Best Drives for Synology NAS 2026 — Compatible Picks

283drives matched\u00b7prices updated every 2 hours\u00b7last checked
Quick answer

For a Synology DiskStation in 2026, use any CMR drive — Synology IronWolf/IronWolf Pro, WD Red Plus/Red Pro, Toshiba N300, Synology's own HAT5300, or enterprise Exos and Ultrastar (which work fine, just louder). Synology's attempt to restrict units to its own branded drives was reversed in DSM 7.3, so third-party drives are fully supported again. Best value CMR drive right now: HP ST31000640SS 1TB SAS at $14.99/TB.

The best drives for a Synology DiskStation in 2026 are CMR NAS or enterprise drives sized for your bays. Synology IronWolf, WD Red Plus/Pro, Toshiba N300, and Synology's HAT series all work — and after the DSM 7.3 policy reversal, so do third-party enterprise Exos and Ultrastar drives.

Match capacity to your DiskStation's bay count and RAID/SHR level, use CMR only, and weigh noise and power for a NAS that lives in a home or office. Refurbished enterprise drives deliver the best $/TB when deployed in SHR-2 or RAID 6 with a hot spare.

On the recording question, Western Digital's own 2020 blog post recommended its CMR-based Red drives, naming Red Pro and Red Plus, specifically in the context of ZFS resilvering, and stated that sustained random writes during a resilver leave device-managed shingled drives no idle time to reorganise. The WD Red page decodes which model numbers are which and lists every shingled model currently in stock, and the exact-model resolver answers for any part number you paste, OEM suffixes included.

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Best $/TB
$14.99
Drives Matched
283
Top Picks
3

