Quick Answer+
Quick Verdict:QNAP TS-264 ($470) is the power user’s choice with 2.5GbE, 8GB RAM, NVMe caching, and PCIe expansion. WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra ($170) wins on simplicity and budget. For basic NAS needs, either works — but QNAP offers far more room to grow.
Comparing WD My Cloud and QNAP for your home NAS? Both offer compelling options at different price points. This guide compares hardware, software, and real-world performance to help you decide which platform fits your needs.
WD My Cloud vs QNAP: Quick Comparison
| Feature | WD EX2 Ultra | WD PR2100 | QNAP TS-233 | QNAP TS-264 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive Bays | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| CPU | Marvell Armada 385 1.3GHz (ARM) | Intel Pentium N3710 1.6GHz | ARM Cortex-A55 2.0GHz | Intel Celeron N5105 2.0GHz |
| RAM | 1GB DDR3 | 4GB DDR3L | 2GB DDR4 | 8GB DDR4 |
| Network | 1× 1GbE | 2× 1GbE | 1× 1GbE | 2× 2.5GbE |
| USB Ports | 2× USB 3.0 | 3× USB 3.0 | 1× USB 3.2, 1× USB 2.0 | 2× USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| NVMe Slots | None | None | None | 2× M.2 NVMe |
| PCIe Expansion | No | No | No | Yes (1 slot) |
| HDMI Output | No | Yes (4K) | No | Yes (4K/60Hz) |
| Plex Transcoding | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (4K) |
| Docker | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Price (Diskless) | ~$170 | ~$400 | ~$180 | ~$470 |
Current Prices
WD My Cloud
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Price Drop | Brand | Interface |
|---|
QNAP NAS
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Price Drop | Brand | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qnap Network Attached Storage NAS + Switch Bundle TS-673A + QSW-1105-5T | Upgrade to 2.5GbE Networking, 6-Bay 3.5''/2.5'' SATA, AMD Ryzen CPU | 5.00 TB | $2,708.00 | $541.60 | +0% | QNAP | SATA |
Hardware Comparison
Processing Power
QNAP TS-264: Intel Celeron N5105 quad-core at 2.0GHz (burst to 2.9GHz). This modern 10nm Jasper Lake chip provides excellent performance per watt, supports hardware transcoding up to 4K HEVC, and handles Docker/VMs smoothly.
QNAP TS-233: ARM Cortex-A55 quad-core at 2.0GHz. Budget-friendly but limited — no x86 Docker containers, no VMs, limited transcoding. Designed for basic NAS functions only.
WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra: Marvell Armada 385 dual-core at 1.3GHz. Older ARM chip handles file serving but little else. No transcoding, no Docker.
WD My Cloud PR2100: Intel Pentium N3710 quad-core at 1.6GHz. Older Braswell architecture from 2016. Supports transcoding but less efficient than QNAP’s newer chip.
Winner: QNAP TS-264 — modern Intel chip with best performance and efficiency.
Memory & Expansion
QNAP TS-264: Ships with 8GB DDR4 — massive for a 2-bay NAS. Expandable to 16GB. This enables running multiple containers, VMs, and heavy workloads simultaneously.
QNAP TS-233: 2GB DDR4, not expandable. Adequate for basic NAS functions.
WD My Cloud: EX2 Ultra has just 1GB (not expandable). PR2100 has 4GB (not expandable). Both limit what you can run.
Winner: QNAP TS-264 — 8GB RAM out of the box is substantial for power users.
Network Speed
QNAP TS-264: Dual 2.5GbE ports — 2.5× faster than gigabit. Real-world transfers around 280MB/s versus 112MB/s on gigabit. Link aggregation supported.
WD My Cloud: EX2 Ultra has single gigabit. PR2100 has dual gigabit with failover/aggregation. Both maxed at ~112MB/s.
Winner: QNAP TS-264 — 2.5GbE is a major advantage for large file transfers.
Unique QNAP TS-264 Features
- NVMe SSD caching: Two M.2 slots for SSD cache, accelerating random I/O
- PCIe expansion: Add 10GbE, Wi-Fi, or additional ports
- HDMI 2.1: Connect directly to TV for 4K/60Hz playback
- QuTS hero option: ZFS-based OS for advanced data protection
WD My Cloud has none of these expansion options.
