Dell Avamar vs Synology DSM comparison

Dell Technologies and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. Dell Technologies is ranked #13 with an average rating of 7.5, while Synology is ranked #51. Dell Technologies holds a 1.9% mindshare in BRS, compared to Synology’s 1.4% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of Dell Technologies users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Synology users who would recommend it.

Dell Avamar

Read 90 Dell Avamar reviews

7,882 Views
7,173 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

3,747 Views
3,672 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Dell Avamar

Synology DSM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

Dell Avamar and Synology DSM are both prominent data protection solutions. Dell Avamar seems to have the upper hand due to its superior data deduplication capability and cost-efficiency, despite Synology DSM's robust integration and customization flexibilities.

Features: Users value Dell Avamar's efficient data deduplication, ease of data retrieval, and reasonable setup costs. Synology DSM is favored for its integration with various cloud services, extensive customization options, and long-term value through extensive features.

Room for Improvement: Dell Avamar reviews suggest improvements in performance speed, user learning curve, and initial setup. Synology DSM users point out the need for enhanced customer service, backup reliability, and easier deployment.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Dell Avamar is praised for its straightforward deployment but criticized for slow initial setup. Synology DSM has mixed reviews on deployment, with some users finding it complicated. Customer service is seen as adequate for Dell Avamar, whereas Synology DSM users express the need for improvement.

Pricing and ROI: Dell Avamar users typically report reasonable setup costs and quick ROI due to its effective deduplication. Synology DSM might have higher initial costs but is seen as providing good long-term value through its extensive features.

To learn more, read our detailed Dell Avamar vs. Synology DSM Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Dell Avamar 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

Dell Avamar

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

13th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Deduplication Software (7th)

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 Dell Avamar is 1.9%, down from 3.4% 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 (%)
Dell Avamar	1.9%
Synology DSM	1.4%
Other	96.7%

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

SamuelThomas

Consultant at Key Information Technology L.L.C.

Have supported critical environments despite room for improvement in legacy backup options

It is very efficient in cyber resilience. Deduplication, automation, and everything is very efficient. It is multi-cloud enabled and has broad protections. The software delivers flexible and efficient backup and recovery options through its cyber resiliency features. Dell PowerProtect Manager provides insights in managing backup processes. Its encryption mechanisms are very efficient, helping to secure sensitive data. Its integration with Dell EMC Data Domain is very good. It is easy to integrate with Data Domain. Multi-cloud options are enabled, and backup in cloud options exist in Dell Avamar.

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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 solution integrates well with Unix, Windows, Hyper-V and VM."

"Dell EMC Avamar has many valuable features. It's very stable and it's easy to manage."

"The backup functionality with Data Domain is good, overall it works quite well, it's very easy to install the solution, the product is scalable, it's stable and offers good performance."

"We are talking about a complete end-to-end solution which comes with its own hardware storage to back up the data on tape-less."

"It's simple to configure."

"It's a good solution."

"The solution's ease of use simplifies the disaster recovery processes in our company"

"Very reliable tool."

More Dell Avamar pros

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

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

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

"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."

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

"The solution's most valuable feature stems from its ease of use, making it the tool's most interesting part."

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"I have found the support from Dell EMC Avamar to be not as good as Veeam. The time it takes to receive support could be improved."

"Backup image browse times should be faster."

"My only concern is that there is no tape backup."

"The only concern is the cost."

"The user interface needs to be improved. It's not as good as it could be."

"Reporting in Dell Avamar needs improvement. The current reporting tool is very basic, and you have to dig deep into each function to get the information you need. For example, getting the status of failed and succeeded backups is very difficult in Avamar compared to Veeam. As for additional functionality, I would suggest improving WAN optimization. It's very important for getting offline or off-site backups. It should also include a tool to check for ransomware which would be beneficial. If a backup is vulnerable to ransomware, there should be a way to detect it, like using ARR rules to ensure your backup is ransomware-free. I haven't had any experience integrating Dell Avamar with AI solutions. It’s also a good point that Avamar doesn't offer such integrations, which is an area where Dell could improve."

"The newest version is not very stable, which is something that should be improved."

"What would make Dell Avamar better is if it can do faster backups because right now, PowerProtect Data Manager is better in this area with its new UI and a new way to implement backups. Customers nowadays also expect more up-to-date solutions, and this is another area for improvement in Dell Avamar. It's not as up-to-date, so I'm counting on PowerProtect Data Manager, but customers who have Dell Avamar don't want to switch because you don't have as many backup problems in Dell Avamar compared to other solutions. What I'd like to see in the next release of Dell Avamar is an updated UI and a different way to manage backups because currently, backup management is a bit heavy for customers using Dell Avamar."

