NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs Synology DSM comparison

Nakivo and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. Nakivo is ranked #13 with an average rating of 8.8, while Synology is ranked #52. Nakivo holds a 1.2% mindshare in BRS, compared to Synology’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 99% of Nakivo users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Synology users who would recommend it.

NAKIVO Backup & Replication

Read 94 NAKIVO Backup & Replication reviews

7,602 Views
6,234 Comparison Views

99% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

4,495 Views
4,450 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

NAKIVO Backup & Replication

Synology DSM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 8, 2026

NAKIVO Backup & Replication and Synology DSM compete in the backup and data management category. Based on feature richness and cost-effectiveness, NAKIVO seems to have the upper hand with its broader range of functionalities and affordability.

Features: NAKIVO Backup & Replication offers easy deployment, email and file recovery, and multi-host integration. It provides ransomware protection and wide compatibility with multiple storage and security tools. Synology DSM is known for its user-friendly storage solutions, robust security, and flexibility catering to versatile backups and file management.

Room for Improvement: NAKIVO could improve with better physical machine backup, integration with more cloud services, and enhanced reporting. It might benefit from an improved user interface. Synology DSM needs enhancements in cluster backup support and AI-driven security features, along with broader platform support.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: NAKIVO is recognized for its ease of deployment with hybrid cloud and on-premises options, offering highly responsive 24/7 support. Synology DSM provides an intuitive interface and efficient customer service, with limitations in its support window compared to NAKIVO.

Pricing and ROI: NAKIVO is praised for its affordability and high ROI, appealing to small to medium-sized businesses with flexible licensing and cost-effective solutions. Synology DSM, while more expensive upfront, offers significant long-term value with free licensing for the software, justifying the initial higher hardware costs.

To learn more, read our detailed NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs. Synology DSM Report (Updated: August 2026).

Buyer's Guide

NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs. Synology DSM

August 2026

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Helped 908,858 peers since 2012

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

NAKIVO Backup & Replication

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

13th

Average Rating

9.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Disaster Recovery (DR) Software (11th)

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 August 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of NAKIVO Backup & Replication is 1.2%, down from 1.6% 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 (%)
NAKIVO Backup & Replication	1.2%
Synology DSM	1.3%
Other	97.5%

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

EDERLEY TERRERO

Business Consulting at Gestion IT

Robust data protection has safeguarded mailboxes and disaster recovery for our clients

NAKIVO Backup & Replication has released many updates lately and at this point it works excellently. Needs will always appear, particularly around the AI topic and other things that come out over time. I understand that solutions always have to keep moving forward, but so far I see it as excellent.I give it a nine because nothing is perfect. There are always solutions, and NAKIVO Backup & Replication is a tool that adapts perfectly to certain needs. However, we cannot dismiss that there are powerful solutions on the market that have been around for much longer. I rate it a nine because we can always improve.

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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.

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

"You can have it setup and running within a few minutes."

"NAKIVO Backup & Replication is very easy to use."

"It is affordable."

"Four times the reduction in the cost of our vSphere backups, which provides the base features required for our environment."

"The simplicity of Nakivo is its best feature; it does exactly what it should, which is to create restorable backups!"

"It uses all the bandwidth available if not limited and backs up entire servers with all data about four times faster than Windows Server Backup and EaseUS TODO Backup."

"We really appreciate the simplicity of the solution."

"The features that I have found most valuable are that it is a cheaper price and user-friendly."

More NAKIVO Backup & Replication pros

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

"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."

"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."

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

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

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

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"The only thing we have encountered that we would like to see improved in the future are error messages."

"Using an independent bootable media to restore full physical machines would enable physical machines that may be serving as Nakivo Director or Transport machines to be reliably restored to service without undue delay, ensuring that an enterprise's local environment remains intact."

"From an administrator usage perspective, the interface is very intuitive, but maybe the wizard for creating and modifying backup jobs could look a little fancier."

"I would love to see BackBlaze B2 implementation in the future, as that would be our preferred cloud destination, but Amazon and Wasabi are both very great choices in the meantime."

"It seems maybe that the interface could be a little bit better, but it is what it is."

"It'll help if they offered some automation and more usability for partners."

"The software is aimed at backing up VM images but it would be nice to have an option to just backup certain files/folders and not the entire disk."

"The way encryption is currently working could be improved."

More NAKIVO Backup & Replication 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."

