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Best NAS Software in 2026

A NAS system can bring storage management and additional services together, so the right software depends on what you want it to handle. Compare storage pools and snapshots, then consider user management and cloud sync for organizing access and data. Container support, virtual machines, and an app catalog indicate other capabilities to weigh if your needs extend beyond file storage. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing are also listed for comparison. TrueNAS, ZimaOS, and napp-it are among the options to assess against these features.

  1. 1

    TrueNAS

    Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5

    TrueNAS Community Edition combines several storage types with ZFS protection features and a broad set of services. Review the support model and one-way upgrade warning before moving from TrueNAS CORE.

    8.7 Free plan Visit site
  2. 2

    DPlaneOS

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    DPlaneOS combines ZFS storage, sharing, container management and cloud synchronization in a free Community Edition.

    7.7 Free plan Visit site
  3. 3

    napp-it

    Free plan APILinuxMac+3

    napp-it brings storage management, ZFS capabilities, and several sharing protocols into one interface. Check the plan limits and support terms against your deployment before choosing a free option.

    7.6 Free plan Visit site
  4. 4

    NovaNAS

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    NovaNAS brings storage management, app deployment, backups, and monitoring into a web interface. Its current Debian 13 and fresh-install requirements are important constraints to check before setup.

    7.5 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    KitchenAsty

    Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+2

    KitchenAsty covers ordering, kitchen workflows, and customer engagement without monthly SaaS fees, but restaurants must operate their own installation.

    7.3 Free plan Visit site
  6. 6

    openmediavault

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted

    openmediavault combines NAS administration, file services, storage features and monitoring in a free Debian-based package.

    7.3 Open source Visit site
  7. 7

    OSNEXUS QuantaStor

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+2

    QuantaStor combines multiple storage types, grid management, and several installation formats. Compare the Community Edition restrictions and Enterprise quote-based pricing with deployment needs.

    7.3 45-day trial Visit site
  8. 8

    OpenNAS

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    OpenNAS combines NAS administration, container management, virtual machines, and self-hosted apps in a browser-based desktop. It is free, but its current installer is a beta for x86_64 hardware.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  9. 9

    PetaSAN

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    PetaSAN combines scale-out storage with several storage protocols and graphical management. The free option is self-supported; professional support and engineering consultation are also offered.

    7.2 Free plan Visit site
  10. 10

    Rockstor

    Free plan APILinuxMac+3

    Choose Rockstor if you want a free, open-source storage system with snapshots, multiple file-sharing protocols, backups, and Docker-based apps.

    7.0 Open source Visit site
  11. 11

    StarWind SAN & NAS

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hostedWeb

    Consider StarWind SAN & NAS if you need shared storage from existing servers and use its supported protocols, virtualization platforms, or backup integrations.

    7.0 Free plan Visit site
  12. 12

    ZimaOS

    Free plan AndroidAPIExtension+6

    ZimaOS combines NAS file management, storage, backups, and apps, with support for x86-64 hardware. The free plan has disk and member caps; ZimaOS+ removes them for a one-time 29.00 USD payment.

    6.9 Free plan · paid from $29 Visit site
  13. 13

    TurnKey File Server

    Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted

    TurnKey File Server packages multiple sharing protocols, browser access, and administration tools in a free appliance.

    6.8 Free plan Visit site
  14. 14

    Synology Active Backup for SaaS

    by Synology Active Backup for SaaS
    Free plan Self-hosted

    Active Backup for SaaS covers major Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace services and supports versioning, with Microsoft 365 recovery through a portal.

    6.7 Free plan Visit site
  15. 15

    XigmaNAS

    Free plan Self-hostedWeb

    XigmaNAS offers a broad set of storage and network-sharing options, with web-based administration and monitoring.

    6.7 Free plan Visit site
  16. 16

    ZetaNAS

    Free plan Self-hostedWeb

    Choose ZetaNAS if your team wants an open-source storage platform with collaboration features, broad storage access, or AI data pipelines.

    6.6 Free plan · paid from $99/mo Visit site
  17. 17

    NexentaStor

    Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    Choose NexentaStor if your organization needs unified file and block storage with the listed enterprise deployment and management options.

    6.4 Pricing on request · 45-day trial Visit site
  18. 18

    Open-E JovianDSS

    Free trial LinuxSelf-hosted

    JovianDSS combines multiple storage protocols with deployment, high-availability, backup, and encryption options.

    6.1 From $670 · 60-day trial Visit site
  19. 19

    SoftNAS

    Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

    SoftNAS combines multi-cloud NAS protocols with browser administration, API access, replication, and high availability.

    6.1 Visit site
  20. 20

    HexOS

    Paid Self-hostedWeb

    HexOS combines home-server management with storage pools, folder sharing, and app deployment. Check the hardware and pool requirements, along with the Lifetime plan’s exclusions, before buying.

    5.8 From $199 Visit site
  21. 21

    Unraid USB Creator

    Free trial LinuxMacWindows

    The Creator provides options for preparing a boot drive, including OS selection and network settings.

    5.8 Free plan Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

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