Best NAS Software in 2026
Updated
In short: napp-it is ranked #1 of 21 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of ZimaOS and TrueNAS. The best-ranked option with a free plan is ZimaOS.
NAS software can organize storage while supporting additional services and workloads on a network-attached system. Compared on storage pools, snapshots, user management and app catalog, these options also list cloud sync, container support and virtual machines. Those details help distinguish storage administration from setups that also need apps or virtualized workloads. napp-it, ZimaOS and TrueNAS are among the names to consider. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the capabilities you expect to use, so your comparison reflects both how you want to manage storage and which extra functions belong in your environment.
21 NAS software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
21ranked
10free plans on this page
5 Oct 2026last checked
Input list NAS Software 21 channels on this page · 98 of 168 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromStorage poolsUser managementSnapshotsApp catalogContainer supportVirtual machines Spec sheet Score
01 napp-it Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalognot statedContainer supportYesVirtual machinesYes 6/8spec lines stated 7.9
02 ZimaOS Free planYesPaid from29 one-timeStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsnot statedApp catalogYesContainer supportYesVirtual machinesYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.9
03 TrueNAS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalogYesContainer supportYesVirtual machinesYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.8
04 OSNEXUS QuantaStor Free planNoPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalognot statedContainer supportYesVirtual machinesnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.7
05 DPlaneOS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalognot statedContainer supportYesVirtual machinesnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.4
06 NovaNAS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsnot statedApp catalogYesContainer supportYesVirtual machinesNo 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
07 Rockstor Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalogYesContainer supportYesVirtual machinesnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.2
08 OpenNAS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalogYesContainer supportYesVirtual machinesYes 7/8spec lines stated 7.1
09 KitchenAsty Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsnot statedUser managementnot statedSnapshotsnot statedApp catalognot statedContainer supportnot statedVirtual machinesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
10 openmediavault Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalogYesContainer supportYesVirtual machinesnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
11 XigmaNAS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalognot statedContainer supportYesVirtual machinesYes 6/8spec lines stated 6.8
12 Synology Active Backup for SaaS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsnot statedUser managementnot statedSnapshotsnot statedApp catalognot statedContainer supportnot statedVirtual machinesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.6
13 StarWind SAN & NAS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsnot statedApp catalognot statedContainer supportnot statedVirtual machinesnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.0
14 PetaSAN Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalognot statedContainer supportnot statedVirtual machinesnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
15 SoftNAS Free planNoPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalognot statedContainer supportnot statedVirtual machinesNo 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
16 Unraid USB Creator Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsnot statedUser managementnot statedSnapshotsnot statedApp catalognot statedContainer supportnot statedVirtual machinesnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.9
17 ZetaNAS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsnot statedUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalogYesContainer supportYesVirtual machinesnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
18 NexentaStor Free planNoPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalognot statedContainer supportnot statedVirtual machinesYes 5/8spec lines stated 5.8
19 Open-E JovianDSS Free planNoPaid from670 one-timeStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsYesApp catalognot statedContainer supportnot statedVirtual machinesYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.8
20 HexOS Free planNoPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsYesUser managementYesSnapshotsnot statedApp catalogYesContainer supportYesVirtual machinesYes 6/8spec lines stated 5.7
21 TurnKey File Server Free planYesPaid fromnot statedStorage poolsnot statedUser managementYesSnapshotsnot statedApp catalognot statedContainer supportnot statedVirtual machinesnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.7
Compare all 21 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Storage pools | User management |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | napp-it | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | ZimaOS | 7.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | 29 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | TrueNAS | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | OSNEXUS QuantaStor | 7.7 | Free plan | Free | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | DPlaneOS | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | NovaNAS | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Rockstor | 7.2 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | OpenNAS | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | KitchenAsty | 6.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 10 | openmediavault | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | XigmaNAS | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | Synology Active Backup for SaaS | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | StarWind SAN & NAS | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 14 | PetaSAN | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | SoftNAS | 5.9 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | Unraid USB Creator | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 17 | ZetaNAS | 5.9 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 18 | NexentaStor | 5.8 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | Open-E JovianDSS | 5.8 | No | — | No | 670 one-time | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | HexOS | 5.7 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | TurnKey File Server | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | — | Yes |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which NAS software is ranked first on Specifiction?
napp-it is ranked #1 of 21 with a score of 7.9. ZimaOS is second and TrueNAS third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 21 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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