Software & Features Comparison
| Feature | WD My Cloud OS 5 | QNAP QTS 5.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Simple, minimal | Feature-rich, more complex |
| App Store | ~15 apps | 100+ apps in App Center |
| Docker | ❌ No | ✅ Container Station |
| Virtual Machines | ❌ No | ✅ Virtualization Station |
| File System | EXT4 | EXT4 or ZFS (QuTS hero) |
| Snapshots | Limited | Full snapshot support |
| Surveillance | Basic (Milestone ARCUS) | QVR Pro with AI analytics |
Plex & Media
QNAP TS-264: Excellent Plex performance with Intel Quick Sync. Can transcode multiple 4K streams. HDMI output enables direct TV playback without streaming.
QNAP TS-233: No hardware transcoding due to ARM chip. Direct play only.
WD PR2100: Transcodes reasonably well but older chip is less efficient than QNAP’s N5105.
WD EX2 Ultra: No transcoding. Direct play only.
Winner: QNAP TS-264 — best Plex performance plus HDMI output.
QNAP Security Considerations
QNAP has faced notable ransomware attacks targeting their NAS devices:
- Qlocker (2021): Exploited vulnerabilities in older QTS versions
- Deadbolt (2022): Targeted internet-exposed devices
How to stay safe:
- Keep QTS updated to latest version
- Don’t expose NAS directly to internet
- Use VPN for remote access instead of port forwarding
- Enable 2-factor authentication
- Disable unused services
QNAP has responded with improved security features and faster patches. Current QTS 5.1 includes enhanced ransomware protection. When properly configured, QNAP is reasonably secure.
Price Comparison
Value Analysis
Budget tier: TS-233 ($180) and EX2 Ultra ($170) are nearly identical in price and capability. Both are ARM-based with limited features. Choose QNAP for slightly better software, WD for simpler setup.
Mid-tier: The TS-264 at $470 vs PR2100 at $400 — QNAP costs $70 more but includes:
- Faster, more efficient processor
- 8GB RAM vs 4GB
- Dual 2.5GbE vs dual 1GbE
- NVMe cache slots
- PCIe expansion
- Newer architecture with longer support
The $70 premium buys substantially more hardware. The TS-264 is the better value despite higher sticker price.
Who Should Buy What?
Choose WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra If You:
- Want the lowest possible entry price
- Only need basic file storage and backup
- Prefer “set and forget” simplicity
- Don’t need Plex transcoding or advanced features
Choose QNAP TS-264 If You:
- Want a powerful 2-bay NAS for years of use
- Plan to run Docker, VMs, or multiple services
- Need 2.5GbE networking
- Want future expansion via PCIe/NVMe
- Building a home lab or media server
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. QNAP supports WD Red, Red Plus, Red Pro, and most other NAS drives. Check QNAP’s compatibility list for your specific model, but most CMR NAS drives work fine.
Yes. Despite WD’s preference for their own drives, IronWolf and other third-party NAS drives work in My Cloud devices.
Slightly. QNAP offers more options which means more decisions during setup. WD’s wizard is simpler. However, QNAP’s guided setup has improved significantly — most users complete it in under 30 minutes.
QNAP’s myQNAPcloud is reliable and feature-rich. WD’s remote access works but is more basic. Both require account creation. For best security, use VPN instead of vendor cloud services.
Yes, but with different capabilities: TS-264 has hardware transcoding for multiple streams. TS-233 is direct play only. PR2100 has hardware transcoding (older chip). EX2 Ultra is direct play only.
Both are reasonably quiet in idle. Drive noise depends on which drives you install. QNAP’s fan control is more configurable. WD’s fans can run louder under load.
Final Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Value | QNAP TS-264 | More features for the price |
| Performance | QNAP TS-264 | Modern CPU, 8GB RAM, 2.5GbE |
| Expandability | QNAP TS-264 | PCIe, NVMe, more options |
| Lowest Budget | WD EX2 Ultra | $170 entry point |
| Simplicity | WD My Cloud | Easier setup and interface |
| Plex/Media | QNAP TS-264 | 4K transcoding + HDMI output |
Our recommendation: For power users, QNAP TS-264 is the clear winner. The combination of modern Intel CPU, 8GB RAM, 2.5GbE networking, and expansion options makes it far more capable than any WD My Cloud device at a reasonable price premium.
For budget buyers wanting simplicity, WD My Cloud EX2 Ultra remains compelling. Its low price and easy setup suit users who just need basic file storage without advanced features.
Related Resources
- Best WD My Cloud 2026 — Complete My Cloud buying guide
- WD My Cloud vs Synology — How Synology compares
- WD My Cloud Setup Guide — Getting started
- WD My Cloud Compatible Drives — Drive recommendations
- Best NAS Drives 2026 — IronWolf, WD Red, and more
Last Updated: February 2026 | Prices and specifications verified