The WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 20TB NAS is built squarely for small creative teams and media professionals — not casual home users looking to back up a photo library. This 2-bay enclosure arrives pre-loaded with two 10TB drives, giving you serious working storage right out of the box. Under the hood, an Intel Pentium N3710 quad-core processor paired with 4GB DDR3L RAM handles concurrent users and heavy file transfers without constant bottlenecking. Both Mac and PC are fully supported, which matters when your team runs mixed hardware. The price is significant, and that is worth stating plainly — this drive earns its cost only if your workflow genuinely demands it.

Features & Benefits

The PR2100 supports six RAID configurations, including mirroring, striping, and spanning options. In practical terms, RAID 1 duplicates your data across both drives for redundancy — a sensible choice for anyone storing irreplaceable client work — while RAID 0 combines capacity for raw throughput speed. Built-in hardware transcoding means the device converts video for streaming on its own, sparing your laptop or TV from doing that processing. Plex runs natively on this 2-bay network drive, turning it into a capable media server without extra hardware. The WD OS 5 platform also handles user accounts, scheduled backups, and a growing library of third-party app integrations.

Best For

This WD Pro NAS is a strong fit for small video production outfits or creative agencies where multiple people need to access and edit large files from a shared central location. Photographers and videographers handling RAW stills or 4K footage will appreciate having 20TB of pooled capacity that sidesteps monthly cloud subscription costs. Home power users running a Plex library alongside automated backups will also find this a solid setup. That said, this is a narrow-audience device — anyone who does not actively need centralized, team-accessible storage will struggle to justify the investment. Remote access to a large archive while traveling is another genuine use case it handles reliably.

User Feedback

Across 166 ratings averaging 4.2 stars, the PR2100 earns genuine praise for its straightforward initial setup and consistent long-term reliability, with build quality frequently cited as solid for a desktop NAS at this tier. On the downside, the WD My Cloud mobile app draws recurring criticism for inconsistent behavior and occasional connectivity drops — a real frustration for anyone depending on remote access day-to-day. Firmware updates have caused headaches for a subset of buyers. Noise and heat under sustained heavy workloads come up occasionally, though most users find levels acceptable in an office setting. Plex integration is generally well-regarded, though first-time configuration can require some patience to get right.

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Pros

Arrives pre-loaded with 20TB of storage — no separate drive purchases needed out of the box.
Six RAID configurations give you real control over the speed-versus-redundancy trade-off.
Hardware transcoding handles on-the-fly video conversion without straining your TV or laptop.
Plex Media Server runs natively, turning the PR2100 into a capable media hub without extra hardware.
Mac and Windows are both fully supported, making mixed-OS creative teams a non-issue.
Tool-free drive bays make swapping or upgrading drives straightforward as storage needs grow.
Scheduled backups and user account management are handled directly through the WD OS 5 dashboard.
USB 3.0 port lets you attach external drives for quick local transfers or overflow storage.
Long-term reliability is strong when running on a stable firmware version, per experienced users.
Browser-based remote access works reliably for pulling files from the road without a VPN.

Cons

The WD My Cloud mobile app suffers from recurring disconnections and login failures across iOS and Android.
Firmware updates have a documented history of breaking Plex setups and app configurations.
Gigabit Ethernet caps throughput in ways that users editing high-bitrate 4K footage will feel quickly.
Three or more simultaneous Plex transcoding streams push the quad-core processor to its limits.
The WD OS 5 app library is noticeably thinner than what Synology DSM or QNAP QTS offer.
No 10GbE support, which is a real gap for studios already running faster network infrastructure.
Fan noise and enclosure heat increase noticeably during sustained heavy backup or transfer jobs.
Restricted to two bays, meaning there is a hard ceiling on capacity and RAID configuration options.
Plex initial configuration requires steps that WD's own documentation does not fully walk you through.
The price tier is high relative to competing NAS units that offer a more capable software platform.

