Goodbye storage and streaming subs; I moved it all to my self-built NAS

Let’s do some thought experiment — how a lot cash do you spend on subscription providers every month? Usually, you would possibly spend $12 on music streaming, have a few TV subs at $20, and spring for a modest $3 200GB Google One plan to cowl your treasured household pictures. That’s about $45 a month, perhaps $450 a yr should you pay upfront, however it may nicely be a lot increased should you subscribe to extra providers just like the plethora of TV choices, audiobooks, a password supervisor, or stump up for cutting-edge AI instruments.

However what does this add as much as over 5 years, a decade, or a lifetime? That’s a lot tougher to calculate, particularly as subscription prices are heading into the stratosphere. And on the subject of storage options, 200GB this yr may simply balloon to 2TB after a decade of recollections, and even increased should you can’t hold your digicam away from little arrivals or pets.

When you’re hooked on paying charges for these conveniences, it’s robust to go away. However financially, you’re most likely a lot better off in the long run shopping for a NAS or, higher but, constructing your individual NAS. That’s why I’ve utterly lower the twine, and it’s saving me a small fortune within the course of. Must you make the leap as nicely? Let me stroll you thru the professionals and cons.

Let’s begin with the first motive to seize a NAS — reasonably priced storage for native paperwork, photographs, and all that.

Sticking with Google One, 200GB is reasonable at $30 a yr, however the 2TB choice rises sharply to $99, then will increase to a horrendous $600 a yr if you might want to attain for 10TB on the subsequent tier up. Large swimming pools of cloud storage are costly. By comparability, an honest laborious drive will value you lower than $25 for 256GB, $60 for 2TB, and about $200 for 10TB. That’s already less expensive in a single yr, and it’s only a one-off (OK, you would possibly want to exchange drives each 10 years or so) moderately than an annual subscription.

After all, it’s a must to purchase the NAS upfront. Costs vary from sub-$200 for a funds dual-drive choice all the best way as much as $800 or extra for Synology’s highly effective RAID-sporting choices. Should you accept a mid-range NAS, it’ll most likely take between three to 5 years to recoup that value from storage alone, however you’re within the cash from there on out. However you possibly can spend loads much less by taking place the Raspberry Pi, ZimaBoard, or NUC route. Plus, upgrading to greater drives is versatile and reasonably priced. The extra storage you want, the faster a NAS pays for itself in comparison with stumping up for cloud prices.

Now, the one factor that Google One, Onedrive, and the opposite large cloud storage platforms have going for them is software program and seamless backups. Google, particularly, presents its glorious Pictures app, Drive file administration, and even a set of workplace instruments for doc modifying that work throughout our telephones, PCs, and extra. Can a NAS prime this? Nicely, that will depend on your expectations.

Synology Drive is essentially the most complete choice, bundling backups, file administration, sharing choices, audio group, and even a photograph gallery underneath one roof, however you’ll should splash the money on one in all its NAS drives. It may well’t replicate the AI modifying goodies tucked into Google Pictures, however when it comes to backing up your knowledge, it’s as sturdy as you’ll want. QNAP has a variety of apps to deal with information, customers, knowledge synchronization, and extra, however it’s rather more eclectic. Alternatively, you possibly can go your individual approach with third-party providers, which is what I’ve executed.

You’ll probably need to grasp the darkish artwork of Docker containers, however when you do, you possibly can set up an enormous vary of software program choices in your Linux-based NAS. NextCloud is a well-liked alternative for distant information and paperwork, however the Android app received’t wow you should you’re primarily in search of picture backups. For that, I really like PhotoPrism and a easy folder syncing resolution like Syncthing or Z-Push, which permits me to again up pictures mechanically after I’m on my house Wi-Fi. Immich, which remains to be a piece in progress, can be value a glance as a direct Google Pictures substitute you can host your self. Should you’re not all that savvy about putting in Linux software program, there are a number of OS overlays that may make the job loads simpler, comparable to CasaOS.

If that seems like extra work than letting that subscription auto-renew, it’s. I received’t faux the DIY route is hassle-free, however operating issues your self is cheaper; you simply want to speculate a while within the preliminary setup and studying curve. After all, nothing stops you from mixing and matching; why not abuse that free allowance for Google Docs and self-host your huge picture library? That is additionally a great way to be sure you’re following the 321 backup rule.

Self-hosting your individual media library is among the extra controversial NAS use instances, partly due to its affiliation with piracy but additionally as a result of it’s not a viable various to maintaining with new exhibits. If you wish to legally watch Dune Prophecy, you’ll should pay HBO for the privilege; there are not any two methods about it. I’ll admit, I’ll pay for the very occasional month of streaming (often only a one-off for sports activities occasions just like the enthralling Autumn Nations Collection), however in any other case, taking part in again my outdated media library might be essentially the most frequent use case I’ve for my NAS.

I’ve years of music, motion pictures, and TV that I usually return to, and it’s less expensive (to not point out nicer) to personal moderately than hire time and again. I’m positive lots of you’re in the identical boat or no less than are listening to or watching a good quantity of the identical materials each few years (c’mon, you’ve seen The Workplace greater than as soon as, I guess). I’ve a strong catalog of beloved 90s and 00s CDs and DVDs that I’ve condensed from packing containers within the attic to a tiny SSD and might watch at my leisure with out paying for it on repeat, hoping it received’t be edited for “trendy audiences,” or worrying it is likely to be taken offline utterly.

Talking of music, your favourite new artists obtain a far larger lower should you purchase their digital album (or bodily CD/vinyl) than the pittance they’ll earn from Spotify streams. For each month of Spotify, you possibly can simply purchase a high-quality FLAC model of an album or two as a substitute. Why not help fledgling artists correctly and revel in proudly owning a duplicate of their music without end when you’re at it?

