N-able Cove Data Protection vs Synology DSM comparison

N-able and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. N-able is ranked #31 with an average rating of 7.5, while Synology is ranked #52. N-able holds a 1.4% mindshare in BRS, compared to Synology’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of N-able users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Synology users who would recommend it.

N-able Cove Data Protection

Read 23 N-able Cove Data Protection reviews

7,160 Views
4,153 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

4,098 Views
4,057 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

N-able Cove Data Protection

Synology DSM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

N-able Cove Data Protection and Synology DSM are two competing products in the data protection and management market. Synology DSM seems to have the upper hand due to its advanced features, despite N-able Cove Data Protection's strengths in customer support and pricing.

Features: N-able Cove Data Protection is praised for its scalability, simplicity in managing multiple sites, and efficient deployment process. Synology DSM offers comprehensive backup solutions, extensive third-party integrations, and a wide range of functionalities, giving it an edge in features.

Room for Improvement: N-able Cove Data Protection users suggest enhancements in reporting capabilities, interface intuitiveness, and cloud integration. Synology DSM users call for better cloud integration, more intuitive network setups, and refinements in user interface and experience.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: N-able Cove Data Protection users highlight the easy and quick deployment process and commendable customer service. Synology DSM also enjoys positive feedback for straightforward deployment and efficient support, though with a slight learning curve. N-able Cove Data Protection edges out in ease of initial setup.

Pricing and ROI: N-able Cove Data Protection is noted for its competitive pricing and strong ROI, making it attractive for budget-conscious users. Synology DSM, while considered pricier, is seen as a worthwhile investment due to its comprehensive feature set and long-term value. Despite higher costs, users believe Synology DSM delivers better ROI through advanced functionalities.

To learn more, read our detailed N-able Cove Data Protection vs. Synology DSM Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

N-able Cove Data Protection vs. Synology DSM

June 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

N-able Cove Data Protection

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

31st

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Backup (21st), SaaS Backup (10th), MSP Backup (3rd)

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 June 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of N-able Cove Data Protection is 1.4%, up from 1.3% 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 (%)
N-able Cove Data Protection	1.4%
Synology DSM	1.3%
Other	97.3%

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

Per MøllerJacobsen

Senior consultant at Azend A/S

Delivers cost-effective data backup with room for search improvements

The challenges I face especially are those I've mentioned, that finding some specific data in N-able Cove Data Protection is not as easy as it is in some other systems. You cannot just search for something—you need to know where it was and when it was there to restore it, plus it would be nice to take out data from Microsoft 365 in some portable format, which is currently not an option. I would like to extract the data from Microsoft 365 in a portable format, something like a database or maybe just to take out a PST file or SharePoint and Teams files to the file system. Especially in these times, where we discuss potential risks with the Microsoft cloud for European companies, companies would want to know how to access their data from the backup if they suddenly don't have a tenant. I believe there should be the ability to take out data from Microsoft 365 in a portable format. I know that Cohesity is working on making such a thing. It's not there yet; I asked last week for something for forensics, and the support team said it's not possible yet, but I know from our technical account manager they are working on some solutions.

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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

"What I like the most about it's the ease of use and the reliability that it has when copying information to the cloud."

"Compared to previous solutions, Cove is equally as efficient, if not more, when it comes to restoring points."

"It's their cloud, it's their storage. I don't have to buy a space on Amazon or Google's cloud and then use their software to push it. That works well for me. This way, I don't have to worry about another option or the opportunity that there might be a credential leak."

"The most valuable aspect is the added protection of having a cloud-based backup service. It provides redundancy in case of data loss."

"For us, this product works well."

"The initial setup of N-able Cove Data Protection was very easy."

"The ease of use and the console are great."

"The most valuable feature by far is the Virtual Disaster Recovery. On top of that is the bare-metal recovery. The recovery options that we have are great. We have tested the Virtual Disaster Recovery and the bare-metal recovery in just about any scenario you can think of. We have even restored bare metal, a full server, to a laptop, and had full functionality. It's just insane how well it works and how simple it is. It does most of the work for you."

More N-able Cove Data Protection pros

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

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

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

"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 of Synology DSM are its security and connectivity."

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

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"During the other 10% of the time when I have a problem, it's a mess."

"The only area that needs improvement is that it is a little bit difficult when you get into virtual machines. The initial deployment of Cove is a little tedious, not for standard machines, but when you get into specialty stuff, like Hyper-V."

"I have some issues with the agent failing on workstations. I've had to completely uninstall several of them, delete everything, and start over to get them to work."