Recommended Picks

#1HP ST31000640SS 1TB SAS
1TB · SAS-6G · 3.5"
$14.99/TB$14.99
Buy →
#2HP 695842-001 4TB SAS 6G
4TB · SAS-6G · 3.5"
$15.00/TB$59.99
Buy →
#3HGST HUS724030ALS640 3TB SAS 6G
3TB · SAS-6G · 3.5"
$15.13/TB$45.39
Buy →
Best HDD $/TB
$14.99
Best SSD $/TB
Best Tape $/TB
Drives Tracked
283
Type
Interface
283 drives
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👑$14.99/TB
Buy →
HP ST31000640SS 1TB SAS
1TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$14.99 · Refurb
View details →
$15.00/TB
Buy →
HP 695842-001 4TB SAS 6G
4TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$59.99 · New
View details →
$15.13/TB
Buy →
HGST HUS724030ALS640 3TB SAS 6G
3TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$45.39 · Refurb
View details →
$16.15/TB
Buy →
HGST HUS726040ALS210 4TB SAS 12G
4TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$64.59 · Refurb
View details →
$17.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate Constellation ES.2 3TB SAS
3TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$51.00 · Refurb
View details →
$17.50/TB
Buy →
HGST HUS726040ALS210 4TB SAS 12G
4TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$69.99 · New
View details →
$17.98/TB
Buy →
Seagate 3TB Enterprise Capacity SAS 6G
3TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$53.95 · Refurb
View details →
$20.00/TB
Buy →
MDD 3TB SAS 6G 7200RPM
3TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$59.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$20.00/TB
Buy →
MDD 6TB SAS 12G 7200RPM Renewed
6TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$119.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$20.00/TB
Buy →
HGST HUS724030ALA640 3TB SATA Enterprise
3TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$59.99 · Refurb
View details →
$21.25/TB
Buy →
Dell 012GYY 4TB SAS 6G Renewed
4TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$85.00 · Refurb
View details →
$22.00/TB
Buy →
Dell MG03SCA200 2TB SAS 6G
2TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$44.00 · Refurb
View details →
$22.50/TB
Buy →
Dell DRMYH Compellent 4TB NL SAS Renewed
4TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$89.99 · Refurb
View details →
$23.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate ST3000NM0023 3TB SAS 6G 7.2K
3TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$69.00 · New
View details →
$23.00/TB
Buy →
MDD 10TB SAS 12G 7200RPM
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$229.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$23.50/TB
Buy →
HGST Ultrastar He10 10TB SAS 12G
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$235.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$23.57/TB
Buy →
MDD 14TB SATA 6G 7200RPM 256MB Enterprise
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$329.99 · Refurb
View details →
$24.29/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SATA WUH721414ALE604
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$339.99 · Refurb
View details →
$24.75/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 7K4000 4TB SATA NAS
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$98.99 · Refurb
View details →
$25.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate Enterprise Capacity 10TB SAS Helium
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$250.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$25.00/TB
Buy →
MDD 18TB SATA 6G 7200RPM NAS
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$449.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$25.00/TB
Buy →
MDD 20TB SATA 7200RPM NAS
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$25.00/TB
Buy →
MDD 20TB SATA 7200RPM NAS
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$25.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SATA WUH721414ALE6L4
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$349.99 · Refurb
View details →
$25.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SATA WUH721414ALE604
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$349.99 · Refurb
View details →
$25.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk AI 20TB ST20000VE002
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$25.56/TB
Buy →
MDD 18TB SATA 7200RPM NAS
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$459.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$25.63/TB
Buy →
Dell M40TH 8TB SAS 12G 512E
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$205.00 · Refurb
View details →
$26.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 10TB SATA HUH721010ALE600
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$259.99 · Refurb
View details →
$26.11/TB
Buy →
MDD 18TB SATA 7200RPM Enterprise
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$469.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$26.13/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 8TB
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$209.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$26.43/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SATA WUH721414ALE604
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$369.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$26.53/TB
Buy →
HGST Ultrastar He10 10TB SAS
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$265.32 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$26.58/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SAS HUH721212AL5204
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$319.00 · Refurb
View details →
$26.87/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf Pro 16TB NAS ST16000NE000
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$429.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$26.99/TB
Buy →
HP 508011-001 1TB 6G SAS
1TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$26.99 · Refurb
View details →
$27.27/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X22 22TB
22TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$599.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$27.42/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SAS HUH721212AL5205
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$329.00 · Refurb
View details →
$27.50/TB
Buy →
MDD 12TB SATA 6G 7200RPM Enterprise
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$329.95 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$27.50/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SATA HUH721212ALE604
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$329.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$27.50/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 10TB NAS ST10000VN0004
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$274.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$27.50/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 8TB SAS
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$220.00 · Refurb
View details →
$27.50/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SATA HUH721212ALE604
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$329.99 · Refurb
View details →
$27.50/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 20TB SATA
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$549.99 · Refurb
View details →
$27.50/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SATA HUH721212ALE601
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$329.99 · New
View details →
$27.86/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SATA WUH721414ALE6L1
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$389.99 · Refurb
View details →
$27.88/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 24TB SATA WUH722424ALE604
24TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$669.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$28.00/TB
Buy →
MDD 10TB SATA 6G 7200RPM NAS
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$279.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$28.33/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SATA HUH721212ALE604
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$339.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$28.33/TB
Buy →
MDD 12TB SATA 6G 7200RPM 256MB NAS
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$339.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$28.33/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SATA HUH721212ALE601
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$339.99 · Refurb
View details →
$28.89/TB
Buy →
WD DC HC550 18TB SATA 512MB Enterprise
18TB · SATA-6G · ePMR
$519.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$28.99/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 10TB SATA HUH721010ALE600
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$289.88 · Refurb
View details →
$29.00/TB
Buy →
HGST 12TB SAS 12G 7.2K
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$347.99 · Refurb
View details →
$29.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 10TB SATA HUH721010ALE600
