Do I need a NAS if I use Google Drive?

A NAS gives you unlimited storage (limited only by drive size), no monthly subscription, full data privacy, and faster local network speeds. The trade-off is upfront hardware cost and self-maintenance. For large media libraries and privacy-conscious users, a NAS is superior.

What drives should I buy for a NAS?

Buy NAS-rated drives like WD Red Plus or Seagate IronWolf. Desktop drives are not designed for 24/7 operation and fail faster in NAS enclosures. For 2-bay NAS, two 8TB drives in mirror mode gives you 8TB of protected storage.

Best NAS Drives for Home Media 2026