nextcloud, Jellyfin, Home Assistant, or Portainer alongside their NAS, Container Station is genuinely excellent.

Some high-end models run QuTS Hero instead. A ZFS-based OS variant used by the TVS-h series. QuTS Hero adds native ZFS pools, inline deduplication and compression, and enterprise data integrity at the cost of higher RAM requirements and a more complex initial setup. If you are buying a desktop TS-series unit, you are running standard QTS.

1-Bay NAS: TS-133

The TS-133 is QNAP's entry point. A single-drive unit for simple backup, a lightweight personal cloud, or a secondary NAS node in a larger setup. The ARM processor handles basic file serving and backup tasks. Do not expect Plex transcoding, Docker containers, or meaningful SSD cache.

2-Bay NAS

QNAP's 2-bay range in 2026 covers four distinct models. The TS-233 is the ARM budget option. The TS-216G adds dual 2.5GbE at an affordable price. The TS-264 is the Celeron mid-range sweet spot. The TS-253E is a higher-spec Celeron for workloads where ECC RAM or higher sustained throughput matters. The jump from ARM to Celeron is significant in practice. Celeron handles Plex transcoding and Docker containers where ARM struggles.

TS-233. Budget 2-Bay

The TS-233 is the cheapest path to RAID 1 redundancy in a proper QTS environment. The ARM CPU is adequate for file transfers and basic app use. Including QTS's excellent backup suite. But the non-upgradeable 2GB RAM and single 1GbE port are real limits. Not for Plex, not for Docker in any meaningful sense. If those are likely requirements, go straight to the TS-264.

TS-216G. New Mid-Point 2-Bay with Dual 2.5GbE

The TS-216G sits between the TS-233 and TS-264. It keeps the ARM CPU but doubles the RAM to 4GB and adds dual 2.5GbE. For users who primarily want faster local throughput on a 2.5GbE network without the full Celeron premium, it is a reasonable bridge. Still not suited for transcoding or heavy container workloads.

TS-264. Best 2-Bay for Most Users

The TS-264 is the 2-bay model most home and SOHO users should consider. The Celeron N5095 handles Plex direct play for multiple concurrent streams and light 1080p transcoding. Dual 2.5GbE supports link aggregation or a separate management interface. Two M.2 PCIe slots for NVMe SSD cache. Rare at this bay count and price. Meaningfully accelerate small-file and random I/O workloads. HDMI 2.0 output means you can connect it directly to a TV or monitor for local Plex playback without a separate client. The TS-264 at $819 represents strong value against Synology's DS225+ at a similar price point.

TS-253E. Celeron J6412 2-Bay

The TS-253E uses the Celeron J6412, a slight performance step over the N5095 in the TS-264. Marginally better AES-NI encryption throughput and ECC memory support. For home use the day-to-day experience is essentially identical to the TS-264. The main justification for the TS-253E over the TS-264 is in SMB environments where ECC RAM matters for sustained integrity under continuous write loads. For most home buyers the TS-264 at $819 is the better purchase.

4-Bay Entry: TS-433 and TS-462

QNAP's entry 4-bay range uses either ARM (TS-433) or a dual-core Intel Celeron (TS-462). Both support RAID 5 and RAID 6 for three or four-drive protection. The ARM CPU on the TS-433 is adequate for a passive backup destination or media storage server accessed by one or two users. The TS-462's dual-core Celeron handles light Plex and Docker use with upgradeable RAM. Neither includes M.2 cache slots.

TS-433. ARM 4-Bay Entry

TS-462. Celeron 4-Bay Entry

Between these two the TS-462 is the better starting point for active workloads. The Intel Celeron handles Plex direct play and a light container or two, and the RAM is upgradeable to 8GB. The TS-433 ARM CPU is genuinely adequate only for passive backup and file serving. Neither is compelling when the TS-464 is only $40-$150 more and includes dual 2.5GbE and M.2 slots. For most buyers the TS-464 is the better decision even at a stretch.

4-Bay Mid-Range: TS-464. The Volume Leader

The TS-464 is QNAP's best-selling home and SOHO model for good reason. The N5095 quad-core handles 1080p Plex transcoding, multiple simultaneous Docker containers, and fast SMB transfers without thermal throttling. Dual 2.5GbE supports link aggregation to a modern 2.5GbE switch for consistent ~500MB/s throughput across the network. Two M.2 PCIe Gen 3 slots for NVMe SSD cache accelerate random I/O significantly. Particularly valuable for VM storage, database workloads, or any use case with many small files.

The TS-464 lacks a PCIe expansion slot, which means no 10GbE NIC add-in card and no GPU. For those requirements step up to the TS-473A. For everything else, the TS-464 is the correct answer. Use the RAID usable capacity calculator to plan your storage pool before buying drives.