Ratings

The WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 20TB NAS was evaluated by our AI system after analyzing verified buyer reviews from multiple global sources, with spam, incentivized, and bot-generated feedback actively filtered out. The scores below reflect a balanced picture of where this 2-bay network drive genuinely delivers for professional users — and where it falls short. Both the strengths that keep creative teams loyal to it and the friction points that frustrate buyers at this price tier are represented transparently.

Setup & Initial Configuration

83%

Most buyers report getting the PR2100 online and accessible within 30 to 45 minutes, even without prior NAS experience. The guided setup via the WD My Cloud web interface walks users through drive configuration and RAID selection clearly enough that non-technical creative professionals rarely need outside help.

A recurring minority of users encountered hiccups when configuring RAID 5 from scratch or migrating from an older WD NAS. Firmware prompts during first boot occasionally interrupted the setup flow, adding unexpected time for buyers who just wanted to start copying files.

Build Quality & Hardware Design

81%

19%

The enclosure feels appropriately solid for a professional desktop device — not flimsy plastic, but a well-weighted chassis that sits stably on a desk or shelf. Drive trays are tool-free and slide in firmly, which users managing multiple drives over time appreciate for swaps and upgrades.

The all-black plastic finish attracts dust visibly and shows fingerprints easily, which some buyers found incongruous at this price point. A handful of reviewers noted that the unit feels slightly underdressed compared to competing NAS enclosures from Synology or QNAP in the same tier.

Storage Performance & Throughput

74%

26%

Over Gigabit Ethernet, the PR2100 delivers read and write speeds that comfortably handle simultaneous access from two or three workstations editing compressed video or large RAW files. For most small team workflows — think a three-person agency sharing a project folder — throughput rarely becomes the bottleneck.

Users pushing 4K RAW or multi-stream uncompressed video noticed the Gigabit connection becoming a ceiling before the drives did. The mechanical HDDs also mean random access times are slower than SSD-based alternatives, which shows up during catalog browsing in Lightroom or media indexing.

RAID Flexibility & Data Redundancy

88%

The breadth of RAID options — including modes 0, 1, 5, 10, JBOD, and spanning — gives buyers meaningful control over the trade-off between speed, redundancy, and usable capacity. Photographers storing irreplaceable client shoots consistently praised RAID 1 mirroring as straightforward to configure and genuinely reassuring.

RAID 5 and 10 require understanding of how parity works, and WD's documentation, while present, does not explain the real-world implications as clearly as it could. A few users accidentally configured JBOD thinking it offered redundancy, which points to a gap in guided setup warnings.

Media Streaming & Transcoding

79%

21%

Hardware transcoding takes real pressure off client devices when streaming to phones, tablets, or smart TVs via Plex. Users running mixed-format video libraries — H.264, HEVC, MKV files across different resolutions — found that the PR2100 handled on-the-fly conversion reliably for one or two concurrent streams.

Three or more simultaneous transcoding streams pushed the quad-core processor noticeably, leading to buffering on the weakest stream. Users with large 4K HEVC libraries found that direct play was fine but heavy transcoding under load revealed the ceiling of the N3710 chip fairly quickly.

Plex Media Server Integration

76%

24%

Plex installs directly from the WD app ecosystem without requiring a separate server machine, which is a practical win for home power users or small offices. Once running, the library management and cross-device streaming experience mirrors what you would get on a dedicated machine, at a fraction of the complexity.

Initial Plex setup generated more support forum visits than most features — library scanning on large collections can take hours, and Plex Pass features like hardware-accelerated transcoding require additional configuration steps that WD's own documentation does not fully cover.

Remote Access & Mobile App

58%

42%

When it works, remote access via the WD My Cloud app or browser portal lets distributed team members pull files from job sites or hotel rooms without a VPN. The browser interface is cleaner than the mobile app and tends to be more stable for transferring large files remotely.

