Synology DS224+ vs QNAP TS-264: Best 2-Bay NAS in 2026

The Synology DS224+ and QNAP TS-264 are the two most popular 2-bay NAS units for home users. They target the same buyer: someone who wants local backups, a photo library, maybe a Plex server, and the ability to stop paying monthly cloud fees.

But they take very different approaches. Synology bets on software polish. QNAP bets on hardware muscle. Which one you should buy depends on which trade-off you are willing to make.

SolderMag Take: Synology wins on experience, QNAP wins on specs

The Synology DS224+ is the NAS we recommend to most people. DSM is the best NAS operating system available, Synology Photos is a genuine Google Photos replacement, and the setup experience feels like configuring an app rather than deploying a server. If you want something that works reliably and stays out of your way, this is it.

The QNAP TS-264 ships with a faster CPU, four times the RAM, HDMI output, and NVMe caching slots. If media streaming is your primary goal, or if you plan to run Docker containers and want hardware headroom, the QNAP gives you more for the money. You just have to live with QTS, which is functional but cluttered.

For most home users: Synology. For media-heavy or power-user setups: QNAP.

Software and user experience

Synology DS224+: DSM (DiskStation Manager) is clean, responsive, and genuinely intuitive. Setting up backups, photo sync, or a media server follows guided wizards that work. The mobile apps are polished. Synology Photos alone is worth the purchase for anyone tired of paying for iCloud or Google Photos storage. The package center has a curated selection of first-party apps that are well maintained.

QNAP TS-264: QTS is capable but busy. The desktop-style interface packs in more features and settings, which is powerful for advanced users and overwhelming for beginners. QNAP's app selection is broader in some ways (more third-party packages), but the first-party apps lack the fit and finish of Synology's. QuMagie (QNAP's photo app) exists but is not in the same league as Synology Photos.

Winner: Synology, by a wide margin. DSM is the reason people pay the Synology premium.

Hardware and performance

Synology DS224+: Intel Celeron J4125 CPU, 2GB DDR4 RAM (expandable to 6GB with some effort). The J4125 handles hardware transcoding for Plex and Jellyfin, but the 2GB base RAM is tight. File indexing, Docker containers, and heavy Synology Drive usage can slow things down until you upgrade the memory.

QNAP TS-264: Intel Celeron N5095 CPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM out of the box. The N5095 is meaningfully faster than the J4125, and 8GB of RAM means you can run multiple services without feeling the squeeze. Two M.2 NVMe slots allow SSD caching, which speeds up random I/O for apps and small-file access.

Winner: QNAP, clearly. More CPU, four times the RAM, and NVMe caching at the same price tier.

Media streaming

Synology DS224+: Supports hardware transcoding for Plex and Jellyfin via the J4125's Intel Quick Sync. Handles two to three simultaneous 1080p transcodes comfortably. 4K transcoding works but pushes the CPU, especially with subtitles. No HDMI output means all media goes through your network to a streaming device or smart TV app.

QNAP TS-264: The N5095 handles 4K transcoding more comfortably than the J4125. The real differentiator is the HDMI 2.0 output: you can connect the NAS directly to a TV and play media locally using QNAP's HD Station app or Kodi. This eliminates network bottlenecks entirely for local playback. If your primary use case is a living room media server, this is a significant advantage.

Winner: QNAP. Better transcoding performance and HDMI out give it a real edge for media.

Backup and file management

Synology DS224+: Hyper Backup is one of the best backup tools on any NAS. It supports versioned backups to local drives, remote NAS units, and cloud services (S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, Azure). Synology Drive turns your NAS into a Dropbox replacement with selective sync. Active Backup for Business adds agent-based PC/server backup. The backup ecosystem is mature and reliable.

QNAP TS-264: Hybrid Backup Sync covers similar ground with cloud and remote NAS backups. It works, but the interface is less intuitive and the scheduling options feel clunkier. QNAP's file management is capable but requires more clicking to achieve the same results. For automated, "set and forget" backups, Synology's tools are simply better organized.

Winner: Synology. Hyper Backup and Synology Drive are polished tools that beginners can configure confidently.

Expandability and ports

Synology DS224+: Two 3.5-inch/2.5-inch drive bays, two USB 3.2 ports, one Gigabit Ethernet port. No HDMI, no NVMe slots, no 2.5GbE. The expansion options are minimal. If you want faster networking, you are out of luck without upgrading to a 4-bay model with a PCIe slot.

