Do You Need a NAS, or Just External Drives?
Published: July 7, 2026
Pulling live prices…
Live data across PricePerGig listings. Prices may change; Updated every few hours.
📊 As of July 8, 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.com is $130/TB or $0.13/GB across the 4,292 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around $38/TB or $0.038/GB. The best deals on Amazon.com start from about $260 for 8TB ($32.5/TB), $330 for 14TB ($23.6/TB) and $590 for 20TB ($29.5/TB). The current best value is 14TB at roughly $23.6 per TB.
📊 As of July 8, 2026, the typical NAS on eBay.com is $93.7/TB or $0.094/GB across the 9,953 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around $59.5/TB or $0.06/GB. The best deals on eBay.com start from about $180 for 8TB ($22.5/TB), $260 for 14TB ($18.6/TB) and $520 for 20TB ($26/TB). The current best value is 10TB at roughly $16.1 per TB.
📊 As of July 8, 2026, the typical NAS on Newegg.com is $123/TB or $0.123/GB across the 967 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around $52.9/TB or $0.053/GB. The best deals on Newegg.com start from about $300 for 8TB ($37.5/TB), $379 for 14TB ($27.1/TB) and $815 for 20TB ($40.7/TB). The current best value is 14TB at roughly $27.1 per TB.
📊 As of 8 July 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.co.uk is £147/TB or £0.147/GB across the 3,326 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around £41.3/TB or £0.041/GB. The best deals on Amazon.co.uk start from about £243 for 8TB (£30.4/TB), £330 for 14TB (£23.6/TB) and £509 for 20TB (£25.4/TB). The current best value is 14TB at roughly £23.6 per TB.
📊 As of 8 July 2026, the typical NAS on eBay.co.uk is £79.8/TB or £0.08/GB across the 4,170 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around £28.4/TB or £0.028/GB. The best deals on eBay.co.uk start from about £139 for 8TB (£17.4/TB), £256 for 14TB (£18.3/TB) and £466 for 20TB (£23.3/TB). The current best value is 12TB at roughly £15.8 per TB.
📊 As of 8 July 2026, the typical NAS on Overclockers.co.uk is £47.5/TB or £0.048/GB across the 58 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around £38.8/TB or £0.039/GB. The best deals on Overclockers.co.uk start from about £110 for 2TB (£55/TB), £200 for 6TB (£33.3/TB) and £280 for 8TB (£35/TB). The current best value is 6TB at roughly £33.3 per TB.
📊 As of 8 July 2026, the typical NAS on Box.co.uk is £50.5/TB or £0.051/GB across the 50 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around £46/TB or £0.046/GB. The best deals on Box.co.uk start from about £102 for 2TB (£51/TB), £160 for 4TB (£40/TB) and £260 for 8TB (£32.5/TB). The current best value is 8TB at roughly £32.5 per TB.
📊 As of 8. Juli 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.de is 211 €/TB or 0,211 €/GB across the 3,540 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 50,8 €/TB or 0,051 €/GB. The best deals on Amazon.de start from about 305 € for 8TB (38,1 €/TB), 380 € for 14TB (27,1 €/TB) and 550 € for 20TB (27,5 €/TB). The current best value is 18TB at roughly 22,7 € per TB.
📊 As of 8. Juli 2026, the typical NAS on eBay.de is 106 €/TB or 0,106 €/GB across the 163 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 25,5 €/TB or 0,026 €/GB. The best deals on eBay.de start from about 40,6 € for 2TB (20,3 €/TB), 150 € for 6TB (25 €/TB) and 85,5 € for 8TB (10,7 €/TB). The current best value is 4TB at roughly 10,2 € per TB.
📊 As of 8. Juli 2026, the typical NAS on getgoods.de is 67,1 €/TB or 0,067 €/GB across the 87 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 44,2 €/TB or 0,044 €/GB. The best deals on getgoods.de start from about 108 € for 2TB (56,1 €/TB), 161 € for 4TB (40,2 €/TB) and 270 € for 8TB (33,7 €/TB). The current best value is 8TB at roughly 33,7 € per TB.
📊 As of 8. Juli 2026, the typical NAS on Alternate.de is 54,3 €/TB or 0,054 €/GB across the 141 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 45,1 €/TB or 0,045 €/GB. The best deals on Alternate.de start from about 234 € for 8TB (29,2 €/TB), 411 € for 10TB (41,1 €/TB) and 535 € for 12TB (44,6 €/TB). The current best value is 8TB at roughly 29,2 € per TB.
📊 As of 8 July 2026, the typical NAS on eBay.com.au is $110/TB or $0.11/GB across the 1,060 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around $96.2/TB or $0.096/GB. The best deals on eBay.com.au start from about $430 for 8TB ($53.7/TB), $638 for 12TB ($53.2/TB) and $589 for 16TB ($36.8/TB). The current best value is 16TB at roughly $36.8 per TB.
📊 As of 8 juillet 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.fr is 164 €/TB or 0,164 €/GB across the 2,858 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 48,7 €/TB or 0,049 €/GB. The best deals on Amazon.fr start from about 288 € for 8TB (36 €/TB), 453 € for 14TB (32,3 €/TB) and 550 € for 20TB (27,5 €/TB). The current best value is 18TB at roughly 23,8 € per TB.
📊 As of 8 de julio de 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.es is 206 €/TB or 0,206 €/GB across the 2,883 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 50,9 €/TB or 0,051 €/GB. The best deals on Amazon.es start from about 320 € for 8TB (40 €/TB), 469 € for 14TB (33,5 €/TB) and 550 € for 20TB (27,5 €/TB). The current best value is 18TB at roughly 23,8 € per TB.
