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StarWind Virtual SAN Reviews

Vendor: StarWind
4.8 out of 5
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What is StarWind Virtual SAN?

StarWind Virtual SAN provides high availability and fault tolerance for virtualized environments without the need for dedicated SAN hardware. It allows for real-time replication between servers, shared storage for Hyper-V clusters, and enables vMotion and High Availability features for VMware vSphere. The solution reduces costs and leverages existing hardware while providing a scalable and reliable infrastructure. Valuable features include ease of use, scalability, top-tier support, hardware agnosticism, and the ability to use off-the-shelf standard servers to increase storage space. StarWind VSAN has helped organizations improve performance, data availability, and data security while reducing downtime and providing cost-saving storage options.

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StarWind Virtual SAN is the #1 ranked solution in top Software Defined Storage (SDS) solutions and #5 ranked solution in HCI Software. PeerSpot users give StarWind Virtual SAN an average rating of 9.6 out of 10. StarWind Virtual SAN is most commonly compared to Red Hat Ceph Storage: StarWind Virtual SAN vs Red Hat Ceph Storage. StarWind Virtual SAN is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 56% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 17% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
StarWind Virtual SAN
October 2025
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StarWind Virtual SAN mindshare

Product category:
Software Defined Storage (SDS)
As of October 2025, the mindshare of StarWind Virtual SAN in the Software Defined Storage (SDS) category stands at 6.1%, down from 8.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Software Defined Storage (SDS) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
StarWind Virtual SAN6.1%
Red Hat Ceph Storage18.4%
Microsoft Storage Spaces Direct7.3%
Other68.2%
Software Defined Storage (SDS)

PeerResearch reports based on StarWind Virtual SAN reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategorySoftware Defined Storage (SDS)Oct 30, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersOct 30, 2025Download
ComparisonStarWind Virtual SAN vs Red Hat Ceph StorageOct 30, 2025Download
ComparisonStarWind Virtual SAN vs Nutanix Unified Storage (NUS)Oct 30, 2025Download
ComparisonStarWind Virtual SAN vs DataCore SANsymphonyOct 30, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
Red Hat Ceph Storage4.118.4%82%27 interviewsAdd to research
VMware vSAN4.2N/A87%232 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

StarWind Virtual SAN is praised for its cost-effectiveness, ease of installation, and high availability. Users benefit from seamless integration with existing infrastructure, allowing use of existing hardware without needing additional appliances. The intuitive management interface, outstanding technical support, and rapid deployment time are often highlighted. Users appreciate the flexibility, allowing scalable, highly available storage with minimal downtime, real-time data replication, and use in diverse environments. The ability to customize solutions without vendor lock-in is also valued.
  • "With zero cost I can test a solution like Proxmox, making Starwind VSAN an excellent tool for home lab and virtualization testing."
  • "StarWind's proactive support has helped my organization by giving us the reassurance of 24/7 monitoring of the platform, so even outside of business hours, if something happens, StarWind engineers are able to troubleshoot the problem and look at things for us, which provides an extra level of reassurance."
  • "StarWind Virtual SAN has positively impacted my organization by giving us the flexibility and freedom to have more time for other projects."

Room for Improvement

Users suggest improvements for StarWind Virtual SAN in areas like documentation, where more detailed and clear guides are needed. They also recommend better integration with Linux and a centralized web management interface. The desire for enhanced monitoring tools and clearer alerts is expressed. Some users wish for simpler and more automated processes for setup and updates. Cost is a concern, with some finding the pricing high compared to other alternatives. Integration with more platforms and advanced features like data encryption and deduplication is also sought.
  • "I hope you can try to have a multiple deployment option like ceph which covers several nodes and replicas"
  • "An improvement for StarWind Virtual SAN would be to have an updated admin console."
  • "Lastly, I think the severity two response time incidents could be improved upon; it's eight hours, and if that could be better, I'd like that."

ROI

Users report StarWind Virtual SAN offers impressive ROI by eliminating the need for expensive hardware and reducing downtime. Cost-effectiveness and high availability are frequently cited benefits. Its affordability, flexibility in hardware choices, and seamless integration lead to significant savings on infrastructure and support expenses. Many users mention immediate or rapid ROI, enhanced data performance, and maintenance cost reduction. Some experience resource and time savings, facilitating focus on other projects.

Pricing

StarWind Virtual SAN offers competitive and straightforward pricing that appeals to enterprise buyers, with flexible licensing options suited for varying storage needs. Users appreciate its cost-effectiveness compared to alternatives, highlighting minimal setup costs, making it affordable for smaller budgets. The licensing structure allows for scalability without incurring significant expenses, though some users suggest considering potential future capacity needs. Support is recommended to ensure seamless integration, enhancing the overall value of this hyper-converged storage solution.
  • "For two nodes, it cost us $10,000, and we spend $2,000 a year on support."
  • "We found that the pricing was perfect; simple and clear."
  • "This solution is very accessible and the pro-level for support is well worth the cost."