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$289.99 · Refurb
View details →
$29.09/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X22 22TB
22TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$640.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$29.17/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X24 24TB
24TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$699.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$29.17/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SATA HUH721212ALE600
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$349.99 · Refurb
View details →
$29.17/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SATA HUH721212ALE600
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$349.99 · Refurb
View details →
$29.34/TB
Buy →
Seagate Constellation ES.2 3TB SAS Enterprise
3TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$88.02 · New
View details →
$29.55/TB
Buy →
WD Red Pro 22TB NAS WD221KFGX
22TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$649.99 · Refurb
View details →
$29.55/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X22 22TB
22TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$649.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$30.00/TB
Buy →
HP 846523-004 4TB SAS 12G Midline
4TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$120.00 · Refurb
View details →
$30.00/TB
Buy →
HP 12TB SAS 7.2K LFF Enterprise
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$359.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$30.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SATA HUH721212ALE604
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$359.99 · Refurb
View details →
$30.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 6TB SATA
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$179.99 · Refurb
View details →
$30.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 10TB SATA HUH721010ALE604
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$299.99 · Refurb
View details →
$30.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 10TB SATA
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$299.99 · Refurb
View details →
$30.63/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 16TB SAS WUH721816AL5205
16TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$490.00 · Refurb
View details →
$31.06/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 18TB WD181KFGX
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$559.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$31.25/TB
Buy →
HGST Ultrastar He8 8TB SAS 12G NAS
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$249.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$31.25/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 16TB WD161KFGX
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$31.25/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB ST16000VE000
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$31.43/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SAS
14TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$439.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$31.43/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SAS WUH721414AL5204
14TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$439.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$31.50/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 20TB SATA WUH722020ALE604
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$630.00 · Refurb
View details →
$31.50/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 20TB SATA WUH722020ALE604
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$630.00 · Refurb
View details →
$31.67/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 6TB SATA
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$189.99 · Refurb
View details →
$31.96/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SAS HUH721212AL4200
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$383.55 · Refurb
View details →
$32.22/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X20 18TB SATA
18TB · SATA-6G · ePMR
$579.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$32.50/TB
Buy →
HGST Ultrastar He10 10TB SAS 12G
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$325.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$32.50/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 4TB SATA
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$129.99 · Refurb
View details →
$32.50/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk AI 20TB ST20000VE002
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$649.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$32.75/TB
Buy →
HP 834031-B21 8TB SAS LFF
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$262.00 · New
View details →
$33.00/TB
Buy →
HGST HUS724030ALS640 3TB SAS 6G
3TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$99.00 · New
View details →
$33.00/TB
Buy →
HGST HUS726060ALS641 6TB SAS 6G
6TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$198.00 · Refurb
View details →
$33.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 10TB NAS ST10000VNZ00
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$329.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$33.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red 10TB WD100EFAX
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$329.99 · Refurb
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
MDD 3TB SATA 6G 7200RPM Enterprise
3TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$99.99 · Refurb
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 18TB SATA
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$599.99 · Refurb
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 18TB SATA
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$599.99 · Refurb
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 6TB SATA
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$199.99 · Refurb
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SAS HUH721212AL4201
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$399.99 · Refurb
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 12TB WD121KFBX
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$399.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 18TB WD181KFGX
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$599.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 6TB ST6000VX001
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$199.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 6TB ST6000VX001
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$199.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$33.33/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 18TB
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$599.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$33.50/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X20 20TB
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$669.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$33.60/TB
Buy →
WD Red Pro 26TB NAS WD260KFGX
26TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$873.63 · Refurb
View details →
$34.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate Enterprise Capacity 10TB SAS 12G
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$339.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$34.20/TB
Buy →
Toshiba MG03ACA200 2TB SATA Enterprise
2TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$68.39 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$34.49/TB
Buy →
HP P2000 2TB SAS 6G 7.2K
2TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$68.99 · Refurb
View details →
$34.50/TB
Buy →
HP 12TB SAS 7200RPM LFF Enterprise
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$413.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$35.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 10TB SAS HUH721010AL5200
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$350.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$35.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 6TB SATA
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$209.99 · Refurb
View details →
$35.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk AI 10TB ST10000VE0008
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$349.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$35.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 4TB ST4000VX016
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$139.99 · Refurb
View details →
$35.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red 8TB WD80EFAX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$279.99 · Refurb
View details →
$35.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red 8TB WD80EFAX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$279.99 · Refurb
View details →
$35.28/TB
Buy →
Toshiba MG09 18TB
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$635.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$35.63/TB
