Arcserve UDP vs Synology DSM comparison

Why PeerSpot?

Arcserve and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. Arcserve is ranked #26 with an average rating of 9.0, while Synology is ranked #48. Arcserve holds a 1.2% mindshare in BRS, compared to Synology’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of Arcserve users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Synology users who would recommend it.

Arcserve UDP

Read 44 Arcserve UDP reviews

6,659 Views
5,460 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

5,074 Views
5,023 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Arcserve UDP

Synology DSM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

Arcserve UDP and Synology DSM are both robust data management solutions competing in data protection and management. Synology DSM seems to have the upper hand due to its extensive features and superior customer service.

Features: Arcserve UDP's valuable features include efficient backup, recovery options, and comprehensive support. Synology DSM offers scalable storage, versatile application integration, and an additional feature set that gives it an edge in functionality.

Room for Improvement: Arcserve UDP users suggest enhancements in reporting tools, integration capabilities, and overall usability. Synology DSM users would like to see improvements in system updates, documentation, and user interface. Both products have specific areas needing development.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Arcserve UDP has a straightforward deployment model, but its customer service receives mixed reviews. Synology DSM is noted for its relatively smooth setup process and superior customer service responsiveness, giving it an advantage in overall user satisfaction.

Pricing and ROI: Arcserve UDP is considered cost-effective with a good ROI. Synology DSM is more expensive but offers better long-term value due to its extensive features and high ROI. The main difference lies in cost versus value balance, with Synology DSM offering higher perceived value.

To learn more, read our detailed Arcserve UDP vs. Synology DSM Report (Updated: September 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Arcserve UDP vs. Synology DSM

September 2026

Download the complete report

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Arcserve UDP

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

26th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Disaster Recovery (DR) Software (15th)

Synology DSM

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

48th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of Arcserve UDP is 1.2%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Synology DSM is 1.3%, down from 1.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Backup and Recovery Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Arcserve UDP	1.2%
Synology DSM	1.3%
Other	97.5%

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

Sergio Itikawa

Software Solutions Architect at SPEData

Has supported hybrid IT environments effectively and offers strong data protection

With Arcserve UDP, the most valuable feature is to improve persistent data, which I consider important. I use other products too, not only Arcserve UDP, as we use TrueNAS as well. Arcserve UDP improves the precision of data. I have utilized Arcserve UDP's data deduplication feature, and the data deduplication feature helps my storage efficiency significantly. I have used Arcserve UDP's continuous data protection. It is beneficial for operational continuity because we use it constantly and have no objections to Arcserve UDP technology; I think it is very good. Arcserve UDP's integration with multiple operating systems is very good and very efficient. This brings value for me since many of my clients have different operating systems like Windows and Linux; there is no problem. Regarding the deduplication and compression with Arcserve UDP, I think Arcserve UDP is still a solid solution that we primarily use.

Read full review

Michael Adejoh

Solutions Manager at Excel Connect Ventures

Reliable and cost-effective

One area where Synology DSM could improve is in enhancing its ability to detect and respond to security threats during backups and replication. Currently, it lacks the capability to automatically stop backups if it detects a virus or suspicious network activity, as some third-party solutions can. Having AI-driven analytics to identify anomalies and halt backups during potential attacks, along with notifications to administrators, would be valuable. Additionally, providing a dashboard for monitoring the backup environment's security would be a beneficial feature. These improvements would help address security concerns and make Synology more competitive in this aspect.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"This is a good solution because it offers multiple hybrid options."

"This solution offers one dashboard to manage the BC con, disaster recovery plan, DR solution, and backup as well as different licensing options, unlike other OEM products."

"The ROI is very good because of the speed of the backup, so our IT staff don't waste time doing unnecessary work and can set up and focus on other tasks."

"The product provides instant and virtual standbys."

"The most valuable features of this solution are that I can by just one click, copy and paste anything that I would want, I do not have to restore the whole virtual machine, I can just right-click, open it in Arcserve view, and copy anything I want to add to the production, and the restore function is very fast, which is a huge benefit."

"The interface is very refined, works fine, and is very intuitive most of the time. Scalability is nice. The multi-tenancy feature is very welcome. The integration with Linux works fine too."