The mobile app is the most consistently criticized aspect of the entire product. Users report random disconnections, login loops after firmware updates, and inconsistent behavior across iOS and Android versions. For a device marketed partly on remote accessibility, the app's reliability issues are a real weak point.

Software Ecosystem (WD OS 5)

67%

33%

WD OS 5 covers the core bases — user account management, quota controls, scheduled backups, and a third-party app library — without requiring command-line knowledge. Small teams can carve out private shares for different members and manage permissions without hiring an IT consultant.

The app library is noticeably thinner than what Synology DSM offers, and a few popular third-party tools have had compatibility issues following WD OS updates. Power users accustomed to deeper NAS customization will find WD OS 5 feels a bit restricted compared to competing platforms.

Firmware Stability & Update Experience

54%

46%

Buyers who purchased and configured the unit and then left it running without touching firmware updates report stable, trouble-free operation over extended periods. Long-term reliability on a fixed firmware version is a bright spot in the user feedback for this device.

Firmware updates have caused disproportionate disruption for a notable subset of users — broken Plex installations, lost app configurations, and in a few cases temporary inaccessibility of the drive. The pattern is consistent enough across reviews to constitute a genuine concern rather than isolated incidents.

Noise & Thermal Management

71%

29%

Under typical office workloads, the PR2100 runs at an acceptable noise level — present but not distracting when placed on a desk a meter or two from the user. The thermal management is adequate for standard continuous operation, and drive temperatures stay within safe ranges during regular use.

During sustained heavy workloads — large backup jobs, extended Plex transcoding, or bulk transfers — the fan ramps up audibly and the enclosure gets noticeably warm. Users in warm climates or poorly ventilated spaces flagged heat as a concern worth monitoring, particularly during summer months.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

86%

Mac and Windows users on the same team can access shares, configure backups, and use the web dashboard without platform-specific limitations. Creative studios running a mixed fleet of MacBooks and Windows editing rigs found this genuinely friction-free in day-to-day file sharing.

Linux support is not officially provided, which is a gap for development teams or technically advanced users who might otherwise find this device appealing. A small number of macOS users also noted that Time Machine backup integration required manual configuration steps that were not clearly documented.

Connectivity Options

73%

27%

The combination of Gigabit Ethernet and USB 3.0 covers the majority of real-world connection needs — the USB port works well for directly attaching external drives to expand capacity or run quick local backups without involving the network at all.

The absence of a 10GbE option is a limitation that more demanding users will feel, especially as 10 Gigabit infrastructure becomes more accessible at the small business level. Buyers who already have a 10GbE switch in their studio will find the PR2100 is the network bottleneck.

Value for Money

61%

39%

For buyers whose workflow maps precisely to what this 2-bay network drive does well — centralized team storage, RAID redundancy, Plex streaming, and cross-platform access — the total cost can be justified against the alternative of cloud storage subscriptions at scale or a more expensive rackmount solution.

The price tier is high, and the competition from Synology in particular offers a more polished software platform at comparable or lower cost. Buyers who do not fully utilize the professional feature set will find the value proposition difficult to defend, and the app reliability issues compound this concern.

Expandability & Upgrade Path

66%

34%

Both drive bays accept standard 3.5-inch HDDs, so upgrading to higher-capacity drives as storage needs grow is straightforward and relatively affordable. The USB 3.0 port adds a practical overflow option for attaching external storage without replacing the unit.

Being limited to two bays means there is a firm ceiling on raw capacity and RAID configuration options — you cannot, for example, run RAID 5 with three drives as you could with a 4-bay unit. Users who anticipate rapid storage growth may outgrow this form factor sooner than expected.

Suitable for:

The WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 20TB NAS is built for small creative teams and media professionals who need a dependable, high-capacity central storage hub that multiple people can access simultaneously. A three-person video production agency sharing project files across mixed Mac and Windows workstations is essentially the target buyer — this device was designed around that exact scenario. Photographers managing sprawling RAW libraries who are tired of juggling external drives will find the 20TB of pooled, RAID-protected storage a practical solution that scales with their archive. Home power users running a Plex media server alongside automated household backups will also get genuine value here, provided they are comfortable spending time on initial configuration. If your work involves storing irreplaceable client deliverables and you want drive-failure redundancy without racking up a monthly cloud bill, the PR2100 makes a compelling case.

