Best WD My Cloud 2026 – Which Model Should You Buy?

WD My Cloud is Western Digital’s line of personal cloud storage devices — essentially network-attached storage (NAS) that lets you create your own private cloud at home. Unlike Dropbox or Google Drive, there are no monthly fees, your data stays on your own hardware, and you control everything.

But with multiple models at different price points, choosing the right one can be confusing. This guide breaks down every current WD My Cloud option so you can pick the best one for your specific needs.

WD My Cloud Model Comparison

Best WD My Cloud for Most People: My Cloud Home

The My Cloud Home is WD’s consumer-focused device designed for people who want cloud storage without cloud complexity. Setup takes 5 minutes using your smartphone — no computer required.

My Cloud Home Key Features

• Smartphone-first setup: Download the My Cloud Home app, plug in the device, follow the wizard
• Automatic phone backup: Photos and videos backup automatically over WiFi
• Remote access: Access files from anywhere via the app or mycloud.com
• Multi-user support: Each family member gets their own private storage space
• Plex built-in: Stream your media (but with limited transcoding capability)
• USB port: Import content from USB drives and cameras

My Cloud Home Capacity Options

Our recommendation: The 4TB model offers the best balance of capacity and value for most households. If you have a large photo/video collection or multiple family members, go 8TB.

My Cloud Home Limitations

• No RAID: Single drive means no protection against drive failure — your data is at risk if the drive dies
• Cloud-dependent: Some features require WD’s servers to function; less capable offline than traditional NAS
• Limited customization: No SSH access, can’t install custom apps, limited advanced settings
• Weak transcoding: Plex struggles with format conversion — works best with direct play
• Non-upgradeable: Can’t swap the drive for a larger one yourself

Best WD My Cloud for Data Protection: My Cloud Home Duo

The Home Duo is essentially two My Cloud Home drives in one enclosure, automatically mirroring your data for protection. It has the same simple interface as the standard Home but adds crucial redundancy.

Why Mirror Mode Matters

In mirror mode (enabled by default), everything you save is written to both drives simultaneously. This means:

• Drive failure protection: If either drive fails, your data remains safe on the other
• Automatic rebuild: Replace the failed drive and data automatically copies to the new one
• Peace of mind: Irreplaceable family photos and important documents are protected

Important: Mirror mode means you only get half the total capacity as usable storage. An 8TB Home Duo provides 4TB of usable space — the other 4TB is the mirror copy.

My Cloud Home Duo Capacity Options

Our recommendation: The 8TB model (4TB usable) hits the sweet spot for most families. If you have extensive media libraries or multiple photographers in the household, consider 16TB or 20TB.

My Cloud Home Duo vs My Cloud Home

Bottom line: If your data is important to you (family photos, documents, etc.), the Home Duo’s redundancy is worth the extra cost. If you’re just using it for media you can re-download, the standard Home is fine.

Best WD My Cloud for Power Users: EX2 Ultra

The EX2 Ultra is WD’s entry-level “Expert Series” NAS — a significant step up in capability from the Home models. It’s designed for users who want more control over their storage.

EX2 Ultra vs My Cloud Home: Key Differences

EX2 Ultra Capacity Options

Should You Buy Diskless?

Buying the diskless EX2 Ultra and adding your own drives can save money — or cost more — depending on drive prices:

Buy diskless if:

• You already have compatible drives
• You want higher capacity than pre-populated options (e.g., 2x12TB or 2x16TB)
• You find drives on sale for less than WD’s bundle pricing
• You want to choose specific drives (WD Red Plus, Red Pro, Seagate IronWolf)

Buy pre-populated if:

• You want everything ready to go out of the box
• You don’t want to research drive compatibility
• The bundled price is competitive with diskless + separate drives

Recommended drives for EX2 Ultra:

• WD Red Plus — Best overall NAS drive, CMR recording
• WD Red Pro — Higher performance, 5-year warranty
• Seagate IronWolf — Excellent alternative with health monitoring

EX2 Ultra Limitations

• Weak CPU for Plex: The Marvell Armada 385 processor can’t transcode video — direct play only
• 1GB RAM: Adequate but not generous; can feel slow with many services running
• 2-year warranty: Shorter than Synology/QNAP competitors (3+ years)
• Software updates: WD’s My Cloud OS updates less frequently than competitors

Best WD My Cloud for Plex: PR2100

The PR2100 (and its 4-bay sibling, PR4100) are WD’s “Pro Series” — built specifically for media streaming and heavier workloads. The Intel processor is the key differentiator.

Why Intel Matters for Plex

The PR2100’s Intel Pentium N3710 processor includes Intel Quick Sync — dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding. This enables:

• Real-time transcoding: Convert video formats on-the-fly without stuttering
• Multiple streams: Handle 2-4 simultaneous Plex streams
• Remote streaming: Transcode for bandwidth-limited remote viewing
• Subtitle burning: Embed subtitles without performance issues
• 4K to 1080p: Downscale 4K content for devices that can’t handle it

PR2100 vs EX2 Ultra

Bottom line: If Plex media streaming is a priority and you need transcoding capability, the PR2100 is worth the premium. If you only do direct play to capable devices, the EX2 Ultra saves money.