Buy →
Dell 8TB SAS 12G 512e 3.5
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$285.00 · Refurb
View details →
$35.71/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SATA WUH721414ALE6L4
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · New
View details →
$35.83/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk AI 24TB ST24000VE002
24TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$859.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$36.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk AI 20TB ST20000VE003
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$719.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$36.13/TB
Buy →
HGST Ultrastar He8 8TB SAS 12G NAS
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$289.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$36.37/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 8TB WD80EFZX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$290.92 · Refurb
View details →
$36.67/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 6TB NAS ST6000VN001
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$219.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$36.94/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 8TB WD80EFBX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$295.49 · Refurb
View details →
$37.50/TB
Buy →
Seagate 1.2TB 10K SAS 12G 2.5
1.2TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$45.00 · Refurb
View details →
$37.50/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 4TB ST4000VX007
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$149.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$37.55/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X20 18TB SATA
18TB · SATA-6G · ePMR
$675.89 · New · 5yr
View details →
$37.55/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 10TB WD101EFBX
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$375.49 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$37.62/TB
Buy →
Seagate Dell 9W5WV 1TB SAS 2.5
1TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$37.62 · Refurb
View details →
$37.90/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 10TB SATA HUH721010ALE600
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$379.00 · New
View details →
$38.17/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 10TB SATA HUH721010ALN600
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$381.75 · New · 5yr
View details →
$38.33/TB
Buy →
WD Red Plus 6TB NAS
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$229.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$38.33/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 6TB NAS ST6000VN0041
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$229.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$38.33/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 12TB WD120EFGX
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$459.99 · New · 3yr
View details →
$38.33/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red 12TB WD120EFAX
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$460.00 · Refurb
View details →
$38.58/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 20TB WD202KFGX
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$771.67 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$39.19/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 8TB NAS ST8000VNZ04
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$313.49 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$39.45/TB
Buy →
HGST Ultrastar He10 10TB SAS
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$394.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$39.58/TB
Buy →
HP 653959-001 3TB SAS 6G
3TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$118.75 · New
View details →
$39.82/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 22TB SATA WUH722222ALE604
22TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$876.00 · Refurb
View details →
$39.84/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos 16TB SAS 12G 7.2K
16TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$637.44 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$40.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf Pro 10TB NAS ST10000NE0008
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$399.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$40.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf Pro 10TB NAS ST10000NEZ008
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$399.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$40.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 20TB WD201KFGX
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$799.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$40.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB ST16000VE000
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$639.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$40.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Purple 8TB WD84PURZ
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$319.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$40.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 10TB WD101KFBX
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$399.99 · Refurb
View details →
$40.50/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 10TB WD100EFGX
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$404.99 · New · 3yr
View details →
$40.55/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 22TB SATA WUH722222ALE604
22TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$892.00 · Refurb
View details →
$40.93/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X14 14TB SATA Enterprise
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$573.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$41.12/TB
Buy →
Synology HAS5300 8TB SAS
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$328.97 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$41.50/TB
Buy →
HGST HUS726060AL5210 6TB SAS 12G
6TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$249.00 · New
View details →
$42.16/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 8TB WD80EFPX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$337.24 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$42.25/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SAS WUH721414AL5204
14TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$591.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$42.40/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 20TB WD202KFGX
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$847.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$42.46/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SAS
14TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$594.45 · New
View details →
$43.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 8TB NAS ST8000VN0022
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$343.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$43.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 10TB NAS ST10000VNZ00
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$429.99 · New · 3yr
View details →
$43.05/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X20 20TB SAS
20TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$861.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$43.08/TB
Buy →
WD Red Pro 26TB NAS WD260KFGX
26TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$1119.99 · New
View details →
$43.18/TB
Buy →
Seagate Enterprise Capacity 10TB SAS 12G
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$431.75 · New · 5yr
View details →
$43.24/TB
Buy →
HP 6TB SAS Midline LFF Enterprise
6TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$259.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$43.33/TB
Buy →
WD WD Purple 6TB WD63PURZ
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$259.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$43.63/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 8TB SAS
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$349.00 · Refurb
View details →
$43.75/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf Pro 8TB NAS ST8000NEZ01
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$349.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$43.75/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 16TB SATA WUH721816ALE6L4
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$699.99 · Refurb
View details →
$43.75/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 4TB ST4000VX007
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$175.00 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$44.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 10TB NAS ST10000VN0008
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$439.99 · New · 3yr
View details →
$44.03/TB
Buy →
Toshiba 1.8TB 10K SAS 12G 2.5
