Dell NetWorker vs Synology DSM comparison

Dell Technologies and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. Dell Technologies is ranked #10 with an average rating of 7.6, while Synology is ranked #52. Dell Technologies holds a 1.2% mindshare in BRS, compared to Synology’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 90% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Synology users who would recommend it.

Dell NetWorker

Read 86 Dell NetWorker reviews

6,613 Views
6,084 Comparison Views

90% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

4,098 Views
4,057 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Dell NetWorker

Synology DSM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

Dell NetWorker and Synology DSM are two competing products in the enterprise data management space. Synology DSM appears to have the upper hand due to its features and user-friendly experience, making it worth the price.

Features: Dell NetWorker is praised for its scalability, reliability, and advanced data protection features. Synology DSM is favored for its seamless integration, ease of use, and comprehensive feature set, including backup and recovery functions. Users find Synology DSM's range of applications and third-party integrations to be superior.

Room for Improvement: Dell NetWorker users suggest enhancements in the areas of complex configuration and user experience, especially for less technical users. Synology DSM users mention the need for performance improvements under heavy load and better integration in enterprise environments. Both products can benefit from streamlined processes, but Dell NetWorker has more feedback regarding configurability challenges.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Dell NetWorker's deployment can be complex and time-consuming, often requiring technical expertise. However, its customer service receives positive remarks. Synology DSM offers easier and faster deployment processes, reducing the time required to get systems operational. Synology's customer service is generally well-received but can vary based on region.

Pricing and ROI: Dell NetWorker's upfront costs and ongoing expenses are higher, but users report good returns on investment through its capability to manage large-scale environments effectively. Synology DSM is more cost-effective with lower initial set-up costs and operational expenses, offering a strong ROI, particularly for small to medium-sized businesses. Users feel that the overall value of Synology DSM justifies its cost.

To learn more, read our detailed Dell NetWorker vs. Synology DSM Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Dell NetWorker vs. Synology DSM

June 2026

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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

Dell NetWorker

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

10th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Synology DSM

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

52nd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of Dell NetWorker is 1.2%, down from 3.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Synology DSM is 1.3%, down from 1.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Backup and Recovery Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Dell NetWorker	1.2%
Synology DSM	1.3%
Other	97.5%

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

RaedHassan

Senior Specialist Backup/Storage at National Bank of Kuwait

Has supported flexible multi-platform backups and improved over time

Regarding the effectiveness of Dell NetWorker in terms of role-based access controls, I have experience with it, but I find it somewhat lacking in flexibility as it offers limited features, and I would rate it around seven out of ten. It is not that there is something wrong with the role-based access controls in Dell NetWorker, but it lacks many permissions or roles to assign, providing options only for administrator or user. To improve Dell NetWorker for the next release, I recommend enhancing flexibility in the policy, allowing selection of multiple options within the same policy, and addressing issues like the DNS lookup dependency to make it more controllable from Dell NetWorker itself rather than relying on other applications. Looking forward, I would like to see improved policy features and a more enhanced GUI, as it is still slow.

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 solution might be a bit complex for an end-user but it's a great solution for a technical person."

"Dell NetWorker's valuable feature is its ability to configure the network for immutability, specifically for backups."

"The software implementation takes about 30 minutes."

"There are no problems in terms of stability."

"We have found the stability to be quite good."

"It integrates well with Dell's Data Domain as a backup storage solution."

"This solution is very stable."

"When it was required that data had to be restored for our customer, it was accomplished successfully and this has kept our end users satisfied."

More Dell NetWorker pros

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

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

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

"Synology DSM is very easy to work and operate."

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

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

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

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"The user interface of this solution could be improved. It is not user friendly and is difficult to understand for new users. New users struggle to understand the logic."

"The installation process should be improved as it is complicated. To connect to a server, it's necessary to install a client on the server, which is challenging."

"It is a little buggy at times, which is the only thing that I dislike about this product."

"It's not easy to integrate. We have to read a lot of documentation in order to configure the solution."

"The graphical user interface (GUI) of NetWorker needs improvement."

"There could be a possibility of constructing full backups from incremental data intelligently."

"It has not improved functionality for us. At least the unsupported version we are on is difficult to administer."

