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Head-to-head · Cloud File Storage Services

Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS vs Azure NetApp Files

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS #2 in Cloud File Storage Services 9.3/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Alibaba Cloud
Azure NetApp Files #4 in Cloud File Storage Services 9.1/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit site

Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS leads on 0 checks, Azure NetApp Files on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreAlibaba Cloud File Storage NAS · 9.3/10

Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS scores higher on our rubric for cloud file storage services: 9.3 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #4.

On scaling model, Azure NetApp Files gives you Provisioned where Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS offers Elastic.

Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS is the better fit for broad Alibaba Cloud file storage needs. Azure NetApp Files is the better fit for azure enterprise file volumes.

  • Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS fits best

    Broad Alibaba Cloud file storage needs

  • Azure NetApp Files fits best

    Azure enterprise file volumes

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Side by side

Feature Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Azure NetApp Files 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 9.1
Ranking #2 in Cloud File Storage Services #4 in Cloud File Storage Services
Best for Broad Alibaba Cloud file storage needs Azure enterprise file volumes
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — —
Free plan — —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web, Linux, Windows Web
Support Docs Tickets, Community, Docs
Integrations 10 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS 2/2 · Azure NetApp Files 2/2
Snapshots ✓ ✓
Managed backups ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported protocols NFSv3, NFSv4.0, SMB 2.1, SMB 3.0 NFS, SMB, dual protocol, Object REST API
Maximum capacity 10 TB Not checked yet
Availability zones Not checked yet Not checked yet
Scaling model Elastic Provisioned
Our review
Pros
  • NFSv3, NFSv4.0, SMB 2.1, and SMB 3.0 access
  • Elastic capacity with quotas, ACLs, recycle bin, and backups
  • Integrates with ECS, Kubernetes, HPC, Terraform, and APIs
  • Supports NFS, SMB, and dual-protocol file volumes
  • Offers snapshots, cloning, backups, replication, and tiering
  • Connects with Azure analytics, AI, Kubernetes, and VMware services
Cons
  • No free plan is available
  • IA and Archive tiers add separate read and write traffic fees
  • Extreme NAS uses fixed capacity with hourly charging after purchase
  • Provisioned capacity and throughput require configuration planning
  • The service has no free plan
  • Elastic Storage is listed as a preview service
Our verdict

Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS is a managed distributed file-storage service for Alibaba Cloud compute nodes, containers, high-performance computing workloads, and on-premises applications. It provides shared access through NFS and SMB,…

Read the review →

Azure NetApp Files is a managed cloud file storage service for Azure workloads that need shared, high-performance file access. It supports NFS, SMB, dual-protocol volumes, and an Object REST API, making it suitable for enterprise file…

Read the review →
  1. Alibaba Cloud File Storage NASCloud File Storage Services 9.3Paid
  2. Azure NetApp FilesCloud File Storage Services 9.1Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS — where it wins

    • NFSv3, NFSv4.0, SMB 2.1, and SMB 3.0 access
    • Elastic capacity with quotas, ACLs, recycle bin, and backups
    • Integrates with ECS, Kubernetes, HPC, Terraform, and APIs

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan is available
    • IA and Archive tiers add separate read and write traffic fees
    • Extreme NAS uses fixed capacity with hourly charging after purchase

  • Azure NetApp Files — where it wins

    • Supports NFS, SMB, and dual-protocol file volumes
    • Offers snapshots, cloning, backups, replication, and tiering
    • Connects with Azure analytics, AI, Kubernetes, and VMware services

    Where it doesn't

    • Provisioned capacity and throughput require configuration planning
    • The service has no free plan
    • Elastic Storage is listed as a preview service
  • Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS9.3/10 · Paid

    Flexible NFS and SMB file storage for Alibaba Cloud workloads, with usage-based tiers.

    Visit Alibaba CloudFull verdict →
  • Azure NetApp Files9.1/10 · Paid

    A configurable Azure file service for enterprise workloads needing shared file access.

    Visit siteFull verdict →

More comparisons

All cloud file storage services comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update