1.8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$79.25 · Refurb
View details →
$44.06/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 16TB WD161KFGX
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$704.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$44.09/TB
Buy →
WD Red Pro 22TB NAS WD221KFGX
22TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$969.99 · New
View details →
$44.14/TB
Buy →
WD DC HC550 18TB SATA 512MB Enterprise
18TB · SATA-6G · ePMR
$794.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$44.17/TB
Buy →
HGST 1.2TB 10K SAS 12G 2.5
1.2TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$53.00 · New
View details →
$44.17/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 24TB WD241KFGX
24TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$1059.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$44.54/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SAS HUH721212AL4201
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$534.45 · New
View details →
$44.89/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 7K4000 4TB SATA NAS
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$179.57 · New
View details →
$45.00/TB
Buy →
WD Red Plus 8TB NAS
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$359.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$45.31/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk AI 16TB ST16000VE002
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$724.98 · New · 5yr
View details →
$45.50/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 4TB NAS
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$182.00 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$45.83/TB
Buy →
HP 781578-001 1.2TB 12G SAS 10K
1.2TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$55.00 · New
View details →
$45.83/TB
Buy →
HP 781518-B21 1.2TB 12G SAS 10K
1.2TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$55.00 · Refurb
View details →
$45.95/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 10TB SAS HUH721010AL5200
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$459.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$46.13/TB
Buy →
Toshiba MG08 8TB
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$369.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$46.31/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFZZ
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$185.24 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$46.31/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 8TB WD80EFPX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$370.51 · New · 3yr
View details →
$46.67/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 6TB NAS ST6000VN0033
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$279.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$46.88/TB
Buy →
Dell M40TH 8TB SAS 12G 512E
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$375.00 · New
View details →
$47.15/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 16TB SATA WUH721816ALE6L4
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$754.45 · New
View details →
$47.30/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 4TB ST4000VX016
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$189.19 · Refurb
View details →
$47.41/TB
Buy →
Dell HUC101212CSS600 1.2TB 10K SAS 6G
1.2TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$56.89 · Refurb
View details →
$47.45/TB
Buy →
Seagate Enterprise Capacity 10TB SAS Helium
10TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$474.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$47.50/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 8TB WD8005FFBX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$379.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$48.13/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red 8TB WD80EFAX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$385.00 · New
View details →
$48.33/TB
Buy →
Dell 36RH9 1.2TB 10K SAS 6G
1.2TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$57.99 · New
View details →
$48.59/TB
Buy →
Seagate BarraCuda 1TB ST1000DM010
1TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$48.59 · Refurb
View details →
$48.68/TB
Buy →
WD Red Pro 14TB NAS WD142KFGX
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$681.45 · New
View details →
$49.12/TB
Buy →
HGST Ultrastar He8 8TB SAS 12G
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$392.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$49.44/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 18TB
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$890.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$49.54/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos 12TB SAS 12G 7200RPM
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$594.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$49.74/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 4TB ST4000VX016
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$198.94 · New
View details →
$49.75/TB
Buy →
Seagate Constellation ES 4TB SAS 6G
4TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$199.00 · New
View details →
$49.92/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 20TB SATA WUH722020CLE6L4
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$998.30 · New
View details →
$49.92/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 12TB SATA HUH721212ALE600
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$599.00 · New
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
WD MegaScale DC 4000.B 4TB SATA Enterprise
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$199.99 · Refurb
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 4TB NAS ST4000VN008
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$199.99 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 6TB WD6003FFBX
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$299.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
WD Red Pro 8TB NAS WD8003FFBX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$399.99 · Refurb
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 20TB WD201KFGX
20TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$1000.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
WD Red Pro 10TB NAS WD103KFBX
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · New
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk AI 10TB ST10000VE0008
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 4TB ST4000VX016
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$199.99 · New
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 6TB WD6003FFBX
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$300.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFZX
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$199.99 · Refurb
View details →
$50.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red 10TB WD100EFAX
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · New
View details →
$50.48/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 12TB
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$605.81 · New · 5yr
View details →
$51.43/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 22TB
22TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$1131.38 · New · 5yr
View details →
$51.50/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 10TB NAS ST10000VN0004
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$515.00 · New · 3yr
View details →
$51.67/TB
Buy →
HP 781578-001 1.2TB 12G SAS 10K SFF
1.2TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$62.00 · Refurb
View details →
$52.48/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf Pro 10TB NAS ST10000NEZ008
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$524.75 · New · 5yr
View details →
$53.00/TB
Buy →
HP 846523-004 4TB SAS 12G Midline
4TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$212.00 · New
View details →
$53.12/TB
Buy →
WD WD Purple 8TB WD84PURZ
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$424.99 · New · 3yr
View details →
$53.13/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 8TB
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$425.00 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$53.18/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 14TB WD141KFGX
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$744.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$53.37/TB
Buy →
HP 12TB SAS 7.2K LFF Enterprise
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$640.42 · New · 5yr
View details →
$54.08/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 12TB
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$649.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$54.50/TB
Buy →
WD Easystore 2TB USB External
2TB · USB · CMR
$109.00 · Refurb · 2yr
View details →
$55.00/TB
Buy →
Dell 1.2TB 2.5 10K SAS 12G
1.2TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$66.00 · Refurb
View details →