"It's an extraordinary product."

"Arcserve UDP's integration with multiple operating systems is very good and very efficient, which brings value for me since many of my clients have different operating systems like Windows and Linux; there is no problem."

More Arcserve UDP pros

"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it serves as a backup for our company's virtual machine."

"The most valuable features of Synology DSM are its security and connectivity."

"The most valuable aspect is its ability to handle multiple disks."

"It offers a variety of software options through its package center, allowing users to customize their NAS device to serve multiple purposes."

"The product performs well. It is easy to use and implement."

"The solution's most valuable feature stems from its ease of use, making it the tool's most interesting part."

"Because of its simplicity and the wide array of features it offers, I would recommend DSM for both tech-savvy individuals and those who prefer a straightforward file-serving solution."

"The most valuable features are the basic storage, file management, Btrfs file system, and built-in backups that come with the solution."

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"The speed of restores should be improved. We have found the speed of large restores rather slow."

"The initial setup was complex, but with the help of our IT and engineering staff, it was quite straightforward."

"Licensing can be quite difficult."

"The time to backup servers that sit in DMZ must be improved."

"Its interface can be improved. I find it unintuitive."

"The only problem with the solution is that when I change the drive capacity, it has to do a full backup. It's a problem when I have five servers to backup. When I only want to change the size of the drive, I have to do a full backup that can take one week."

"The high use of RAM memory is a headache for those who want to implement the system with all the resources in use."

"We have to use a Microsoft hypervisor for installation which is expensive."

More Arcserve UDP cons

"There's a surveillance application that allows you to connect IP cameras and stream footage to Synology and it is a great feature, but it's not always clear that adding more cameras may require purchasing additional licenses."

"The product's only shortcoming is pricing, as it is an expensive solution."

"Synology DSM's user interface is not quite intuitive."

"The only bothersome aspect is that the device is aging."

"Synology DSM is a good enough solution for small and medium companies, but I have not seen a big configuration of the solution for a big organization."

"One area where Synology DSM could improve is in enhancing its ability to detect and respond to security threats during backups and replication."

"Users may lose their data if they don't configure the solution properly."

"The platform could be much more cost-effective and flexible for integrating third-party products."

More Synology DSM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The price of StorageCraft ShadowProtect is competitive in the market."

"The price is based on the number of sockets. We use a four-socket price that includes two servers and the cost is $4,375."

"The licensing cost is for one year. There are not any hidden costs involved in the pricing model of the solution."

"We only have the maintenance of three standard UDP licenses. Each license is 50 Euro. There are some additional costs for the storage and software but it has nothing to do with the UDP."

"The pricing is moderate."

"Normally our customers purchase the premium plus license, rather than the standard one, which provides more options."

"The retail fee is $1300 for a year for one server. Other than that, there is just the cost of your hardware."

"The price of this product is high and it should be lower."

More Arcserve UDP pricing and cost advice

"The pricing varies widely, catering to a broad range of needs."

"The solution’s pricing is neither cheap nor expensive."

"The licensing part of the solution is free. The hardware is more expensive than the other solutions in the market, but it's okay in the long run."

"Synology DSM is a free tool."

"The price of the solution is very good."

"Synology DSM is a cheap solution."

"It is quite an affordable solution."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Outsourcing Company

11%

Construction Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	25
Midsize Enterprise	9
Large Enterprise	9

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	1

Questions from the Community

Major Differences Between These 4 Backup and Disaster Recovery Solutions?

Comparing the features of the four is not the right approach. You need to develop a list of requirements for backup and DR that are specific to your organization and then compare each of the four ...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for StorageCraft ShadowProtect?

Regarding the setup cost for Arcserve UDP, it is significantly important, but the price is similar to all our options where clients need to have backup on-premises and replication in the cloud.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for StorageCraft ShadowProtect?

The main use case for this product is to backup repositories and persistent data. I use it for the finance industry and retail sectors. Retail is indeed my focus. Generally, this is for an SMB kind...

