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Backup & Disaster Recovery · head to head

Apple Time Machine vs Dell EMC NetWorker

Apple Time Machine logo

Apple Time Machine

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Built-in backup for every Mac

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dell EMC NetWorker logo

Dell EMC NetWorker

Backup & Disaster Recovery

Unified data protection for the enterprise

From
$80/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apple Time Machine has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Apple Time Machine apple states the Time Machine backup disk should be used only for Time Machine backups and not for storing other files, unless you split it into a separate APFS volume; Dell EMC NetWorker the Internet Archive's capture of Dell's NetWorker page on 9 December 2023 confirmed the product is sold only through direct enterprise sales engagement, with no price figure published on the page.
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Dell EMC NetWorker covers ProtectPoint integration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Time Machine and Dell EMC NetWorker actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Time Machine and Dell EMC NetWorker differ
AttributeApple Time MachineDell EMC NetWorker
Starting priceFree$80/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsMacWindows, Linux, Web
Founded19761984

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Backup & Disaster Recovery).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Time Machine

  • Automatic backup
  • Hourly snapshots
  • Visual restore interface
  • Network backup
  • Encryption
  • System restore
  • macOS
  • AirPort Time Capsule

Only in Dell EMC NetWorker

  • ProtectPoint integration
  • Instant access
  • Cloud tiering
  • Federated deduplication
  • Block-based backup
  • Virtual synthetic full
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Time Machine

  • Automatic versioned local backups of a Mac to an external drivenot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • Restoring a Mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup historynot Dell EMC NetWorker

Dell EMC NetWorker

  • Data protectionnot Apple Time Machine
  • Disaster recoverynot Apple Time Machine
  • Business continuitynot Apple Time Machine
  • Ransomware protectionnot Apple Time Machine
  • Compliancenot Apple Time Machine

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Time Machine

  • Apple states the Time Machine backup disk should be used only for Time Machine backups and not for storing other files, unless you split it into a separate APFS volume
  • Apple recommends the Time Machine volume be twice the storage capacity of the Mac being backed up
  • It requires an attached external storage device or network disk; there is no built-in cloud destination
  • It backs up Macs only

Dell EMC NetWorker

  • The Internet Archive's capture of Dell's NetWorker page on 9 December 2023 confirmed the product is sold only through direct enterprise sales engagement, with no price figure published on the page.

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Time Machine

Free
  • Built-inFree
    • Automatic backup
    • Visual restore
    • Network backup

Dell EMC NetWorker

$80/month
  • NetWorker$80/month
    • ProtectPoint
    • Instant access
    • Cloud tiering

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Time Machine if

  • You need automatic backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want hourly snapshots.
Apple Time Machine review

Choose Dell EMC NetWorker if

  • You need protectpoint integration.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want instant access.
Dell EMC NetWorker review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Time Machine or Dell EMC NetWorker better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Time Machine starts at Free and Dell EMC NetWorker at $80/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Time Machine or Dell EMC NetWorker?
Apple Time Machine has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Time Machine and $80/month for Dell EMC NetWorker.
Does Apple Time Machine or Dell EMC NetWorker run on more platforms?
Apple Time Machine runs on Mac. Dell EMC NetWorker runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Can I use Apple Time Machine for free?
Yes. Apple Time Machine has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Dell EMC NetWorker starts at $80/month.
What is Apple Time Machine best used for?
Apple Time Machine is most often used for automatic versioned local backups of a mac to an external drive, restoring a mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup history. Of those, automatic versioned local backups of a mac to an external drive and restoring a mac or migrating to a new one from a local backup history are not what Dell EMC NetWorker is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Time Machine do that Dell EMC NetWorker cannot?
Apple Time Machine covers Automatic backup, Hourly snapshots, Visual restore interface, Network backup. Dell EMC NetWorker covers ProtectPoint integration, Instant access, Cloud tiering, Federated deduplication.
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