TrueNAS Alternatives
If TrueNAS does not fit, three options cover the rest. For mixing disk sizes and easy apps, Unraid. For a free, lightweight Debian-based NAS, OpenMediaVault. For combining storage with virtualization on one box, Proxmox with ZFS.
Updated 2026-06-03 · by Jonathan Caruso
Top pick
Unraid
The usual reasons people leave TrueNAS are ZFS's rigidity and RAM appetite, and Unraid answers both. It mixes any disk sizes, lets you add one drive at a time, runs lighter, and has a friendly app catalog, which makes it the most common move from TrueNAS.
The options
Unraid
Paid ($49 and up)A flexible NAS OS that mixes any disk sizes and has a large app catalog.
Visit Unraid site- Runs on
- Modest, lower RAM than ZFS.
- Pick it if
- You want to mix disk sizes, add drives one at a time, and run apps easily.
OpenMediaVault
GPL, freeA free, Debian-based NAS OS with a plugin system.
Visit OpenMediaVault site- Runs on
- Light. Runs on a Pi or an old PC.
- Pick it if
- You want a free, light NAS without ZFS's RAM appetite.
Proxmox
FreeA hypervisor that does ZFS storage natively, for an all-in-one storage-and-compute box.
Visit Proxmox site- Runs on
- More RAM for ZFS plus VMs.
- Pick it if
- You want storage and virtualization on one machine.
How to choose
If you want to mix disk sizes and grow a drive at a time, Unraid is the natural move, and its app catalog makes running services easy. If you want free and light, OpenMediaVault runs a capable NAS on modest hardware, even a Raspberry Pi, without ZFS's demands.
If the real goal is one box that both stores and computes, consider Proxmox with a ZFS pool instead of a dedicated NAS OS. You get native ZFS plus full virtualization, at the cost of a more DIY shares setup. For the closest head-to-heads, see TrueNAS vs Unraid and Proxmox vs TrueNAS.
The verdict
If TrueNAS does not fit, Unraid is the most common move, for mixing disk sizes and easy apps. Choose OpenMediaVault for a free, lightweight NAS on modest hardware, or Proxmox with ZFS if you want storage and virtualization on one box. See TrueNAS vs Unraid for the closest comparison.
FAQ
What is better than TrueNAS?
It depends on what you want: Unraid for mixing disk sizes and easy apps, OpenMediaVault for a free lightweight NAS, or Proxmox with ZFS for storage plus virtualization. TrueNAS itself remains excellent for integrity-focused ZFS pools.
Why do some people move off TrueNAS?
Its ZFS foundation wants more RAM and rewards planning your pool in advance, and mixing odd disk sizes is awkward. People who want flexibility or very light hardware often pick Unraid or OpenMediaVault instead.
Is Proxmox or TrueNAS better?
They do different jobs: Proxmox is a hypervisor, TrueNAS is a NAS OS. For storage-first, TrueNAS; for compute-first, Proxmox; many people run both. See our Proxmox vs TrueNAS comparison for the details.