See all answers

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Compared 3% of the time

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Compared 5% of the time

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Compared 5% of the time

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Compared 3% of the time

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Compared 3% of the time

Datto Endpoint Backup vs Synology DSM

Compared 3% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Arcserve UDP

October 2026

Download Arcserve UDP product report

Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

September 2026

Download Synology DSM product report

Also Known As

StorageCraft ShadowProtect, StorageCraft Backup Analyzer

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Overview

Arcserve UDP provides comprehensive data protection with features like global deduplication, instant recovery, and virtual standby, supporting efficient backup and recovery across various environments.

Arcserve UDP is designed for seamless data protection and recovery, integrating efficiently across multiple platforms and environments. Its features like global deduplication and cloud integration enhance data protection strategies. The user-friendly interface allows for easy configuration, ensuring quick recovery and enhancing business continuity. While facing challenges in speed and outdated infrastructure compatibility, enhancements in disaster recovery, security, and licensing can improve user experience. Arcserve UDP supports a wide range of backup scenarios including server, file, and VM protection for on-premises and hybrid environments, ensuring reliable backup and recovery solutions.

What are the key features of Arcserve UDP?

Global Deduplication: Reduces storage requirements by eliminating duplicate data.
Instant Recovery: Provides immediate data access post-outage.
Virtual Standby: Enables rapid failover to minimize downtime.
Cross-Platform Support: Supports multiple OS for flexible deployment.
Cloud Integration: Seamlessly integrates with cloud services for expanded storage.
Compression & Replication: Enhances storage capabilities and data redundancy.

What benefits can users expect from Arcserve UDP?

Ease of Configuration: Simplifies setup and management, saving time.
Business Continuity: Ensures operational uptime through rapid recovery.
Cost Efficiency: Streamlines backup processes to reduce costs.
Data Protection: Offers robust features for comprehensive data safeguarding.
Virtualization Support: Optimizes backup strategies for virtual environments.
Flexibility: Adapts to diverse IT infrastructures and backup scenarios.

Arcserve UDP is widely implemented in industries like finance, manufacturing, and education for its ability to handle diverse backup scenarios without user intervention. Organizations rely on it for server, file, and VM backups, ensuring disaster recovery and continuous availability. Its decompression feature and support for virtualization and SQL database high availability meet the needs of demanding sectors, providing reliable data protection and cost-effective solutions.

Arcserve

Synology DSM offers a comprehensive disk management and virtualization backup solution, known for its seamless connectivity across Mac, Windows, and Linux systems, enabling both novice and expert users to efficiently organize and secure their digital data.

Synology DSM integrates intuitive features like the Btrfs file system, built-in backups, and Active Backup for Business, streamlining application installations such as Plex Media Server and Docker. It provides robust security and versatility, supporting VPNs, web servers, and virtualization. Synology DSM is utilized for data backup in virtual machines, local user management, file-sharing networks, and remote file accessibility. It assists organizations in centralized data replication and protection, managing multiple terabytes across locations while serving as a firewall and file management system.

What features does Synology DSM offer?

Disk Management: Efficiently manages storage across multiple platforms.
Seamless Connectivity: Supports Mac, Windows, and Linux for a unified experience.
Btrfs File System: Offers advanced data protection and recovery options.
Active Backup for Business: Provides comprehensive backup solutions for critical data.
Versatility: Supports VPN, web servers, and virtualization for expanded utility.

What benefits should users consider?

Security: Maintains data integrity and protection across networks.
Stability: Ensures consistent operation for essential applications.
Ease of Use: Facilitates straightforward installation and management of applications.
Scalability: Handles large-scale data replication and protection efficiently.

In industries like IT and media, Synology DSM is an effective tool for centralized data management and security. Businesses rely on its extensive backup capabilities to manage and protect large datasets, enabling effective collaboration and remote access solutions across locations. Users incorporate its add-ons to enhance network deployment and connectivity, optimizing data flow and operational efficiency.

Synology

Sample Customers

ITPS, North Hertfordshire Homes, SEMIKRON, Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, Test Valley Borough Council, EK Services

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Arcserve UDP vs. Synology DSM

September 2026

Free Report: Arcserve UDP vs. Synology DSM

Find out what your peers are saying about Arcserve UDP vs. Synology DSM and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.

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