The Lowest Priced NAS (in $, £ and €) to Run 24×7

What NAS is the Cheapest to Run 24×7?

Have you SEEN how much electricity costs these days? Because of any one of about a hundred different global factors (local conflict, slow renewable energy uptake, monopolizing energy companies with powerful lobbying – take your pick!) most of us in 2024 have seen increases in energy costs. In this energy-aware climate, it can be appreciated that a NAS drive (a 24×7 appliance) seemingly has its cost to the end user in terms of electricity as something of a vague number. With so many kinds of NAS available in the market, featuring a mix of CPUs, PSUs, Bays and utilities, PLUS the wide range of HDD/SSD drives in the market to choose from – there are just so many variables when trying to work out how much power your NAS drive is using and how much that is translating to in your monthly energy bill! So, to resolve this concern, we have created this chart below that details the power consumption of several popular Synology and QNAP NAS systems in the market right now, defined by their reported power consumption (supplied on their official pages) and worked out how that translates into $, £ and Euros! But before we start, what is the difference between ACTIVE power use and IDLE power use? It’s pretty important when it comes to a device that will be on days, weeks, months and even YEARS at a time.

Can NAS Manufacturers be trusted to provide accurate power consumption numbers?

Popular NAS brands such as Synology, QNAP, Asustor and Terramaster are all obligated to provide a certain degree of information/specifications to end users when selling their wares globally. The extent of this information can vary, with some brands only giving you the CPU, Memory and PSU/Power brick wattage, whereas more reputable brands give you details breakdowns of the reported/average power usage of the device when in active, standby and/or idle use. Now, the question is, how much can you trust/rely on these figures? Surely it is in the interest of the brand to keep this number as LOW as possible to entice the end user? Well. I will say you can definitely, 100% TRUST the figures that the NAS brands report on their devices in use, HOWEVER, you need to always scroll down to the bottom of the page and check the DRIVES and RAID that were used in the testing. It is not uncommon for a NAS brand to use specific low-powered SSDs, or a RAID 0 as opposed to RAID 5 (which requires less system operation to maintain). These are not terrible guidelines, as there ARE users that use these setups, but it would be better if there was a form of universal standard in place (e.g separate 4TB / 8TB / 16TB / 22TB tests).

Note – Alongside these results based on officially provided energy consumption, I have been making videos and articles on SPECIFIC power usage tests, covering Active/Idle usage. These tests are going to take place throughout the next 12+ months and will cover around 30 NAS’ and 18 drive variations (capacity, performance, brands, SSD vs HDD, etc). You can read the MASSIVE article that is being regularly updated with fresh test results HERE. You watch the playlist so far HERE on YouTube.

What is the Difference Between a NAS Drive ‘Active’ and in ‘IDLE / Standby’?

Although a NAS is designed to be in operation 24×7 and is consuming electricity when running, the actual reality of this and the extent to which it is consuming it is actually alot more nuanced. Most home users who have a NAS system will use the NAS directly for a significant;y smaller portion of time per day than it is actually powered on for. Perhaps to stream a movie or a couple of TV episodes, run a daily backup, have a couple of cameras in/outside their home that are sending recordings (or more likely just alerts and associated captures) to the NAS and that is about it. They will periodically do more than these, maybe a VM, more sophisticated backup or use some of the other services ad hoc, but the result is that in most domestic/bog standard home scenarios, a NAS will be switched internally to Idle/Standby after no pro-active use quite quickly and spend 80-90% of the time in low power modes. Business users might well be using the system 24×7 for sync’d tasks and on-going camera recording, but even then, this will be a lower %  of system resources in use. So, in order to find a comparable and relative means to study the electricity use of a NAS and it’s cost, I have conducted two tests per NAS+HDD configuration. The first, a 24 Hour Active test, with the system using a decent % of it’s CPU+Memory, a swell as the HDDs not being given the chance to switch to Idle/Standy (by constantly writing AND performing S.M.A.R.T tests hourly). The idle tests involve all of those apps, services and scheduled operations being cancelled and the network cable being disconnected from the NAS (for another 24hrs). From here we can work out the cost of an hour of power usage by either setup in high activity and near-zero activity. But how can we work out the COST of the electricity used by the NAS in that time period?

