Best NAS Software in 2026
Updated
In short: TrueNAS is ranked #1 of 21 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of ZimaOS and napp-it. The best-ranked option with a free plan is ZimaOS.
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.
21 NAS software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
9 of the 21 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TrueNASWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 6.8 | |
| 2 | ZimaOSWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API · Extension | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 6.8 | |
| 3 | napp-itWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.7 | |
| 4 | DPlaneOSWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | NovaNASWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 6 | OpenNASWeb · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | openmediavaultLinux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 8 | XigmaNASWeb · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 9 | Synology Active Backup for SaaSSelf-hosted | Two bars | — | 0 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 10 | KitchenAstyWeb · Android · iPhone · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 11 | RockstorWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 12 | StarWind SAN & NASWeb · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 13 | Unraid USB CreatorWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 14 | PetaSANWeb · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 15 | TurnKey File ServerLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 16 | ZetaNASWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 17 | OSNEXUS QuantaStorWeb · Windows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 18 | SoftNASWeb · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 4.9 |
| 19 | HexOSWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
| 20 | NexentaStorWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
| 21 | Open-E JovianDSSLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which NAS software is ranked first on Freedom251?
TrueNAS is ranked #1 of 21 with a score of 6.8. ZimaOS is second and napp-it third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 21 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.