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

Let’s perform a little thought experiment — how a lot cash do you spend on subscription companies every month? Sometimes, 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 valuable household photographs. That’s about $45 a month, possibly $450 a yr in case you pay upfront, however it might effectively be a lot larger in case you subscribe to extra companies 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 more durable to calculate, particularly as subscription prices are heading into the stratosphere. And in the case of storage options, 200GB this yr might simply balloon to 2TB after a decade of reminiscences, and even larger in case 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 depart. However financially, you’re in all probability significantly better off in the long run shopping for a NAS or, higher but, constructing your individual NAS. That’s why I’ve fully lower the twine, and it’s saving me a small fortune within the course of. Must you make the leap as effectively? 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 affordable at $30 a yr, however the 2TB choice rises sharply to $99, then will increase to a horrendous $600 a yr if it’s essential to attain for 10TB on the subsequent tier up. Huge swimming pools of cloud storage are costly. By comparability, a good exhausting drive will value you lower than $25 for 256GB, $60 for 2TB, and about $200 for 10TB. That’s already cheaper in a single yr, and it’s only a one-off (OK, you would possibly want to switch drives each 10 years or so) moderately than an annual subscription.

After all, you need to purchase the NAS upfront. Costs vary from sub-$200 for a finances dual-drive choice all the way in which as much as $800 or extra for Synology’s highly effective RAID-sporting choices. For those who accept a mid-range NAS, it’ll in all probability 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 may spend rather a lot much less by taking place the Raspberry Pi, ZimaBoard, or NUC route. Plus, upgrading to larger 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 massive cloud storage platforms have going for them is software program and seamless backups. Google, specifically, gives its glorious Images app, Drive file administration, and even a set of workplace instruments for doc enhancing that work throughout our telephones, PCs, and extra. Can a NAS high this? Properly, 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 below one roof, however you’ll must splash the money on one among its NAS drives. It may possibly’t replicate the AI enhancing goodies tucked into Google Images, however by way of backing up your information, it’s as strong as you’ll want. QNAP has a variety of apps to deal with information, customers, information synchronization, and extra, however it’s way more eclectic. Alternatively, you may go your individual method with third-party companies, which is what I’ve executed.

You’ll seemingly wish to grasp the darkish artwork of Docker containers, however when you do, you may 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 in case you’re primarily on the lookout for picture backups. For that, I like PhotoPrism and a easy folder syncing answer like Syncthing or Z-Push, which permits me to again up photographs mechanically after I’m on my residence Wi-Fi. Immich, which remains to be a piece in progress, can be price a glance as a direct Google Images substitute which you can host your self. For those who’re not all that savvy about putting in Linux software program, there are just a few OS overlays that may make the job rather a lot simpler, similar to CasaOS.

If that appears 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 to’re following the 321 backup rule.

Self-hosting your individual media library is likely one of the extra controversial NAS use circumstances, partly due to its affiliation with piracy but additionally as a result of it’s not a viable various to maintaining with new reveals. If you wish to legally watch Dune Prophecy, you’ll must 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 (normally only a one-off for sports activities occasions just like the enthralling Autumn Nations Sequence), however in any other case, enjoying again my previous media library might be essentially the most frequent use case I’ve for my NAS.

I’ve years of music, films, and TV that I typically return to, and it’s cheaper (to not point out nicer) to personal moderately than lease time and again. I’m certain a lot of you’re in the identical boat or at the least 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 wager). 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 may watch at my leisure with out paying for it on repeat, hoping it received’t be edited for “trendy audiences,” or worrying it could be taken offline fully.

Talking of music, your favourite new artists obtain a far larger lower in case you purchase their digital album (or bodily CD/vinyl) than the pittance they’ll earn from Spotify streams. For each month of Spotify, you may simply purchase a high-quality FLAC model of an album or two as a substitute. Why not help fledgling artists correctly and luxuriate in proudly owning a duplicate of their music eternally whilst 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 reveals and flicks for my toddlers, releasing 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 it’s essential to condense your library for streaming on the go. Oh, and did I point out that I can hold watching my reveals at residence when the web (admittedly very hardly ever) drops out? Can’t try this with Netflix.