All Synology and QNAP NAS Drives, Listed in Power Use and Cost (Best to Worst)

Below are the NAS we have added so far to our energy calculator. You can add your own electricity price/tariff/rate in the box at the top if you want to narrow things down a little and/get a better understanding how the reported power usage by each NAS device will work out for you in costs per day, month and year. We will be adding more NAS brands and devices as time goes on.

Brand	Model	Power Usage	Power saving mode	Daily usage	Monthly/ Yearly
Qnap	TS-133	7.32W	2.74W	£0.06	£1.79/21.8
Synology	DS124	10.69W	3.44W	£0.087	£2.62/31.84
Synology	RT2600ac	10.80W	7.94W	£0.088	£2.64/32.17
Qnap	TS-233	10.81W	3.43W	£0.088	£2.65/32.2
Asustor	AS1102T	11.6W	5.97W	£0.095	£2.84/34.55
Asustor	AS1102TL	11.7W	3.1W	£0.095	£2.86/34.85
Asustor	AS3302T	12.3W	6.04W	£0.1	£3.01/36.63
Qnap	TS-264	12.448W	8.198W	£0.102	£3.05/37.08
Qnap	TS-262	12.448W	8.198W	£0.102	£3.05/37.08
Synology	MR2200ac	12.95W	5.21W	£0.106	£3.17/38.57
Asustor	AS3302T v2	13.1W	4.5W	£0.107	£3.21/39.02
Synology	DS224+	14.69W	4.41W	£0.12	£3.6/43.75
Asustor	AS6602T	15.9W	9.2W	£0.13	£3.89/47.36
Synology	DS223j	16.31W	4W	£0.133	£3.99/48.58
Asustor	效能	17W	10.5W	£0.139	£4.16/50.63
Asustor	AS5202T	17W	10.5W	£0.139	£4.16/50.63
Synology	DS223	17.343W	4.08W	£0.142	£4.25/51.65
Asustor	FS6806X	17.9W	1.2 (Sleep Mode)W	£0.146	£4.38/53.31
Qnap	TS-253E	18.09W	10.56W	£0.148	£4.43/53.88
Asustor	FS6706T	18.2W	0.83 (Sleep Mode)W	£0.149	£4.46/54.21
Qnap	TS-473A	19.576W	29.792W	£0.16	£4.79/58.31
Asustor	AS6702T	21W	13.5W	£0.171	£5.14/62.55
Synology	DS723+	21.07W	8.62W	£0.172	£5.16/62.75
Qnap	TS-433	22.54W	8.45W	£0.184	£5.52/67.13
Asustor	AS5402T	22.9W	12.7W	£0.187	£5.61/68.21
Asustor	AS1104T	23.1W	10.1W	£0.188	£5.65/68.8
Asustor	AS3304T	23.1W	10.1W	£0.188	£5.65/68.8
Asustor	AS3304T v2	25.1W	8.4W	£0.205	£6.14/74.76
Qnap	TS-873A	25.668W	54.067W	£0.209	£6.28/76.45
Qnap	TS-462	25.98W	11.3W	£0.212	£6.36/77.38
Qnap	TS-464	25.98W	11.3W	£0.212	£6.36/77.38
Asustor	FS6712X	26W		£0.212	£6.36/77.44
Qnap	TS-431X	26.7W	11.65W	£0.218	£6.54/79.52
Asustor	AS5304T	27W	12.6W	£0.22	£6.61/80.42
Asustor	AS6604T	27.6W	12.6W	£0.225	£6.76/82.2
Qnap	TBS-464	28W	18W	£0.228	£6.85/83.4
Synology	DS423+	28.3W	8.45W	£0.231	£6.93/84.29
Qnap	TS-435XeU	30.878W	17.367W	£0.252	£7.56/91.97
Qnap	TS-431XeU	30.99W	12.42W	£0.253	£7.59/92.3
Asustor	FS6812X	32.2W	2.8 (Sleep Mode)W	£0.263	£7.88/95.9
Synology	DS423	32.41W	4.97W	£0.264	£7.93/96.53
Qnap	TS-453E	33.88W	15.78W	£0.276	£8.29/100.91
Asustor	AS6804T	34W	18W	£0.277	£8.32/101.27
Synology	DS620slim	34.88W	7.59W	£0.285	£8.54/103.89
Asustor	AS6704T	35W	17.3W	£0.286	£8.57/104.24
Qnap	TS-464eU	35.297W	21.105W	£0.288	£8.64/105.13
Qnap	TS-664	35.437W	18.634W	£0.289	£8.67/105.55
Synology	DS923+	35.51W	11.52W	£0.29	£8.69/105.76
Qnap	TVS-472XT	37.32W	24.14W	£0.305	£9.14/111.15
Synology	RS422+	37.93W	13.43W	£0.31	£9.29/112.97
Asustor	AS5404T	38.3W	17.7W	£0.313	£9.38/114.07
Qnap	TS-432PXU	39.558W		£0.323	£9.68/117.82
Synology	DVA3221	43.92W	28.43W	£0.358	£10.75/130.81
Asustor	AS6806T	45W	20W	£0.367	£11.02/134.03
Qnap	TVS-h674	45.6W	26.52W	£0.372	£11.16/135.82
Qnap	TVS-672X	45.6W	26.52W	£0.372	£11.16/135.82
Qnap	TVS-672XT	45.6W	26.52W	£0.372	£11.16/135.82
Qnap	TS-673A	45.898W	21.891W	£0.375	£11.24/136.7
