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File Storage · head to head

TrueNAS vs Zerto

TrueNAS logo

TrueNAS

File Storage

Open-source ZFS storage operating system for network-attached storage

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Zerto logo

Zerto

File Storage

Continuous data protection with near-zero RPO

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TrueNAS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: TrueNAS requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure; Zerto zerto with Azure is listed on UK G-Cloud as a reseller-managed disaster recovery service, not Zerto's own licence pricing, with OS management from £75 per host per month for the public sector
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which TrueNAS and Zerto actually diverge.

Attributes where TrueNAS and Zerto differ
AttributeTrueNASZerto
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsSelf-hosted, Linux, Web, APIWindows, Linux, Web
FoundedUnknown2009

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

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 TrueNAS

Nothing recorded that Zerto does not also cover.

Only in Zerto

  • Continuous data protection
  • Journal-based recovery
  • Automated failover
  • Non-disruptive testing
  • Multi-cloud mobility
  • Long-term retention
  • VMware
  • Hyper-V

What people use each for

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

TrueNAS

  • On-premises backup and archival storage for enterprisesnot Zerto
  • Home lab and small business network-attached storagenot Zerto
  • Media server storage for video, photo, and document librariesnot Zerto
  • Disaster recovery and business continuity replicationnot Zerto
  • S3-compatible object storage for cloud-native applicationsnot Zerto
  • High-availability storage clusters for datacentresnot Zerto

Zerto

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

Where each one falls short

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

TrueNAS

  • Requires self-hosting on x86 hardware, no managed cloud offering; organisations must provision, configure, and maintain their own infrastructure
  • ZFS filesystem entails high memory requirements (1 GB RAM per 1 TB of storage recommended), increasing costs for large deployments
  • Limited ARM/embedded support; Community Edition is primarily x86-64, reducing deployment options for edge installations
  • Clustering and replication setup requires operational expertise; misconfiguration can lead to data loss
  • Enterprise support and SLA guarantees require paid subscriptions; Community Edition relies on peer-based forums

Zerto

  • Zerto with Azure is listed on UK G-Cloud as a reseller-managed disaster recovery service, not Zerto's own licence pricing, with OS management from £75 per host per month for the public sector

Pricing, plan by plan

TrueNAS

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the TrueNAS review.

Zerto

$5/month
  • Zerto Enterprise Cloud$5/month
    • Continuous protection
    • Journal-based recovery
    • Multi-cloud mobility

Which should you pick?

Choose TrueNAS if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API.
TrueNAS review

Choose Zerto if

  • You need continuous data protection.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web.
  • You also want journal-based recovery.
Zerto review

Questions people ask

Is TrueNAS or Zerto better?
Neither clearly leads. TrueNAS starts at Free and Zerto at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, TrueNAS or Zerto?
TrueNAS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for TrueNAS and $5/month for Zerto.
Does TrueNAS or Zerto run on more platforms?
TrueNAS runs on Self-hosted, Linux, Web, API. Zerto runs on Windows, Linux, Web.
Can I use TrueNAS for free?
Yes. TrueNAS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Zerto starts at $5/month.
What is TrueNAS best used for?
TrueNAS is most often used for on-premises backup and archival storage for enterprises, home lab and small business network-attached storage, media server storage for video, photo, and document libraries, disaster recovery and business continuity replication. Of those, on-premises backup and archival storage for enterprises and home lab and small business network-attached storage are not what Zerto is typically brought in for.
What can TrueNAS do that Zerto cannot?
Zerto covers Continuous data protection, Journal-based recovery, Automated failover, Non-disruptive testing.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

TrueNAS: What is the cost of TrueNAS Community Edition?

TrueNAS Community Edition is free and open-source. There are no licensing fees, but organisations must purchase and maintain their own x86 hardware. Enterprise Edition requires paid support contracts for production environments.

Source
Zerto: Can I try Zerto before buying?

Yes, Zerto offers a 14-day free trial or on-demand lab access to test the platform.

Source
TrueNAS: Can I replicate TrueNAS data between sites?

Yes. TrueNAS supports snapshot-based replication over network links, enabling disaster recovery and business continuity. Replication can occur between Community Edition systems or between Enterprise Appliances.

Source
TrueNAS: What storage protocols does TrueNAS support?

TrueNAS simultaneously supports NFS (network file system), SMB (Windows file sharing), iSCSI (block storage), and S3-compatible object storage, all from the same storage pool.

Source
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