NAS vs Cloud Storage in 2025: The Real Cost of "Free" Cloud Storage

November 14, 2024 • 7 min read

Is cloud storage really "free" when you're paying with your privacy? Let's compare NAS and cloud storage to find out what's best for you in 2025.

The True Cost of Cloud Storage

Monthly Fees Add Up

Let's break down typical cloud storage costs:

  • Google One: $9.99/month for 2TB
  • iCloud+: $9.99/month for 2TB
  • Dropbox: $11.99/month for 2TB
  • OneDrive: $9.99/month for 2TB

That's $120-144 per year, every year!

Privacy Concerns

Cloud providers:

  • Scan your files for "content analysis"
  • Share data with third parties
  • Track usage patterns
  • Can change privacy policies anytime

The NAS Advantage in 2025

Complete Privacy

With NAS:

  • Your data stays on your network
  • No third-party scanning
  • You control access permissions
  • No data mining or analytics

One-Time Cost

A Necris NAS costs just $95 - that's less than a year of cloud storage! Add your own drives and you're set for years.

Head-to-Head Comparison

NAS Storage

  • ✓One-time cost of $95
  • ✓Complete privacy
  • ✓Fast local access
  • ✓No internet required
  • ✓Expandable storage
  • ✓No subscription fees

Cloud Storage

  • ⚠$120+ per year forever
  • ⚠Data mining & scanning
  • ⚠Speed depends on internet
  • ⚠Requires internet
  • ⚠Limited by subscription
  • ⚠Monthly/yearly fees

Real Cost Comparison Over Time

3-Year Cost Comparison (2TB Storage)

Necris NAS + 2TB Drive$165 total
Google One (2TB)$360 ($120/year)
Dropbox (2TB)$432 ($144/year)

Savings with NAS: $195-267 over just 3 years!

Performance & Access Speed

Local NAS Speed

  • ✓ Up to 1000MB/s on local network
  • ✓ No internet bottlenecks
  • ✓ Consistent performance
  • ✓ Works even when internet is down

Cloud Speed

  • ⚠ Limited by internet speed
  • ⚠ Variable performance
  • ⚠ Affected by server load
  • ⚠ Requires stable internet

Make the Smart Choice

Why keep paying monthly fees for privacy-invading cloud storage when you can own your data with a one-time purchase?

With Necris NAS you get:

  • ✓ Complete privacy and control
  • ✓ One-time cost of $95
  • ✓ Support for up to 4 drives
  • ✓ Easy 5-minute setup
  • ✓ Fast local access speeds