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A NAS and an external drive solve different problems.

Last updated: November 1, 2026.

Simple storage

See portable drives.

Shared storage

See NAS hard drives.

Backups

Back up either one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a NAS worth it?

If you share files.

Can a NAS replace backups?

No.

Which is simpler?

External drives.

Bottom Line

Choose by who needs access.

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