"We encountered challenges during the solution's deployment, particularly integrating our database system and Microsoft Exchange. This area needs improvement."

More Dell NetWorker cons

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

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

"Even though Synology provides a backup solution, it does not recognize the VM movement across cluster hosts."

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

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

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

"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."

"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."

More Synology DSM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing model can be traditional licensing or capacity-based licensing."

"It's approximate, but I believe we pay around $20-30,000 a month in licensing."

"The pricing of the solution is not the cheapest compared to other similar solutions. The Networker is available as a component of the Dell EMC Data Protection Suite package and it should have the ability to be purchased separately."

"The price of the solution could be lower, it is expensive."

"It is inexpensive compared to new products."

"They are not cheap."

"The pricing of this solution is very good."

"It is a relatively inexpensive product compared to one of its competitors."

More Dell NetWorker pricing and cost advice

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

"It is quite an affordable solution."

"Synology DSM is a free tool."

"The price of the solution is very good."

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

"Synology DSM is a cheap solution."

"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."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

14%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	24
Midsize Enterprise	33
Large Enterprise	38

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

Questions from the Community

What's the difference between Dell EMC Avamar and Dell EMC NetWorker?

From the very beginning, Dell EMC NetWorker considers users and those who might potentially become users. In terms of both pricing and setup, this product offers an experience that is significantly...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell NetWorker?

Regarding the pricing of Dell NetWorker, it depends on the deal or negotiation we have with the vendor, making it reasonable, although I cannot make a definitive decision without knowing the specif...

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What needs improvement with Dell NetWorker?

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Comparisons

Dell PowerProtect Data Manager vs Dell NetWorker

Compared 14% of the time

Veeam Data Platform vs Dell NetWorker

Compared 9% of the time

Dell Avamar vs Dell NetWorker

Compared 5% of the time

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain vs Dell NetWorker

Compared 5% of the time

Commvault Cloud vs Dell NetWorker

Compared 5% of the time

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Veeam Data Platform vs Synology DSM

Compared 5% of the time

UrBackup vs Synology DSM

Compared 4% of the time

SyncBack Pro vs Synology DSM

Compared 3% of the time

GoodSync For Business vs Synology DSM

Compared 3% of the time

HPE StoreEver Tape vs Synology DSM

Compared 3% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Dell NetWorker

June 2026

Download Dell NetWorker product report

Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

May 2026

Download Synology DSM product report

Also Known As

NetWorker

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Overview

Dell NetWorker offers an intuitive interface, broad compatibility, and strong deduplication capabilities. It's designed for backup and recovery in VMware environments, providing seamless integration with Data Domain and support for large databases.

Focusing on efficient backup and recovery, Dell NetWorker supports physical and virtual servers, ensuring data protection and continuity. It features Client Direct for efficient data handling, automates and centralizes backup tasks, and is known for its robust performance. Some areas of improvement include enhancing deduplication, documentation, reporting, cloud vendor integrations, and third-party storage solutions compatibility. With complex configuration and scaling challenges, it requires skilled personnel for optimal use. Enhanced VMware, Hyper-V, and Microsoft Exchange support is needed, as is improved technical support and stability.

What are Dell NetWorker's key features?

User-friendly interface simplifies management.
Broad compatibility with diverse environments.
Strong deduplication for efficient storage use.
Seamless Data Domain integration.
Client Direct for direct data transfers.
Automated and centralized backup tasks.
Highly scalable to accommodate growing needs.

What benefits and ROI should users consider?

Improved data protection and continuity.
Streamlined backup and recovery processes.
Efficient handling of large data volumes.
Long-term data retention capabilities.
Integration with VMware and Data Domain.
Secure and reliable data management.

Dell NetWorker is implemented across industries like telecommunications, astronomy, and banking, primarily for backup and recovery across physical and virtual servers. Companies utilize it for secure data storage, safeguarding critical systems, and managing sizable databases. Many integrate it with VMware, leveraging its capabilities for data restoration to ensure business continuity.

Dell Technologies

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

Republic Bank, Westgate Resorts, Macquire Cloud Services, Shriners, Panatonni, Qatar Islamic Bank, Eurosport

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Dell NetWorker vs. Synology DSM

June 2026

Free Report: Dell NetWorker vs. Synology DSM

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