Jellyfin, the no-frills various to Plex, has been my go-to media server for years now. It serves content material to my laptop computer, TV, and even my smartphone after I’m listening to music out of the home. I’ve even used it to curate age-appropriate exhibits and films for my toddlers, liberating myself from the mess that’s YouTube Youngsters. My little ones can watch the identical DVDs I did rising up with out the headache of swapping discs. A reasonably highly effective NAS can deal with transcoding, too, ought to you might want to condense your library for streaming on the go. Oh, and did I point out that I can hold watching my exhibits at house when the web (admittedly very not often) drops out? Can’t do this with Netflix.

Recordsdata and media is likely to be the obvious use instances for a NAS, however the platform actually begins to drag away from subscriptions when you get into the weeds of self-hosting a wider vary of providers.

You possibly can create a central hub on your fully offline good house by way of House Assistant, safely home your vital passwords regionally, block advertisements throughout your whole house community, and even self-host software program for that weekly D&D sport. Coding, e mail, audiobooks, monitoring your funds — there’s an software (and possibly an open-source one at that) for many issues you possibly can consider, and you’ll entry these instruments from any gadget in your community.

The one factor that’s actually bought me on the self-hosted NAS route over subscriptions is that this exponential progress in utility. It’s straightforward to attempt stuff and drop it should you don’t prefer it with out having to submit bank card data to obtain that “free” trial. Not that each device is free, however the ones that value can often be bought for an reasonably priced, one-off charge. I’m most likely operating seven or eight providers that I’d be paying no less than $4.99 for (most likely 2x or 3x extra nowadays, let’s be trustworthy) if I subscribed to them elsewhere. Plus, I’m in full management of the options, can roll again software program that makes unwelcome adjustments, or transfer to a special device and rapidly take my knowledge with me.

Oh, and that is essential too; every thing stays my knowledge, not one thing to be misplaced, bought, or stolen by third events.

All of the above stated, operating a NAS definitely isn’t free, even when you get previous the upfront prices. More than likely, it’ll take a yr or two earlier than a NAS pays for itself, and there are ongoing prices, too. Powering the factor requires electrical energy, which isn’t low-cost currently. Selecting an energy-efficient NAS or processor is essential. Environment friendly {hardware} may be the distinction between an additional $100 a yr, so go for one thing Arm-based or a more moderen, low TDP x64 chip. You don’t need an Intel i9 operating 24/7 simply to serve you the odd doc, and also you’d be shocked how a lot software program you possibly can run on one thing as low energy as a Raspberry Pi 5.

Then, there’s the utterly elective value of exposing your providers so you need to use them remotely. Accessing your self-hosted providers over the web ideally requires a quick fiber web connection. I’d suggest 100Mbps or extra for streaming content material outdoors of your property, which can set you again a bit greater than a barebones connection, relying on the place you reside. Nonetheless, you most likely solely want to do that if you wish to take your music assortment on the go or host a sport server on your associates. Backing up paperwork and pictures can often wait till you’re house.

Companies like Tailscale can present very safe methods to tunnel into your property community, however you’ll should pay no less than $5 per 30 days should you want greater than three customers. Alternatively, ~$11 a yr grabs you a website identify you can pair with Cloudflare Tunnels to reveal providers over the web, full with SSL safety. However you’ll want password safety on every thing, on the very least, and this method is finest paired with a strong firewall and Docker containers in order that vital failures don’t expose your whole system to the web.

This brings me to my closing level — self-hosting isn’t risk-free both. Companies uncovered to the web are, by definition, susceptible to unpatched safety exploits and the whims of bots that scan each IP and port they will discover. Self-hosting means additional busy work preserving issues updated. Then, you even have to contemplate the danger to your backups. Ideally, you’ll spring for added laborious drives for duplicates (I’ve a 3TB backup drive only for pictures and important paperwork) and doubtlessly pay for cloud storage for off-site safety as nicely.

Proudly owning a NAS prices time and money, however it doesn’t should be costly. Completed proper, it can nonetheless prevent {dollars} in the long term over the spiraling value of subscriptions. Plus, it opens up better flexibility within the type of providers you possibly can get pleasure from. Sure, the {hardware} may be expensive, particularly should you have a look at Synology’s lineup, however the DIY route is completely viable. There are many folks on the market operating getting old Raspberry Pi {hardware} plugged right into a USB laborious drive — I used to be one in all them till just lately.

Within the worst case, contemplate this: You possibly can spend $400 on an outstanding NAS and loads of storage immediately and be set for the subsequent ten years. However how a lot will Google Pictures or Microsoft Workplace cost you yearly for backups by then? I truthfully do not know, however I’d wager it’ll be near double what it prices immediately. The best way I have a look at it, you’re hedging in opposition to but extra of that cussed inflation (or simply plain worth gouging), and when you would possibly commerce down some comfort, you acquire entry to a bunch of recent instruments and guarantee possession over your knowledge.

I’ve targeted loads on value on this article, however that wasn’t really my main consideration after I began reducing the twine a number of years in the past. I’d lengthy develop into fed up with 101 completely different accounts and providers to maintain monitor of, with ever-changing person insurance policies and options, nicely earlier than costs began rising. What I needed was a central hub the place I may personal my music assortment moderately than hire it, entry vital paperwork from any gadget with out them changing into company property, and ensure that I’d all the time have entry to my treasured household pictures even when the web goes down. A NAS provides me all that, and if it really saves me a bit of cash within the course of, all the higher.