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You can use a network-attached storage (NAS) system as part of an Obsidian vault sync setup, but that is not the same as running Obsidian Sync on your own server. Obsidian’s documentation lists NAS systems among ways to sync vault files and says its Sync service has no on-premises option. The claimed $96 annual saving is an author-specific figure, not a saving established by Obsidian’s current prices.
What “giving your vault to a NAS” means
An Obsidian vault is a folder of local files, including plain-text Markdown notes. That makes it possible to store or synchronize vault files using systems outside Obsidian Sync. Obsidian’s help documentation specifically lists network-attached storage, Git, and third-party services as possible approaches: Obsidian’s guide to syncing notes across devices.
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A NAS-based setup can mean different things: files may live on a NAS, a separate app may synchronize them to devices, or a self-hosted plugin and server may handle synchronization. The NAS itself does not automatically provide a complete cross-device sync service. Obsidian says its own Sync does not currently offer an on-premises server, so this is an alternative arrangement—not an installation of Obsidian Sync on a NAS.
Does it really save $96 a year?
Obsidian’s pricing page currently lists Sync Standard at $4 USD per user per month with annual billing, or $5 per user per month with monthly billing. At the annual rate, twelve months cost $48. The title’s $96 figure cannot be verified against those current prices: the original subscription price and billing period behind it are not established, nor are the NAS’s purchase, power, maintenance, security, or backup costs. Treat $96 as the author’s reported result, not a general saving.
#1 Best Overall
- [Quad-Core Processor for Daily Tasks] Powered by Realtek RTD1619B quad-core 1.7GHz CPU, ensuring stable performance for file storage, backup, and personal cloud usage.
- [Fast 2.5GbE Network Upgrade] Equipped with 2.5-Gigabit Ethernet, delivering faster transfer speeds than traditional Gigabit NAS for home data management.
- [1GB DDR4 Efficient Memory] Optimized 1GB DDR4 memory ensures stable system performance for basic multitasking and background services.
- [Personal Cloud Backup Solution] Create your own private cloud to store, access, and manage files securely from anywhere with full data ownership.
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| Obsidian Sync plan | Annual billing | Monthly billing | Included vaults and storage | File limit and version history |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $4 USD per user per month ($48 for twelve months at the listed rate) | $5 USD per user per month | One synced vault; 1 GB total storage | 5 MB maximum file size; one month of version history |
| Plus | $8 USD per user per month | $10 USD per user per month | Ten synced vaults; 10 GB total storage | 200 MB maximum file size; twelve months of version history |
These are prices and plan limits listed by Obsidian at the time checked in 2026; check the Obsidian pricing page for current terms. A fair comparison includes more than the subscription: account for hardware and upkeep, the effort of administering the setup, access when away from home, and a separate backup. Without the author’s dated bill and full cost calculation, the headline figure cannot be compared like-for-like.
What you give up when you replace Sync
Obsidian Sync bundles conveniences that a NAS or third-party arrangement may not reproduce automatically. Obsidian lists offline work with synchronization after reconnecting, selective sync for media and PDFs, settings synchronization, activity details, file recovery, and version history among Sync’s features. Check which of these your chosen setup actually supports rather than assuming that moving files to a NAS replaces them.
Rank #2
- 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.
Recovery deserves particular attention. Synchronization can propagate an accidental deletion or damaged file; it is not necessarily an independent backup. Obsidian’s recovery guidance recommends making a full vault backup before proceeding with recovery from a lost end-to-end-encryption password. A NAS setup needs its own clear plan for restoring deleted, overwritten, or corrupted files.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow Obsidian Sync encryption differs from local storage
Obsidian documents two encryption choices for remote vaults. End-to-end encryption is the default for a new remote vault; Obsidian says it cannot recover the password or decrypt the remote data if that password is lost. Its documentation describes the implementation as AES-256 encryption with scrypt key derivation. Standard encryption uses a key managed by Obsidian. These protections concern the remote vault: Obsidian says it does not encrypt the local vault itself. See Obsidian’s Sync security and privacy documentation.