Synology	RS822RP+	47.69W	16.7W	£0.389	£11.67/142.04
Synology	RS822+	47.69W	16.7W	£0.389	£11.67/142.04
Asustor	AS6504RD	47.7W	28.4W	£0.389	£11.68/142.07
Asustor	AS6504RS	47.7W	28.4W	£0.389	£11.68/142.07
Asustor	AS6504RS/RD	47.7W	28.4W	£0.389	£11.68/142.07
Asustor	AS6706T	48.5W	27.7W	£0.396	£11.87/144.45
Synology	RS1221+	49.89W	22.64W	£0.407	£12.21/148.59
Synology	RS1221RP+	49.89W	22.64W	£0.407	£12.21/148.59
Synology	DS1621+	51.22W	25.27W	£0.418	£12.54/152.55
Synology	DS1522+	52.06W	16.71W	£0.425	£12.74/155.06
Qnap	TS-432PXU-RP	53.343W		£0.435	£13.06/158.88
Qnap	TS-473	56.23W	33.24W	£0.459	£13.77/167.48
Qnap	TS-832PXU	56.412W		£0.46	£13.81/168.02
Asustor	AS6808T	58.5W	25W	£0.477	£14.32/174.24
Synology	DS1821+	59.8W	26.18W	£0.488	£14.64/178.11
Qnap	TVS-675	60.794W	41.897W	£0.496	£14.88/181.07
Qnap	TS-673	63.69W	35.11W	£0.52	£15.59/189.69
Qnap	TVS-h874	65.03W	41.47W	£0.531	£15.92/193.69
Asustor	AS6508T	66.9W	37.2W	£0.546	£16.38/199.25
Asustor	AS6810T	68W	26W	£0.555	£16.65/202.53
Synology	RX1217	68.60W	27.45W	£0.56	£16.79/204.32
Synology	RX1217RP	68.60W	27.45W	£0.56	£16.79/204.32
Synology	RS1619xs+	68.68W	34.78W	£0.56	£16.81/204.56
Qnap	TS-832PXU-RP	69.191W		£0.565	£16.94/206.08
Qnap	TS-873	70.26W	36.43W	£0.573	£17.2/209.26
Synology	DS2422+	73.11W	32.12W	£0.597	£17.9/217.75
Synology	FS2500	74.83W		£0.611	£18.32/222.87
Qnap	TS-h886	75.79W		£0.618	£18.55/225.73
Asustor	AS6510T	76.8W	41.1W	£0.627	£18.8/228.74
Asustor	AS7110T	78.7W	40.1W	£0.642	£19.27/234.4
Qnap	TS-1273AU-RP	78.92W	43.67W	£0.644	£19.32/235.06
Qnap	TS-1232PXU-RP	83.57W		£0.682	£20.46/248.9
Synology	DS1823xs+	87.93W	28.37W	£0.718	£21.53/261.89
Asustor	AS7112RDX	92.4W	45.5W	£0.754	£22.62/275.2
Synology	RX1223RP	93.59W	30.73W	£0.764	£22.91/278.75
Synology	DS3622xs+	94.42W	54.33W	£0.77	£23.11/281.22
Qnap	TS-1673AU-RP	97.34W	47.75W	£0.794	£23.83/289.92
Synology	RS2821RP+	97.54W	49.57W	£0.796	£23.88/290.51
Synology	FS3410	113.84W		£0.929	£27.87/339.06
Asustor	AS6512RD	115W	67W	£0.938	£28.15/342.52
Qnap	TS-h1886XU-RP R2	117.92W		£0.962	£28.87/351.21
Qnap	TS-h1886XU-RP	117.92W		£0.962	£28.87/351.21
Synology	RS2423+	119.95W	46.21W	£0.979	£29.36/357.26
Synology	RS2423RP+	119.95W	46.21W	£0.979	£29.36/357.26
Asustor	AS7116RDX	121.7W	51.5W	£0.993	£29.79/362.47
Synology	SA3400	137.17W	70.95W	£1.119	£33.58/408.55
Synology	RS3621RPxs	140.01W	65.94W	£1.142	£34.27/417.01
Synology	RS3621xs+	142.5W	72.76W	£1.163	£34.88/424.42
Synology	RS3618xs	142.76W	55.05W	£1.165	£34.95/425.2
Synology	RS4021xs+	145.79W	62.68W	£1.19	£35.69/434.22
Qnap	TS-h1090FU	157.97W		£1.289	£38.67/470.5
Synology	SA6400	180.5W	88.56W	£1.473	£44.19/537.6
Synology	RX1222sas	194.4W	82.56W	£1.586	£47.59/579
Synology	UC3400	239.25W		£1.952	£58.57/712.58
Synology	SA3400D	257.78W		£2.103	£63.1/767.77
Synology	FS3600	258.23W	127.99W	£2.107	£63.21/769.11
Qnap	TS-h3088XU-RP	261.81W	129.57W	£2.136	£64.09/779.77
Qnap	TS-h2490FU	277.64W		£2.266	£67.97/826.92
Synology	FS6400	288.49W	145.8W	£2.354	£70.62/859.24
Synology	UC3200	417.48W	274.38W	£3.407	£102.2/1243.42
Synology	SA3200D	417.48W	274.38W	£3.407	£102.2/1243.42
Qnap	TDS-h2489FU	467.59W		£3.816	£114.47/1392.67
Qnap	ES1686dc	500.87W		£4.087	£122.61/1491.79
Qnap	ES2486dc	579.59W		£4.729	£141.88/1726.25
Synology	HD6500	1025.2W	418W	£8.366	£250.97/3053.46

