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Backup · head to head

Dell EMC NetWorker vs Portworx Backup

Dell EMC NetWorker logo

Dell EMC NetWorker

Backup

Unified data protection for the enterprise

From
$80/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Portworx Backup logo

Portworx Backup

Backup

Kubernetes application backup with a free tier up to one terabyte

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Portworx Backup has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: Dell EMC NetWorker covers ProtectPoint integration, Portworx Backup covers Application-level backup.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Dell EMC NetWorker and Portworx Backup differ
AttributeDell EMC NetWorkerPortworx Backup
Starting price$80/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionPer node hour
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Linux, WebWeb, Linux
Founded1984Unknown

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 Dell EMC NetWorker

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

Only in Portworx Backup

  • Application-level backup
  • Any CSI provider
  • Cross-cluster restore
  • Namespace and label selection
  • Scheduled policies
  • Role-based access
  • Free tier

What people use each for

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

Dell EMC NetWorker

  • Data protectionnot Portworx Backup
  • Disaster recoverynot Portworx Backup
  • Business continuitynot Portworx Backup
  • Ransomware protectionnot Portworx Backup
  • Compliancenot Portworx Backup

Portworx Backup

  • A platform team running Velero that needs an accountable vendor for restore failuresnot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • Protecting Kubernetes applications across EKS, GKE and on premises clusters under one policy setnot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • Restoring a namespace into a different cloud provider as a disaster recovery testnot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • A small team that wants real Kubernetes backup within the free one terabyte tier before committing budgetnot Dell EMC NetWorker

Where each one falls short

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

Dell EMC NetWorker

Nothing recorded yet. See the Dell EMC NetWorker review.

Portworx Backup

  • The paid tier carries a 1,000 node hour monthly minimum, so a cluster that only needs occasional protection still pays a floor.
  • It is licensed separately from Portworx Enterprise, so organisations that assumed storage and backup came together find a second subscription in the quote.
  • The free tier caps at one terabyte of protected data, which is quickly exceeded by any database of consequence and forces a jump straight to the minimum commitment.
  • Backup targets are object stores you provide, so restore egress charges from your cloud provider are outside the vendor price and appear during a recovery rather than in procurement.
  • Application-consistent backup of databases still depends on correct pre and post hooks, so the product does not remove the requirement to understand and rehearse your own restore ordering.

Pricing, plan by plan

Dell EMC NetWorker

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

Portworx Backup

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to one terabyte of protected data
    • No feature restrictions
    • Fully managed service
  • Portworx Backup$0.2/node hour
    • Minimum 1,000 node hours per month
    • Unlimited protected capacity
    • Any Container Storage Interface provider

Which should you pick?

Choose Dell EMC NetWorker if

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

Choose Portworx Backup if

  • You need application-level backup.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Linux.
  • You also want any csi provider.
Portworx Backup review

Questions people ask

Is Dell EMC NetWorker or Portworx Backup better?
Neither clearly leads. Dell EMC NetWorker starts at $80/month and Portworx Backup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dell EMC NetWorker or Portworx Backup?
Portworx Backup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $80/month for Dell EMC NetWorker and Free for Portworx Backup.
Does Dell EMC NetWorker or Portworx Backup run on more platforms?
Dell EMC NetWorker runs on Windows, Linux, Web. Portworx Backup runs on Web, Linux.
Can I use Portworx Backup for free?
Yes. Portworx Backup has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Dell EMC NetWorker starts at $80/month.
What is Dell EMC NetWorker best used for?
Dell EMC NetWorker is most often used for data protection, disaster recovery, business continuity, ransomware protection. Of those, data protection and disaster recovery are not what Portworx Backup is typically brought in for.
What can Dell EMC NetWorker do that Portworx Backup cannot?
Dell EMC NetWorker covers ProtectPoint integration, Instant access, Cloud tiering, Federated deduplication. Portworx Backup covers Application-level backup, Any CSI provider, Cross-cluster restore, Namespace and label selection.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Portworx Backup: Is the free tier real?

Yes, up to one terabyte of protected data with no feature restrictions as a managed service. It is a usable production tier for small footprints, not a trial.

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
Portworx Backup: Does it only protect Portworx volumes?

No. It works across Container Storage Interface providers, including cloud provider storage and other vendors' drivers.

Portworx Backup: Is it included with Portworx Enterprise?

No. It is a separate licence at 0.20 USD per node hour with its own minimum.

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