FreeNAS was an open source operating system that allowed nearly any hardware serve as a network-attached storage device. It was developed by iXsystems, and is currently unsupported. Its features and capabilities are all present in the modern TrueNAS offering, which the company supports and recommends to FreeNAS users.
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QNAP NAS
Score8.9 out of 10
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QNAP offers a wide array of network-attached storage units for SMBs, home, and enterprise.
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Pricing
FreeNAS (discontinued)
QNAP NAS
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
FreeNAS (discontinued)
QNAP NAS
Free Trial
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No
Free/Freemium Version
No
No
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
No
No
Entry-level Setup Fee
No setup fee
No setup fee
Additional Details
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More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
FreeNAS (discontinued)
QNAP NAS
Considered Both Products
Discontinued Products
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QNAP Systems
Verified User
Chose QNAP NAS
QNAP is a professional in this business, we think it wouldn't be so good if they were doing it in other jobs. In the free do-it-yourself scenarios we used, he could not meet our needs somewhere. Another NAS product from another manufacturer that we tried for a fee did not have …
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
FreeNAS and QNAP NAS are network attached storage (NAS) solutions designed to compartmentalize file storage for access by multiple clients. FreeNAS is a free, open-source operating system for NAS systems. QNAP NAS is sold as a complete hardware and software NAS solution. FreeNAS is used primarily by mid-sized companies and large enterprises, probably because it allows customers to completely own and customize an enterprise-ready NAS solution without paying for licensing fees.
Features
Both FreeNAS and QNAP NAS help individuals and businesses store and access large amounts of data, they have significant differences.
First of all, FreeNAS is, as its name implies, free. The software is open-source and distributed for no cost, meaning your software cost for a FreeNAS system will be zero. For a free solution, FreeNAS has plenty of enterprise-level features. It covers most data sharing protocols, making it compatible with a majority of client systems. The software also integrates with cloud storage providers like Amazon S3 and Google Cloud out-of-the-box, and you can further customize its capabilities with a library of third-party plugins. The web-based UI is easy to understand and has a clean, modern feel.
QNAP NAS is sold as ready-to-use hardware and software systems, making it easy to set up. Customers report that it’s relatively inexpensive for an all-in-one NAS product, and scaling up is easy to do. System health monitoring and alerting features help administrators keep track of their data, and QNAP’s security and redundancy features help keep data safe. When QNAP releases software updates, users report that the upgrade process is smooth and results in minimal downtime.
Limitations
It’s also important, however, to consider where each product might fall short. FreeNAS and QNAP NAS won’t be the right solutions for everyone.
FreeNAS’s primary drawback is that you’re responsible for building your system. You’ll have to acquire compatible hardware, assemble the storage system, and set up the software environment. The do-it-yourself approach can lead to other imperfections: all-in-one solutions are tested and tweaked for minimal noise, lowest possible power use, and optimal cooling. By contrast, a self-assembled system may suffer from annoying noise levels, high power consumption, and inefficient cooling, depending on how well the hardware fits together and your own level of expertise. Finally, you’ll be largely reliant on community support if you run into problems.
QNAP NAS can be slow to start back up after unexpected failures. Some users have complained that the hardware platform they purchased doesn’t support the form factors of storage devices they want to use, such as 2.5” HDD or M.2 SSD hardware. And although QNAP offers professional support, some users have had a sour experience when they submitted a ticket, with slow response times and ineffective answers. Finally, QNAP NAS may be inexpensive compared to other pre-built systems, but the software license still has a price tag, making it more expensive than a FreeNAS system.
Pricing
QNAP NAS offers a multitude of NAS systems available for purchase. A single system can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on its hardware capabilities. For a list of vendors, refer to QNAP’s Where to Buy page.
FreeNAS is well suited for most storage serving scenarios, whether it be for an office file server, backup destinations, data replication across the internet, or as backend storage for virtual machines. It can serve various types of clients via a plethora of standard protocols and can easily integrate with existing infrastructure using LDAP authentication and so on. It's pretty simple to use (it helps to have at least a basic understanding of the underlying technologies) and almost maintenance-free. One scenario that springs to mind that it may not be appropriate for (yet) is as S3 storage. However, S3 functionality was added in a recent release and may have improved greatly since then. I'm sure it will eventually work very well for this.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
I've been using QNAP NAS for a while now, and it's been great for my home setup. The interface is pretty user-friendly, even for someone who's not super techy, but there are plenty of advanced features to dig into if you need them. Setup was straightforward, and I love how easy it is to access my files remotely. The apps work well, and I've had no major issues with performance. It's been reliable, and I feel like my data is secure. Overall, it's just a solid piece of gear that does exactly what I need. Highly recommend! 10/10 from me!
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
QNAP NAS's usability is excellent, making it accessible to both beginners and more experienced users. The setup process is straightforward, with clear instructions that guide you through everything. The user interface is intuitive, allowing you to navigate easily between settings, apps, and features. Even with its powerful functionality, such as remote access and advanced file management, it doesn’t feel overwhelming. The mobile apps make it convenient to access files on the go, and everything integrates smoothly. Whether you need basic storage or more advanced features, QNAP balances ease of use with powerful capabilities, making it a highly user-friendly NAS option.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
Customer support is effective once communication is established. A technical support person is required on both sides. The support is extremely knowledgeable and provides detailed support and explanation to any issues, as well as some will provide recommendations to the business needs as there are many different technologies or methods depending on what the business is trying to achieve.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
FreeNAS effectively uses all resources really well and it is highly recommended for in premises NAS. It has unlimited ROI as it is really free and open-source. The only payment we need to pay is when we need any support from those guys. FreeNAS helps us to effectively do our work with the legacy systems as it manages all the components really well. FreeNAS although rebranded to TrueNAS will still be there until our legacy systems run.
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
A de minimis incentive was given to thank the reviewer for their time. The incentive was not used to bias or drive a particular response, nor was the incentive contingent on a positive endorsement. More Info