$55.00/TB
Buy →
HP P2000 2TB SAS 6G 7.2K
2TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$110.00 · New
View details →
$55.30/TB
Buy →
Toshiba MG03ACA200 2TB SATA Enterprise
2TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$110.59 · New · 5yr
View details →
$55.45/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf Pro 10TB NAS ST10000NE0004
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$554.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$55.46/TB
Buy →
HGST 12TB SAS 12G 7.2K
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$665.49 · New
View details →
$55.49/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 8TB SAS
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$443.94 · New
View details →
$55.83/TB
Buy →
Synology HAS5300 12TB SAS
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$669.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$56.13/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 8TB NAS ST8000VN0022
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$449.00 · New · 3yr
View details →
$56.25/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 8TB WD80EFBX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$450.00 · New
View details →
$56.28/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 14TB SATA WUH722014CLE6L4
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$787.95 · New
View details →
$56.58/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 12TB WD121KFBX
12TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$679.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$56.67/TB
Buy →
WD Red Plus 6TB NAS
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$339.99 · New · 3yr
View details →
$57.45/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 10TB WD101EFBX
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$574.45 · New · 3yr
View details →
$57.78/TB
Buy →
Toshiba MG09 18TB
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$1040.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$58.37/TB
Buy →
Seagate Exos X24 24TB SATA
24TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$1400.90 · New · 5yr
View details →
$58.98/TB
Buy →
HP 12TB SAS 7200RPM LFF Enterprise
12TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$707.76 · New · 5yr
View details →
$59.38/TB
Buy →
Dell 8TB SAS 12G 512e 3.5
8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$475.00 · New
View details →
$59.45/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf Pro 10TB NAS ST10000NT001
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$594.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$59.67/TB
Buy →
WD Red Pro 16TB NAS
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$954.75 · New
View details →
$60.70/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Legacy 2TB WD20EFRX
2TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$121.39 · Refurb
View details →
$60.71/TB
Buy →
Toshiba MG09 14TB
14TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$850.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$62.50/TB
Buy →
HP 781518-B21 1.2TB 12G SAS 10K
1.2TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$75.00 · New
View details →
$62.50/TB
Buy →
Seagate BarraCuda 2TB ST2000DM006
2TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$125.00 · Refurb
View details →
$62.50/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red 8TB WD80EFAX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · New
View details →
$63.25/TB
Buy →
Synology HAT5310 16TB SATA
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$1012.07 · New · 5yr
View details →
$63.34/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 18TB
18TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$1140.17 · New · 5yr
View details →
$63.50/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 16TB SATA WUH722016CLE6L4
16TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$1015.93 · New
View details →
$64.62/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 6TB WD6005FFBX
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$387.72 · New · 5yr
View details →
$64.91/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 6TB NAS ST6000VN001
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$389.45 · New · 3yr
View details →
$65.00/TB
Buy →
Dell 1TB NL SAS 12G 2.5
1TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$65.00 · Refurb
View details →
$65.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 10TB WD101KFBX
10TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$649.99 · New
View details →
$65.13/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 8TB
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$521.02 · New · 5yr
View details →
$65.24/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf 6TB NAS ST6000VN0041
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$391.45 · New · 3yr
View details →
$65.56/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 8TB WD80EFZX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$524.45 · New
View details →
$66.00/TB
Buy →
Dell 2TB 7.2K SAS 12G 2.5
2TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$132.00 · Refurb
View details →
$67.43/TB
Buy →
Toshiba N300 8TB
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$539.47 · New · 5yr
View details →
$67.50/TB
Buy →
WD Red Pro 8TB NAS WD8003FFBX
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$539.99 · New
View details →
$67.50/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 4TB WD4003FFBX
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$269.99 · Refurb · 5yr
View details →
$67.93/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf Pro 8TB NAS ST8000NE001
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$543.45 · New · 5yr
View details →
$68.13/TB
Buy →
Seagate IronWolf Pro 8TB NAS ST8000NEZ01
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$545.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$69.28/TB
Buy →
WD WD Gold 8TB
8TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$554.23 · New · 5yr
View details →
$72.67/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 3TB ST3000VX009
3TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$218.00 · Refurb · 3yr
View details →
$73.33/TB
Buy →
Dell HUC101212CSS600 1.2TB 10K SAS 6G
1.2TB · SAS-6G · CMR
$88.00 · New
View details →
$73.33/TB
Buy →
HGST HUS724030ALA640 3TB SATA Enterprise
3TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$220.00 · New
View details →
$74.74/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 4TB SATA
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$298.94 · New
View details →
$75.00/TB
Buy →
Dell WXPCX 1.2TB 10K SAS 12G
1.2TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$90.00 · New
View details →
$76.94/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 4TB SATA
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$307.76 · New
View details →
$78.41/TB
Buy →
WD Easystore 2TB USB External
2TB · USB · CMR
$156.81 · New · 2yr
View details →
$78.75/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Plus 4TB WD40EFZX
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$314.98 · New
View details →
$80.56/TB
Buy →
Dell VJ7CD 1.8TB 10K SAS 12G 512E
1.8TB · SAS-12G · CMR
$145.00 · New
View details →
$81.91/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 6TB WD6002FFWX
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$491.45 · New
View details →
$83.33/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 6TB WD6003FFBX
6TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$499.99 · New · 5yr
View details →
$85.39/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Legacy 1TB WD10EFRX
1TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$85.39 · Refurb
View details →
$86.70/TB
Buy →
Seagate BarraCuda 2TB ST2000DM006
2TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$173.39 · New
View details →
$89.72/TB
Buy →
WD Easystore 4TB USB External
4TB · USB · CMR
$358.88 · New · 2yr
View details →
$92.00/TB
Buy →
WD Ultrastar 4TB SATA WUS721204BLE6L4
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$367.98 · New
View details →
$92.50/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Pro 4TB WD4003FFBX
4TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$370.00 · New · 5yr
View details →
$98.15/TB
Buy →
Seagate SkyHawk 3TB ST3000VX009
3TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$294.45 · New · 3yr
View details →
$99.99/TB
Buy →
Seagate BarraCuda 1TB ST1000DM010
1TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$99.99 · New
View details →
$115.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Legacy 2TB WD20EFRX
2TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$230.00 · New
View details →
$160.00/TB
Buy →
WD WD Purple 1TB WD11PURZ
1TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$160.00 · New · 3yr
View details →
$194.25/TB
Buy →
WD WD Red Legacy 1TB WD10EFRX
1TB · SATA-6G · CMR
$194.25 · New
View details →