Rank #3
- Personal & Home Private Storage: Yxk Zero1 2-Bay NAS is your gateway to stress-free private storage. Built for beginners who crave simplicity, it brings your scattered photos, videos, and files together into one secure home hub — no tech skills needed. Say goodbye to the chaos of multiple drives and cloud subscriptions, and hello to effortless access wherever you are. This entry-level 2-bay NAS is perfect for personal entertainment, photo backup, and worry-free data protection — now with Docker support for those ready to explore more.
- One-Time Investment, Lifelong Storage Freedom: Unlike Cloud storage with its recurring subscription fees and ever-shrinking free tiers, Yxk Zero1 NAS is a one-time purchase that puts you in complete control of your data. **The Hard Drive Must Be Purchased Separately — add or replace drives as your collection grows, no monthly bills, no storage limits imposed by others, and no risk of sudden price hikes. Your NAS, your rules, forever.
- Remote Access From Any Device: Once your NAS is set up, that's all you need to remember. Browse, upload, and share files from your phone app, desktop client, or any web browser — Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android. One central hub, everywhere you go.
- Blazing 2.5GbE Speed: With 2.5GbE connectivity — 2.5x faster than standard 1GbE — your files transfer in a flash and 4K streams without buffering. Flexible RAID modes, automated backups, and snapshot recovery work quietly in the background, so your data stays safe from drive failures or accidental loss. Speed without compromise, protection without complexity.
- Your Private Cloud Shared Your Way: You own your data — all of it, 100%. Advanced encryption and granular permission controls keep your files protected whether they're stored locally or shared with family and friends. Set up dedicated spaces for each user, so everyone gets seamless access across devices while keeping personal files truly personal. Privacy isn't a feature; it's the foundation.
With a NAS or self-hosted alternative, security depends on the specific software, server, device access, and remote-connection method. “Self-hosted” alone does not establish that data is encrypted end to end or that the system is safer. Check where encryption occurs, who can access the server, how devices connect from outside the home, and how you would recover if a key or device is lost.
Self-hosted options are separate projects
Examples in Obsidian’s community directory and project repositories include Osync (Self-Hosted), Lockstep Sync, and avbel/obsidian-sync. They are distinct projects, not versions of Obsidian Sync. Their listed capabilities, compatibility, and maturity can change; directory or repository descriptions are project claims, not independent reliability or security tests.
Rank #4
- Entry-level NAS Personal Storage：UGREEN NAS DH2300 is your first and best NAS made easy. It is designed for beginners who want a simple, private way to store videos, photos and personal files, which is intuitive for users moving from cloud storage or external drives and move away from scattered date across devices. This entry-level NAS 2-bay perfect for personal entertainment, photo storage, and easy data backup (doesn't support Docker or virtual machines).
- Set Your Devices Free, Expand Your Digital World: This unified storage hub supports massive capacity up to 64TB.*Storage drives not included. Stop Deleting, Start Storing. You can store 22 million 3MB images, or 2 million 30MB songs, or 43K 1.5GB movies or 67 million 1MB documents! UGREEN NAS is a better way to free up storage across all your devices such as phones, computers, tablets and also does automatic backups across devices regardless of the operating system—Window, iOS, Android or macOS.
- The Smarter Long-term Way to Store: 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 $459.98 for a NAS, while for cloud storage, you need to pay $719.88 per year, $2,159.64 for 3 years, $3,599.40 for 5 years. You will save $6,738.82 over 10 years with UGREEN NAS! *NAS cost based on DH2300 + 12TB HDD; cloud cost based on 12TB plan (e.g. $59.99/month).
- Blazing Speed, Minimal Power: Equipped with a high-performance processor, 1GbE port, and 4GB RAM on Board, this NAS handles multiple tasks with ease. File transfers reach up to 125MB/s—a 1GB file takes only 8 seconds. Don't let slow clouds hold you back; they often need over 100 seconds for the same task. The difference is clear.
