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Backup · head to head

Dell EMC NetWorker vs UrBackup

Dell EMC NetWorker logo

Dell EMC NetWorker

Backup

Unified data protection for the enterprise

From
$80/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
UrBackup logo

UrBackup

Backup

Open source client server backup doing both file and whole disk image backups of Windows machines

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only UrBackup has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • They diverge on capability: Dell EMC NetWorker covers ProtectPoint integration, UrBackup covers Windows image backups.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Dell EMC NetWorker and UrBackup differ
AttributeDell EMC NetWorkerUrBackup
Starting price$80/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionOpen source, no licence fee
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Linux, WebLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
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 UrBackup

  • Windows image backups
  • File backups
  • Web interface
  • Client discovery
  • Internet mode
  • Filesystem deduplication

What people use each for

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

Dell EMC NetWorker

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

UrBackup

  • A small office with Windows workstations that needs bare metal restore without per seat licensingnot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • Schools and labs where machines are re-imaged often and a known good image must be recoverablenot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • Backing up a mixed fleet to one server on premises with a web interface non specialists can usenot Dell EMC NetWorker
  • Replacing an expiring commercial endpoint backup licence where the budget is the constraintnot 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.

UrBackup

  • Backups are stored on the server without encryption at rest by default, so the backup server holds a readable copy of every machine it protects and becomes the highest value target on the network.
  • Deduplication relies on filesystem features such as hard links, btrfs or ZFS, so a server built on the wrong filesystem silently consumes far more space and the fix is a rebuild rather than a setting.
  • There is no native object storage target, so offsite copies mean replicating the server storage with another tool rather than backing up to a bucket directly.
  • Restoring a full Windows image requires booting a restore environment, which is a manual, on site procedure that needs to be rehearsed before the day it is needed.
  • A single server holds everything and there is no built in clustering, so its own failure removes every recovery point at once unless you have separately solved replication.

Pricing, plan by plan

Dell EMC NetWorker

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

UrBackup

Free
  • UrBackupFree
    • Full functionality, unlimited clients
    • File and image backups
    • Web administration interface

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 UrBackup if

  • You need windows image backups.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want file backups.
UrBackup review

Questions people ask

Is Dell EMC NetWorker or UrBackup better?
Neither clearly leads. Dell EMC NetWorker starts at $80/month and UrBackup at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dell EMC NetWorker or UrBackup?
UrBackup has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $80/month for Dell EMC NetWorker and Free for UrBackup.
Does Dell EMC NetWorker or UrBackup run on more platforms?
Dell EMC NetWorker runs on Windows, Linux, Web. UrBackup runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use UrBackup for free?
Yes. UrBackup 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 UrBackup is typically brought in for.
What can Dell EMC NetWorker do that UrBackup cannot?
Dell EMC NetWorker covers ProtectPoint integration, Instant access, Cloud tiering, Federated deduplication. UrBackup covers Windows image backups, File backups, Web interface, Client discovery.

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
UrBackup: Does it back up Linux servers as well?

File backups yes, image backups no. The image path is Windows only through volume shadow copy.

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
UrBackup: Is the data encrypted?

Transport can be encrypted, and there is optional client side file encryption, but the default server storage is not encrypted at rest. Use full disk encryption on the server.

UrBackup: Can I back up to Amazon S3?

Not directly. The server writes to local or mounted storage, so cloud copies are made by replicating that storage separately.

UrBackup: How many clients can one server handle?

Dozens is routine on decent hardware. The limit is usually storage input and output during overlapping backup windows rather than client count.

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