NovaNAS
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- api, Linux, self-hosted, Web
Summary
NovaNAS is a free, open-source NAS operating system managed through a desktop-like web interface. Its browser-based file manager can browse, upload, download, and preview files. Storage options include ZFS and EXT4, RAID management, and SMB/CIFS and NFS shared folders with access controls. A community app store supports one-click deployment of Docker apps such as Plex, Nextcloud, and Pi-hole. The project describes automated backups to external drives or cloud storage, as well as backups between NovaNAS systems using API key authentication. Network and security tools include UFW firewall controls, DynDNS, automatic Let's Encrypt certificates, and WebAuthn/FIDO2 passkey login. A monitoring view covers CPU, memory, disk, and network activity in real time. NovaNAS currently supports Debian 13 only, and its installer is intended for a fresh system, not an existing installation. The minimum requirements are 2 GB RAM, a 1-core CPU, and a 20 GB system drive, plus data drives. Virtualization, historical monitoring, and scheduled tasks are listed as coming soon.
Who it is for
NovaNAS suits DIY hardware owners and home or small-business users seeking storage managed through a web interface. It requires a fresh Debian 13 system and at least 2 GB RAM, a 1-core CPU, and a 20 GB system drive.
What is good
- Free and open source
- Supports ZFS, EXT4, and RAID management
- One-click Docker app deployment
- Automated external, cloud, and system-to-system backups
- Includes real-time resource monitoring
What to know first
- Debian 13 is the only supported operating system
- Installer is intended for a fresh system
- Role-based user permissions are coming soon
- Virtualization support is coming soon
Verdict
NovaNAS combines storage management, file sharing, backups, and Docker app deployment in a web interface. Its Debian 13-only requirement and fresh-install limitation are important constraints to check first.
NovaNAS plans and pricing
All plansCompared on NAS software
- Free plan
- Yesnovanas.org
- Storage pools
- Yesnovanas.org
- User management
- Yesnovanas.org
- App catalog
- Yesnovanas.org
- Container support
- Yesnovanas.org
- Virtual machines
- Nonovanas.org
Facts
- Purpose
- NovaNAS is an open-source NAS operating system managed through a desktop-like web interface.novanas.org · 3 Oct 2026
- Price
- The site describes NovaNAS as completely free and open source.novanas.org · 3 Oct 2026
- File management
- Its browser-based file manager supports browsing, uploading, downloading, and previewing files.novanas.org · 3 Oct 2026
- Apps
- The community app store offers one-click deployment of Docker applications, including Plex, Nextcloud, and Pi-hole.novanas.org · 3 Oct 2026
- Storage
- NovaNAS supports ZFS and EXT4, RAID management, and SMB/CIFS and NFS shared folders.novanas.org · 3 Oct 2026
- Backup
- The README describes automated backups to external drives or cloud storage and NovaNAS-to-NovaNAS backups using API key authentication.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
- Network and security
- Listed features include UFW firewall management, DynDNS, automatic Let's Encrypt certificates, and WebAuthn/FIDO2 passkey login.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- The site describes real-time CPU, memory, disk, and network monitoring.novanas.org · 3 Oct 2026
- File sharing
- NovaNAS supports SMB/CIFS and NFS sharing with access controls.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
- System requirements
- The installer is designed for a fresh Debian 13 system with at least 2 GB RAM, a 1-core CPU, and a 20 GB system drive.novanas.org · 3 Oct 2026
- Platform limit
- The README says Debian 13 is currently the only supported operating system.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
- Coming soon
- The website lists virtualization support, historical resource monitoring, and scheduled tasks as coming soon.novanas.org · 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- The README points users to documentation and GitHub Issues for support and bug reports.github.com · 3 Oct 2026
- Product
- NovaNAS is an open-source NAS operating system managed through a desktop-like web interface.novanas.org · 4 Oct 2026
- Backups
- The project README describes automated backup to external drives or cloud storage and NovaNAS-to-NovaNAS network backup using API key authentication.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The site lists UFW firewall controls, DynDNS, and automatic Let's Encrypt SSL/TLS certificate management.novanas.org · 4 Oct 2026
- Authentication
- The project README lists passwordless WebAuthn/FIDO2 passkey authentication.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Support and permissions
- The project README says role-based user permissions are coming soon and currently limited to admins; it lists documentation and GitHub issues for support.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Audience
- The site describes NovaNAS as a free, open-source option for DIY hardware and serious home or small-business storage.novanas.org · 4 Oct 2026
- Installation limit
- The installer is intended for a fresh Debian 13 system and the site says not to run it on an existing system.novanas.org · 4 Oct 2026
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Where it ranks on Everything Xiaomi
- Best NAS Software in 2026#4 of 21
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Sources
- novanas.org· checked 3 Oct 2026
- github.com/NovaNasOrg/NovaNAS· checked 3 Oct 2026