Popular Use Cases

The primary use case of StarWind Virtual SAN involves providing highly available, fault-tolerant storage for various environments. It enables organizations to transform existing hardware into a high-performing, scalable storage infrastructure. Users deploy it for virtual storage in hyper-converged setups, ensuring data redundancy and efficient management. StarWind Virtual SAN integrates with virtualization platforms like VMware and Hyper-V, supporting diverse applications such as backup, failover clusters, and data center operations without the need for additional hardware.

Service and Support

StarWind Virtual SAN excels in customer service with highly responsive support, available 24/7, known for quick problem resolution and technical expertise. Users praise StarWind for professional and knowledgeable interaction. Their ability to handle complex issues and proactive monitoring creates peace of mind. Feedback highlights their fast, friendly assistance, effective troubleshooting, and comprehensive communication, providing reassurance even in challenging scenarios. StarWind support personnel are consistently described as skilled, dedicated, and thorough, enhancing customer experiences significantly.

Deployment

Many found StarWind Virtual SAN's initial setup straightforward, with good documentation and support. Some mentioned it could be complex due to networking requirements, but help from StarWind eased challenges. Users appreciated the user-friendly interface and guidance, especially when transitioning from other solutions. While the initial setup was fast for some, others noted the usefulness of support teams in overcoming specific hurdles. On purchasing licenses, support made the setup process seamless.

Scalability

Users find StarWind Virtual SAN remarkably scalable, adaptable to their growth needs. It enables easy storage and node expansion. Many appreciate its seamless scaling process, adjusting well to different workloads and environments. Users value the ability to add capacity quickly, with minimal downtime, enhancing IT infrastructure performance. With no significant limitations mentioned, StarWind Virtual SAN proves versatile across small to medium setups, meeting diverse requirements for both growing and larger infrastructures.

Stability

Users report that StarWind Virtual SAN is rock solid, handling workloads without disruptions. No major issues have been faced, even during hardware failures. Many have used it for years without experiencing downtime, and the reliability is attributed to high availability and seamless upgrades. Stability remains intact even during node losses, with data integrity maintained. While minor bugs arise, they're rarely tied to StarWind itself but often to external factors like hardware or third-party software.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our StarWind Virtual SAN Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business112
Midsize Enterprise37
Large Enterprise25
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business1001
Midsize Enterprise522
Large Enterprise1920
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
17%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Government
7%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Healthcare Company
6%
Educational Organization
5%
Retailer
4%
University
4%
Energy/Utilities Company
4%
Construction Company
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
3%
Media Company
2%
Insurance Company
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Non Profit
2%
Performing Arts
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Legal Firm
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Outsourcing Company
1%
Consumer Goods Company
1%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%

Compare StarWind Virtual SAN with alternative products

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Learn more about StarWind Virtual SAN

StarWind Virtual SAN was previously known as StarWind SAN & NAS.

StarWind Virtual SAN customers

Baker Tilly BVI, CMS Internet, Board Harpeth Hall School

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Software Defined Storage (SDS)
HCI

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StarWind Virtual SAN Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Pre Post Sales Engineer at Logiccomputer4.0I implemented StarWind Virtual SAN for a VDI setup due to its cost-effectiveness compared to VMware vSAN. It offers excellent price-performance and support. While ROI metrics aren't shared, clients appreciate cost savings and ease of capacity extension.
Solution Architect at a tech services company with 11-50 employees4.5I've effectively used StarWind Virtual SAN for single-site environments, appreciating its storage virtualization and failover abilities. It offers notable cost savings, ease of administration, and excellent support, with limited GUI feedback as the main area needing improvement.
Manager, Field Support at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees4.5We use StarWind Virtual SAN for failover clusters and high availability, benefiting from its ease of setup and excellent support, which is vital for our non-IT savvy team. Improved error reporting would enhance user experience. ROI is positive due to reduced labor costs.
Hosting Operations Senior Analyst at Equinix Brasil3.5I used StarWind Virtual SAN in a lab to simulate shared storage for a Hyper-V cluster, helping me test high availability and failover. It saved time and costs, though limited features and network sensitivity were challenges.
Soporte IT at Sildan Security5.0I implemented StarWind Virtual SAN to enhance high availability in my Proxmox cluster, significantly reducing downtime. While its performance is impressive, I would appreciate improved scalability and automated resource management features for greater ease and efficiency.
integration engineer at Insight5.0I've found StarWind Virtual SAN to be reliable, cost-effective, and flexible, offering high availability, strong support, and significant savings compared to VMware vSAN, though improvements in noise control and response times would enhance the experience.
Works at a computer software company with 11-50 employees4.5I use StarWind Virtual SAN to host virtual machines for remote desktop services, and it’s been reliable, cost-effective, and stable, with great 24/7 support and helpful features, though the admin console could use an update.
PC Network Specialist at Watauga County5.0I use StarWind Virtual SAN with older hardware to create a new SAN, mainly benefiting my file server with speed and ease of use. It's easy to implement on Windows, saving time and money compared to big vendors, though the management GUI needs improvement.