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Head-to-head · Distributed File System Software

Nutanix Files vs Ceph

  • Updated Sep 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Nutanix Files #6 in Distributed File System Software 6.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Nutanix
Ceph #7 in Distributed File System Software 6.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 3 features Visit Ceph

Nutanix Files leads on 3 checks, Ceph on 1, and 0 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreNutanix Files · 6.9/10
  • Free planonly Ceph
  • Most featuresNutanix Files · 3 of 3

Nutanix Files scores higher on our rubric for distributed file system software: 6.9 against 6.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #7.

Ceph offers free plan; Nutanix Files doesn't. Nutanix Files offers data replication; Ceph doesn't publish it. Nutanix Files offers multi-site support; Ceph doesn't publish it. Nutanix Files offers encryption at rest; Ceph doesn't publish it.

Nutanix Files is the better fit for nutanix environments needing SMB and NFS shares. Ceph is the better fit for teams needing unified object, block, and file storage.

  • Nutanix Files fits best

    Nutanix environments needing SMB and NFS shares

  • Ceph fits best

    Teams needing unified object, block, and file storage

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes our verdict. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Nutanix Files 6.9/10 Visit ↗ Ceph 6.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 6.9 6.6
Ranking #6 in Distributed File System Software #7 in Distributed File System Software
Best for Nutanix environments needing SMB and NFS shares Teams needing unified object, block, and file storage
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price Not published Not published
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Features Nutanix Files 3/3 · Ceph 0/3
Data replication ✓ (best) Not published
Multi-site support ✓ (best) Not published
Encryption at rest ✓ (best) Not published
Specs
Deployment model Hybrid Not published
File access protocols SMB, NFS Not published
Maximum nodes Not published Not published
Our review
Pros
  • Scale-out SMB and NFS access across Nutanix cluster nodes
  • Auditing, quotas, snapshots, replication, and ransomware detection
  • Erasure coding, compression, and intelligent tiering support
  • Combines object, block, and file interfaces in one cluster
  • Supports S3, Swift, versioning, lifecycle rules, and object locking
  • Provides multisite replication for synchronization and disaster recovery
Cons
  • Requires Nutanix infrastructure for deployment
  • Uses contact-sales pricing with no free plan
  • Does not include AI features
  • Requires self-hosted deployment and infrastructure management
  • Object Gateway capabilities are the clearest documented focus
  • Not suited to teams seeking a hosted storage service
Our verdict

Nutanix Files is a distributed file-storage service for organizations running file workloads on Nutanix infrastructure. It provides SMB and NFS access through virtual file-server controllers deployed across nodes in an existing or…

Read the review →

Ceph is an open-source distributed storage system for organizations that want object, block, and file storage from a unified cluster. It is deployed as self-hosted infrastructure and can be configured across commodity hardware. The…

Read the review →
  1. Nutanix FilesDistributed File System Software 6.9Pricing on request
  2. CephDistributed File System Software 6.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Nutanix Files — where it wins

    • Scale-out SMB and NFS access across Nutanix cluster nodes
    • Auditing, quotas, snapshots, replication, and ransomware detection
    • Erasure coding, compression, and intelligent tiering support

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires Nutanix infrastructure for deployment
    • Uses contact-sales pricing with no free plan
    • Does not include AI features

  • Ceph — where it wins

    • Combines object, block, and file interfaces in one cluster
    • Supports S3, Swift, versioning, lifecycle rules, and object locking
    • Provides multisite replication for synchronization and disaster recovery

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires self-hosted deployment and infrastructure management
    • Object Gateway capabilities are the clearest documented focus
    • Not suited to teams seeking a hosted storage service
  • Nutanix Files6.9/10 · Pricing on request

    A Nutanix-focused file service for scalable SMB/NFS shares and enterprise controls.

    Visit NutanixFull verdict →
  • Ceph6.6/10 · Free plan

    A unified self-hosted storage cluster for teams spanning object, block, and file workloads.

    Visit CephFull verdict →

More comparisons

All distributed file system software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026

Last updated · How we research and update