NAS systems cost more but offer shared access and backup, TechRadar comparison says

The comparison describes a NAS as a combination of hardware, software and data-transfer protocols that lets users share files over a network. A NAS box contains storage disks, a processor and RAM, and runs specialized software for managing file storage and user access. TechRadar gives the example of a company with 50 employees, all of whom can connect to one NAS box to reach organizational files. External hard drives, by contrast, are standalone devices that transfer files over USB ports rather than a network; files are stored locally and the drive must be plugged into the PC that needs the data.

Storage capacity is a central difference. NAS systems can be expanded by adding more drives, according to the article, while external hard drives have fixed capacities. External drives are portable and easy to pass around, but TechRadar says that approach becomes cumbersome for large workforces, citing a 100-plus workforce sharing one external drive as inefficient. A NAS box can stay in one place while employees connect from their own PCs.

On price, the article says NAS systems are more expensive because they use more sophisticated components, including a storage box, networking components and a processor. A 4 TB external hard drive costs an average of $90, while a 4 TB NAS system costs upwards of $200, and adding more drives raises the cost further. The trade-off is larger storage and more convenient file access.

Speed depends on the connection. TechRadar reports that consumer-level NAS devices average 3 to 20 MB per second, while high-level devices can reach 100 to 200 Mbps; performance depends on network bandwidth and can slow when many people connect to the same box. External drives depend on the USB version: USB 1 offers up to 12 Mbps, USB 2 up to 480 Mbps, USB 3 up to 5 Gbps and USB 4 up to 40 Gbps. Some NAS systems offer gigabit speeds over Ethernet comparable to USB, and the article says average USB systems are faster. It adds that most users do not transfer files at gigabit speeds, so both are sufficient for everyday use.

Backup and redundancy also differ. Many NAS systems have built-in backup features; TechRadar gives the example of backing up a Synology DS923+ NAS to Google Drive and scheduling automatic backups daily, weekly or monthly. That keeps data safer if the NAS device fails, the article says. External hard drives do not have built-in backup software, so users must connect the drive to a PC manually, and the article says people often forget to do so.

TechRadar concludes that NAS systems are the better choice for enterprises that can afford them because of larger, expandable storage and easier access, while external hard drives are described as ideal for casual users who frequently transfer files.