Does your Mac feel like it’s constantly running out of space? You snap more photos, download bigger files, and suddenly, that spinning beach ball appears more often. It’s frustrating when your creative flow stops because your drive is full. You need a better way to keep all your important stuff safe and easily reachable.
Choosing the right network storage—like a NAS drive—for your Apple gear can feel like navigating a maze. Should you pick something fast? Is it easy to set up with macOS? Will all your apps work smoothly? These questions often lead to confusion and wasted time. You want reliable backup without complicated tech headaches.
This post cuts through the jargon. We will break down exactly what network storage means for Mac users. You will learn the key features to look for, understand the simple setup process, and discover how to centralize all your photos, videos, and documents so they are always available. Get ready to finally conquer your storage woes.
Top Network Storage For Mac Recommendations
- Value NAS with RAID for centralized storage and backup for all your devices. Check out the LS 700 for enhanced features, cloud capabilities, macOS 26, and up to 7x faster performance than the LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and macOS*, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs. *Only for macOS 15 (Sequoia) and earlier. For macOS 26, check out our LS 700 series.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS200 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. NAS Navigator 2 for macOS 15 and earlier. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
- Entry-level NAS Home Storage: The UGREEN NAS DH4300 Plus is an entry-level 4-bay NAS that's ideal for home media and vast private storage you can access from anywhere and also supports Docker but not virtual machines. You can record, store, share happy moment with your families and friends, which is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage, or external drives to create your own private cloud, access files from any device.
- 120TB Massive Capacity Embraces Your Overwhelming Data: The NAS offers enough room for your digital life, no more deleting, just preserving. You can store 41.2 million pictures, or 4 million songs, or 80.6K movies or 125.6 million files! It also does automatic backups and connects to multiple devices regardless of the OS, IOS, Android and OSX. *Storage disks not included.
- User-Friendly App & Easy to Use: Connect quickly via NFC, set up simply and share files fast on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web browsers, and smart TVs. You can access data remotely from any of your mixed devices. What's more, UGREEN NAS enclosure comes with beginner-friendly user manual and video instructions to ensure you can easily take full advantage of its features.
- AI Album Recognition & Classification: The 4 bay nas supports real-time photo backups and intelligent album management including semantic search, custom learning, recognition of people, object, pet, similar photo. Thus, you can classify and find your photos easily. What's more, it can also remove duplicate photos as desired.
- More Cost-effective Storage Solution: Unlike cloud storage with recurring monthly fees, A UGREEN NAS enclosure requires only a one-time purchase for long-term use. For example, you only need to pay $629.99 for a NAS, while for cloud storage, you need to pay $719.88 per year, $1,439.76 for 2 years, $2,159.64 for 3 years, $7,198.80 for 10 years. You will save $6,568.81 over 10 years with UGREEN NAS! *NAS cost based on DH4300 Plus + 12TB HDD; cloud cost based on 12TB plan (e.g. $59.99/month).
