Best Azure NetApp Files Alternatives in 2026
The top Azure NetApp Files alternatives are Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP, Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS and NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP: 15 cloud file storage services our editors would look at instead of Azure NetApp Files, in our ranking order.
Azure NetApp Files: A configurable Azure file service for enterprise workloads needing shared file access. Where it falls short: provisioned capacity and throughput require configuration planning.
Switching from Azure NetApp Files? For most cloud file storage services buyers the best Azure NetApp Files alternative is Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP, built for aWS multiprotocol enterprise storage. On a budget, Amazon FSx for OpenZFS starts at $0.09/mo. Alibaba Cloud Cloud Parallel File System (CPFS) offers the most maximum capacity (1024 TB).
Why People Look for an Azure NetApp Files Alternative
- Provisioned capacity and throughput require configuration planning
- The service has no free plan
- Elastic Storage is listed as a preview service
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallAmazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP9.4
AWS multiprotocol enterprise storage
Visit Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP - Lowest priceAmazon FSx for OpenZFS8.7
Paid plans from $0.09/mo
Visit Amazon FSx for OpenZFS - Most maximum capacityAlibaba Cloud Cloud Parallel File System (CPFS)8.1
1024 TB
Visit Alibaba Cloud Cloud Parallel File System (CPFS)
All 15 Azure NetApp Files Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forAWS multiprotocol enterprise storage
- Better than Azure NetApp Files:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 9.1
A broad AWS storage service for enterprise file and block workloads.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
9.4/10★★★★★Visit AWS -
Best forBroad Alibaba Cloud file storage needs
- Better than Azure NetApp Files:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 9.1
Flexible NFS and SMB file storage for Alibaba Cloud workloads, with usage-based tiers.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Alibaba Cloud -
Best forMulticloud enterprise file and block storage
- Better than Azure NetApp Files:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 9.1
A broad ONTAP storage appliance for enterprise workloads across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
9.2/10★★★★★Visit NetApp -
Best forGoogle Cloud multiprotocol volumes
A flexible Google Cloud service for enterprise file, block, and application storage.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forElastic AWS-native file storage
Elastic NFS file storage for Linux workloads running across AWS services.
- Managed backups
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit Amazon EFS -
Best forLow-cost Windows-compatible file shares
A low-cost AWS file share for Windows workloads that need SMB and Active Directory.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Amazon FSx -
Best forLow-cost AWS NFS storage
A cost-focused AWS NFS service with snapshots, backups, and flexible deployment options.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Amazon FSx -
Best forAffordable shared file storage
Affordable shared storage with flexible access, scaling, snapshots, and Tencent integrations.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Tencent Cloud -
Best forIBM VPC file shares with replication
A managed NFSv4.1 file service for IBM Cloud VPC workloads needing shared storage.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit IBM Cloud -
Best forHuawei elastic NFS and SMB storage
A focused Huawei Cloud file service for elastic shared storage across cloud servers.
- Managed backups
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Huawei Cloud -
Best forElastic Huawei hybrid file access
A flexible Huawei Cloud file service for shared NFS and SMB workloads.
- Managed backups
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Huawei Cloud -
Best forManaged NFS on Google Cloud
A managed NFS service for shared storage across Google Cloud workloads.
- Managed backups
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forAlibaba high-throughput parallel storage
A specialized parallel file system for Linux-based HPC and intelligent-computing workloads.
- Managed backups
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Alibaba Cloud -
Best forScalable file and object platforms
A scalable enterprise platform for file, object, block, and table data across protocols.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit VAST Data -
Best forMulticloud PowerScale file storage
Multicloud PowerScale storage with broad protocol access and enterprise data services.
- Snapshots
- Managed backups
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit site
Azure NetApp Files Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Azure NetApp Files?
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP: #1 in our Cloud File Storage Services ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A broad AWS storage service for enterprise file and block workloads.
Why do people look for Azure NetApp Files alternatives?
Provisioned capacity and throughput require configuration planning; The service has no free plan; Elastic Storage is listed as a preview service.
Which Azure NetApp Files alternative has the most maximum capacity?
Alibaba Cloud Cloud Parallel File System (CPFS), with 1024 TB.
How do I switch from Azure NetApp Files?
Snapshot or back up the data and configs on your Azure NetApp Files server. Create the new server with the same operating system and size, and add your SSH key. Copy the data across (rsync or your backup tool) and reinstall your apps or containers. Move the DNS records or IP references to the new server, test it, then cancel Azure NetApp Files.
How to Switch from Azure NetApp Files
- Snapshot or back up the data and configs on your Azure NetApp Files server.
- Create the new server with the same operating system and size, and add your SSH key.
- Copy the data across (rsync or your backup tool) and reinstall your apps or containers.
- Move the DNS records or IP references to the new server, test it, then cancel Azure NetApp Files.
Azure NetApp Files vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Supported protocols | Snapshots | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Azure NetApp Files | No | NFS, SMB, dual protocol, Object REST API | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 1 | Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP | NFS, SMB, iSCSI, NVMe-over-TCP | Yes | 9.4 | ||
| 2 | Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS | No | NFSv3, NFSv4.0, SMB 2.1, SMB 3.0 | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 3 | NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP | No | iSCSI, NFS, SMB, NVMe-TCP, S3 | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 4 | Google Cloud NetApp Volumes | NFSv3, NFSv4.1, NFSv4.2, SMB, iSCSI, NVMe/TCP, S3 multiprotocol (ONTAP-mode only) | Yes | 9.0 | ||
| 5 | Amazon Elastic File System (EFS) | No | $0.30/GB/mo | NFSv4.0, NFSv4.1 | 8.9 | |
| 6 | Amazon FSx for Windows File Server | No | $0.01/GB/mo | SMB | Yes | 8.8 |
| 7 | Amazon FSx for OpenZFS | $0.09/mo | NFS v3, v4.0, v4.1, v4.2 | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 8 | Tencent Cloud File Storage (CFS) | $0.06/GB/mo | NFS, CIFS/SMB, TURBO | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 9 | IBM Cloud File Storage | NFSv4.1 | Yes | 8.5 | ||
| 10 | Huawei Cloud Scalable File Service Turbo | No | NFSv3, SMB 2.0, SMB 2.1, SMB 3.0 | 8.4 | ||
| 11 | Huawei Cloud Scalable File Service Turbo (SFS Turbo) | NFSv3, SMB 2.0, SMB 2.1, SMB 3.0 | 8.3 | |||
| 12 | Google Cloud Filestore | No | NFSv3, NFSv4.1 | No | 8.2 | |
| 13 | Alibaba Cloud Cloud Parallel File System (CPFS) | No | $0.12/GB/mo | POSIX, NFS v3 | 8.1 | |
| 14 | VAST Data Platform | NFS, SMB, S3, Block | Yes | 8.0 | ||
| 15 | Dell APEX File Storage for Public Cloud | NFS, SMB, HDFS, S3 | Yes | 7.9 |
Head-to-Head
- Azure NetApp Files vs Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP
- Azure NetApp Files vs Alibaba Cloud File Storage NAS
- Azure NetApp Files vs NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP
- Azure NetApp Files vs Google Cloud NetApp Volumes
- Azure NetApp Files vs Amazon Elastic File System (EFS)
- Azure NetApp Files vs Amazon FSx for Windows File Server
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update