 

UK: Energy Price (October 2023) electricity rate of 34.00 pence per kWh.

USA: Average (Feb 2024) electricity rate of 14.80 cents per kWh.

Germany: Average (June 2023) electricity rate of 31.93 Eurocents per kWh.

Australia: Average (March 2023) electricity rate of 23.59 cents per kWh.

Canada: Average (2022) electricity rate of 8.50 cents per kWh.

Source – https://www.sust-it.net

There are the rates that we will be using to calculate the running costs of the Synology and QNAP NAS systems (and more importantly their respective WD Drive setups and CPU usage).

📧 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER 🔔

🔒 Join Inner Circle

This description contains links to Amazon. These links will take you to some of the products mentioned in today's content. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Visit the NASCompares Deal Finder to find the best place to buy this device in your region, based on Service, Support and Reputation - Just Search for your NAS Drive in the Box Below

Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

Finally, for free advice about your setup, just leave a message in the comments below here at NASCompares.com and we will get back to you. Need Help? Where possible (and where appropriate) please provide as much information about your requirements, as then I can arrange the best answer and solution to your needs. Do not worry about your e-mail address being required, it will NOT be used in a mailing list and will NOT be used in any way other than to respond to your enquiry. TRY CHAT Terms and Conditions   Alternatively, why not ask me on the ASK NASCompares forum, by clicking the button below. This is a community hub that serves as a place that I can answer your question, chew the fat, share new release information and even get corrections posted. I will always get around to answering ALL queries, but as a one-man operation, I cannot promise speed! So by sharing your query in the ASK NASCompares section below, you can get a better range of solutions and suggestions, alongside my own.

☕ WE LOVE COFFEE ☕