"The only reason I wouldn't give them a ten out of ten is we aren't able to restore in the cloud and test everything out as we can on Datto, without having to download the full image onto bare metal hardware."

"The one thing that could use some improvement is their Linux backup; their Linux backup is a files/folders backup and you are not able to do a system restore."

"An area for improvement that would really work out well would be if there were a little bit more of an elegant handshake relationship between SolarWinds RMM and the PCs that are being backed up, to advise regarding "up" status... Since RMM is an agent that feeds back that a machine is alive and on, I don't see any reason why they can't either tap into that one feature or build the same exact polling within the backup agent, to update right away and say the system is online or offline."

"One area I don't like has to do with the agent that goes on the system. Deploying it is a piece of cake, but something I have noticed is that if a system stays offline for some length of time, say for a week or so, I may have to go back in and reinstall the agent to get it back in business."

"A disaster recovery console would be an improvement for the product."

More N-able Cove Data Protection cons

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

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

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

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

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

"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."

More Synology DSM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The only option I would like to see is an adjustable scale. Right now we have 250 seats and we're not using all of them. It would be nice to be able to save that little bit of money by being able to buy just what we need."

"The cost is around ten dollars per workstation a month and that includes a certain amount of data."

"The price isn't extreme, but I'd love to pay less."

"Cove only takes the data you have on the physical server. I can back that up for long periods of time, and I don't accrue high charges to have the data in the cloud. It stays at one rate. This allows me to forecast payment for the next one or two years and show clients their estimated growth."

"N-able Cove Data Protection is an averagely-priced product."

"The pricing is very competitive and it's well worth the price."

"The pricing, for now, is good. The package that they gave us recently is pretty good. It depends on how many clients you have, and you pay for certain terabytes per license. These terabytes, if not used, are pooled together."

"The pricing is affordable. N-able Cove Data Protection has a direct-to-cloud architecture, but it also allows saving backups locally without extra storage costs."

More N-able Cove Data Protection pricing and cost advice

"The price of the solution is very good."

"It is quite an affordable solution."

"Synology DSM is a cheap solution."

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

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

"Synology DSM is a free tool."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

12%

Construction Company

10%

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	19
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	1

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

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for N-able Backup?

In terms of pricing, N-able Cove Data Protection is neither cheap nor expensive compared to other competitors.

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What needs improvement with N-able Backup?

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What is your primary use case for N-able Backup?

Our main use cases for enabling N-able Cove Data Protection include backing up our customers' data on servers hosted in data centers and servers hosted in our own data center, as well as a few onsi...

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

N-able Cove Data Protection

June 2026

Download N-able Cove Data Protection product report

Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

May 2026

Download Synology DSM product report

Also Known As

N-able Backup, SolarWinds Backup, SolarWinds MSP Backup & Recovery, SolarWinds MSP Backup

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Overview

N-able Cove Data Protection delivers cloud-based data backup and disaster recovery with features like ease of use, automation, and efficient data transfer. Its unified dashboard and virtual disaster recovery options are key highlights for simplifying data management.

N-able Cove Data Protection stands out for its comprehensive cloud-based architecture, offering reliable backup, disaster recovery, and archiving solutions across industries such as legal, healthcare, and finance. Users benefit from features like virtual disaster recovery, bare-metal restore, and efficient data transfer. Cove's straightforward setup and resource efficiency make it popular among managed service providers, as it supports diverse environments, including Windows, Linux, and macOS systems. Despite its strengths, users have noted areas for improvement, such as dashboard navigation, cloud integration, and prolonged initial backup times.

What are the key features of N-able Cove Data Protection?

Ease of Use: Simplified setup and management with an intuitive interface.
Automation: Streamlined processes for efficient data handling.
Cloud-Based Architecture: Reliable backup and recovery from any location.
Virtual Disaster Recovery: Enables swift data restoration scenarios.
Bare-Metal Restore: Facilitates complete system recovery from hardware failures.

What benefits can users expect when evaluating data protection?

Resource Efficiency: Optimizes system resources to minimize overhead.
Remote Access: Simplifies data management with a unified dashboard from any location.
Scalability: Suits diverse organizational sizes and needs.
Integration: Supports Windows, Linux, macOS, and virtual environments.

Industries like legal, healthcare, and finance utilize N-able Cove Data Protection for its robust server, workstation, and Office 365 data backup capabilities. With support for SQL, MySQL, Exchange, and file backups, Cove aids managed service providers in efficiently managing both local and remote environments, offering strong disaster recovery, testing, and item-level restoration options.

N-able

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

Computer Depot, Leading Edge Computers, IT Logic Australia

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

N-able Cove Data Protection vs. Synology DSM

June 2026

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