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Dell PowerProtect Data Domain vs ExaGrid EX comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

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 PowerProtect Data Domain
Ranking in Disk Based Backup Systems
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
106
Ranking in other categories
Deduplication Software (1st)
ExaGrid EX
Ranking in Disk Based Backup Systems
6th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
5.0
Number of Reviews
4
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2026, in the Disk Based Backup Systems category, the mindshare of Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is 33.1%, down from 39.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ExaGrid EX is 9.5%, down from 11.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Disk Based Backup Systems Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Dell PowerProtect Data Domain33.1%
ExaGrid EX9.5%
Other57.4%
Disk Based Backup Systems
 

Featured Reviews

Branko Cirovic - PeerSpot reviewer
Storage Engineer at Comtrade Group
Provides seamless backup integration and long-term reliability for enterprise data protection
The price is quite high; this product is not considered cheap. Additionally, if you use higher availability boxes, they also come at a premium price. However, they provide business continuity, which is the main reason why companies invest in this solution. Tape is slow; when restoring several virtual machines or databases amounting to several terabytes, Dell PowerProtect Data Domain represents the fastest and most reliable solution, ensuring great integration with backup software. If a customer has limited budget constraints, they may opt for cheaper external storage comprised of just a bunch of disks and utilize it for backup, as backup is not a business-critical service. However, I see great value in Dell PowerProtect Data Domain because it is fully automated, features great integration with backup software, and provides good value for money. I would rate software support as a ten, while I would give hardware support a seven. I never give any product a perfect score; I think Dell PowerProtect Data Domain deserves a nine. The only minor problems are the certificate issue and the price. These certificate issues are quite rare and mainly arise when we forget to restart and upgrade the box for several years.
AhmedEl-Tayeb - PeerSpot reviewer
Sales Manager at a tech consulting company with 201-500 employees
Has offered a cost-effective option with solid results but requires automation features for better efficiency
For ExaGrid EX, I would appreciate additional features such as backup and restore, automation processes, and automation software for backup and restore processes. I mention that some additional features may be provided by VMware or Dell as support for the hardware they are selling, but ExaGrid EX is more of a budget-friendly solution for customers who are in charge on a daily basis of the solution itself, dealing with manual tasks rather than automated tasks. I am not in a situation to provide an exact answer for what I would specifically improve in this regard.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Stable and scalable suite of solutions with deduplication, apart from data protection, storage, and backup."
"Fast backup for complex and huge size data."
"The product provides good backup and compression services."
"We have never had any issues with Data Domain. It has been stable."
"Dell is more stable than any other device."
"The dedup and data compression actually benefit our floor space in the data center, and we are able to reduce our backup storage, which used to be a legacy large footprint, into something more concise."
"Most functionality is valuable with Dell PowerProtect Data Domain."
"It securely protects data against threats like Trojans."
"Backup and restore processes are much shorter now, and we don't need forklift upgrades every three to four years."
"Both the pricing and the performance are excellent."
"The most valuable features of ExaGrid EX are the Veeam features and Landing Zone."
"I find ExaGrid EX to be a useful solution for customers looking for a budget-friendly product."
 

Cons

"I have not really noticed any drawbacks or downsides other than the price."
"The tool's DD Boost is expensive."
"Data Domain lacks compatibility with fiber channels and tapes. We can't use it with a tape library."
"The licensing model was the biggest concern for our company, but the poor support after the initial implementation is of equal concern."
"I need them to add the air-gapped technology to Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, as some other vendors have."
"Dell PowerProtect DD does not have integration with the cloud and virtualization software."
"One improvement to the solution would be in the integration with backup software. They still have hardware different from the software."
"Improvement is needed in terms of telemetry and high availability as the high availability feature is only present in the higher models of Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)."
"The solution’s web access should be improved."
"I would like to see free disk space."
"ExaGrid EX is more of a budget-friendly solution for customers who are in charge on a daily basis of the solution itself, dealing with manual tasks rather than automated tasks."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is expensive, but the performance and deduplication cover for the cost."
"I can't remember what the license costs are. They might be paid monthly or every two months."
"On a scale where one represents high price, and ten represents low price, I rate the solution a five, which means that the solution is of medium pricing."
"The price of the backup appliance is slightly expensive. Compared to other vendors, the pricing will be slightly higher."
"This is one of the more expensive backup solutions on the market."
"Its price is reasonable."
"Dell PowerProtect DD's pricing is expensive, and there is no option for perpetual licensing."
"Pricing is related to size. A lower range solution might be about $33,000. My customers use higher range versions with a price of around $100,000. That's the price for both the hardware and software."
"I rate ExaGrid EX ten out of ten for pricing."
"The renewal fee is approximately $3,500 to $3.750 for a 60 terabyte device."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
10%
Outsourcing Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
9%
Educational Organization
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business40
Midsize Enterprise27
Large Enterprise48
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What is your primary use case for Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)?
My main use case for Dell PowerProtect Data Domain is backup. We utilize it to back up all of our data from our credit card domain application.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is adequate; Dell is not the cheapest, but it is also not the most expensive.
What needs improvement with Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)?
To improve Dell PowerProtect Data Domain, I would suggest that we take a look at how we also store AI data as needed.
What needs improvement with ExaGrid EX?
For ExaGrid EX, I would appreciate additional features such as backup and restore, automation processes, and automation software for backup and restore processes. I mention that some additional fea...
What is your primary use case for ExaGrid EX?
My role in relation to ExaGrid EX is partner and reseller.
What advice do you have for others considering ExaGrid EX?
I would prefer another way to provide support; sending all the questions in an Excel sheet or a Word file would allow me to answer them in a couple of hours and send them back. I have no problem re...
 

Also Known As

DataDomain, Dell EMC Data Domain, PowerProtect Data Domain
No data available
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

The US Army, City of Houston, Lloyds TSB, TiVo, Teck, Ingram Entertainment, The New York Mets
7-Eleven, ABC, ACNB Bank, Admiration Foods, Aeroflex, AGH, Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, Alberta Motor Association, Allegro MicroSystems, American Standard, Ameris Bank, Arch Reinsurance Ltd., Arthritis Foundation
Find out what your peers are saying about Dell PowerProtect Data Domain vs. ExaGrid EX and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.
913,924 professionals have used our research since 2012.