📊 As of July 8, 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.ca is $247/TB or $0.247/GB across the 1,754 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around $70.1/TB or $0.07/GB. The best deals on Amazon.ca start from about $405 for 8TB ($50.6/TB), $686 for 14TB ($49/TB) and $995 for 20TB ($49.7/TB). The current best value is 18TB at roughly $46 per TB.
📊 As of July 8, 2026, the typical NAS on eBay.ca is $75.9/TB or $0.076/GB across the 205 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around $29.4/TB or $0.029/GB. The best deals on eBay.ca start from about $40 for 2TB ($23.5/TB), $49 for 4TB ($12.3/TB) and $180 for 8TB ($22.5/TB). The current best value is 4TB at roughly $12.3 per TB.
📊 As of July 8, 2026, the typical NAS on Newegg.ca is $161/TB or $0.161/GB across the 418 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around $57.5/TB or $0.058/GB. The best deals on Newegg.ca start from about $390 for 8TB ($48.7/TB), $800 for 14TB ($57.1/TB) and $982 for 20TB ($49.1/TB). The current best value is 8TB at roughly $48.7 per TB.
📊 As of 8 juli 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.nl is € 119/TB or € 0,119/GB across the 1,592 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around € 58,5/TB or € 0,059/GB. The best deals on Amazon.nl start from about € 263 for 8TB (€ 32,9/TB), € 486 for 14TB (€ 34,7/TB) and € 457 for 20TB (€ 22,9/TB). The current best value is 20TB at roughly € 22,9 per TB.
📊 As of 8 luglio 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.it is 196 €/TB or 0,196 €/GB across the 4,607 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 50 €/TB or 0,05 €/GB. The best deals on Amazon.it start from about 320 € for 8TB (40 €/TB), 417 € for 14TB (29,8 €/TB) and 550 € for 20TB (27,5 €/TB). The current best value is 16TB at roughly 27,5 € per TB.
📊 As of 8 luglio 2026, the typical NAS on eBay.it is 99,5 €/TB or 0,10 €/GB across the 10,446 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 96,5 €/TB or 0,097 €/GB. The best deals on eBay.it start from about 243 € for 8TB (30,4 €/TB), 389 € for 16TB (24,3 €/TB) and 479 € for 20TB (23,9 €/TB). The current best value is 10TB at roughly 16,1 € per TB.
📊 As of 8 juli 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.se is 1 589 kr/TB or 1,589 kr/GB across the 1,084 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 745 kr/TB or 0,745 kr/GB. The best deals on Amazon.se start from about 1 092 kr for 2TB (551 kr/TB), 1 350 kr for 4TB (338 kr/TB) and 331 kr for 6TB (55,1 kr/TB). The current best value is 6TB at roughly 55,1 kr per TB.
📊 As of 8 lipca 2026, the typical NAS on Amazon.pl is 613 zł/TB or 0,613 zł/GB across the 1,505 live listings we track, with the widest choice of drives priced around 199 zł/TB or 0,199 zł/GB. The best deals on Amazon.pl start from about 998 zł for 8TB (125 zł/TB), 1298 zł for 12TB (108 zł/TB) and 1643 zł for 16TB (103 zł/TB). The current best value is 16TB at roughly 103 zł per TB.
Sourced from real discussions on r/DataHoarder, r/homelab and r/synology, cross-checked against live PricePerGig listings.
Before you spend a small fortune on a shiny NAS, let me ask the honest question.
Do you actually need one, or would a couple of external drives do the job for a fraction of the price?
Most people jump to a NAS too early. It is exciting kit. But it is not always the right kit.
The table above shows live drive prices on your marketplace, because either path comes down to buying good drives at a good price per TB.
When external drives are all you need
Let me defend the humble external drive, because it gets unfairly dismissed.
If you are one person backing up one computer, externals are brilliant.
- Dead simple. Plug in, copy, unplug.
- Cheap. No extra box, no network gear, no fan humming all day.
- Portable. Keep one copy at a friends house for free offsite backup.
For a lot of people, two external drives kept in two places is a complete, sensible storage and backup plan. Do not let the internet shame you out of it.
When a NAS actually earns its keep
A NAS is not a bigger external drive. It is a different thing, and it is worth it when you need what it uniquely does.
- Always on, so every device can reach your files without plugging anything in.
- Shared across the whole house, phones, laptops, TVs, all at once.
- Runs apps, like Plex for media or backup tools that just work in the background.
- Redundancy, so a single drive dying does not lose your data.
If you find yourself wanting two or more of those, a NAS stops being a luxury and starts being the right answer.
The honest cost difference
Here is what nobody likes to spell out.
A NAS is the box plus the drives plus the power it sips every hour of every day. Externals are just the drives.
So if your needs are simple, a NAS is a lot of extra money and complexity for features you will not use.
Check the live table for drive prices, then be honest about whether you are paying for capability you actually need or just for the cool factor.
A simple way to decide
Run yourself through this.
- One computer, just want backups: buy two external drives, keep one offsite. Done.
- Multiple devices, want shared always-on storage: a NAS is worth it.
- Want Plex, redundancy, or to tinker: get the NAS, you will enjoy it.
There is no wrong answer, only the right one for your situation.
The bottom line
You need a NAS when you want always-on, shared, redundant storage that runs apps. You need external drives when you just want cheap, simple backups for one machine.
Be honest about which you are, buy good drives at the best price per TB using the live table above, and do not overspend on a NAS you bought for features you will never touch. Simple often beets clever.
