Synology BeeStation Plus review

BeeStation Plus is Synology's personal cloud for people who never want to see the word RAID. It arrives with a Synology drive already inside, in 4 TB or 8 TB, and Synology describes a plug-in, set-up-in-minutes process with access, organization and sharing from anywhere and no subscription. The Plus model uses an Intel Celeron J4125 with 4 GB of DDR4, which lets it run Plex Media Server and record up to four Synology cameras, features the base 4 TB BeeStation lacks. The BeePhotos app backs up phones and builds shared albums, Macs can use it for Time Machine, and each unit includes a 3-year Acronis True Image Essentials license for computer backups. Synology states usable space of about 3.45 TB on the 4 TB model and 6.98 TB on the 8 TB model. The catch is that there is only one drive, so a failure inside the box is not covered without a separate backup. Synology's page shows no USD price, so we list it as pending.

Who it is for

non-technical households that want plug-in setup

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Comes with a Synology drive installed: 4 TB or 8 TB
• Intel Celeron J4125 with 4 GB DDR4
• BeePhotos app for phone backup and shared albums
• Plex Media Server support
• Home monitoring with up to four Synology cameras

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Synology says setup takes minutes and needs no subscription
• Strength: Includes one 3-year Acronis True Image Essentials license
• Strength: Works as a Time Machine target for Macs
• Weakness: Single drive with no mirror inside the box
• Weakness: Not expandable beyond the built-in drive; extra space comes from an external drive
• Weakness: Remote Plex access needs a Plex Pass subscription

Key facts

• Capacity: 4 TB or 8 TB, drive included
• CPU: Intel Celeron J4125
• Memory: 4 GB DDR4
• Cameras: Up to 4 Synology cameras
• Usable space: About 3.45 TB (4 TB) or 6.98 TB (8 TB)

Where it ranks

Synology BeeStation Plus is No. 4 in our Best Personal Cloud Storage Devices verdict.