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Head-to-head · Cloud File Storage Services

NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP vs Azure NetApp Files

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP #3 in Cloud File Storage Services 9.2/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit NetApp
Azure NetApp Files #4 in Cloud File Storage Services 9.1/10 Paid ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit site

NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP 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 scoreNetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP · 9.2/10

NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP scores higher on our rubric for cloud file storage services: 9.2 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.

On scaling model, NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP gives you Auto_scaling where Azure NetApp Files offers Provisioned.

NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP is the better fit for multicloud enterprise file and block storage. Azure NetApp Files is the better fit for azure enterprise file volumes.

  • NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP fits best

    Multicloud enterprise file and block storage

  • Azure NetApp Files fits best

    Azure enterprise file volumes

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Side by side

Feature NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Azure NetApp Files 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 9.1
Ranking #3 in Cloud File Storage Services #4 in Cloud File Storage Services
Best for Multicloud enterprise file and block storage Azure enterprise file volumes
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price — —
Free plan — —
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Docs Tickets, Community, Docs
Integrations 7 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP 2/2 · Azure NetApp Files 2/2
Snapshots ✓ ✓
Managed backups ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported protocols iSCSI, NFS, SMB, NVMe-TCP, S3 NFS, SMB, dual protocol, Object REST API
Maximum capacity Not checked yet Not checked yet
Availability zones Not checked yet Not checked yet
Scaling model Auto_scaling Provisioned
Our review
Pros
  • Supports iSCSI, NFS, SMB, NVMe-TCP, and S3 protocols
  • Provides Snapshots, SnapMirror replication, backup, and data tiering
  • Runs single-node or high-availability deployments across three clouds
  • 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
  • Paid service with no permanent free plan
  • Enterprise features may exceed the needs of smaller workloads
  • Cloud, configuration, and license choices affect capacity limits
  • Provisioned capacity and throughput require configuration planning
  • The service has no free plan
  • Elastic Storage is listed as a preview service
Our verdict

NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP is a software-only storage appliance that runs ONTAP data-management software in Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. It is designed for organizations managing enterprise and business-critical…

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. NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAPCloud File Storage Services 9.2Paid
  2. Azure NetApp FilesCloud File Storage Services 9.1Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP — where it wins

    • Supports iSCSI, NFS, SMB, NVMe-TCP, and S3 protocols
    • Provides Snapshots, SnapMirror replication, backup, and data tiering
    • Runs single-node or high-availability deployments across three clouds

    Where it doesn't

    • Paid service with no permanent free plan
    • Enterprise features may exceed the needs of smaller workloads
    • Cloud, configuration, and license choices affect capacity limits

  • 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
  • NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP9.2/10 · Paid

    A broad ONTAP storage appliance for enterprise workloads across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

    Visit NetAppFull 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