10 Best Synology For Plex 2026 in the United States

The Synology RS422+ is a compact 4-bay rackmount NAS well-suited for Plex media server use, providing stable and relatively fast data transfers. It supports read speeds over 600 MB/s, which facilitates streaming high-quality videos across your network. Featuring dual 1GbE network ports with failover and load balancing, the device also allows an upgrade to 10GbE, enabling it to handle multiple users streaming simultaneously with minimal slowdown.

The 4 drive bays offer flexibility for large storage capacity, allowing you to install multiple hard drives to store movies, shows, and music. It supports SATA drives spinning at 7200 RPM, which are sufficiently fast for streaming media without buffering. Synology’s DSM operating system is user-friendly and includes Plex server compatibility, simplifying setup and management.

This model is diskless, so hard drives must be purchased separately. While the 1GbE ports are adequate for many setups, an optional 10GbE upgrade is recommended for handling numerous simultaneous streams or 4K content. Its compact size benefits space-saving rack installations, but it might be more than necessary for users needing a simple home NAS. The RS422+ provides a reliable and expandable Plex server solution with strong network options and storage capacity, suitable for users prepared to add drives and potentially upgrade their network for optimal performance.

The Synology DS3617xs NAS Disk Station is designed to cater to users looking for a high-performance solution for Plex media streaming. With an Intel Xeon D-1527 quad-core CPU and 16GB of DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 48GB), it offers robust processing power that can handle multiple streams and high-quality content without breaking a sweat. This is particularly beneficial for those who plan to transcode videos on-the-fly, as its substantial processing capacity supports efficient transcoding capabilities.

Storage-wise, the DS3617xs stands out with its 12-bay configuration, allowing for significant expansion potential when paired with Synology's DX1215 expansion unit. This means you can scale your storage up to 36 drives, making it ideal for users with large media libraries. The impressive sequential throughput reading of over 2,358 MB/s ensures that you won’t experience buffering issues during playback, which is crucial for a seamless streaming experience.

In terms of connectivity, it features a PCIe 3.0 slot, enabling users to add high-performance network interface cards for faster data transfer rates. This is a strong point for those needing to ensure quick access to media files across multiple devices. The DS3617xs is a more advanced solution and may be overkill for casual users or those with smaller media collections. Its initial setup can be more complex compared to simpler NAS solutions, so some technical knowledge would be beneficial. Additionally, while its price reflects its high-end capabilities, it might not be the best fit for those on a tight budget.

The Synology DS620slim is a compact 6-bay NAS designed to support 2.5" HDDs and SSDs, making it great for users who want a small yet flexible storage solution. It comes with 2GB of RAM, which you can expand to 6GB if needed, helping with multitasking and smoother performance. This model delivers solid transfer speeds—over 220 MB/s when reading and 190 MB/s writing—even when data is encrypted, which is useful for security-conscious users.

For Plex media streaming, the DS620slim offers dual-channel hardware transcoding for H.265 and H.264 4K videos. This means it can convert video files on the fly to play smoothly on different devices, a key feature if you stream to various screens or want high-quality 4K playback. The maximum single volume size of 108 TB means you can store a huge media library if you fill all six bays.

The DS620slim runs Synology’s well-regarded DiskStation Manager (DSM) software, offering a user-friendly interface and a range of apps including Plex support, making setup and management straightforward even for non-tech-savvy users. It suits home users or small offices looking for a balance between storage capacity, speed, and 4K video support, though power users may find its hardware limits a bit restrictive for very heavy Plex workloads.