Best hard drives for a UGREEN NAS

* Shown as a full table on desktop, and as cards on tablet and phone.

ST16000NM000J
Seagate Exos X18
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.17%
Price / TB-
MG11ACA24TE
Toshiba MG11
CMR
Capacity24 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.42%
Price / TB€42.88
€1,029best live price
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WUH722222ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC570
CMR
Capacity22 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.45%
Price / TB-
ST16000NM001G
Seagate Exos X16
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.53%
Price / TB€41.08
€657best live price
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WUH722626ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC590
CMR
Capacity26 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.67%
Price / TB€53.96
€1,403best live price
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MG10ACA20TE
Toshiba MG10
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.68%
Price / TB€42.30
€846best live price
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WUH721414ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC530
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.72%
Price / TB€42.55
€596best live price
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WUH721816ALE6Lx
WD Ultrastar DC HC550
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.88%
Price / TB€40.97
€656best live price
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ST12000NM001G
Seagate Exos X16
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.97%
Price / TB€70.11
€841best live price
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MG07ACA14TE
Toshiba MG07
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate1.16%
Price / TB-
ST14000NM001G
Seagate Exos X16
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate1.24%
Price / TB-
MG08ACA16Tx
Toshiba MG08
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate1.43%
Price / TB-
MG09ACA16TE
Toshiba MG09
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate1.46%
Price / TB-
ST24000NM002H
Seagate Exos X24
CMR
Capacity24 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate2.91%
Price / TB€40.20
€965best live price
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HUH721212ALE604
WD Ultrastar DC HC520
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate2.98%
Price / TB-
WUH722424ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC580
CMR
Capacity24 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€51.18
€1,228best live price
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ST24000NT002
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity24 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€50.00
€1,200best live price
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WD241KFGX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity24 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€58.21
€1,397best live price
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WD242KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity24 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€54.74
€1,314best live price
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HAT5320-24T
Synology Enterprise Series
CMR
Capacity24 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
WD221KFGX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity22 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€45.35
€998best live price
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WD221KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity22 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€58.26
€1,282best live price
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ST22000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity22 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
ST22000NM001E
Seagate Exos X22
CMR
Capacity22 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€30.00
€660best live price
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MG10AFA22TE
Toshiba MG10
CMR
Capacity22 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€39.50
€869best live price
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WD201KFGX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€55.67
€1,113best live price
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WD202KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
WUH722020BLE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC560
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€61.52
€1,230best live price
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ST20000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€48.81
€976best live price
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ST20000NM007D
Seagate Exos X20
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
HAT3320-20T
Synology Plus Series
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
HAT5320-20T
Synology Enterprise Series
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
WD181KFGX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€58.96
€1,061best live price
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WD181KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€52.87
€952best live price
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WUH721818ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC550
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€41.74
€751best live price
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ST18000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€48.53
€874best live price
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ST18000NM000J
Seagate Exos X18
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€35.00
€630best live price
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MG09ACA18TE
Toshiba MG09
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€53.54
€964best live price
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HDWG180
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€55.06
€991best live price
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WD161KFGX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€49.79
€797best live price
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WD161KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
ST16000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€43.32
€693best live price
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HDWG51G
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€38.16
€611best live price
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HAT3310-16T
Synology Plus Series
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
HAT5310-16T
Synology Enterprise Series
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
WD140EFGX
WD Red Plus
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€73.27
€1,026best live price
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WD142KFGX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€50.77
€711best live price
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WD142KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€50.92
€713best live price
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ST14000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€36.94
€517best live price
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HDWG31G
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€49.63
€695best live price
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WD120EFBX
WD Red Plus
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€45.82
€550best live price
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WD121KFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€55.54
€666best live price
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WD121KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€41.59
€499best live price
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ST12000VN0008
Seagate IronWolf
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€40.97
€492best live price
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ST12000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€42.33
€508best live price
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HDWG21C
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€43.83
€526best live price
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MG07ACA12TE
Toshiba MG07
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
HAT3310-12T
Synology Plus Series
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
HAT5300-12T
Synology Enterprise Series
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
WD101EFBX
WD Red Plus
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€64.52
€645best live price
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WD102KFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€61.84
€618best live price
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WD102KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
WUS721010ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC330
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
ST10000VN000
Seagate IronWolf
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€42.12
€421best live price
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ST10000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€46.11
€461best live price
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ST10000NM019B
Seagate Exos 7E10
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€51.16
€512best live price
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HDWG11A
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€56.86
€569best live price
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MG06ACA10TE
Toshiba MG06
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
WD80EFPX
WD Red Plus
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€81.21
€650best live price
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WD80EFZZ
WD Red Plus
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€51.49
€412best live price
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WD8005FFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€54.25
€434best live price
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WD8004FRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€63.74
€510best live price
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HUS728T8TALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC320
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€62.09
€497best live price
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ST8000VN004
Seagate IronWolf
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€45.97
€368best live price
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ST8000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€67.91
€543best live price
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ST8000NM000A
Seagate Exos 7E8
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€63.71
€510best live price
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ST8000NM017B
Seagate Exos 7E10
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€72.07
€577best live price
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HDWG480
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€50.90
€407best live price
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MG06ACA800E
Toshiba MG06
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€72.49
€580best live price
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HAT3320-8T
Synology Plus Series
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
HAT5320-8T
Synology Enterprise Series
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
WD60EFPX
WD Red Plus
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€54.14
€325best live price
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WD6005FFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€64.18
€385best live price
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WD6004FRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€83.50
€501best live price
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ST6000VN006
Seagate IronWolf
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€50.50
€303best live price
View on Amazon
ST6000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€50.91
€305best live price
View on Amazon
HDWG460
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€61.89
€371best live price
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MG06ACA600E
Toshiba MG06
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
HAT3300-6T
Synology Plus Series
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€54.33
€326best live price
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WD40EFPX
WD Red Plus
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€56.62
€226best live price
View on Amazon
WD4005FFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€92.98
€372best live price
View on Amazon
WD4004FRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€52.25
€209best live price
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ST4000VN006
Seagate IronWolf
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€53.19
€213best live price
View on Amazon
ST4000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€57.25
€229best live price
View on Amazon
HDWG440
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€66.98
€268best live price
View on Amazon
HAT3300-4T
Synology Plus Series
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€72.50
€290best live price
View on Amazon
HAT5320-4T
Synology Enterprise Series
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-

