2-Bay Power or Budget Simplicity: Which Synology NAS Should You Buy?
If you’re choosing between the Synology DS224+ and the Synology DiskStation DS124, you’re really deciding between expandability and absolute low-cost simplicity. Both are well-reviewed at 4.5/5, but they serve very different home NAS use cases. The DS224+ is the stronger all-rounder for backups, Plex, Docker, and future growth, while the DS124 is the cheapest way into Synology’s ecosystem. This comparison breaks down which one makes more sense for your storage, media, and reliability needs.
Synology DS224+ 2 Bay NAS Desktop: Efficient Storage Solution
Our Recommendation
The Synology DS224+ is the better buy for most people because it offers a 2-bay design, RAID/SHR redundancy, and far more headroom for Plex, backups, and Docker-style workloads. At £478.09, it is expensive, but the extra £343.12 buys real resilience and flexibility that the DS124 cannot match. The DS124 is only the better choice if your budget is tight and you truly only need a single-disk file store.
Detailed Comparison
Display
Neither product has a display or screen, so this category is not a real differentiator. In practical terms, the DS224+ and DS124 both rely on Synology DSM’s web interface, mobile apps, and status LEDs rather than a front panel. Winner: tie.
Performance
This is where the DS224+ pulls ahead clearly. The DS224+ is a 2-bay NAS built for stronger multitasking and better throughput thanks to its more capable hardware platform and dual-drive architecture. With two bays, it can run RAID 1 for redundancy or SHR for flexible expansion, and it can also use SSD caching or faster mirrored storage to improve responsiveness. The DS124 is a 1-bay unit, so performance is limited by a single disk and there is no RAID option at all. If you plan to run Plex, multiple backups, photo indexing, or Docker containers, the DS224+ is the far better performer. Winner: DS224+.
Build quality and design
Both are classic Synology desktop units with the brand’s usual clean, understated design and compact footprint. The DS124 is smaller and simpler, which makes it easy to tuck into a cupboard or beside a router, but the DS224+ feels more like a serious home-lab device because of the extra bay and broader storage options. In day-to-day use, the 2-bay layout is also more practical: you can replace one drive while keeping data protected, or build a mirrored array for resilience. The DS124’s single-bay design is neat, but it is inherently less versatile and less fault-tolerant. Winner: DS224+.
Battery life
Neither device has a battery, so this category does not apply. If you were hoping for built-in UPS-style protection, you will need to add a separate external UPS to either NAS. For real-world resilience, the DS224+ still has the edge because RAID 1 or SHR can protect against a single drive failure, while the DS124 cannot. Winner: DS224+ by functionality, tie on battery life itself.
Price and value for money
The DS124 is dramatically cheaper at £134.97 versus £478.09 for the DS224+, a difference of £343.12. If your goal is simply to centralise a few files, run basic backups, or create a personal cloud with one drive, the DS124 is excellent value and the lower upfront cost is hard to ignore. However, value is not just about the sticker price: the DS224+ gives you a second bay, redundancy, better upgrade headroom, and a much better platform for media streaming and self-hosted services. For users who will outgrow a single-bay NAS, the DS224+ can be the better long-term value despite the higher initial spend. Winner: DS124 on upfront cost, DS224+ on long-term value.
Game library/features
Neither product is a gaming device, so there is no game library to compare. If by features you mean NAS capabilities, the DS224+ wins decisively. The extra bay unlocks RAID 1/SHR, easier migration, and more flexible storage management. It is also the better choice for running Synology packages, media services, and containerised apps because the hardware headroom is more suitable for heavier workloads. The DS124 is fine for basic file serving and backups, but it is much more limited in feature depth and resilience. Winner: DS224+.
Overall user experience
The DS124 offers the simplest possible Synology experience: buy one drive, insert it, and you are up and running with minimal fuss. That makes it attractive for non-technical users, small households, or anyone who just wants a cheap private cloud. The DS224+, though, is the more satisfying NAS over time because it gives you room to grow, better protection against drive failure, and a smoother experience once you start adding services like Plex, Time Machine, photo libraries, or Docker. For anyone serious about home storage, the DS224+ feels less like a compromise and more like a proper foundation. Winner: DS224+.
Overall summary: the Synology DS224+ is the better NAS for most buyers because its 2-bay design, stronger performance potential, and RAID support make it far more capable and future-proof. The DS124 only wins on price and simplicity, and while that matters, it is a much more limited machine. If you want the cheapest route into Synology, choose the DS124. If you want the better NAS to live with for years, choose the DS224+.
Buy the Synology DS224+ 2 if...
Buy the DS224+ if you want a NAS that can grow with you, especially if you plan to run Plex, multiple user backups, or Synology apps. It is also the better choice if data protection matters, because the second bay lets you use RAID 1 or SHR for drive-failure resilience.
Buy the Synology DiskStation DS124 if...
Buy the DS124 if you want the lowest possible entry price into Synology and only need basic file storage or simple backups. It is a sensible pick for light home use, but you should be comfortable with having no RAID protection and much less upgrade flexibility.
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