- Your personal cloud storage with 4TB large capacity doesn't have own WIF: This NAS built-in 3.5inch 4TB storage, as long as it is powered and connected to the internet, you will be able to remote access and manage the storage data anywhere by PC/Mobile phone,without geographical restrictions.Point to Point(P2P) confidential transmission to ensure the data security.Support Samba and DLNA Protocol, all smart devices interconnection in the same LAN, smart TVs,laptops and mobile phones
- Two working mode with LED Indicator: Two working mode meets all of your needs. NAS(Network-attachment Storage) Mode and DAS(Direct-attached storage) Mode. With 1000M Ethernet port for NAS mode, true network speed can reach to 10-30MB/s. With USB3.0 High speed transmission port for DAS mode to transfer larger numbers of various sized files. Two Modes with different LED indicator colors, easy understanding
- Centralize all your data: Support IOS, Android, Windows, MAC, all have proprietary client software, centralize all your photos,When downloading from the web page, do not use the Google Chrome browser to download, please use the IE (Internet Explorer) browser or safari browser to download on the computer
- One-click back up & Auto sleep: One-click backup of photos and videos, designated folders real-time synchronous update and backup on Mobile Phone/ Tablet /PC, you can save everything and access anywhere. No longer to worry when you are on a business trip, go hiking and travel around the world. This 4TB Personal Cloud Network Attached Storage will automatically switch the work/sleep state according to the usage, which can better reduce power consumption and protect the drive
- Smart management: Smart App/Software, multi-people sharing at the same time; Support Samba&Dlna Protocol, all smart devices interconnection in the LAN, smart TVs, laptops and mobile phones can share SSK Drive data; Divide Hard drive to Private Area and Public Area, better to keep private information, more safety
- Get enhanced features, cloud capabilities, MacOS 26 compatibility, and up to 7x faster performance than LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for all your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and MacOS 26, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS700 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
- USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter enables you to turn your laptop's USB port into a RJ45 Ethernet port to enjoy stable network connection
- Instantly add 3 USB 3.0 Ports to any compatible devices. And support 10 times faster data transfer rate than USB 2.0. Backward compatible with USB 2.0/1.1 devices
- Plug and play, Works perfectly with devices running with Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10/11, Mac OS 10.6-10.15, Linux OS and chrome OS
- Compact and light design makes UE330 an ideal laptop network adapter on the go with your trip
- Industry-leading free Lifetime 24/7 technical support and a 2-year warranty
- Get enhanced features, cloud capabilities, MacOS 26 compatibility, and up to 7x faster performance than LS 200.
- Connect the LinkStation to your router and enjoy shared network storage for all your devices. The NAS is compatible with Windows and MacOS 26, and Buffalo's US-based support is on-hand 24/7 for installation walkthroughs.
- Subscription-Free Personal Cloud – Store, back up, and manage all your videos, music, and photos and access them anytime without paying any monthly fees.
- Storage Purpose-Built for Data Security – A NAS designed to keep your data safe, the LS700 features a closed system to reduce vulnerabilities from 3rd party apps and SSL encryption for secure file transfers.
- Back Up Multiple Computers & Devices – NAS Navigator management utility and PC backup software included. You can set up automated backups of data on your computers.
- Equipped with Realtek RTD1619B 1.7GHz quad-core processor. 1 GB DDR4 RAM
- Enjoy, download, upload and stream content with 4K transcoding.
- Supports Wake on LAN (WOL)
- Btrfs/iSCSI Snapshots
- Tool-free installation
- 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 - Add Gigabit Ethernet network connectivity to your USB Type-C laptop, desktop, tablet, phone, or gaming device, delivering up to 1000 Mbps of reliable wired connection.
- 𝟯 𝗨𝗦𝗕 𝟯.𝟬 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 - Expand connectivity with 3 USB 3.0 ports up to 5 Gbps for simultaneous use of USB devices like keyboards and charging cables for smartphones. Enjoy up to 10 x faster data transfer than USB 2.0, with backward compatibility for USB 2.0/1.1 devices.
- 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 - Simply connect to a USB-C port. Plug and Play supports Windows 11/10/8.1, macOS El Capitan Version 10.11.6 & later versions, Chrome OS, Linux OS, Nintendo OS, and iPad OS. Later OS versions will be supported soon.§
- 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 & 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 - This portable adapter is designed with a small size for easy storage and quick setup, ensuring reliable network connectivity wherever you go.
- 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. This device is designed, built, and maintained, with advanced security as a core requirement.
Your Essential Guide to Choosing the Best Network Storage for Mac
Mac users need fast, reliable places to keep their files. Network Attached Storage, or NAS, connects to your home or office network. This lets all your Apple devices access the same files easily. This guide helps you pick the perfect NAS unit for your Mac setup.
1. Key Features to Look For
When shopping for a NAS, certain features make life much easier for Mac users. Think about what you need the storage for.
Speed and Connectivity
- Gigabit Ethernet (or Faster): This is the basic speed you need. Newer, faster units offer 2.5GbE or 10GbE. Faster speed means you transfer big video files much quicker.
