Key Points
- NAS or Network Attached Storage offers businesses the option to store data and expand it as required.
- QNAP is known to have very reliable hardware system compared to its contemporaries.
- Synology on the other hand has better software and support compared to others.
- Which is why experts recommend going with Synology instead of QNAP.
Do you intend to choose a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device with which you can trust your data, files, and storage, but do not know which brand to go out for? Synology vs QNAP is two different brands of NAS which offer reliability, speed, and ease of use. But deciding which network to use could be a challenge, especially if you are not an IT professional. And since we do not want you to get stuck with a device that won’t meet your needs as expected, we have decided to break down the two brands by looking into the differences in their network storage units which in turn will help you to understand which brand can best meet your needs.
Side-By-Side Comparison of Synology vs. QNAP
| Synology | QNAP | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Diskstation Manager (DSM) | QNAP Turbo Station (QTS) |
| Founding Location | Banciao, New Taipei, Taiwan | Xizhi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan |
| Date Released | January 2000 | April 2004 |
| Hardware Compatibility | Compatible with HDD & SSD | Compatible with HDD & SSD |
| Processor | Dual-core Intel Celeron J4025 2.0 to 2.9 GHz (base to burst) | Quad-core 1.7GHz Alpine AL214 |
| Price | Less expensive | Very expensive |
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- The NAS natively supports EXT3 and EXT4. NAS supports NTFS, HSFP+, EXT 3, EXT 4, and FAT32 for external drives.
- QNAP processes are controlled through the web administration management page. Standard Linux 2.6 is on the way to migrating to the latest stable release.
- Both brands are of Taiwanese origin.
- Synology uses the latest mesh technology, and you can select the best topology (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or Ethernet) between other MR2200ac nodes and networking devices, ensuring the fastest Internet connection.
- Synology’s first dual-active iSCSI server is armed with two pieces for critical hardware units when encountering a single point of failure; UC300 makes for robust storage infrastructure.
Synology vs. QNAP: 5 Need to Know Facts
The Complete History of Synology
Synology Inc creates Synology NAS. It is based on data storage and backup, which simplify file collaboration. Synology optimizes video management and secure network deployment to facilitate data management. You can also put it at your home for daily use.
You may be wondering what NAS is or looks like. A NAS is essentially more like a minicomputer. As a computer would, NAS has processors, memory, storage controllers, network interface, and other necessary hardware.
NAS units also need to have their own Operating System (OS), which can make everything work independently. For instance, the Operating System enables the NAS to power up on its own, initializes storage devices, manages network traffic, and so forth.
- Synology DiskStation DS620slim, made for a variety of server roles such as iSCSI targets backup, file storage, email servers, and domain controllers!
- Intel Celeron J3355 Dual-Core 2.0GHz 2MB CPU, Up To 2.5GHz Turbo; 6GB DDR3L Synology SDRAM Memory; 1TB (2 x 500GB) SATA III Solid State Drives for Ultra Fast Storage; 2 x RJ-45 1GbE LAN Port (with...
- 2 x USB 3.0 Port; Btrf File System for Advanced LUN iSCSI Service
- Synology NAS chassis comes in a sealed box.
- Hard drives and memory upgrades included separately NOT installed, installation required.
The Features Breakdown
The Operating System used by Synology is termed DiskStation Manager (DSM), a lightweight Linux-based platform. Those who use Windows will realize that DSM is very similar. Although DSM may look very basic, it’s identical to a fully-fledged OS.
Users have reported that DSM offers more user-friendly network and sharing management features than Windows. This could be a bit comprehensive but not much of a big deal. Synology comes with a list of approved applications you can choose to install, such as antivirus tools, media servers, file download utilities, and so forth.
For whosoever has been thinking of getting either of the NAS brand (Synology vs QNAP) because the companies operate as Americans would, you best should know that both brands are non-Americans. They are Taiwan-based companies, although they have regional headquarters in North America and points of presence dotting from the United Kingdom back to Asia. Moreover, Synology was founded as far back as January 2000, about four years before QNAP came around.
NAS server devices require hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs) connected to SATA. In this regard, both QNAP and Synology options are equal, as they are equally compatible with HDD and SSD.
Synology devices come at a less expensive and affordable price range for users. This is a result of the model on which Synology runs.
©By Solomon203 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79485928 – License
QNAP: A More Comprehensive NAS
QNAP’s QTS Operating System is similar to that of Synology in that it is also Linux-based. Still, design-wise, it seems to go for more of a mobile Operating System outlook combined with some Mac OS design elements. QTS is said to be more comprehensive than DSM. Unfortunately, this advantage can be more challenging for NAS newbies to manage.
Moreover, the terminology that QTS uses is also rather technical. Should you want to manage your NAS using this Operating System, be prepared to dive into some basic networking to pick up the necessary skills. Since it is a unique blend of the ordinary and advanced, it can be quite an experience.
Regarding the founding details, QNAP was founded in Xizhi District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, in April 2004, while Synology was founded in Banciao, New Taipei, Taiwan. As stated earlier, the duo are not American-based brands.
Application-wise, since QTS is more like an upgrade, it also offers an acceptable range but is curiously missing some options. For instance, since QTS is an upgrade, users claimed they expected to see a VPN option or, at the very least, some better digital security tools, but these are not present.
- AnnapurnaLabs Alpine AL324 ARM Cortex-A57 quad-core 1.7GHz processor
- 2 X 10GbE SFP+ ports
- 2 x 2.5GbE ports
- 3 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports
- 5 x 3.5-inch + 4 x 2.5-inch SATA 6Gb/s (Diskless).4 GB SODIMM DDR4 Memory (Max 16GB)
Synology vs. QNAP: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Considering simplicity when determining what to buy between Synology vs. Qnap, Synology is recommended as a better choice. The simplified layout of Synology DSM and the ease which comes with it means you can do almost anything. If truth, it isn’t overwhelmingly easy to handle, but we can tell better than QTS; Synology DSM is better for the inexperienced as QTS can quickly overwhelm. Rest assured that both offer quick configuration guides for the uninitiated. However, QNAP might be best suited for your use should be a tech expert.
Next Up…
- How to Partition Your Hard Disk: Step-by-Step Guide (with Photos): Wondering how to restore your disk and create partitions? Here is a step by step guide that will help you.
- The 6 Best Routers For Security: Need a secure router? Here is a list of the six best routers tried and tested by experts.
- WPA2 vs. WPA3: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Wi-Fi Network Secure: Wondering which type of network is more secure? Here is a comparison between WPA2 vs WPA3.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Sergiy Palamarchuk/Shutterstock.com.
