Synology DS920+ vs Synology DS918+
Two popular Synology 4-bay NAS units for homelab, Plex/Jellyfin and self-hosting. Both do hardware transcoding and take 2x M.2 NVMe for caching. The DS920+ is the newer generation with a slightly faster CPU and DDR4; the DS918+ is the predecessor and usually noticeably cheaper on the used market. Go DS920+ for more headroom, DS918+ for value.
Synology DS920+
- +Newer CPU (Celeron J4125, quad-core, burst up to 2.7 GHz) with more headroom
- +DDR4 memory, 4 GB stock, officially expandable to 8 GB
- +2x M.2 NVMe slots for SSD cache
- +Newer model, longer DSM support horizon
- −Costs more than a used DS918+
- −Only 2x 1GbE, no 2.5GbE
Synology DS918+
- +Much cheaper used while keeping the same 4-bay layout
- +Also handles hardware transcoding (Plex/Jellyfin)
- +2x M.2 NVMe slots for SSD cache included
- +Proven platform with plenty of homelab field reports
- −Older CPU (Celeron J3455, quad-core) with less headroom
- −Older DDR3L instead of DDR4
- −Predecessor model, shorter support horizon
Verdict
Pick the DS920+ if you want headroom for several containers or VMs and plan to keep the unit for years. Choose the DS918+ if you want to save on the used market and the slightly older CPU is enough. For a plain NAS plus moderate Plex transcoding, the two feel similar day to day.
Synology DS920+
No current listings.
Synology DS918+
No current listings.
Frequently asked questions
Does the DS918+ transcode Plex as well as the DS920+?
Yes. Both use an Intel Celeron iGPU with hardware transcoding. The DS920+ has a bit more CPU headroom, but both handle typical Plex and Jellyfin streams without trouble.
Is the price premium for the DS920+ worth it?
If you plan to run multiple Docker containers or VMs and keep the NAS for years, yes. For a classic file and backup NAS with occasional transcoding, a used DS918+ is usually enough.
Do either of them have 2.5GbE?
No. Both ship with only 2x 1GbE. If you need more network throughput, you either use link aggregation on these models or move to a newer Plus unit.