StarWind SAN & NAS
StarWind SAN & NAS: A virtualization-oriented shared-storage platform with broad protocol and hypervisor support. Ranked #4 of 21 in NAS Software by our editors (8.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for virtualization-focused shared storage.
At a glance
- Editor score8.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forVirtualization-focused shared storage
- Free planYes
- Storage poolsYes
- Founded2009 · Beverly, Massachusetts, USA
- Facts checked21 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free plan with storage pools and broad storage protocol support
- High-availability shared storage for VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, and Xen
- Web, text-based, command-line, and vCenter management options
Where it doesn't
- The product page labels SAN & NAS as a legacy product
- Pricing is quote-based rather than published as a product-specific amount
- Requires servers or hypervisors for its appliance-style deployment model
Our verdict on StarWind SAN & NAS
StarWind SAN & NAS turns commodity servers into shared storage appliances for file, block, and backup workloads. It is aimed at organizations running virtualized environments that need shared storage without adopting a dedicated hardware appliance. Deployments can run as a Linux-based virtual machine on VMware ESXi or Microsoft Hyper-V, or as a bare-metal installation. The product supports storage-pool, volume, disk, and virtual-disk management, with ZFS, hardware RAID, and Linux software RAID options.
The pricing model is freemium, with a free plan and quote-based pricing. The platform’s main value is in the storage capabilities it combines: SMB and NFS for file workloads, iSCSI and NVMe-over-Fabrics for block storage, and high-availability configurations for virtualization environments. It also supports Veeam hardened backup repositories, making it relevant to teams that want shared storage and backup infrastructure within the same product family. Buyers should evaluate how the legacy product designation fits their long-term platform plans.
Platform fit is a major consideration. StarWind SAN & NAS integrates with VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, KVM, Xen, VMware vCenter, Veeam, Commvault, and Veritas. Management is available through web-based and text-based interfaces, the command line, and a VMware vCenter plugin, giving infrastructure teams several administration paths. It is a strong match for virtualization-focused storage across mixed environments. Organizations seeking a current, narrowly focused NAS experience rather than shared storage for servers and hypervisors should consider alternatives.
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StarWind SAN & NAS pricing
StarWind SAN & NAS fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Storage pools | Yes |
| User management | Yes |
| Snapshots | Not verified |
| App catalog | Not verified |
| Container support | Not verified |
| Virtual machines | Not verified |
| Cloud sync | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Linux |
| Support | Email, Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7 |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, KVM, Xen, VMware vCenter, Veeam … |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | starwindsoftware.com |
| Facts checked | 21 Sep 2026 |
StarWind SAN & NAS integrations
StarWind SAN & NAS lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- VMware ESXi
- Microsoft Hyper-V
- KVM
- Xen
- VMware vCenter
- Veeam
- Commvault
- Veritas
Alternatives to StarWind SAN & NAS
- TrueNASA free, full-featured ZFS NAS for labs, businesses, and enterprise environments.9.2
- openmediavaultA capable, extensible Linux NAS for self-hosters who want control over services and storage.8.8
- XigmaNASA free ZFS NAS operating system with virtualization and extensive file services.8.6
See all StarWind SAN & NAS alternatives →
StarWind SAN & NAS vs the competition
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- StarWind SAN & NAS vs openmediavault
- StarWind SAN & NAS vs XigmaNAS
- StarWind SAN & NAS vs Open-E JovianDSS
- StarWind SAN & NAS vs ZimaOS
- StarWind SAN & NAS vs TurnKey File Server
Compare StarWind SAN & NAS with any tool side by side →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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