N-able Cove Data Protection vs Synology DSM comparison

Why PeerSpot?

N-able and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. N-able is ranked #28 with an average rating of 8.0, while Synology is ranked #49. N-able holds a 1.5% 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 24 N-able Cove Data Protection reviews

10,124 Views
5,872 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

5,420 Views
5,366 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: November 2026).

Buyer's Guide

N-able Cove Data Protection vs. Synology DSM

November 2026

Download the complete report

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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

28th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Cloud Backup (20th), SaaS Backup (10th), MSP Backup (2nd)

Synology DSM

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

49th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of N-able Cove Data Protection is 1.5%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Synology DSM is 1.3%, down from 1.6% 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	1.5%
Synology DSM	1.3%
Other	97.2%

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

Grace Myna

HR Consultant

Secure reminders have improved HR document control and support better client deadline management

I really love the reminders feature of N-able Cove Data Protection because I have many dates to keep in mind while working with multiple clients. The access settings are important for me too, and the fact that HR documents are personal means I do not want everyone seeing everything, especially because in HR we talk mostly about confidentiality. It is important that not everyone gets to see everything unless they have access, and I also appreciate being able to tell which copy is the final one. The reminders feature stands out for me the most because I deal with many dates and deadlines. The reminders work well for me in practice because they make it easy for me; I do not have to keep checking my calendar, even though I also use other calendars such as Calendly. The reminders come in handy because I do not have to keep going back to that, helping me ensure that I meet deadlines and do not miss client meetings, making it easier for me to stay organized.

Read full review

Manuel Schulte

Python Developer at BNP Paribas Asset Management

A reliable and user-friendly solution for effective backup, storage, and multimedia needs

In terms of scalability, I would currently rate it an eight out of ten due to its aging nature. While I don't have access to all the latest features available on more recent devices, at the time of purchase, considering its capabilities then, I would have given it a solid ten.

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

"It's extremely important that Cove provides cloud-based data protection with backup, disaster recovery, and archiving. That is a necessity for my insurance. As an IT company, my insurance would cost more if my backups were not offsite and off-network."

"Now, we're able to offer an extremely well-priced solution to our clients that is thousands of dollars less than any of the competitors I've used."

"The reliability and the confidence that we have in this product is extremely high."

"Of all the IT companies that we deal with as suppliers, I'm pretty sure they are the best that we have ever dealt with."

"The most valuable feature of N-able Cove Data Protection is its ease of use."

"N-Able, as a whole, has given me the RMM solution that I desire and the backup solutions that I desire."

"Cove Data Protection has given us a fresh start in data backups."

"The monitoring makes it very easy to check whether a backup has gone bad."

More N-able Cove Data Protection pros

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

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

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

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

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

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"There could be a possibility to create a local NAS backup for infrastructure."

"This solution is not very good for image restores, but really excellent for files, databases and System State restores."

"The reporting feature and functionality need improvement."

"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."

"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."

"Having the licensing available for partners to be able to take advantage of testing without paying would make a big difference."

"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."

"We would like to have better reporting."

More N-able Cove Data Protection cons

"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."

"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."

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

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

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

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

More Synology DSM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"There is no per node cost, at least not the way I am doing it. I am on bulk. New customers can be set up on a trial, where they can get things all squared away, then they can switch over to being a billed customer."

"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."

"When you have a device/appliance on the site quite a lot of the other enterprise class backup people insist that you have their appliance, which is frankly offensively expensive. Because when you pry the top off, it's just a standard 19-inch tin box with a standard Intel I5 in it, some RAM, and a hard drive. Then, you go, "Why have they just charged me 5,500 quid for a box, which I could have probably build for under 500." Whereas, with the SolarWinds product, they don't have that. The backup appliances that we have onsite are just plain cooking PCs. We can build our own machines, which is reflected in the price that we can offer a customer."

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

"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."

"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."

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

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

More N-able Cove Data Protection pricing and cost advice

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

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

"The price of the solution is very good."

"Synology DSM is a cheap 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."

"Synology DSM is a free tool."

"It is quite an affordable solution."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

13%

Construction Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

12%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

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?

We have not needed interns for a long time. For the one year, we did not need an intern because initially, we wanted interns because sometimes our team would be overwhelmed.

See all answers

What needs improvement with N-able Backup?

For now, I do not have anything else to add about the features apart from the confidentiality aspect; it helps me ensure that HR documents are personal, so someone who does not have access to them ...

See all answers

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

My main use case for N-able Cove Data Protection is to rely on it mostly for HR related documents, and I have been using it for quite some time. I normally open it when I need to check signed docum...

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

N-able Cove Data Protection

October 2026

Download N-able Cove Data Protection product report

Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

October 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

November 2026

Free Report: N-able Cove Data Protection vs. Synology DSM

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