- USB Ports: Look for USB 3.0 ports. You can connect external drives for quick backups or expand your storage easily.
Software and Compatibility
- macOS Integration: The best NAS units work seamlessly with Apple features. Check for compatibility with Time Machine. Time Machine is Apple’s built-in backup tool.
- App Ecosystem: Some NAS brands offer apps for streaming movies or photos directly from the storage box.
Data Safety Features
- RAID Support: RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) keeps your data safe. If one hard drive fails, the others still have your information. Look for support for RAID 1 (mirroring) or RAID 5 (striping with parity).
2. Important Materials and Build Quality
The physical build of the NAS matters for longevity and noise levels.
Enclosure and Cooling
- Metal Casing: Many high-quality NAS boxes use aluminum or steel casings. Metal helps dissipate heat better than plastic. Good heat management keeps the drives cool and running longer.
- Fan Quality: Since NAS units often run 24/7, quiet fans are crucial, especially if the unit lives in your living room. Loud fans reduce the user experience significantly.
Drive Bays
The number of drive bays (slots for hard drives) determines how much storage you can start with and how much you can expand later. A 2-bay unit is good for beginners. A 4-bay or larger unit offers better long-term flexibility and better RAID options.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The parts inside the box directly affect performance and how smooth your daily use feels.
CPU and RAM (The Brains)
A faster processor (CPU) and more memory (RAM) mean the NAS handles many tasks at once. If you plan to stream video while backing up your Mac, a stronger CPU prevents slowdowns. More RAM helps the operating system run smoothly.
Drive Compatibility
Always check the manufacturer’s list of supported hard drives. Using drives specifically tested by the NAS maker usually improves stability and reduces errors. Poorly matched drives can cause performance drops.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
How you plan to use the NAS changes what you should buy.
For Home Users (Backups and Media)
If you just need to back up your MacBook Pro and store family photos, a simple 2-bay NAS with Time Machine support is perfect. Ease of setup is the most important factor here.
For Creative Professionals (Video/Photo Editing)
If you edit large video files directly from the NAS, you absolutely need fast network speeds (2.5GbE or 10GbE) and a powerful CPU. The user interface must allow quick file browsing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Mac NAS
Q: Do I need special software to use NAS with my Mac?
A: Usually, no. Most modern NAS units use standard network protocols (like SMB). Your Mac sees the NAS just like an external hard drive once you connect it to the network.
Q: Is NAS faster than plugging an external hard drive into my Mac?
A: Not always. If you use a fast external SSD, that might be quicker for single-user tasks. However, NAS lets multiple Macs access files at the same time, which is much better for families or small offices.
Q: What is Time Machine compatibility?
A: Time Machine compatibility means your Mac can automatically back up all its data to the NAS over the network. This is a critical feature for any Mac user.
Q: How many hard drives should my first NAS have?
A: Start with a 2-bay NAS. This lets you use RAID 1 (mirroring). If one drive fails, you still have a copy of everything on the second drive.
Q: Can I access my NAS files when I am not home?
A: Yes, most major NAS brands offer free apps that let you access your files securely over the internet. This is called remote access.
Q: Does the NAS come with hard drives included?
A: Sometimes it does, but often it is sold as a “diskless enclosure.” Buying the drives separately lets you choose high-quality drives designed for 24/7 NAS use.
Q: Will a NAS slow down my internet speed?
A: The NAS uses your home network connection (Ethernet cable), not your internet speed, for local transfers. If you have a fast internal network (Gigabit), you will see fast speeds.
Q: What does “Plex Media Server” mean for my NAS?
A: Plex is an app you can install on the NAS. It organizes your movies and music and streams them perfectly to your Apple TV or iPad, even if you are in another room.
Q: How hard is the initial setup?
A: Modern NAS setup is much easier than it used to be. Most manufacturers provide a simple setup wizard that guides you through connecting the unit and preparing the drives through a web browser.
Q: Should I buy a NAS designed specifically for Mac?
A: No, you do not need a “Mac-only” NAS. Most high-quality NAS units work perfectly with both Mac and Windows computers.