Synology compatibility and the 2026 drive-lock reversal

Synology's "compatibility list" is the source of most drive-buying anxiety for DiskStation owners, so it is worth stating plainly what it means in practice. The list is Synology's set of validated drives; historically, using an unlisted drive produced warnings but the drive still worked. In 2025 Synology tightened this on some models, attempting to restrict full functionality — health monitoring, some pool creation, firmware updates — to Synology-branded drives, effectively pushing buyers toward its own (rebadged) HAT drives.

The market pushed back hard. NAS sales fell and the community reaction was strongly negative, and Synology reversed course: with DSM 7.3 it restored support for third-party drives, removing the hard restrictions. We state this as the documented DSM 7.3 change because it is a live trust question buyers actively search before spending money on drives. The practical upshot for 2026: you can populate a Synology DiskStation with third-party CMR drives — IronWolf, WD Red Plus/Pro, Toshiba N300, or enterprise Exos and Ultrastar — and get full functionality. Synology-branded HAT drives remain an option and are simply rebadged enterprise drives at a premium, but they are no longer required.

Always confirm the current compatibility note for your exact DiskStation model and DSM version, since Synology can adjust the policy between firmware releases. But the direction as of DSM 7.3 is clear: third-party drives are supported again.

SHR vs standard RAID on Synology

Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) is Synology's own storage layer, and it is the main thing that makes a DiskStation different from a generic RAID box. SHR lets you mix drives of different capacities and still use most of the space — where traditional RAID 5 or RAID 6 would waste everything above the smallest drive's size, SHR reclaims much of that difference. SHR (single-drive redundancy) is analogous to RAID 5; SHR-2 (two-drive redundancy) is analogous to RAID 6.

For most home and small-office builds, SHR is the right default because it makes future expansion painless — you can replace drives one at a time with larger ones and grow the pool. For arrays using large drives (16TB and up), prefer SHR-2, because the rebuild window on a large single-parity array is long enough that a second failure during rebuild is a real risk. If you are running a two-bay unit, SHR with one-drive redundancy is effectively a mirror. Standard RAID 1/5/6 are also available if you prefer conventional layouts or plan to migrate the array to non-Synology hardware later, since SHR pools are not portable to generic Linux mdadm setups without effort. Use the raid planner to model usable capacity for your bay count.

Which drives work in a Synology

The safe, compatible choices for a Synology DiskStation in 2026, all CMR: Seagate IronWolf and IronWolf Pro; WD Red Plus and Red Pro (note: not plain WD Red, which includes SMR at some capacities); Toshiba N300; and Synology's own HAT5300 and HAT3300 (rebadged enterprise drives). Beyond the NAS-branded families, enterprise Seagate Exos and WD Ultrastar drives work perfectly in a Synology — they are CMR, high-workload, and often the best $/TB, especially refurbished. Their only downside in a DiskStation is noise and slightly higher power draw, covered below.

The non-negotiable is CMR. Never put an SMR drive in a Synology array — SMR breaks rebuilds and resilvers exactly as it does on any RAID, and Synology's own guidance steers you toward CMR for pool use. Verify the exact model against our CMR list before buying, because recording technology varies within families. The live table below lists CMR drives ranked by price per TB, so you can pick the best value that fits your capacity target.

