Best Seagate NAS hard drives
Seagate splits NAS three ways: IronWolf for home and SOHO boxes, IronWolf Pro for larger, busier arrays, and Exos for the enterprise. All CMR. The list below ranks Seagate's current CMR drives by measured failure rate - and since Exos often undercuts IronWolf Pro on price per terabyte, it's worth comparing the two before you assume the NAS-branded one is the value pick.
| Drive | Capacity | Tech | Class | Interface | AFR | $/TB | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
ST16000NM000J
Seagate Exos X18
|
16 TB | CMR | Enterprise | SATA | 0.17% | $39.80 | $637 |
| 2 |
ST16000NM001G
Seagate Exos X16
|
16 TB | CMR | Enterprise | SATA | 0.53% | $62.50 | $1,000 |
| 3 |
ST12000NM001G
Seagate Exos X16
|
12 TB | CMR | Enterprise | SATA | 0.97% | - | - |
| 4 |
ST14000NM001G
Seagate Exos X16
|
14 TB | CMR | Enterprise | SATA | 1.24% | $35.00 | $490 |
| 5 |
ST24000NM002H
Seagate Exos X24
|
24 TB | CMR | Enterprise | SATA | 2.91% | $40.00 | $960 |
| 6 |
ST24000NT002
Seagate IronWolf Pro
|
24 TB | CMR | NAS-Pro | SATA | - | $35.83 | $860 |
| 7 |
ST24000VE002
Seagate SkyHawk AI
|
24 TB | CMR | Surveillance | SATA | - | $35.83 | $860 |
| 8 |
ST22000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
|
22 TB | CMR | NAS-Pro | SATA | - | - | - |
| 9 |
ST22000NM001E
Seagate Exos X22
|
22 TB | CMR | Enterprise | SATA | - | - | - |
| 10 |
ST20000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
|
20 TB | CMR | NAS-Pro | SATA | - | $33.50 | $670 |
| 11 |
ST20000NM007D
Seagate Exos X20
|
20 TB | CMR | Enterprise | SATA | - | $42.00 | $840 |
| 12 |
ST20000VE002
Seagate SkyHawk AI
|
20 TB | CMR | Surveillance | SATA | - | $54.93 | $1,099 |
| 13 |
ST18000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
|
18 TB | CMR | NAS-Pro | SATA | - | - | - |
| 14 |
ST18000NM000J
Seagate Exos X18
|
18 TB | CMR | Enterprise | SATA | - | $49.54 | $892 |
| 15 |
ST18000NM004J
Seagate Exos X18
|
18 TB | CMR | Enterprise | SAS | - | $33.28 | $599 |
Ranked by measured failure rate (Backblaze AFR). $/TB uses the cheapest live price where available.
Seagate's NAS line-up
- IronWolf - CMR, for home and small-office NAS up to 8 bays.
- IronWolf Pro - CMR, 7200 RPM, for larger or busier arrays; 5-year warranty, includes Rescue data recovery.
- Exos - the enterprise line: highest endurance, longest warranty, and frequently the best price per terabyte of the three.
The Exos is the open secret here. In our reliability rankings the 16-24TB Exos drives post some of the lowest failure rates of any model, and they often price below IronWolf Pro per terabyte - the catch is 7200 RPM noise, which only matters if the NAS lives within earshot. Compare the live $/TB on the drive list and confirm recording tech on the CMR/SMR reference.
Frequently asked questions
- IronWolf vs IronWolf Pro vs Exos?
- IronWolf is CMR for home NAS (up to 8 bays). IronWolf Pro is 7200 RPM CMR for larger arrays with a 5-year warranty and higher workload rating. Exos is the enterprise line - fast, highest endurance, often great value per TB.
- Is the Seagate Exos good for a home NAS?
- Yes, and it frequently costs less per terabyte than IronWolf Pro - which is why many homelabbers choose it. The trade-off is more noise and power; fine in a closet or rack.