4-Bay All-Flash: TBS-464 NASbook

The TBS-464 ("NASbook") is a niche but compelling product. It holds four M.2 NVMe SSDs only, with no spinning drive bays at all. This makes it completely silent and extremely compact, while delivering all-flash IOPS that spinning disk cannot match. The trade-off is cost per terabyte. At $997 for the enclosure, plus four M.2 SSDs, the total investment is significantly higher than an equivalent spinning disk array. The TBS-464 is not a replacement for a standard 4-bay. It is a complement, suited to VM hosting, database storage, or a fast home office file server where noise matters.

4-Bay Performance: TS-473A

The TS-473A steps up from the TS-464 with an AMD Ryzen V1500B. A server-class CPU with 8 threads, ECC memory support up to 64GB, and sustained throughput under concurrent load that the Celeron cannot match. The PCIe Gen 3 × 4 slot is the headline feature: add a QNAP QXG-10G2T-X710 NIC for 10GbE, or a supported GPU for hardware transcoding and AI inference. ECC RAM is important for long-running ZFS-style workloads and protects against silent bit corruption in VM and database storage. The TS-473A is the last 4-bay QNAP most demanding home and SOHO users will ever need.

6-Bay NAS: TS-664 and TS-673A

The 6-bay tier enables RAID 6 across six drives. Two simultaneous drive failures tolerated. While delivering usable capacity that exhausts most home storage needs for years. The TS-664 uses the Celeron N5095 familiar from the TS-464. The TS-673A brings the Ryzen V1500B and PCIe expansion slot to the 6-bay form factor.

TS-664. 6-Bay Celeron

TS-673A. 6-Bay Ryzen with PCIe

The PCIe slot on the TS-673A is its defining advantage over the TS-664. Pair it with a 10GbE NIC and you have a 6-bay array capable of saturating a 10GbE switch. For small production environments with multiple concurrent users accessing large files. Video editing, CAD, surveillance. This combination at $1,699 delivers enterprise-grade throughput at a fraction of rack-mount pricing.

8-Bay, 9-Bay, and Larger

QNAP's desktop 8-bay+ range is dominated by two families. The TS-832PX (8-bay, Alpine AL-324 quad-core 1.7GHz, built-in 10GbE + 2.5GbE, ~$1,399-$2,163) is notable for its built-in 10GbE without needing a PCIe add-in card. A cost and configuration advantage for environments where 10GbE is the priority. The TS-873A (8-bay, Ryzen V1500B, 8GB ECC RAM, PCIe expansion, ~$1,829-$2,135) is the Ryzen option for workloads demanding higher CPU throughput and PCIe flexibility. Both support M.2 NVMe SSD cache.

The TS-932PX is a unique 9-bay hybrid: 5 × 3.5" bays plus 4 × 2.5" SATA bays, built-in 10GbE and 2.5GbE, Alpine AL-324 CPU. From ~$1,079-$1,569, it is the most affordable desktop QNAP with built-in 10GbE. The asymmetric bay layout suits a tiered storage strategy: SSDs in the 2.5" slots for hot data, HDDs in the 3.5" bays for bulk storage.

TVS-h Hero Series: ZFS-Powered QNAP

The TVS-h series runs QuTS Hero, QNAP's ZFS-based OS. Current models include the TVS-H674 (6-bay, Celeron or Pentium Gold options, up to 128GB ECC RAM) and TVS-H874 (8-bay). QuTS Hero adds ZFS storage pools with inline deduplication, compression, and snapshots. Enterprise-grade data integrity for backup infrastructure, surveillance, or any environment where a silent bit error would be catastrophic. Pricing starts above $2,000 for desktop units and climbs significantly for rack variants.

QuTS Hero is worth considering when ZFS data integrity guarantees and deduplication efficiency matter more than simplicity. For home and SOHO users, standard QTS with RAID 5 or RAID 6 provides more than adequate protection at a fraction of the price.

How to Choose the Right QNAP

Prices last verified: 28 March 2026. Always check retailer before purchasing.

Decision guidance: most first-time NAS buyers should default to the 4-bay TS-464 rather than a 2-bay. The extra bays cost relatively little at this tier and avoid regret when drives fill. Move to the TS-473A only if you know you need PCIe (10GbE NIC, GPU) or ECC RAM. Choose 6-bay when your planned array exceeds 4 × 16TB, or when RAID 6 with meaningful remaining capacity is required. Considering Synology instead? See the Synology vs QNAP comparison for a direct head-to-head on software, hardware, and AU pricing.

🇦🇺 Australian Buyers: What You Need to Know

Where to buy QNAP in Australia: QNAP is broadly available across Australian retailers. PLE Computers, Scorptec, Computer Alliance, Mwave, Umart, MSY, and CPL all carry the mainstream lineup. PLE and Scorptec have the widest model range and consistent stock on the volume models (TS-264, TS-464). Mwave is worth checking for pricing on popular 4-bay models. Use StaticICE.com.au to compare live pricing across all AU retailers simultaneously. Prices routinely vary by $50-$150 between retailers on the same model.

