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€43.71
€1,049best 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€43.06
€689best live price
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WUH722626ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC590
CMR
Capacity26 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.67%
Price / TB€53.11
€1,381best live price
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MG10ACA20TE
Toshiba MG10
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.68%
Price / TB€45.75
€915best live price
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WUH721414ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC530
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.72%
Price / TB€54.39
€761best live price
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WUH721816ALE6Lx
WD Ultrastar DC HC550
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.88%
Price / TB€51.62
€826best live price
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ST12000NM001G
Seagate Exos X16
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate0.97%
Price / TB€71.27
€855best 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€54.41
€762best live price
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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€39.46
€947best 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€51.23
€1,230best 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€56.10
€1,346best live price
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WD242KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity24 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€57.89
€1,389best 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€44.44
€978best live price
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WD221KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity22 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€44.09
€970best 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€36.36
€800best live price
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WD201KFGX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€59.95
€1,199best 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€29.15
€583best live price
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ST20000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity20 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€54.38
€1,088best 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€59.80
€1,076best live price
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WD181KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€53.75
€968best live price
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WUH721818ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC550
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€64.75
€1,166best live price
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ST18000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
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€50.16
€903best live price
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HDWG180
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity18 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€56.34
€1,014best live price
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WD161KFGX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€47.87
€766best live price
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WD161KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€49.94
€799best live price
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ST16000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€43.63
€698best live price
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HDWG51G
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity16 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€64.76
€1,036best 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€49.97
€700best live price
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WD142KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€56.00
€784best live price
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ST14000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity14 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€39.21
€549best 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€64.98
€780best live price
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WD121KFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€49.58
€595best live price
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WD121KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€48.75
€585best live price
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ST12000VN0008
Seagate IronWolf
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€45.75
€549best live price
View on Amazon
ST12000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€44.00
€528best live price
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HDWG21C
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€45.09
€541best live price
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MG07ACA12TE
Toshiba MG07
CMR
Capacity12 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€44.17
€530best live price
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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-
WD102KFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€64.49
€645best live price
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WD102KRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€51.00
€510best live price
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WUS721010ALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC330
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
ST10000VN000
Seagate IronWolf
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€74.09
€741best live price
View on Amazon
ST10000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€48.20
€482best live price
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ST10000NM019B
Seagate Exos 7E10
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€52.01
€520best live price
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HDWG11A
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity10 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€57.30
€573best 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€78.75
€630best live price
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WD80EFZZ
WD Red Plus
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€78.22
€626best live price
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WD8005FFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€55.63
€445best live price
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WD8004FRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€61.13
€489best live price
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HUS728T8TALE6L4
WD Ultrastar DC HC320
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€46.95
€376best live price
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ST8000VN004
Seagate IronWolf
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€47.45
€380best live price
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ST8000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€70.36
€563best live price
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ST8000NM000A
Seagate Exos 7E8
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€45.15
€361best live price
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ST8000NM017B
Seagate Exos 7E10
CMR
Capacity8 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€74.47
€596best 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€72.86
€583best 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€53.78
€323best live price
View on Amazon
WD6005FFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€51.51
€309best 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€50.81
€305best live price
View on Amazon
ST6000NT001
Seagate IronWolf Pro
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€51.50
€309best live price
View on Amazon
HDWG460
Toshiba N300
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€62.97
€378best live price
View on Amazon
MG06ACA600E
Toshiba MG06
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB-
HAT3300-6T
Synology Plus Series
CMR
Capacity6 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€60.64
€364best live price
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WD40EFPX
WD Red Plus
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€54.34
€217best live price
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WD4005FFBX
WD Red Pro
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS-Pro
Failure rate-
Price / TB€92.86
€371best live price
View on Amazon
WD4004FRYZ
WD Gold
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassEnterprise
Failure rate-
Price / TB€64.75
€259best live price
View on Amazon
ST4000VN006
Seagate IronWolf
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€51.73
€207best 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€59.23
€237best live price
View on Amazon
HAT3300-4T
Synology Plus Series
CMR
Capacity4 TB
ClassNAS
Failure rate-
Price / TB€70.00
€280best 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.