Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) vs IBM SoftLayer comparison

Why PeerSpot?

The compared Amazon Web Services (AWS) and IBM solutions aren't in the same category. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is ranked #13 in CS , with an average rating of 7.6, and holds a 3.0% mindshare in the category. IBM is ranked #19 in PCSS , and holds a 2.0% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Amazon Web Services (AWS) users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of IBM users who would recommend it.

Amazon EFS (Elastic File Sy...

Read 18 Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) reviews

9,468 Views
2,083 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM SoftLayer

Read 2 IBM SoftLayer reviews

1,163 Views
896 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Amazon EFS (Elastic File Sy...

IBM SoftLayer

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) and IBM SoftLayer based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Dropbox, Amazon Web Services (AWS), CTERA and others in Cloud Storage.

To learn more, read our detailed Cloud Storage Report (Updated: October 2026).

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Cloud Storage

October 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

Amazon EFS (Elastic File Sy...

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Storage (13th), File and Object Storage (17th)

IBM SoftLayer

Average Rating

8.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Public Cloud Storage Services (19th)

Mindshare comparison

While both are Cloud Services solutions, they serve different purposes. Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) is designed for Cloud Storage and holds a mindshare of 3.0%, down 4.4% compared to last year.
IBM SoftLayer, on the other hand, focuses on Public Cloud Storage Services, holds 2.0% mindshare, up 0.8% since last year.

Cloud Storage Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)	3.0%
Dropbox Business - Enterprise	6.5%
Box - Intelligent Content Management	4.8%
Other	85.7%

Cloud Storage

Public Cloud Storage Services Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
IBM SoftLayer	2.0%
Amazon S3	14.0%
Amazon S3 Glacier	11.3%
Other	72.7%

Public Cloud Storage Services

Featured Reviews

reviewer2784675

Sr. Technical Account Manager at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees

Serverless file storage has simplified multi-tenant Linux workloads and supports effortless growth

When I started working with Amazon EFS (Elastic File System), I faced a few issues. One issue was around the number of IOPS limitation. Initially, the number of IOPS that could be performed on the Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) file system was quite low. Later on, it has been increased, and now I believe it is at a level where only very specific workloads might not perform optimally, but otherwise everything should work smoothly. By the time I was there, Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) was supporting NFS version 4.1, not 4.2. Currently, it is supported up to NFS 4.1. A notable limitation of Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) is that it does not support Windows. If your workload is running on a Linux operating system and you do not want to manage it or even understand NFS at all, you should still be able to use it fairly quickly. There are scenarios where Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) might not work effectively. For example, database-type workloads do not run properly on Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) because at the end of the day, it is a network file system and requests must travel from one place to another and then return. This process takes time, so if you are running a database-type workload, Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) might not be the right approach, and you would need to look elsewhere.

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reviewer1032702

Global Principal Cloud Architect at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees

Stable with excellent speed and agility

The most valuable aspect of the solution is simply to have the ability to host in a cloud form and out of the data center - the IBM big iron solution. It's the speed and the agility that really sell SoftLayer. The ELT versus ETL extract, transform and load versus extract, load, and then transform, the ELT method is what really sells SoftLayer. The ability to extract act from your current location, load into your future location, with limited change, and then be able to take the transfer actions slowly and methodically after you're in your new location is the part that really makes this awesome. The stability and scalability are quite good.

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

"There are huge money savings, as we can save more than half of our costs."

"I appreciate Amazon's extensive range of services, which makes it a favorable choice."

"The solution is scalable."

"Amazon EFS offers the flexibility of scaling as needed without requiring pre-provisioned storage."

"We need our storage to expand based on demand but storage is a bit costly, so we start with a smaller amount and, as we grow, we use EFS on demand and it manages our costs."

"The automatic scaling functionality has helped manage fluctuating workloads because when we have 10 gigs of data and a customer needs to put even 10 times the data, no action is required as it will grow automatically."

"The initial setup was straightforward."

"Elastic File Systems allow me to share data, provision, and manage capacity and performance in AWS."

More Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) pros

"The solution is highly stable."

"The ability to extract from your current location, load into your future location with limited change, and then be able to take the transfer actions slowly and methodically after you're in your new location is the part that really makes this awesome."

"The ELT versus ETL extract, transform and load versus extract, load, and then transform, the ELT method is what really sells SoftLayer."

"The stability is the solution's most valuable aspect for our organization."

Cons

"The main challenge with EFS is its cost, which is slightly higher compared to EBS or S3."

"What should be improved in Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) is the costing, as it should be reduced, but that depends on Amazon."

"Around 80 percent of the features of Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) are available on Linux and not in Windows, making it a major drawback of the product."

"The lack of transparency in the costs attached to the product is an area of concern where improvements are required."

"Specifically, when it comes to the file system for the learning system, we encountered performance issues with both Azure and AWS."

"The initial setup requires prior experience and technical skills."

"The deployment is definitely not an easy process."

"When we faced some issues, the support team took a lot of time to resolve them."

More Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) cons

"For us, the versioning was an issue."

"The interface is hard to use for us. It should be simplified."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product's price depends on the services and the size and capacity at which it is used in a business environment."

"The solution's price is mid-ranged."

"The main challenge with EFS is its cost, which is slightly higher compared to EBS or S3. For one GB or ten GB of data, S3 is much cheaper. EFS could cost around $30 to $50 per month for similar usage."

"Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) offers a pay-as-you-go model, so whenever you use its services, you need to pay."

"The product charges are based on the amount of data stored."

"I would rate the pricing 7 out of 10."

"It has flexible pricing. You are charged based on your storage."

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

12%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Outsourcing Company

10%

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	8

No data available

Questions from the Community

Which file storage system is better - Amazon EFS (elastic file storage) or Azure File Storage?

Amazon EFS is easy to set up: you can use the AWS management console, API, or command-line. Amazon EFS can grow to petabytes and deliver consistent low latencies and high levels of throughput. This...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)?

We don't need to purchase it; we are just using it and paying Amazon as per the utilization. We make direct payments to Amazon based on our usage.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)?

See all answers

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Comparisons

Microsoft Azure File Storage vs Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)

Compared 56% of the time

Google Cloud Storage vs Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)

Compared 3% of the time

Red Hat Ceph Storage vs Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)

Compared 3% of the time

Azure NetApp Files vs Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)

Compared 3% of the time

Dell PowerScale vs Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)

Compared 3% of the time

More Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) Competitors

Amazon S3 vs IBM SoftLayer

Compared 17% of the time

Amazon S3 Glacier vs IBM SoftLayer

Compared 16% of the time

Oracle Cloud Software Appliance vs IBM SoftLayer

Compared 12% of the time

HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000 vs IBM SoftLayer

Compared 8% of the time

DigitalOcean vs IBM SoftLayer

Compared 3% of the time

More IBM SoftLayer Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Amazon EFS (Elastic File System)

October 2026

Download Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) product report

Buyer's Guide

Public Cloud Storage Services

October 2026

Download IBM SoftLayer product report

Also Known As

No data available

CloudLayer

Overview

Amazon EFS provides elastic file storage in the cloud, offering unlimited storage and seamless integration with AWS services for dynamic workloads.

Amazon EFS serves as a scalable, shareable file storage across Linux servers, seamlessly integrating with AWS for data-intensive applications. Its auto-scaling capability handles shifting data demands in real time, ensuring cost-effective storage management. Offering high availability and support for NFS version 4, Amazon EFS optimizes performance and data integrity for cloud and serverless environments. While its strengths lie in scalability and Linux support, further enhancements in cost transparency, Windows compatibility, and deployment simplicity can broaden its applicability.

What are the key features of Amazon EFS?

Flexible Scaling: Automatically adjusts storage capacity to meet dynamic workload demands.
Usage-based Pricing: Only charges for storage used, optimizing cost efficiency.
Integration with AWS: Seamlessly connects with services like EC2 for enhanced application support.
Auto-scaling: Efficiently allocates resources for fluctuating data needs.
Shared Access: Facilitates collaborative data use across various applications.

What benefits should users expect from Amazon EFS reviews?

Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlined configuration and easy scaling of resources.
Cost Management: Reduced storage expenses through usage-based pricing.
Reliable Performance: Consistent data availability and stable system operations.
Improved Data Management: Simplified processes for handling extensive datasets.
Integration Capabilities: Smooth interoperability with AWS services enhances functionality.

Amazon EFS is widely implemented in industries needing robust cloud-based storage solutions, facilitating scalable storage for applications like web serving, content management, and data analytics. Its compatibility with EC2 and Linux optimizes resource management, supporting complex access needs and enhancing operational efficiency in technology-focused sectors.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

IBM SoftLayer, part of IBM Cloud offerings, provides robust infrastructure services designed to meet business demands for scalability and flexibility. It supports a range of computing needs, offering customizable resources with high performance and reliability.

IBM SoftLayer is an enterprise-grade cloud platform that combines powerful networking, security, and redundancy features. It enables users to deploy a combination of physical and virtual devices, facilitating hybrid cloud solutions. Known for its flexibility, it caters to businesses needing infrastructure tailored to specific operational needs, ensuring efficient workload management and performance.

What are the most important features of IBM SoftLayer?

Network Configuration: Offers high-speed networking with options for private, public, and management networks.
Security Measures: Comprehensive security with DDoS protection, firewalls, and encryption services.
Scalability Options: Flexible scaling of resources for dynamic business requirements.
Hybrid Deployments: Seamless integration of physical and virtual environments.
Data Centers: Global presence with numerous data centers offering reliability and low latency.

What benefits and ROI should you expect from IBM SoftLayer?

Cost Efficiency: Competitive pricing and transparent billing to manage IT budgets effectively.
Performance Optimization: High-performance infrastructure enhancing application speed and responsiveness.
Business Agility: Rapid deployment capabilities aiding timely project launches.
Operational Ease: Streamlined management of resources reducing operational overheads.

Industries such as finance, healthcare, and gaming find IBM SoftLayer beneficial due to its secure, reliable infrastructure supporting sensitive data and high transaction volumes. It enables financial services to manage data flows seamlessly, healthcare sectors to ensure compliance with data security regulations, and gaming companies to deliver low-latency user experiences. Designed for enterprises needing tailored solutions to meet operational demands efficiently.

IBM

Sample Customers

Arcesium, Atlassian, Seeking Alpha, Zend

Whogohost Ltd., Skypicker, Infinity Computers and Communications Company, Grace Co. Ltd., Keyword, Uvionics Tech, Tennis Australia, immixGroup, Salesbox, Cxense ASA, Avnet Inc., Komsomolskaya Pravda, Seekr

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