Current AU pricing benchmarks (March 2026): TS-133 from $259 (PLE). TS-233 from $399 (PLE). TS-264 (8GB) from $819 (PLE). TS-433 from~$759 (Scorptec). TS-464 (8GB) from $989 (Scorptec). TS-473A from $1,269 (MSY/Umart). TS-664 from $1,249 (Computer Alliance). TS-673A from $1,699 (PLE). TS-932PX from $1,079 (PLE). Prices shift regularly. Verify before purchasing.

Australian Consumer Law (ACL): QNAP NAS units purchased from Australian retailers carry ACL consumer guarantees. The product must be of acceptable quality and fit for purpose for a reasonable period. QNAP's standard warranty is 3 years on most desktop models. ACL protections may exceed the stated warranty for products with an expected lifespan beyond 3 years. Grey-import units purchased overseas do not carry ACL protections. Keep receipts and check whether your retailer handles warranty claims locally or requires you to contact QNAP directly.

Network and connectivity context: QNAP's dual 2.5GbE models (TS-264, TS-464, TS-664) are well-matched to modern home networks where 2.5GbE switches are available from $80-$100. For remote access: NBN upload speeds typically 20-50Mbps on NBN 100 plans cap practical remote throughput well below the NAS's local performance. QNAP's myQNAPcloud service handles remote access via a relay. Useful for access behind CGNAT. For direct remote access on a CGNAT connection, a VPN to a cloud exit node or a reverse proxy is required. The QNAP NAS Australia brand guide covers software setup, CGNAT workarounds, and support options for local buyers.

Related reading: our NAS buyer's guide.

What is the difference between QTS and QuTS Hero?

QTS is QNAP's standard NAS operating system, running on all TS-series and most other models. QuTS Hero is a ZFS-based variant used on the TVS-h series. It adds inline deduplication, compression, and native ZFS data integrity at the cost of higher RAM requirements and more complex storage setup. For home and SOHO users, QTS provides all necessary features. QuTS Hero suits environments where ZFS data integrity guarantees and deduplication efficiency are worth the added complexity and hardware cost.

Is QNAP better than Synology?

Neither is objectively better. They serve overlapping but distinct users. QNAP offers more hardware flexibility (PCIe slots, wider model range, built-in 10GbE on some units) and a stronger Docker/container environment via Container Station. Synology has a more polished and consistent software experience, stronger cloud service integration with Synology C2, and a gentler learning curve for non-technical users. Homelab users and those running containerised workloads generally find QNAP more flexible. Users who want a simple setup for backup and media serving typically find Synology DSM easier to manage. See the Synology vs QNAP comparison for a full breakdown by use case.

What hard drives work with QNAP NAS?

QNAP maintains a hardware compatibility list at qnap.com. In practice, Seagate IronWolf, WD Red Plus, and WD Red Pro are the most widely used NAS-grade drives in QNAP units and are universally compatible. Desktop drives (WD Blue, Seagate Barracuda) can function but are not rated for the vibration, heat, and continuous spin cycle of a NAS environment. Avoid SMR drives (some WD Red non-Plus and Seagate models) in RAID arrays. Their architecture causes severe write slowdowns during RAID rebuild. See the best NAS hard drives guide for AU-priced drive recommendations.

Can QNAP NAS run Docker containers?

Yes. This is one of QNAP's strongest differentiators. Container Station (pre-installed on most QTS models) provides a full Docker and Docker Compose environment, plus Kubernetes support on capable hardware. Setting up Nextcloud, Portainer, Home Assistant, Jellyfin, or any containerised service is straightforward via the Container Station UI or SSH. The TS-464 and above have sufficient CPU and RAM for multiple containers running alongside active NAS duties. ARM-based models (TS-233, TS-433) can technically run containers but will struggle under concurrent container load and file serving simultaneously.

How much RAM does a QNAP NAS need?

For basic file serving and scheduled backup: 2-4GB is adequate. For Plex transcoding and 2-3 Docker containers running simultaneously: 8GB minimum. For heavy VM hosting, multiple active containers, or ZFS via QuTS Hero: 16GB or more. Celeron-based models (TS-264, TS-464, TS-664) max out at 16GB. Ryzen models (TS-473A, TS-673A) support up to 64GB ECC RAM. Important for VMware-style workloads, ZFS deduplication tables, and any deployment where memory pressure would cause swap I/O to the storage drives.

What is the best QNAP NAS for home use in 2026?

The TS-464 is the best all-round QNAP for home use. 4 bays for RAID 5 redundancy, dual 2.5GbE, two M.2 NVMe cache slots, and a Celeron quad-core that handles Plex, Docker, and file serving simultaneously. Budget buyers wanting 4-bay protection start at the TS-433 ($639). Users who want a simpler 2-bay setup choose the TS-264 ($819). Only move to the TS-473A if you specifically need PCIe expansion for 10GbE or GPU acceleration. For everything else the TS-464 is the correct answer.