Noise and power for a living-space NAS

A Synology often sits in a home office, a living room, or a bedroom, which makes noise and power more relevant than in a datacenter. Enterprise drives (Exos, Ultrastar) are the best value and are perfectly reliable in a DiskStation, but they are louder — you will hear the seek chatter and the higher-RPM whir in a quiet room — and they draw a few more watts each, which adds up across a populated array and runs a little hotter. NAS-specific drives (IronWolf, Red Plus, N300) are tuned to be quieter and a touch more power-efficient, which is why they command a small premium.

The right call depends on placement. For a NAS tucked in a closet, basement, or utility room, buy enterprise drives for the $/TB and ignore the noise. For a unit that shares a quiet living space, the NAS-branded drives (or accepting refurbished enterprise with the understanding that they hum) are worth considering. Either way, ensure the DiskStation has adequate ventilation and let DSM manage the fan curve; a well-cooled drive lasts longer regardless of which family you choose.

Refurbished enterprise drives in a Synology

The best $/TB in a Synology in 2026 comes from refurbished enterprise drives deployed in SHR-2 or RAID 6 with a hot spare. Because a DiskStation array has redundancy, it absorbs the modestly higher early-life failure risk of used drives, and the savings over new NAS drives are substantial. Buy from resellers that test and grade their stock, SMART-verify every drive on arrival, and keep at least one hot spare so a failure triggers an automatic rebuild rather than a 3am emergency.

DSM's drive health tools will monitor SMART on third-party drives after the DSM 7.3 reversal, so you get the same early-warning telemetry you would with Synology-branded drives. See the refurbished enterprise guide for the sourcing and verification checklist, and the live CMR table below for current pricing. For a home Synology built for capacity — media, backups, file serving — refurbished enterprise in SHR-2 is hard to beat on total cost.

Frequently asked questions

Is Synology still locked to its own drives?

No. Synology attempted to restrict some 2025 models to Synology-branded drives, but after negative market reaction and falling NAS sales it reversed the policy in DSM 7.3, restoring support for third-party drives including full health monitoring. You can populate a Synology with third-party CMR drives — IronWolf, WD Red Plus/Pro, Toshiba N300, or enterprise Exos/Ultrastar — and get full functionality. Confirm the current note for your exact model and DSM version, as policy can shift between releases.

Can I use Exos or Ultrastar drives in a Synology?

Yes. Enterprise Seagate Exos and WD Ultrastar drives are CMR, high-workload, and work perfectly in a Synology DiskStation — they are often the best $/TB, especially refurbished. The only trade-offs are that they are louder and draw slightly more power than NAS-branded drives, which matters if the NAS shares a quiet living space. In a closet or utility room, enterprise drives are the value pick.

What is SHR?

Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) is Synology's storage layer that lets you mix drives of different capacities and still use most of the space, unlike traditional RAID which wastes everything above the smallest drive's size. SHR gives single-drive redundancy (like RAID 5); SHR-2 gives two-drive redundancy (like RAID 6). SHR is ideal for home builds because you can expand by replacing drives one at a time with larger ones.

Should I use SHR or SHR-2?

Use SHR for small arrays with drives under about 12TB where a fast rebuild keeps single-parity risk low. Use SHR-2 for any array with large drives (16TB and up) or four or more bays, because the rebuild window on a large single-parity array is long enough that a second failure during rebuild becomes a real threat. SHR-2 costs one extra drive of capacity for meaningfully better protection.

Do I need Synology-branded HAT drives?

No. Synology HAT5300 and HAT3300 drives are rebadged enterprise drives sold at a premium; after the DSM 7.3 reversal they are optional, not required. Third-party CMR drives work with full functionality. Buy HAT drives only if you want a single-vendor support story and are willing to pay for it — otherwise IronWolf, Red Plus, N300, or refurbished enterprise deliver better value.

Can I use refurbished drives in a Synology?

Yes, and it is the best $/TB play. Deploy refurbished enterprise drives in SHR-2 or RAID 6 with a hot spare so the redundancy absorbs the higher early-life failure risk of used hardware. SMART-verify every drive on arrival, and DSM's health monitoring works on third-party drives after DSM 7.3. Avoid refurbished for a single-drive or non-redundant setup.

How fresh is the pricing data?

Prices are sourced from Amazon US via the Amazon Creators API and updated every 2 hours. The live CMR drive table on this page shows the current best price per TB, and the freshness timestamp near the top reflects the most recent successful refresh.