Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs Synology DSM comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Dec 3, 2025

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

NAKIVO Backup & Replication
Ranking in Backup and Recovery
6th
Average Rating
9.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.5
Number of Reviews
92
Ranking in other categories
Disaster Recovery (DR) Software (6th)
Synology DSM
Ranking in Backup and Recovery
22nd
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
8.0
Number of Reviews
10
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of NAKIVO Backup & Replication is 1.1%, down from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Synology DSM is 1.4%, down from 1.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Backup and Recovery Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
NAKIVO Backup & Replication1.1%
Synology DSM1.4%
Other97.5%
Backup and Recovery
 

Featured Reviews

Wisdom Selom Quarshie - PeerSpot reviewer
System Engineer at NetSolutions Ghana Ltd
Has improved disaster recovery with seamless server replication and reduced operational costs
NAKIVO Backup & Replication has been useful; in terms of licensing, it is way cheaper than other solutions, and setting it up in terms of implementation was easier and not difficult to do. The user interface is friendly and straightforward to use. The best features NAKIVO Backup & Replication offers in my experience include the VMware replication jobs, which allow us to schedule the replication of servers at specific times and move them as quickly as possible. The Change Block Technology (CBT) aspect helps us check if data has really moved without even turning on the server, by just looking at the reports that have been sent, making it a beneficial feature. NAKIVO Backup & Replication has positively impacted our organization by providing much cheaper pricing compared to other solutions, which means we have saved more money, and integrating it with our solution, the VMware vSphere, is not challenging.
Michael Adejoh - PeerSpot reviewer
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.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"We are able to take backups on a regular interval and restore data/VMs as we choose making the process work as advertised."
"This product provides cost-efficient and reliable backups."
"The interface is basic and very easy to use which is what we are looking for."
"We have been able to set up a failover site that has replicas of our critical VMs."
"The ability to restore in a catastrophic event is priceless, since every company must use a backup solution of some sort."
"NAKIVO gives us the security to retain valuable data backups and recover them in case of emergency."
"The ability to create a replica of all virtual machines is a great feature."
"The user interface is good, and it's user-friendly. I also like its usability with hyper-convergence products like Nutanix and others in the data infrastructure."
"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 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."
"Synology DSM is very easy to work and operate."
"The most valuable aspect is its ability to handle multiple disks."
"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."
 

Cons

"It would be a good thing to have some use case and architecture examples online to understand integration in complex infrastructure."
"While the solution provides mostly what we need, it would be ideal if there were some additional feature capabilities for the API."
"It would be helpful to be able to have a custom footprint so that only the required features are installed."
"Updating VM Tools on a replicated VM could be better."
"Their product is good and it meets our requirements, however, new features are also most welcome and we never hesitated to try new features."
"It'll help if they offered some automation and more usability for partners."
"The only thing we have encountered that we would like to see improved in the future are error messages. They could be more detailed and helpful, without the need to send logs to support. Failing that, the part of the log related to the error could be displayed alongside the error message, so I can investigate the error without looking through all of those logs that I'm able to download."
"Recently, I found out about one disadvantage of the NAKIVO agent that works on physical servers; they certified that they do not have a block tracking mechanism for physical Windows servers, so if a server is huge, say several terabytes, it cannot perform incremental backups and reads all the drives each time, which has left several of my customers suffering from this issue."
"The only bothersome aspect is that the device is aging."
"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."
"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."
"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 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."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Nakivo is cheaper per machine and per backup."
"I think the price is competitive. However, for some projects, it can be a bit much for price-sensitive small businesses."
"The price is not a problem in NAKIVO, as it is the most competitive in the market."
"Regarding the licensing, I would advise speaking to the Nakivo representatives and you can get the best option for your environment."
"The licensing model is crystal clear on the website."
"This product provides good value for the price."
"Talk to the sales department about all of the possibilities, as they will help you to find the best solution for your setup."
"Nakivo Backup & Replication also have another great value, which is that it is one of the lowest prices on the market."
"Synology DSM is a cheap solution."
"The solution’s pricing is neither cheap nor expensive."
"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."
"It is quite an affordable solution."
"Synology DSM is a free tool."
"The price of the solution is very good."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Backup and Recovery solutions are best for your needs.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
14%
Manufacturing Company
12%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Computer Software Company
6%
Computer Software Company
14%
Government
8%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business80
Midsize Enterprise16
Large Enterprise9
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business8
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise1
 

Questions from the Community

How does Nakivo compare with Veeam Backup & Replication?
Nakivo is my favorite backup software. Below are the main benefits of Nakivo compared to Veeam 1. Low cost. 2. Backup storage with global deduplication (this is the main requirement of a backup sol...
What do you like most about Nakivo?
NAKIVO Backup & Replication is very easy to use.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Nakivo?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is very positive. The pricing is very low, and the licensing process makes it easy to obtain any quote.
What do you like most about Synology DSM?
The most valuable features of Synology DSM are its security and connectivity.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Synology DSM?
The solution’s pricing is neither cheap nor expensive.
What needs improvement with Synology DSM?
Users may lose their data if they don't configure the solution properly.
 

Also Known As

No data available
Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Coca Cola, Honda, 3M, University of Arizona, University of Maryland, University of Arkansas, Johns Hopkins University, Marriott, Radisson Hotels and Resorts, Fujifilm, Eiffage
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs. Synology DSM and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.