HPE Zerto Software vs Synology DSM comparison

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. Hewlett Packard Enterprise is ranked #2 with an average rating of 9.0, while Synology is ranked #51. Hewlett Packard Enterprise holds a 1.9% mindshare in BRS, compared to Synology’s 1.4% mindshare. Additionally, 98% of Hewlett Packard Enterprise users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Synology users who would recommend it.

HPE Zerto Software

Read 355 HPE Zerto Software reviews

20,772 Views
11,840 Comparison Views

98% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

3,747 Views
3,672 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

HPE Zerto Software

Synology DSM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 22, 2026

HPE Zerto Software and Synology DSM compete in data management solutions. HPE Zerto Software holds the upper hand in specialized features, while Synology DSM is stronger in comprehensive storage and system management.

Features: HPE Zerto Software includes near-synchronous replication, automated failover, and ransomware protection, making it suitable for enterprises needing specialized disaster recovery. Synology DSM offers robust storage management, easy file sharing, and high data integrity, appealing to users seeking an all-in-one data management solution.

Room for Improvement: HPE Zerto Software could enhance its cloud-based analytics, streamline Hyper-V services, and reduce initial setup complexity. Synology DSM can improve speed of storage access, enhance multi-device synchronization, and expand automated data backup options.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: HPE Zerto Software provides straightforward deployment with strong support infrastructure for easy enterprise integration. Synology DSM offers intuitive setup and comprehensive support, praised for its simplicity in system management.

Pricing and ROI: HPE Zerto Software typically has a higher setup cost, promising significant ROI in data protection. Synology DSM is more cost-effective with long-term value, delivering versatile functionality at lower initial costs.

To learn more, read our detailed HPE Zerto Software vs. Synology DSM Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

HPE Zerto Software vs. Synology DSM

April 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

HPE Zerto Software

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

2nd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

355

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Migration (1st), Cloud Backup (2nd), Disaster Recovery (DR) Software (1st), Autonomous Operational Resilience (1st)

Synology DSM

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

51st

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of HPE Zerto Software is 1.9%, down from 3.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Synology DSM is 1.4%, 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 (%)
HPE Zerto Software	1.9%
Synology DSM	1.4%
Other	96.7%

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

reviewer2802231

Dev Ops Engineer at a media company with 201-500 employees

Near-zero downtime has protected critical workloads and now simplifies hybrid cloud recovery

The best features of HPE Zerto Software are mainly very sophisticated and relevant to the current market. The data protection CDP part has real-time replication, unlike other solutions that have snapshot backups. We can set it up hourly, making it ideal for use with workloads. Another attraction is the near-zero RTO, with automated failover within minutes and one-click failover and failback. Currently, we are using a hybrid cloud solution, and HPE Zerto Software supports multi-cloud environments, making it easy to migrate between on-premises and cloud. Regarding the impact of HPE Zerto Software on our RTOs, we have near-zero RTO, meaning the system must be back online within thirty minutes if we measure the time. It is very quick to recover services. With HPE Zerto Software's near-synchronous replication, we have some CDP protection, so we typically write interceptions along with some asynchronous replication. There is almost real-time replication available.

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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.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"DR has enough problems to deal with and Zerto makes things a lot easier."

"The biggest benefit is the application-consistent disaster recovery functionality."

"The file restoration is very helpful. They've improved it over the years to make it a lot more user-friendly and easy to do, which I appreciate. So, we use that quite a bit. The failover process is quite simple and intuitive. Even the configuration and setup are pretty easy to do. It is pretty easy to use. I've done the restoration of servers several times, not as a disaster. When an upgrade on a server goes wrong and it messes things up, I can just fail back to a previous version and try it again. So, that has been really helpful."

"The most valuable feature is the ease of upgrades."

"From the recovery point of view while working with HPE Zerto Software, we save a lot in terms of time, money, and resources, especially during critical applications and deployment time, which is less complex compared to other applications."

"In that migration instance we had six terabytes of data that we needed to protect and bring online quickly, and we made the protection group switch and brought the systems back within less than 30 minutes."

"We can set up Disaster Recovery environments for our customers in a matter of minutes."

"With HPE Zerto Software, when we achieve that scenario to fail over and stay there for a long period, and then come back and fail back to the main site, it has had a huge positive impact on our management."

