NetApp AltaVault vs Synology DSM comparison

NetApp and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. NetApp is ranked #52 with an average rating of 7.0, while Synology is ranked #16 with an average rating of 9.0. NetApp holds a 0.3% mindshare in BRS, compared to Synology’s 1.9% mindshare. Additionally, 89% of NetApp users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Synology users who would recommend it.

NetApp AltaVault

Read 19 NetApp AltaVault reviews

730 Views
431 Comparison Views

89% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

2,285 Views
2,262 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

NetApp AltaVault

Synology DSM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

NetApp AltaVault and Synology DSM are two products compared based on user reviews for features, room for improvement, ease of deployment, customer service, and pricing. NetApp AltaVault excels in pricing and support, while Synology DSM stands out for its robust features, making it generally more appealing to users.

Features: NetApp AltaVault is praised for its data de-duplication, cloud integration, and reliable encryption capabilities. Synology DSM is recognized for its comprehensive suite of applications, seamless file sharing, and sophisticated backup solutions. Users consider Synology DSM offers superior features.

Room for Improvement: NetApp AltaVault users suggest enhancements in scalability, more intuitive management capabilities, and interface improvements. Synology DSM users point out the need for more advanced security measures, faster technical support responses, and an easier update process.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: NetApp AltaVault is noted for its straightforward setup process and responsive customer service. Synology DSM is recognized for user-friendly installation and detailed documentation. Both receive commendable feedback for ease of deployment but differ slightly in customer service responsiveness.

Pricing and ROI: NetApp AltaVault users are highly satisfied with the pricing model and believe the product offers good ROI due to reduced storage costs. Synology DSM users feel the higher initial investment is justified by its extensive features and long-term benefits, resulting in a satisfactory ROI. Pricing and perceived ROI vary, highlighting different user priorities.

To learn more, read our detailed NetApp AltaVault vs. Synology DSM Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

NetApp AltaVault vs. Synology DSM

July 2025

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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

NetApp AltaVault

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

52nd

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Deduplication Software (12th), Disk Based Backup Systems (5th), Cloud Backup (46th), Cloud Storage Gateways (6th)

Synology DSM

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

16th

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 2025, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of NetApp AltaVault is 0.3%, up from 0.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Synology DSM is 1.9%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

Naveen Radhwani

Head IT at TO THE NEW Digital

Reliable, fulfils compliance requirements, and enables to manage data backups easily

I use the solution for backup and recovery Our systems have become more stable and scalable after using NetApp AltaVault. The dashboard is useful for managing data backups. The deduplication technology helps me take offline backups efficiently. The workload on the end team has been reduced. It…

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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

"The most valuable features of the solution stem from the fact that it is easy to use and integrate with whichever operating systems you use, providing you with a complete view, especially when you plan to migrate to some other operating system."

"Its initial setup is easy."

"The most valuable feature is the portability of large archived data. You're able to put things on large on-prem, low-cost storage and then augment that with even lower cost storage in the cloud."

"It's pretty simple. Once you set it, it goes; and then the idea of being able to get it to the cloud very quickly. It's kind of a set-it-forget-it."

"The solution can be used for all Office 365 applications."

"You can store backups for a while."

"It's so easy to work with."

"Being able to move data seamlessly from one-premise to the cloud (Azure). It works great. The backup solution is perfect for us."

More NetApp AltaVault pros

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

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

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

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

"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."

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

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

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"It would be nice if the solution was more complete. Many customers are looking for a single solution or silo that they can manage everything from. It would be nice, instead of having different products, if everything a client needed was in one solution."

"I really want to partner it with the SnapCenter. We haven't implemented that yet. We're upgrading all of our stuff to the ONTAP 9, which you had to have."

"More capacity with the basic model of the AltaVault would probably help out."

"The initial installation is difficult for my clients who have it on both on-premises and on cloud."

"The product must provide multi-gate connectivity."

"What could be helpful is different user base authentication so then maybe we could allow different customers to point to a single appliance and they only see the backups and things that they have."

"The initial setup phase of the tool was difficult."

"The solution needs faster indexing."

More NetApp AltaVault cons

"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."

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

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

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

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

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

"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

"There is a need to make yearly payments towards the licensing costs attached to the solution, which comes to around 3,000 USD."

"The pricing is not too bad, but could be a little better."

"You could compare it to a Dell EMC or ECS, and I think it's probably a little less costly than that. Within the marketplace, it's a medium cost."

"The price is a bit high."

"In one use case, and we have several, to run for a particular customer, the price is about $375,000 a year."

"It is a rather expensive program."

"It's quite cost-effective."

"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."

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

"Synology DSM is a cheap solution."

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

"It is quite an affordable solution."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

13%

Insurance Company

11%

Computer Software Company

Retailer

Computer Software Company

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

Is NetApp AltaVault compatible with AWS?

Hello. Yes, it is compatible with AWS but the great thing about it is that it's actually working with so many cloud providers, it may be just for everyone. Besides the Amazon cloud services, NetApp...

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Can AltaVault be used for data reduction?