Not suitable for:

If you are a casual home user looking for a simple place to back up a personal photo library, the WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 20TB NAS is significantly more device than you need, both in capacity and cost. Buyers expecting a polished, worry-free experience driven by a reliable mobile app will likely be disappointed — the WD My Cloud app has a documented track record of connectivity issues that have frustrated users across multiple firmware generations. Anyone running a workflow that demands multi-stream 4K RAW editing directly off the NAS will hit the ceiling of Gigabit Ethernet and the mechanical hard drives faster than expected. Teams that have already invested in 10GbE networking infrastructure will find the PR2100 is the weakest link in their pipeline. And if you are considering this device primarily because of software flexibility or a deep third-party app ecosystem, competing platforms from Synology or QNAP offer meaningfully richer options at a comparable price.

Specifications

Total Capacity: Comes pre-installed with two 10TB mechanical hard drives, providing 20TB of raw storage across both bays.
Form Factor: Desktop 2-bay NAS enclosure measuring 8.51 x 4.28 x 5.82 inches and weighing 7.7 pounds.
Processor: Powered by an Intel Pentium N3710 quad-core CPU running at 1.6GHz for handling concurrent access and transcoding workloads.
RAM: Equipped with 4GB DDR3L memory to support multi-user file sharing and background application processes simultaneously.
RAID Support: Supports RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, JBOD, and spanning configurations, giving users flexible control over redundancy and performance.
Network Interface: Dual Gigabit Ethernet ports enable link aggregation or failover for more reliable and faster local network connectivity.
USB Connectivity: Two USB 3.0 ports allow direct attachment of external drives for local backups or capacity expansion without going through the network.
Transcoding: Built-in hardware transcoding engine prepares media files for streaming in compatible formats and resolutions without relying on client device processing power.
OS Compatibility: Fully compatible with both macOS and Windows, supporting mixed-platform teams without requiring additional configuration or third-party software.
Software Platform: Runs WD OS 5, which provides a web-based dashboard for user management, share permissions, backup scheduling, and third-party app installation.
Remote Access: Remote file access is available through the WD My Cloud web portal and companion mobile app for iOS and Android devices.
Plex Support: Plex Media Server can be installed directly from the WD app ecosystem, enabling library management and multi-device streaming from a single interface.
Drive Type: Both pre-installed drives are mechanical hard disk drives (HDD), optimized for high-capacity sequential storage rather than low-latency random access.
Color & Finish: Ships in a matte black finish that suits a professional desk or studio environment but is prone to visible dust and fingerprints.
Power Supply: Includes an internal power supply with region-appropriate AC adapter, eliminating the need for a separate external power brick.
Warranty: Western Digital provides a 3-year limited hardware warranty covering manufacturing defects under standard use conditions.
Drive Compatibility: Both bays accept standard 3.5-inch SATA HDDs, allowing users to upgrade to higher-capacity drives as storage requirements grow over time.
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics are integrated into the N3710 processor and are used internally by the transcoding engine rather than for any display output.
Market Ranking: Holds the #909 position in the Amazon Network Attached Storage category, reflecting a specialized professional audience rather than mass-market volume.
Release Date: First made available in June 2017 and remains an active product in the Western Digital My Cloud Pro lineup as of the device listing.

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FAQ

Not really. The WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 20TB NAS walks you through initial configuration via a web browser, and most users report getting it up and running within an hour. Choosing a RAID mode is the step that trips some people up — if you just want data redundancy, pick RAID 1 and move on. The rest of the setup is fairly guided.