More Dell Avamar cons

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

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

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

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

"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

"Dell Avamar is expensive."

"I'm not sure, but perhaps the pricing could be done better at the moment."

"The price is fair."

"The price of this product should be lower."

"It's a very high-end solution and comparable to Rubrik and Cohesity."

"The price is the main thing I'd like to see them change. If they can come down in price, that would be a good thing. It's very cost competitive in the entry level range, because Veeam pricing is much cheaper than Avamar."

"It is expensive. The maintenance comes with it for five years. So, you buy the whole thing for five years, and your maintenance is included with it, but it's a big chunk of change upfront. We like capital expenses because we can CapEx them. We pay once every five years, so we spend a big chunk of change. You'd have to divide that out by the five years to come up with how much it costs. It's just about three-quarters of a million dollars for five years."

"It is easy to use."

More Dell Avamar pricing and cost advice

"Synology DSM is a free tool."

"The price of the solution is very good."

"Synology DSM is a cheap solution."

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

"It is quite an affordable solution."

"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."

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

12%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Comms Service Provider

Government

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	27
Midsize Enterprise	18
Large Enterprise	47

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

Questions from the Community

What's the difference between Dell EMC Avamar and Dell EMC NetWorker?

From the very beginning, Dell EMC NetWorker considers users and those who might potentially become users. In terms of both pricing and setup, this product offers an experience that is significantly...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell EMC Avamar?

The cost is very significant, and it could be lower.

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What needs improvement with Dell Avamar?

It is a very good product. My only concern is that there is no tape backup. For tape backup, we have to use Dell NetWorker. They could add more features for cyber resilience and multi-cloud options...

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Comparisons

Dell PowerProtect Data Manager vs Dell Avamar

Compared 30% of the time

Rubrik vs Dell Avamar

Compared 5% of the time

Veeam Data Platform vs Dell Avamar

Compared 5% of the time

Commvault Cloud vs Dell Avamar

Compared 4% of the time

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain vs Dell Avamar

Compared 3% of the time

More Dell Avamar Competitors

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 3% of the time

GoodSync For Business vs Synology DSM

Compared 3% of the time

NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs Synology DSM

Compared 3% of the time

More Synology DSM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Dell Avamar

May 2026

Download Dell Avamar product report

Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

April 2026

Download Synology DSM product report

Also Known As

Avamar

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Overview

Dell Avamar offers advanced deduplication, efficient data compression, and high backup and recovery speed, enhancing backup management and operations optimization for virtual environments and data protection needs.

Known for its seamless integration with VMware, Dell Avamar provides a user-friendly interface and robust performance. Its centralized data handling and minimal bandwidth requirements make it effective for different backup scenarios. While Avamar efficiently supports virtual environments and provides broad protection capabilities, users often report challenges with the interface and backup speed. There can be complexities in training and management, and integration with cloud and external platforms can be troublesome. Additional complaints include high pricing, scalability issues, and challenging transitions that complicate data migration.

What are the standout features of Dell Avamar?

Advanced Deduplication: Significantly reduces data size.
Efficient Data Compression: Optimizes storage use.
High Backup and Recovery Speed: Enhances operational efficiency.
VMware Integration: Facilitates smooth virtual environment operations.
Centralized Data Management: Simplifies data handling.

What benefits and ROI should users seek?

Improved Backup Management: Streamlines processes and enhances efficiency.
Optimal Storage Usage: Through data deduplication and compression.
Reliable Disaster Recovery: Ensures business continuity and data security.
Enhanced Cyber Resilience: Protects against data loss and security threats.
Scalable Operations: Grows with business needs while reducing overhead.

In industries focusing on virtual machine protections, Dell Avamar is widely used for VMware environments, endpoint, server, and database backups. Often integrated with Dell Data Domain for storage efficiency, it supports diverse environments, including remote office backups. Companies also leverage Avamar for compliance with geographical data retention regulations, adapting for on-premises and cloud deployments.

Dell Technologies

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

Dodge County, St Laurence's College, FieldCore (a GE Company), Comanche County Memorial Hospital, Getronics, Lewisville Independent School District, EnvisionRxOptions, Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Dell Avamar vs. Synology DSM

April 2026

Free Report: Dell Avamar vs. Synology DSM

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