Hello, you can definitely use NetApp AltaVault for reducing your data and giving yourself some more storage. This product offers you deduplication and compression, helping you achieve that. I'm su...

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What kind of security does NetApp AltaVault give you?

My organization is very happy with the security that NetApp AltaVault gives us for our data on the cloud. First, it gives us the option for data recovery, which is very good, especially if someone...

See all answers

What do you like most about Synology DSM?

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

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Synology DSM?

The solution’s pricing is neither cheap nor expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Synology DSM?

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

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 34% of the time

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Compared 34% of the time

Veeam Data Platform vs NetApp AltaVault

Compared 17% of the time

Rubrik vs NetApp AltaVault

Compared 16% of the time

More NetApp AltaVault Competitors

Veeam Data Platform vs Synology DSM

Compared 13% of the time

UrBackup vs Synology DSM

Compared 9% of the time

NetApp SnapCenter vs Synology DSM

Compared 8% of the time

GoodSync For Business vs Synology DSM

Compared 7% of the time

ExaGrid Tiered Backup Storage vs Synology DSM

Compared 6% of the time

More Synology DSM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

NetApp AltaVault

August 2025

Download NetApp AltaVault product report

Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

July 2025

Download Synology DSM product report

Also Known As

AltaVault

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Overview

NetApp AltaVault is a cloud-integrated storage solution created to increase recovery capabilities and lower cost and risks. It is better than traditional backup and recovery solutions because they are considerably slower, more expensive, risky, and can be too complex for the comprehension of many users. NetApp AltaVault solves issues related to backup, archival, and restoration. Compared to on-premises solutions, this software claims to be up to 90% less expensive while solving multiple issues related to data storage in the cloud. AltaVault presents three solutions to its customers: backup and recovery, cold storage and archives, and disaster recovery.

1. NetApp’s backup and recovery solution works with Kerne-Based Virtual Machine, Microsoft Hyper-V, and VMware vSphere, creating a solution for mid-sized businesses as well as for bigger companies that want to protect their offices in different locations. The usable local cache capacities of this solution range from 32TB to 383TB, providing clients with enough storage for their important data while giving them the option to retrieve it if something goes amiss.

2. NetApp AltaVault can be configured in cold storage mode and used for data that is not often used. The solution is scalable, thus allowing minimal costs for operating with cold data and allowing fast access to it at the same time.

3. AltaVault offers disaster recovery for Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. Your data will be secured on the cloud, providing you with a secure backup if the need for disaster recovery arises.

NetApp AltaVault Features

NetApp AltaVault’s many valued features include:

Data reduction: NetApp AltaVault applies deduplication and compression, reducing data up to a 30:1 ratio.
Network and cloud optimization: AltaVault can increase data transfer speed by up to 4 times due to its built-in WAN optimization.
Data restoration: Because data is restored from the local cache, recoverability is up to 32 times faster than other methods.
Deployment and scale: Users can choose their preferred method - virtual, physical, or cloud-based in Azure or AWS. Since NetApp AltaVault starts at 2TB and can scale up to 57PB, it is one of the most scalable products in its category.
Compatible with existing backup software: NetApp AltaVault is compatible with NetApp SnapMirror, EMC, IBM, Commvault, Veritas, and Veeam, meaning it offers a vast array of options for its users when it comes to backup software.
Cloud choice and agility: AltaVault supports NetApp StorageGRID, Azure, Google, IBM, and AWS. This provides users with the assurance that their data is safely stored, even if their cloud provider experiences technical issues.

NetApp AltaVault Benefits

The benefits of using NetApp AltaVault include:

Efficient solution for data reduction
Compatible with leading public and private cloud storage providers
Provides data encryption

Reviews from Real Users

A Pre-sales Manager at a computer software company says NetApp AltaVault has fair pricing with a good GUI and a straightforward setup.

NetApp

Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) is a comprehensive software platform designed for Synology NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices. It serves as the operating system for these devices, providing a wide range of features and functionalities.

The primary use case of Synology DSM is to centralize and manage data storage for organizations. It allows businesses to store, access, and share files securely across multiple devices and platforms. With its intuitive user interface, DSM simplifies the management of data, making it easy to create shared folders, set access permissions, and monitor storage usage.

One of the most valuable functionalities of Synology DSM is its robust data protection capabilities. It offers various RAID configurations, including SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID), which ensures data redundancy and safeguards against drive failures. DSM also supports advanced backup and disaster recovery solutions, such as Snapshot Replication and Hyper Backup, enabling organizations to protect their critical data effectively.

Furthermore, Synology DSM provides a wide range of productivity and collaboration tools. It offers applications like Synology Drive, which allows seamless file synchronization across devices, and Synology Office, a web-based suite for document editing and collaboration. DSM also supports various third-party applications, including popular cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, enabling organizations to integrate their existing workflows seamlessly.

Synology

Sample Customers

Blach Construction, NASA, Riggs, Counselman, Michaels & Downes, Seminole County Public Schools and Spot Trading

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

NetApp AltaVault vs. Synology DSM

July 2025

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