Yes, that is actually one of the core reasons to buy the PR2100 over a simpler external drive. Multiple users on the same network can read and write files simultaneously. Performance holds up well for two or three people working with standard files, though very large simultaneous transfers from multiple workstations will test the limits of Gigabit Ethernet.

RAID 1 is the straightforward answer for most buyers. It mirrors your data across both drives, so if one drive fails, your files are still intact on the other. You lose half your raw capacity — so 20TB becomes around 10TB usable — but for anyone storing irreplaceable client work or project files, that trade-off is well worth it.

Plex runs well for one or two concurrent streams, especially if your devices support direct play without transcoding. Where things get strained is when multiple people are streaming different formats simultaneously and the hardware has to convert each one on the fly. For a household or small office Plex setup, it is more than capable, but it is not a replacement for a dedicated media server under heavy load.

You can edit directly off the NAS over your local network, and many videographers do exactly that with compressed formats like H.264 or ProRes Proxy. However, if you are cutting uncompressed 4K or high-bitrate RAW footage, Gigabit Ethernet will become a bottleneck before the drives do. For those workflows, copying project files locally before editing is still the safer approach.

Honestly, this is the weakest part of the overall experience. The mobile app works, but it has a track record of connectivity hiccups, login issues after firmware updates, and inconsistent behavior across phone platforms. For remote access, the browser-based portal tends to be more dependable. If remote access is a primary use case for you, go in with realistic expectations about the app.

Yes. Both bays accept standard 3.5-inch SATA HDDs, so swapping in larger drives down the road is straightforward. WD publishes a compatibility list of tested drives, and sticking to that list when upgrading is a good idea to avoid any configuration headaches. The drive trays are tool-free, which makes the physical swap easy.

It does support Time Machine backups, but a few macOS users have noted that the setup is not as plug-and-play as Apple's own devices. You will need to create a dedicated share and configure it specifically for Time Machine through the WD OS 5 dashboard. It works reliably once configured, but the initial steps are not fully documented in WD's own guides.

Under normal workloads it is noticeable but not disruptive — the kind of low hum you stop registering after a few days. During heavy jobs like large backups or sustained Plex transcoding, the fan steps up and becomes more audible. Most users keep it on a desk or shelf without complaints, but if you are recording audio nearby or working in a very quiet space, putting it in a cupboard or adjacent room is worth considering.

Synology's DSM software platform is generally regarded as more polished and offers a broader third-party app ecosystem than WD OS 5. For pure software flexibility and reliability — particularly for the mobile app experience — Synology has an edge. The PR2100 competes on the strength of WD's hardware reputation, the included drives reducing upfront cost, and the Plex integration for media-focused users. If software depth matters more to you than bundled storage, Synology is worth a close look before committing.

Where to Buy

Tecisoft

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WD My Cloud Pro PR2100 20TB NAS

Overview

Features & Benefits

Best For

User Feedback

Pros

Cons

Ratings

Setup & Initial Configuration

Build Quality & Hardware Design

Storage Performance & Throughput

RAID Flexibility & Data Redundancy

Media Streaming & Transcoding

Plex Media Server Integration

Remote Access & Mobile App

Software Ecosystem (WD OS 5)

Firmware Stability & Update Experience

Noise & Thermal Management

Cross-Platform Compatibility

Connectivity Options

Value for Money

Expandability & Upgrade Path

Suitable for:

Not suitable for:

Specifications

Related Reviews

FAQ

Do I need any technical experience to set this up?

Can multiple people access the NAS at the same time?

What RAID mode should I use if I want to protect my data from a drive failure?

How well does Plex actually run on this device?

Can I use this NAS to edit video directly, or do I need to copy files to my local drive first?

Is the WD My Cloud mobile app reliable for accessing files remotely?

Can I replace the included drives with larger ones later?

Does it work with Time Machine on a Mac?

How loud is this thing? Can I keep it on my desk?

How does this compare to a Synology NAS at a similar price point?

Where to Buy