WD Red Plus NAS Hard Drives — Prices & Deals 2026
CMR technology for reliable NAS performance. Compare WD Red Plus and Red Pro prices sorted by cost per TB.
WD Red Plus is Western Digital's go-to NAS hard drive for home and small business users. Unlike the standard WD Red (which uses SMR), Red Plus uses CMR technology — essential for consistent write performance and reliable RAID operation.
Designed for 1-8 bay NAS systems, WD Red Plus features NASware 3.0 firmware, 24/7 operation rating, and compatibility with all major NAS brands including Synology, QNAP, and ASUSTOR. For larger deployments, WD Red Pro supports up to 24 bays with enhanced specs and a 5-year warranty.
⚠️ Important: Avoid WD Red (Non-Plus)
Standard WD Red uses SMR technology — NOT recommended for NAS use. SMR causes severe slowdowns during RAID rebuilds and sustained writes. Always choose WD Red Plus or WD Red Pro, which use CMR. This distinction is critical for NAS reliability. If you see "WD Red" without "Plus" or "Pro", verify it's CMR before purchasing.
WD Red Lineup Comparison
| Specification | WD Red (Avoid) | WD Red Plus ✓ | WD Red Pro ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recording Tech | SMR ✗ | CMR ✓ | CMR ✓ |
| Capacities | 2TB - 6TB | 1TB - 14TB | 2TB - 22TB |
| RPM | 5,400 | 5,400 / 5,640 / 7,200 | 7,200 |
| Cache | 64MB - 256MB | 64MB - 512MB | 256MB - 512MB |
| Workload Rating | 180 TB/year | 180 TB/year | 300 TB/year |
| Max Bays | 8 bays | 8 bays | 24 bays |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years | 5 years |
| NAS Use | Not Recommended | Home NAS | Business NAS |
WD Red Plus Features
NASware 3.0
WD's NAS-optimized firmware improves compatibility, reduces vibration effects, and optimizes power consumption for 24/7 operation.
NAS-OptimizedCMR Technology
Conventional Magnetic Recording ensures consistent write speeds and reliable RAID rebuilds — unlike SMR drives.
Critical for NAS3D Active Balance Plus
Dual-plane balance control reduces vibration in multi-drive systems, protecting data and improving reliability.
Multi-Bay StabilityUp to 512MB Cache
Larger cache on higher-capacity models helps with burst writes and improves overall responsiveness.
8TB+ Models24/7 Operation
Designed for always-on NAS environments with 180 TB/year workload rating (300 TB for Pro).
Always-On ReadyBroad Compatibility
Tested and certified for Synology, QNAP, ASUSTOR, TerraMaster, and other major NAS platforms.
Universal NAS SupportWhich WD Red Plus Capacity Should You Buy?
- 4TB: Entry point for NAS storage. Higher $/TB but lower total cost. Good for starting out.
- 6TB-8TB: Sweet spot for home users. Good balance of capacity, value, and flexibility.
- 10TB-12TB: Great for Plex servers and media collections. Often competitive $/TB.
- 14TB: Maximum Red Plus capacity. For higher capacities, consider Red Pro or Ultrastar.
Pro tip: For pure $/TB value, compare Red Plus to WD Ultrastar enterprise drives — often cheaper with longer warranties and higher workload ratings.
All WD Red Prices — Sorted by $/TB
Compare all WD Red Plus and Red Pro NAS drives. Prices updated hourly from Amazon.
| Product | Capacity | Price | $ / TB | Price Drop | Brand | Interface |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WD 6TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, Backup Software with Defense Against ransomware, and Password Protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 Compatible - WDBR9S0060BRD-WESN | 6.00 TB | $169.99 | $28.33 | +0% | WD | USB |
| WD 5TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, Backup Software with Defense Against ransomware, and Password Protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 Compatible - WDBPKJ0050BRD-WESN | 5.00 TB | $159.99 | $32.00 | +0% | WD | USB |
| WD 2TB My Passport, Portable External Hard Drive, Red, backup software with defense against ransomware, and password protection, USB 3.1/USB 3.0 compatible - WDBYVG0020BRD-WESN | 2.00 TB | $84.00 | $42.00 | -7% | WD | USB |
| WD Red NAS SA500 1TB SATA III M.2 2280 SSD | 1.00 TB | $195.99 | $195.99 | +0% | WD | SATA |
Frequently Asked Questions About WD Red Plus
Is WD Red Plus good for NAS?
Yes, WD Red Plus is one of the best NAS drives available. It uses CMR technology for reliable performance, includes NASware 3.0 firmware optimizations, and is designed for 24/7 operation in 1-8 bay NAS systems. Compatible with Synology, QNAP, ASUSTOR, and all major NAS brands. The main competitor is Seagate IronWolf, which is equally good — choose based on price and preference.
What's the difference between WD Red, Red Plus, and Red Pro?
WD Red (standard) uses SMR — avoid for NAS. WD Red Plus uses CMR, ideal for home NAS (1-8 bays), 3-year warranty. WD Red Pro uses CMR with 7200 RPM, higher workload rating, supports up to 24 bays, 5-year warranty. Always choose Red Plus or Red Pro for NAS — never standard WD Red. The "Plus" designation is critical.
Is WD Red Plus CMR or SMR?
WD Red Plus uses CMR (Conventional Magnetic Recording). This is essential for NAS use — CMR provides consistent write performance and reliable RAID rebuilds. Standard WD Red (non-Plus) uses SMR, which should be avoided for NAS. When shopping, always verify "Plus" or "Pro" in the model name to ensure CMR technology.
WD Red Plus vs IronWolf — which is better?
Both are excellent NAS drives — choose based on price and features. IronWolf advantages: IronWolf Health Management integration, Rescue data recovery option. Red Plus advantages: potentially quieter operation, larger cache (512MB vs 256MB on some models). Specs are nearly identical: both CMR, both have vibration sensors, both 3-year warranties. See our IronWolf vs WD Red comparison for details.
Should I buy WD Red Plus or WD Red Pro?
Red Plus is fine for most home NAS users. Choose Red Pro if you: have more than 8 drive bays, need higher workload rating (300TB/year vs 180TB/year), want 7200 RPM performance, need capacities above 14TB, require 5-year warranty, or run a business where data is critical. For typical home Plex/file servers with 1-4 drives, Red Plus offers better value.
Can I mix WD Red Plus with other drives in RAID?
Yes, mixing brands in RAID is fine and often recommended. Using drives from different manufacturers reduces the risk of simultaneous failures from shared defects. You can mix WD Red Plus with IronWolf, Exos, Ultrastar, or other NAS/enterprise drives. The key requirements: same capacity (for most RAID levels) and all drives should be NAS-rated CMR drives. Many storage professionals intentionally diversify brands.
WD Red Plus vs Ultrastar — which is better for home NAS?
Both are excellent, but Ultrastar often offers better value.WD Ultrastar is enterprise-grade with 5-year warranty, 550TB/year workload rating, legendary reliability, and often lower $/TB. Trade-offs: Ultrastar may be slightly louder than Red Plus. For pure reliability and value, Ultrastar wins. For quieter operation and NASware features, Red Plus wins. Many enthusiasts use Ultrastar in home NAS with excellent results.
How long do WD Red Plus drives last?
WD Red Plus drives typically last 3-5+ years with proper use. They're rated for 1 million hours MTBF. Real-world lifespan depends on workload, temperature, and environment. WD's 3-year warranty (5 years for Pro) reflects expected reliability. For critical data, always use RAID redundancy and maintain backups — no drive lasts forever. Proper ventilation and avoiding excessive vibration help maximize lifespan.