- Let AI Better Organize Your Memories: UGREEN NAS uses AI to tag faces, locations, texts, and objects—so you can effortlessly find any photo by searching for who or what's in it in seconds. It also automatically finds and deletes similar or duplicate photo, backs up live photos and allows you to share them with your friends or family with just one tap. Everything stays effortlessly organized, powered by intelligent tagging and recognition.
- Osync (Self-Hosted): its community listing describes a self-hosted server, encryption, desktop and mobile support, configurable attachment and
.obsidianconfiguration syncing, and version history. The listing showed version 2.5.0 and compatibility with Obsidian 1.11.4 or later when checked; verify current details in the Obsidian community plugin directory. - Lockstep Sync: its listing describes a server that can run on a Linux host or in a container, with encryption, conflict handling, and revision or recovery history. Treat these as the project’s descriptions, not independently confirmed performance. See the community plugin directory.
- avbel/obsidian-sync: the repository describes a self-hosted plugin and synchronization server with encryption, history, and near-real-time propagation, while labeling the project early and noting that some described plugin surfaces are not implemented. Check the project’s current status before relying on it: avbel/obsidian-sync on GitHub.
These examples are not a ranked or exhaustive list. Before choosing one, confirm its current platform support and whether it synchronizes notes, attachments, and settings; how it handles conflicts and deletions; and how devices connect when away from the NAS.
When a NAS setup makes sense
A NAS arrangement can suit someone who already owns suitable storage, wants to manage their own sync infrastructure, and is comfortable maintaining it. It is not automatically cheaper once hardware, power, administration, and independent backup are included. If you do not already have a NAS or always-available host, compare the full setup cost and effort with the subscription rather than treating the hardware as free.
Best Value
- 【Advanced Home Data & Media Hub】For advanced home users who need phone backup, file storage, and centralized data management. Centralize family photos, 4K videos, movies, computer backups, and personal files in one place while running multiple apps for home entertainment and everyday data management. Suitable for households with growing digital libraries and multiple NAS use cases.
- 【Built for Creators, Media Servers & Advanced Apps】Powered by the Intel N100 Quad-Core CPU, 8GB DDR5 RAM, 2.5GbE networking, and dual M.2 NVMe slots, DXP2800 handles large files and heavier workloads with ease. Run Docker, virtual machines, and media server applications compatible with Plex—ideal for content creators, tech enthusiasts, and advanced home users managing 4K videos, RAW photos, personal media libraries, and multiple NAS apps.
- 【Up to 80TB for Growing Digital Libraries】 Supports up to 80TB of storage using two HDD bays and two M.2 NVMe SSD slots for family photos, movies, RAW photos, 4K videos, work files, and device backups. AI photo management supports recognition of people, objects, scenes, and locations, album organization, and duplicate photo detection. HDDs and SSDs are not included.
- 【AI-powered Home Surveillance】Turn DXP2800 into a centralized home surveillance hub by connecting compatible network cameras and storing recordings locally on your NAS. AI-powered features include Face Recognition, People Detection, and Pet Detection, helping advanced home users review important events more efficiently while managing home surveillance and personal data in one place.
- 【One data Center Across Your Devices】Keep files from desktops, laptops, phones, tablets, and other devices together instead of scattered across cloud accounts and external drives. Access, back up, organize, and share data across Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web browsers, and compatible smart TVs—ideal for creators and advanced home users working across multiple devices.
Obsidian’s plain-text vault format gives users flexibility about where files are stored and how they are synchronized. The trade-off is that a self-managed arrangement makes the user responsible for verifying compatibility, remote access, recovery, and ongoing maintenance. Obsidian Sync provides a documented product with built-in features; a NAS approach can replace some of that service, but the exact result depends on the chosen configuration.
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