Ranked by measured failure rate (Backblaze AFR). $/TB uses the cheapest live price where available.

How a UGREEN NAS handles drives

The NASync DXP units are consumer SATA NAS boxes: 3.5-inch bays (some also take 2.5-inch), a straightforward setup, and separate M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching that have nothing to do with the hard-drive bays. There's no SAS backplane, so this is SATA territory - any current 3.5-inch SATA NAS or enterprise drive drops in. The range runs from 2-bay up to 6- and 8-bay models, so how many drives you buy is really a question of the box you picked.

CMR, never SMR

Buy CMR. An SMR drive slows to a crawl during a RAID rebuild and under sustained writes, which is exactly when an array is working hardest and least able to wait. Stall it long enough and it can drop out of the group mid-rebuild, the worst possible moment. CMR avoids that failure mode entirely, so the list here is CMR-only and every drive page states the recording tech.

Compatibility: a list, and a per-bay cap

UGREEN keeps a compatibility list covering drives, SSDs, RAM and UPS, but unlike Synology it is openly third-party friendly - its own material points you at Western Digital, Seagate and Toshiba, and an unlisted drive still works. The one UGREEN-specific thing worth checking is the per-bay capacity cap: each model supports drives up to a certain size, 32TB per bay on some, so confirm your model's limit before buying a very large drive. Past that, any current CMR SATA NAS or enterprise drive is fair game.

What to optimise for

Buy identical-capacity CMR drives for the array, up to your model's per-bay cap. Lead with reliability, then compare price per terabyte across Seagate, WD and Toshiba before you commit. Keep at least one parity drive, and move to double parity once you're running several large drives, since a bigger drive takes longer to rebuild and the second parity gives that rebuild a margin. The M.2 slots are a separate question - handy for an SSD cache, but the bulk storage lives in the SATA bays, and that is what this list is for.

The short version

Any current CMR SATA NAS or enterprise drive works in a NASync - there's no lock-in, just a per-bay size cap to respect. Buy matched capacities, start from the failure-rate ranking, and compare price per terabyte from there. Skip SMR entirely.

Frequently asked questions

What hard drives are compatible with a UGREEN NAS?
The DXP 3.5-inch bays take any standard SATA hard drive - there's no vendor lock-in. UGREEN publishes a compatibility list (drives, SSDs, RAM and UPS) but it's a reference, not a gate: an unlisted CMR NAS or enterprise drive still works. Stick to CMR (Seagate IronWolf, WD Red Plus, Toshiba N300, or enterprise Exos/Ultrastar/MG) and check your model's per-bay size cap. The M.2 NVMe slots for SSD caching are separate from the hard-drive bays.
Is there a maximum drive size for a UGREEN NAS?
Yes, and it varies by model - some NASync units cap each bay at 32TB, others differ. It's the one UGREEN-specific thing worth checking before you buy a very large drive, so confirm your model's per-bay limit on UGREEN's compatibility page.
Can I use SMR drives in a UGREEN NAS?
Avoid them. SMR drives slow to a crawl during RAID rebuilds and sustained writes - exactly when a NAS is working hardest. We flag recording technology on every drive page; pick CMR every time.
How many drives does a UGREEN NAS hold?
It depends on the model - the NASync range runs from 2-bay up to 6- and 8-bay units. Buy identical-capacity CMR drives for the array and keep at least one parity drive, moving to two once you run several large drives so a rebuild has a safety margin.