More HPE Zerto Software 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 are the basic storage, file management, Btrfs file system, and built-in backups that come with the solution."

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

"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."

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

"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."

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"When I have a technical question, it sometimes takes a while for tech support to respond."

"We had some issues with replication, especially on Linux, but we have already resolved them."

"I would like to see a couple of details regarding awareness of VM events coming outside of ZVR."

"Our operational teams have discussed the ability to integrate multiple Zerto cloud platforms more seamlessly. For example, we have acquired 22 companies over the last seven years. Some already had it deployed, and integrating those existing deployments into our primary deployment is more challenging than it could be. We have provided our feedback to them."

"I would appreciate more integration with vCenter in the next release and how we can protect our production servers and automatically get them put into a VPG."

"Whenever we do a failover, there's a confirmation box that shows up later. It's a little hard to see sometimes... A popup to continue would be a little bit better because then you're not sitting and waiting for something and it's already there."

"To improve HPE Zerto Software, it would be helpful to make it more affordable."

"I am a little bit worried about how Zerto will work with large volumes of data, such as replication for big data and very large files."

More HPE Zerto Software 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."

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

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

"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."

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

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

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

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

More Synology DSM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"At close to $1,000 a license, it makes it very hard to protect all of your environment, especially for a smaller shop."

"I've been told that when they originally got the quote, it was a little bit of a sticker shock. However, now that we've actually been using it for six months, I've been told that the investment was well worth it."

"As far as I know, the pricing is around $1,000 per VM, but Zerto is changing the pricing model to more of an enterprise-class license. I don't know if there are any additional costs or fees."

"Zerto's pricing structure could be more competitive to better suit the needs of a wider range of businesses."

"Its pricing is very competitive. As compared to VMware SRM, Zerto has reduced our OPEX cost by at least 30%."

"From a pricing standpoint, there is value in it without question. However, it can become quite expensive when you start looking at the number of workloads you have in the environment and what you would like to do."

"It is not the cheapest option on the market, but it offers a number of features that make it a good value for businesses that need a comprehensive disaster recovery plan."

"Zerto is not overly expensive. It's worth what we're getting for it, but with tough times, a discount would be beneficial."

More HPE Zerto Software pricing and cost advice

"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 cheap solution."

"The price of the solution is very good."

"It is quite an affordable solution."

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

"Synology DSM is a free tool."

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

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Comparison Review

it_user159711

Architect at a tech services company with 51-200 employees

Nov 9, 2014

VMware SRM vs. Veeam vs. Zerto

Disaster recovery planning is something that seems challenging for all businesses. Virtualization in addition to its operational flexibility, and cost reduction benefits, has helped companies improve their DR posture. Virtualization has made it easier to move machines from production to…

Read full review

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Healthcare Company

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	92
Midsize Enterprise	94
Large Enterprise	202

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

Questions from the Community

What advice do you have for others considering Oracle Data Guard?

Ik fluister:VM Host Oracle en DataGuard hebben we per toeval vervangen door Zerto :-) tijdens de Zerto implementatie en VPG werden de Host Data in write-ack Block-Level gerepliceerd. Qua licentie 1...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zerto?

In terms of pricing, I'll not say HPE Zerto Software is very cheap, and I'll not say that whatever features it provides, it's very highly priced. However, there could be room for negotiation on the...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Zerto?

The documentation is very good. The GUI is kind of an old one. More development on the GUI can be useful for the users.The areas that have room for improvement include the GUI. The other thing is t...

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

HPE Zerto Software

May 2026

Download HPE Zerto Software product report

Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

April 2026

Download Synology DSM product report

Also Known As

Zerto Virtual Replication

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Overview

Zerto is used for disaster recovery, business continuity, data migration, and ransomware recovery, providing continuous data protection and near real-time replication. Valued for ease of use, efficient failover processes, and versatile integration, it enhances organizational efficiency, reduces errors, and boosts productivity.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

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

United Airlines, HCA, XPO Logistics, TaxSlayer, McKesson, Insight Global, American Airlines, Tencate, Aaron’s, Grey’s County, Kingston Technologies

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

HPE Zerto Software vs. Synology DSM

April 2026

Free Report: HPE Zerto Software vs. Synology DSM

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