Guide
Best Object Storage
Object storage holds files, backups, media, and data-lake content as objects behind an S3-compatible API — the standard way to store large amounts of unstructured data cheaply and durably. The category splits into self-hosted, open-source systems you run for full control and no egress fees, and managed providers that offer low, predictable per-terabyte pricing, often with free or cheap egress. The right choice depends on whether you want to own the infrastructure or offload it, how much you serve versus store, and how egress costs affect your bill. Consider S3 compatibility, durability, and replication. Below are widely used object storage options, compared on features, pricing, and the workloads they fit best.
7 tools reviewed
Why this matters
Storage and egress fees quietly dominate many infrastructure bills. Object storage is where large data lives, and choosing between self-hosted control and egress-friendly managed providers has a real, ongoing cost impact.
Featured tools
High-performance, S3-compatible object storage.
Cloud object storage at a fraction of S3 pricing.
Unified, distributed storage for object, block and file.
S3-compatible object storage with zero egress fees.
Lightweight, self-hosted S3-compatible object store.
Fast, simple distributed file and object storage.
Comparison table
| Tool | Free plan | Pricing model | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✓ Yes | open source | Free plan | Startup, SMB, Enterprise | |
| ✓ Yes | usage based | Free plan | Solo, Startup, SMB | |
| ✓ Yes | open source | Free plan | SMB, Enterprise | |
| ✓ Yes | usage based | Free plan | Solo, Startup, SMB | |
| ✓ Yes | open source | Free plan | Solo, Startup, SMB | |
| ✓ Yes | open source | Free plan | Startup, SMB, Enterprise | |
| — No | subscription | From $7.99/mo | Startup, SMB, Enterprise |
Popular comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is S3-compatible object storage?+
Storage that implements Amazon S3’s API, so existing S3 tools and SDKs work unchanged — letting you switch providers or self-host with minimal code changes.
Self-hosted vs managed object storage?+
Self-hosted (open-source) means no per-GB or egress fees but you run it; managed providers remove ops for a low per-TB price, sometimes with free egress.
Why do egress fees matter?+
If you serve a lot of data, download (egress) fees can exceed storage costs. Some providers charge zero egress, which is a major cost lever.
Is object storage good for backups?+
Yes — high durability, versioning, and object lock make it a common target for backups, archives, and media at scale.