"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."

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

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

More Synology DSM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Regarding the licensing, I would advise speaking to the Nakivo representatives and you can get the best option for your environment."

"Nakivo is cheaper per machine and per backup."

"You have a lot of different options when it comes to pricing and the pricing models are pretty flexible and affordable."

"Nakivo Backup & Replication also have another great value, which is that it is one of the lowest prices on the market."

"It has a much higher bang for the buck than other products we evaluated."

"The licensing currently allows for host-based licensing, which is advantageous if you have a lot of data on a few hosts."

"It's really cheap, and our company saves a significant amount of money on IT backup solutions per year."

"The licensing model is very affordable compared to competitors, with a good quality-to-cost ratio, and the software is quite simple and fast to setup."

More NAKIVO Backup & Replication 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."

"Synology DSM is a free tool."

"The price of the solution is very good."

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

"It is quite an affordable solution."

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Manufacturing Company

Construction Company

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	81
Midsize Enterprise	16
Large Enterprise	9

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

Questions from the Community

How does Nakivo compare with Veeam Backup & Replication?

Nakivo is my favorite backup software. Below are the main benefits of Nakivo compared to Veeam 1. Low cost. 2. Backup storage with global deduplication (this is the main requirement of a backup sol...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Nakivo?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing shows that NAKIVO Backup & Replication is more price-efficient than other solutions, and we are satisfied with the pricing.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Nakivo?

Improving NAKIVO Backup & Replication involves addressing the hassle of choosing the right license level when starting out, especially with specific requirements, and the lack of macOS support ...

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Comparisons

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Compared 9% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

Rubrik vs NAKIVO Backup & Replication

Compared 3% of the time

Dell RecoverPoint for Virtual Machines vs NAKIVO Backup & Replication

Compared 3% of the time

Commvault Cloud vs NAKIVO Backup & Replication

Compared 2% 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 4% of the time

HPE StoreEver Tape vs Synology DSM

Compared 3% of the time

Kernel IMAP Backup vs Synology DSM

Compared 3% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

NAKIVO Backup & Replication

July 2026

Download NAKIVO Backup & Replication product report

Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

July 2026

Download Synology DSM product report

Also Known As

No data available

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Overview

NAKIVO Backup & Replication delivers rapid deployment and intuitive management across environments like Windows, Linux, and NAS. It is known for fast VM recovery, robust data protection, and cloud integration with competitive pricing.

NAKIVO Backup & Replication supports diverse IT landscapes, offering efficient deduplication, offsite backups, and policy-based replication. Its granular file restores, effective compression, and seamless cloud integration make it a preferred choice for minimizing downtime and enhancing business resilience. Users highlight its security measures, flexible deployment options, and automatic backups as core strengths. However, further enhancements in interface refinement, storage array integrations, and broadened support for virtual technologies and physical machine backups could enhance user satisfaction. Users seek improved control over alerts, better reporting capabilities, and optimized deduplication and compression.

What are the key features of NAKIVO Backup & Replication?

Fast VM Recovery: Minimal downtime with quick restore options for virtual machines.
Deduplication & Compression: Efficient data storage through advanced deduplication techniques and compression.
Cloud Integration: Seamless operations with cloud platforms like AWS for flexible backup solutions.
Policy-Based Replication: Automated replication policies ensuring consistent and reliable data backup.
Granular File Restores: Restore specific files without needing full system recovery, saving time and resources.

What benefits should users look for when evaluating NAKIVO Backup & Replication?

Competitive Pricing: Cost-effective solution with robust features.
Ease of Use: Intuitive management for a hassle-free experience.
Reliable Performance: Consistent results in protecting and recovering data.
Strong Support: Responsive customer service catering to user needs.

In industries like technology and finance, NAKIVO Backup & Replication is essential for securing virtual environments such as VMware and Hyper-V. Its deployment on NAS devices and capability for offsite backups to cloud platforms like AWS are appreciated. Organizations utilize it for backup, replication, and recovery of virtual machines using daily and incremental methods, ensuring efficient data protection and disaster recovery processes.

Nakivo

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

Coca Cola, Honda, 3M, University of Arizona, University of Maryland, University of Arkansas, Johns Hopkins University, Marriott, Radisson Hotels and Resorts, Fujifilm, Eiffage

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs. Synology DSM

August 2026

Free Report: NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs. Synology DSM

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