PR4100: When You Need More Bays

The PR4100 is identical to the PR2100 but with 4 drive bays instead of 2. Consider it if:

• You need more than 32TB of storage (the practical 2-bay limit with 16TB drives)
• You want RAID 5 (requires 3+ drives for single-drive fault tolerance with better capacity efficiency)
• You’re building a serious media server with room to grow

The PR4100 typically costs $150-200 more than the PR2100 diskless.

WD My Cloud Buyer’s Guide: Quick Decision Tree

Choose My Cloud Home if:

• You want the simplest possible setup (smartphone app, 5 minutes)
• You primarily want automatic phone photo/video backup
• You’re not technically inclined and don’t want to manage a NAS
• You can tolerate losing data if the drive fails (or you have other backups)

Choose My Cloud Home Duo if:

• Everything above, PLUS you want protection against drive failure
• You’re storing irreplaceable family photos and documents
• You’re willing to pay more for peace of mind
• You want the simplicity of Home with the safety of redundancy

Choose EX2 Ultra if:

• You want full control over RAID, users, and permissions
• You’re comfortable with browser-based setup and management
• You want to install apps beyond just Plex
• You want to choose your own drives or buy diskless
• Plex transcoding is NOT a priority (direct play only)

Choose PR2100/PR4100 if:

• Plex with transcoding is a primary use case
• You need to stream to devices that don’t support your media formats
• You want remote Plex access at reduced quality
• You need the most powerful WD NAS available
• Budget allows for the premium over EX2 Ultra

What About Synology and QNAP?

WD My Cloud competes with Synology and QNAP in the consumer NAS market. Here’s how they compare:

Our take: WD My Cloud Home/Home Duo are excellent for non-technical users who want simplicity. For power users, Synology’s software (DSM) is generally superior to WD’s My Cloud OS. However, WD’s pricing is often more attractive, especially for the EX2 Ultra diskless.

See our detailed comparisons: WD My Cloud vs Synology | WD My Cloud vs QNAP

Drives to Avoid: Original My Cloud (Discontinued)

The original single-bay My Cloud (model WDBCTL) is discontinued and should be avoided:

• No longer receives firmware updates (security risk)
• Older, slower hardware
• Limited features compared to current models
• No support from WD if issues arise

If you see these older models on eBay or refurbished sites, pass on them and get a current My Cloud Home instead.

Essential Accessories

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)

A UPS protects your My Cloud from power surges and outages, which can corrupt data. Budget $50-100 for a basic UPS that provides 15-30 minutes of backup power — enough to safely shut down.

Ethernet Cable

All My Cloud devices require wired Ethernet. Use Cat5e or Cat6 cables for Gigabit speeds. Avoid old Cat5 cables (limited to 100Mbps).

Replacement/Upgrade Drives (EX2 Ultra, PR Series)

For diskless units or future upgrades, stock compatible NAS drives:

• WD Red Plus — 2TB to 14TB, CMR, great value
• WD Red Pro — 2TB to 24TB, 7200RPM, 5-year warranty
• Seagate IronWolf — 1TB to 18TB, health monitoring

Frequently Asked Questions

Setup and Maintenance Considerations

Initial Setup Time

Setup difficulty varies significantly by model:

• My Cloud Home/Home Duo: 5-10 minutes. Download the app, plug in the device, follow the wizard. No computer needed.
• EX2 Ultra: 15-30 minutes. Browser-based setup, choose RAID configuration, create users and shares.
• PR2100/PR4100: 15-30 minutes. Similar to EX2 Ultra but more options to configure.

Ongoing Maintenance

All My Cloud devices are designed for “set and forget” operation, but some tasks help ensure longevity:

• Firmware updates: Check quarterly; updates include security patches
• Drive health monitoring: Check SMART status monthly on EX2/PR series
• Storage capacity: Keep at least 10-15% free space for optimal performance
• Backup verification: Periodically verify your backups are actually working

Warranty and Support

Note: Warranties cover the device only, not data recovery. Always maintain backups of critical data — even RAID is not a backup strategy.

Final Recommendations by Use Case

Best for families backing up phones: My Cloud Home Duo 8TB — simple setup with data protection for precious memories.

Best for tech enthusiasts on a budget: EX2 Ultra diskless with WD Red Plus drives — full NAS features at an affordable price.

Best for Plex media servers: PR2100 — the only WD option with reliable transcoding capability.

Best for maximum storage capacity: PR4100 diskless with 4x 16TB drives — up to 64TB raw, or 48TB usable in RAID 5.

Related Guides

• WD My Cloud Overview
• Setup Guide
• WD My Cloud vs Synology
• Plex Setup Guide
• WD Red Plus Drives
• WD Red Pro Drives
• Seagate IronWolf Drives
• NAS Drives Overview

Last updated: February 2026. Prices are estimates and subject to change — check current pricing via product links.