QNAP TS-264: Two 3.5-inch/2.5-inch drive bays, two M.2 2280 NVMe slots, HDMI 2.0, two USB 3.2 ports, two 2.5GbE Ethernet ports. The dual 2.5GbE ports support link aggregation, giving you faster transfers if your network supports it. The NVMe slots add SSD caching without sacrificing a drive bay.

Winner: QNAP, significantly. More ports, faster networking, NVMe caching, and HDMI.

Security and updates

Synology DS224+: Synology publishes regular security patches and DSM updates. Their track record on vulnerability response has improved substantially in recent years. Two-factor authentication, firewall rules, and security advisor tools are built in and easy to enable.

QNAP TS-264: QNAP has historically had a rougher security track record, with several high-profile ransomware incidents targeting QTS devices. They have since invested heavily in security improvements, including the QuFirewall app and Security Counselor. Still, the reputation gap lingers, and security-conscious buyers should factor this in.

Winner: Synology. Better security track record and faster patch cycles.

Price and value

The Synology DS224+ and QNAP TS-264 sit at similar price points (both in the $300 to $350 range, diskless). But the QNAP includes more hardware per dollar: faster CPU, 8GB RAM, HDMI, dual 2.5GbE, and NVMe slots. The Synology charges a "software tax" that you pay for DSM's polish and reliability.

Whether that tax is worth it depends on how much you value setup simplicity and long-term software experience versus raw hardware capability.

Mobile apps and remote access

Synology DS224+: Synology's mobile apps (DS File, Synology Photos, DS Video) are polished and regularly updated. QuickConnect provides remote access to your NAS without configuring port forwarding. The phone experience for browsing photos, streaming video, or grabbing a file while away from home is smooth.

QNAP TS-264: QNAP's Qfile, QuMagie, and Video Station apps cover the same ground but with less polish. Remote access works via myQNAPcloud, which is functional but not as seamless as QuickConnect. The apps get the job done, but they feel like they were designed by engineers rather than product designers.

Winner: Synology. The mobile experience is noticeably more refined.

Noise and power consumption

Synology DS224+: Quiet during normal operation. The fan spins at low RPM during file serving and light tasks. Idle power draw sits around 15 to 17W, which adds up to roughly $15 to $20 per year in electricity. For a device that runs 24/7, this is reasonable.

QNAP TS-264: The stronger CPU and more RAM mean slightly higher power draw, typically 18 to 22W at idle. Under heavy load (transcoding, multiple Docker containers), the fans ramp up noticeably. Some users report fan noise during sustained media transcoding that is audible across a quiet room. Replacing the stock fan with a Noctua is a common community mod.

Winner: Synology. Quieter and more power-efficient for always-on use.

Quick spec comparison

| | Synology DS224+ | QNAP TS-264 | |---|---|---| | CPU | Intel J4125 | Intel N5095 | | RAM | 2GB DDR4 | 8GB DDR4 | | Drive bays | 2 | 2 | | NVMe slots | None | 2x M.2 | | HDMI | No | HDMI 2.0 | | Ethernet | 1x Gigabit | 2x 2.5GbE | | Transcoding | Yes (Quick Sync) | Yes (Quick Sync) | | OS | DSM | QTS |

The verdict

Decision checklist

Buy the Synology DS224+ if you:

• Want the easiest setup and best software experience
• Plan to use Synology Photos as a cloud storage replacement
• Need reliable automated backups with Hyper Backup
• Prefer a NAS that stays out of your way after initial setup
• Value a strong security and update track record

Buy the QNAP TS-264 if you:

• Want the best media streaming NAS with HDMI output
• Need more RAM and CPU for Docker containers or VMs
• Want 2.5GbE networking without upgrading
• Plan to use NVMe SSD caching for faster app performance
• Prefer more hardware capability per dollar

Consider something else if you:

• Need 4+ bays for larger storage (see the Synology DS423+ in our best NAS roundup)
• Want the cheapest possible NAS (the TerraMaster F2-223 is a solid budget pick in that same guide)
• Only need basic file backup and nothing else (an external drive is simpler and cheaper)

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For the full ranked list including budget and power-user options, see our best NAS for home in 2026 guide. For a closer look at the Synology, read our Synology DS224+ review. And if you want to go deeper on self-hosting, our home server guide covers the full picture.