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Backup · head to head

Bacula vs Dell EMC NetWorker

Bacula logo

Bacula

Backup

The best open source backup software for Linux

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Dell EMC NetWorker logo

Dell EMC NetWorker

Backup

Unified data protection for the enterprise

From
$80/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bacula has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bacula and Dell EMC NetWorker actually diverge.

Attributes where Bacula and Dell EMC NetWorker differ
AttributeBaculaDell EMC NetWorker
Starting priceFree$80/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWindows, Linux, Web
FoundedUnknown1984

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

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 Bacula

Nothing recorded that Dell EMC NetWorker does not also cover.

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.

Bacula

  • Linux, Windows, and macOS network backup at scalenot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • VMware, KVM, Hyper-V virtual machine backupnot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL database backupnot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • Microsoft Exchange Server backupnot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • Tape backup and enterprise data retentionnot Dell EMC NetWorker

Dell EMC NetWorker

  • Data protectionnot Bacula
  • Disaster recoverynot Bacula
  • Business continuitynot Bacula
  • Ransomware protectionnot Bacula
  • Compliancenot Bacula

Where each one falls short

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

Bacula

  • The community edition has no vendor support contract; bacula.org directs support and paid deployments toward the separate commercial Bacula Enterprise product instead.

Dell EMC NetWorker

Nothing recorded yet. See the Dell EMC NetWorker review.

Pricing, plan by plan

Bacula

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Bacula review.

Dell EMC NetWorker

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Bacula if

  • You want to start without paying.
Bacula 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 Bacula or Dell EMC NetWorker better?
Neither clearly leads. Bacula 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, Bacula or Dell EMC NetWorker?
Bacula has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bacula and $80/month for Dell EMC NetWorker.
Does Bacula or Dell EMC NetWorker run on more platforms?
Bacula runs on Web. Dell EMC NetWorker runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Can I use Bacula for free?
Yes. Bacula has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Dell EMC NetWorker starts at $80/month.
What is Bacula best used for?
Bacula is most often used for linux, windows, and macos network backup at scale, vmware, kvm, hyper-v virtual machine backup, mysql, oracle, postgresql database backup, microsoft exchange server backup. Of those, linux, windows, and macos network backup at scale and vmware, kvm, hyper-v virtual machine backup are not what Dell EMC NetWorker is typically brought in for.
What can Bacula do that Dell EMC NetWorker cannot?
Dell EMC NetWorker covers ProtectPoint integration, Instant access, Cloud tiering, Federated deduplication.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bacula: How much does Bacula cost?

Bacula Community Edition is free and open source. Bacula Enterprise is a commercial offering with a free trial available, but specific pricing is not listed on the main website.

Source
Dell EMC NetWorker: How much does Dell EMC Networker cost?

Pricing information for Dell EMC Networker is not publicly available online. Contact Dell directly for enterprise data protection software pricing and licensing options.

Source
Bacula: Is Bacula free?

Bacula Community Edition is fully free and open source. Enterprise Edition is commercial but offers a free trial to evaluate features before purchasing.

Source
Dell EMC NetWorker: What licensing options does Dell EMC Networker offer?

Specific licensing options and pricing tiers for Networker are not disclosed on accessible web pages. Dell sales team provides custom quotes based on enterprise backup and recovery requirements.

Source
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