Recordsdata and media could be the obvious use circumstances for a NAS, however the platform actually begins to tug away from subscriptions when you get into the weeds of self-hosting a wider vary of companies.

You’ll be able to create a central hub on your totally offline good residence by Dwelling Assistant, safely home your vital passwords regionally, block advertisements throughout your whole residence community, and even self-host software program for that weekly D&D recreation. Coding, e mail, audiobooks, monitoring your funds — there’s an software (and doubtless an open-source one at that) for many issues you may consider, and you’ll entry these instruments from any system 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 simple to attempt stuff and drop it in case you don’t prefer it with out having to submit bank card data to obtain that “free” trial. Not that each software is free, however the ones that value can normally be bought for an reasonably priced, one-off price. I’m in all probability operating seven or eight companies that I’d be paying at the least $4.99 for (in all probability 2x or 3x extra lately, 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 modifications, or transfer to a special software and rapidly take my information with me.

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

All of the above mentioned, operating a NAS actually isn’t free, even when you get previous the upfront prices. Probably, 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 these days. Selecting an energy-efficient NAS or processor is essential. Environment friendly {hardware} will be the distinction between an additional $100 a yr, so go for one thing Arm-based or a more recent, 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 stunned how a lot software program you may run on one thing as low energy as a Raspberry Pi 5.

Then, there’s the fully non-obligatory value of exposing your companies so you should utilize them remotely. Accessing your self-hosted companies over the web ideally requires a quick fiber web connection. I’d advocate 100Mbps or extra for streaming content material outdoors of your own home, which can set you again a bit greater than a barebones connection, relying on the place you reside. Nevertheless, you in all probability solely want to do that if you wish to take your music assortment on the go or host a recreation server on your mates. Backing up paperwork and photographs can normally wait till you’re residence.

Providers like Tailscale can present very safe methods to tunnel into your own home community, however you’ll must pay at the least $5 per thirty days in case you want greater than three customers. Alternatively, ~$11 a yr grabs you a website title which you can pair with Cloudflare Tunnels to show companies over the web, full with SSL safety. However you’ll want password safety on every little thing, on the very least, and this method is finest paired with a sturdy firewall and Docker containers in order that important failures don’t expose your whole system to the web.

This brings me to my ultimate level — self-hosting isn’t risk-free both. Providers uncovered to the web are, by definition, prone to unpatched safety exploits and the whims of bots that scan each IP and port they’ll discover. Self-hosting means further busy work protecting issues updated. Then, you even have to think about the danger to your backups. Ideally, you’ll spring for extra exhausting drives for duplicates (I’ve a 3TB backup drive only for photographs and important paperwork) and doubtlessly pay for cloud storage for off-site safety as effectively.

Proudly owning a NAS prices time and money, however it doesn’t must be costly. Carried out proper, it can nonetheless prevent {dollars} in the long term over the spiraling value of subscriptions. Plus, it opens up larger flexibility within the kind of companies you may take pleasure in. Sure, the {hardware} will be dear, particularly in case you take a look at Synology’s lineup, however the DIY route is completely viable. There are many individuals on the market operating getting older Raspberry Pi {hardware} plugged right into a USB exhausting drive — I used to be one among them till not too long ago.

Within the worst case, think about this: You’ll be able to spend $400 on an excellent NAS and loads of storage in the present day and be set for the subsequent ten years. However how a lot will Google Images or Microsoft Workplace cost you yearly for backups by then? I truthfully don’t know, however I’d wager it’ll be near double what it prices in the present day. The best way I take a look at it, you’re hedging towards but extra of that cussed inflation (or simply plain worth gouging), and whilst you would possibly commerce down some comfort, you achieve entry to a bunch of recent instruments and guarantee possession over your information.

I’ve targeted rather a lot on value on this article, however that wasn’t really my major consideration after I began chopping the twine just a few years in the past. I’d lengthy develop into fed up with 101 totally different accounts and companies to maintain monitor of, with ever-changing consumer insurance policies and options, effectively earlier than costs began rising. What I needed was a central hub the place I might personal my music assortment moderately than lease it, entry vital paperwork from any system with out them turning into company property, and make sure that I’d at all times have entry to my valuable household photographs 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.